Anonoblogging

Sometimes I wish I had an anonymous blog. One where nobody knew who I was and I could write as freely as my little heart desires.

You may have noticed that over the last year or so posts have become few and far between. Time is a factor, as any new mum will say, sleep, eating and a shower comes before blogging in your ‘spare time’. But then there’s also the issue of topics. When I write I’m always cautious not to offend anyone. A differing of opinion is fine, but I would never want to intentionally offend someone. Especially someone that I knew.

And there lies my problemo. Off the top of my head I could think of maybe 10 topics that would make great posts. So why don’t I write about them? Because I feel that I can’t, and probably shouldn’t. Well not on such an open blog anyway. One where people know who I am. One that family and friends read, who could think, hmmm is she talking about me?

I’d love to blog about friendships. The good and the bad. Relationships, the good, the bad, and the ugly. And so much more. But they’re not all my stories to tell. Well not so publicly anyway. I’d love to tell you what a bunch of morons a certain organisation are. I’d love to be able to write about a heartbreaking illness. One that far too many people can relate to. But it wouldn’t be right.

Blogging/writing has always been my therapy. It makes me feel better to bash on the keyword and write things down. So for many of these topics and posts, they will remain drafts. Drafts in the safety of the flipside of my website and some drafts in the safety of my head, as I daren’t write them down.

Are you a blogger who feels the same? Do you have an anonymous blog or do you freely tell all your stories?

The downfalls of blogging.

When I was pregnant I knew once bub came along that my time would no longer be my own. It would be devoted to her and everything else would come second. Including this blog. Which probably came about 100th on the list after washing, cleaning, oh and trying to have a shower. As Sophie got into a routine things became a little easier and I tried to update this blog as much as I could.  The problem then wasn’t only just finding the time, it was finding some brain cells to string an intelligent sentence together.

In the beginning, this blog was for me. A place to vent, whinge and just crap on with whatever I liked. As more people started to read it, I also thought about the readers when blogging and tried to write about topics that pepole could relate to.

I’m guilty of being sarcastic, and having a sense of humour, which led to my Supermodel post. There are many many comments that I have never published on that post, because they are rude and offensive. How dare someone think they can visit my blog, MY BLOG and call me names and carry on. I’m terribly sorry but it is not my problem that you don’t have a sense of humour. I even thought about turning Puff Pieces off and crawling under a rock where there was no Internet connection.

Then I recently received a comment on a random post from a man who didn’t appreciate some spelling mistakes I had made. I’m terribly sorry but I didn’t realise this was the online Macquarie Dictionary. It’s a blog, a very informal casual blog that unfortunately doesn’t have the time to be proof read 1000 times before being published.

And then there’s product reviews. I’ve been fortunate enough to receive 2 products to review. First were the label stickers and then the Softie’s Baby Shoes. And most recently a marketing company invited me to help with the Disney Live! show promotion for the Newcastle shows. Why would I say no to that? It’s a great opportunity for myself and my daughter to experience a live kids stage show and for some Puff Pieces readers to win tickets of their own.

I have never received any financial payment for my writing, so why not enjoy a few perks along the way. I have been approached by companies to publish stories they have written full of links to their clients but I have always refused, and will only write about products I have myself tried and tested.

The fact that 2 out of the current 3 posts on the website are about products/shows is a coincidence. Once again it all comes back to that time factor. And when you’ve just had 6 weeks with limited Internet access because we were renovating, my priorities were elsewhere rather than making sure the current posts on the blog were of an adequate variety. Throw in a one year old who has decided that one day sleep is now enough, and there goes another day, week, month flying by.

Sometimes I think I’m too sensitive to have a blog. I’m too quick to react. But then other times I think why should I bother getting upset. If you have decided to no longer read Puff Pieces, then you probably won’t be reading this. But in case you are, thanks for reading thus far. And be sure not to check in next week when I’ll have another great product review.

Right, so now that I’ve used the washing up time to write this I better go and at least have a shower.

Depression

Today I went to a funeral of a man I barely knew. He was the husband of one of my husbands colleagues. I’d met him at work functions and he was an absolutely lovely man.

Last Tuesday, Bob, took his own life. He left behind his heartbroken wife, and devastated 2 children, his daughter aged 17 and son just 15.

All completely shocked that this sport loving, do anything for you, family man was battling depression demons so bad he saw no other way out but to end it all.

I cannot begin to imagine what his family are going through trying to work out why. Why didn’t he just tell someone. Ask for help. Work through it and still be here on this earth for his family.

Male stubbornness has a lot to answer for. Just because you’re a man, you don’t have to always be big and strong. It’s ok to shed a tear or ball your eyes out if you want to. And most importantly it’s ok to ask for help.

www.beyondblue.org.au