It just starts with a ‘Like’… [also titled as Dear Sandra – part 2]
… not even a Like for a blog posting, but just a Like that Stephanie clicked for a short comment I left for Vic’s post-hunting trip photos of a worm.
This is how I discovered Stephanie, then after reading her Masks of Me poem and About page, I immediately added her blog to follow and resolved to revise my About Us page, especially to forewarn potential readers about my bad grammar and overuse of inapproriate punctuation marks (in my To-do list).
The very next day, I receive email notification of her next post, which was her ‘Call to Arms’ in response to Sandra’s emotional distress. This kind and compassionate post, aptly titled “Sharing the Lovejuice“, got my Creative Juices flowing. You see, this interaction was a perfect example of ‘blogging therapy in action’. The number of similar anecdotal accounts in the comments, further supports how frequent this type of positive interaction happens in the blogosphere.
I am relatively new to blogging, only starting regular posts 2 months ago. This Stephanie/Sandra interaction has reinforced my interest to explore how healing encounters in the blogosphere could be better facilitated, beyond the great work the WordPress or other blog platforms provide. As a family physician, with interest in research and evidence-based medicine, I have already formulated a raw vision of what a ‘blogging therapy’ site might provide.
Why I am sharing a concept of what might be the next super startup? I guess I don’t have the time or skills to do this alone, and being an anonymous blogger makes it even more difficult. I have decided my next step is to create a team of passionate bloggers, preferrably with some web design / programming experience, to help refine my ideas and make it happen. Maybe I’ll draft some ‘position descriptions’ and conduct virtual interviews – we’ll see. Volunteers?
Why am I so interested in this now? My skills and experience as a family physician, hasn’t always been so helpful to guide my ability to support and respond to our family challenges with depression. But the experiences of other depression sufferers or their partners, shared through the blogosphere, has been a critically important influence on me, even within very short period of time (you can ask my wife). SO, this seems like a great way to payback the “Lovejuice”, at the same time providing a healthy, creative distraction from my day-job and family stresses.
What can you do to help? By reading this, sharing this, Liking this… you’re already helping. If you think you might be interested in more involvement than that, let me know in comments/email. I envisage that my ideas are only a starting point, and that insights from more experienced bloggers like you, will help incubate my vision into a ‘sensational’ site, that will really get the Lovejuices flowing!!
whatsandrathinks said:
Hi… I have some info I’d like to share — I will email it later today when I’m not supposed to be out buying chicken for tonight’s dinner. 🐔 Also, I’d love to help, especially if it’s a paying job (joke…I know it’s not) but unfortunately, my programming skills are very limited. I can make really nice graphics, though…
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bittersweet1976 said:
Hey Sandra, thanks for your comment. What you sent my via email was very interesting. It all helps to clarify exactly what we want to create in this blogging therapy site. I also appreciate your comment about payment – this is very important and would be something that may be a possibly, depending on how the team implementing the project decide to set it up.
But initially, you are probably correct – it would need to start with unpaid volunteers… but this doesn’t mean you don’t get non-financial benefits from contributing. Check out this nice article about the proven health benefits of helping others.
I will reply by email, soon.
Hubby
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whatsandrathinks said:
Hmm… I guess I should start helping people instead of being a bitch. Haha…. okay, sorry. Just a little joke!
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izabolinha said:
Liked this very much , you might be on to something !
And to Sandra :
Ah! Sandra …you beat me to it 😉
I was going to suggest you here , for your graphic design capabilities 🙂
Turtle Hugs
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bittersweet1976 said:
Hey Turtle, very sweet for you to comment. When I briefly looked at your blog, I was reminded that this concept is aiming to complement existing platforms like WordPress, and is not intended to recreate excellent resources like Blogging 101, which seem to have helped you get off to a great start.
Your experience with those types of resources, particularly if you felt something was missing, may be helpful for brainstorming features that we should consider.
Cheers
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izabolinha said:
Thank you for your answer and for looking me over 😉
Unfortunately I am having one of my “stupid days” , or it’s a language barrier thing , or it is the head cold I have that is clogging my brain , but I could not understand what you are saying 😦 My bad I know , maybe I can get it in a day or two (it happened before , you know , from time to time my brain clears enough and things just click )
Turtle Hugs 🙂
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bittersweet1976 said:
Thanks for your reply – I appreciate your feedback. I guess when I describe more details about my vision for a ‘blogging therapy’ site, I think it will make more sense about what I was asking you.
But essentially, hearing about your experiences with blogging, both positive and negative, will help me understand what website features would increase the benefits of blogging as ‘therapy’.
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izabolinha said:
🙂
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stephellaneous said:
Great post and great idea. I’m interested to hear more about what you envision. I’d love to be a part of it, but I will say I don’t know web design and coding. I know a ton of people that do, but I’m trying to maintain some semblance of anonymity. Grr. I hope someone sees this that has the skills you’re looking for!
And thank you for the pingbacks and awesome thoughts you’ve shared here. 🙂
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bittersweet1976 said:
Stephanie,
I would love you to be a part of it – just your writing / blogging experience, combined with your compassion for fellow bloggers qualifies you! I have a bunch of ideas, and I am sure you will have more. Need to think if there’s a way for me to reach out to the people you know in web design and coding, without sacrificing your anonymity. Otherwise, we keep searching the blogosphere…I’m sure they’re out there, somewhere.
Hope you’re having a great week end.
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Juana said:
Hi! I think this is a great idea, and I’d love to help.
I don’t know coding, but I did take web design classes in college. I also could probably help with some other random tidbits like data collection and networking, if they’re needed in this case.
I’m not sure what else you’d need, but I like this idea and I’d like to be involved.
Thanks!
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bittersweet1976 said:
HI Juana,
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Great to have you onboard. I have a bunch of ideas that need to be refined, but I can see that your blogging and healing work could be very helpful in launching the final product.
Blogging as a form of therapy is slowing becoming more mainstream, especially when combined with medication/face-to-face therapies, as appropriate.
Thanks again, take care
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magarisa said:
Reblogged this on Becoming unstuck and commented:
Would you like to be part of a ‘blogging therapy’ website that offers emotional support and facilitates healing? If so, head over to https://dialogueftdepths.wordpress.com and let fellow blogger bittersweet1976 know!
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bittersweet1976 said:
Hi Magarisa,
Thanks for the reblog. I see you are a new blogger like myself. This highlights one of the main factors I have been considering. What features of this ‘blogging therapy’ site are primarily for new bloggers, and what services could be helpful to experienced bloggers? I will elaborate on some more specifics of this in the next few days – I will be interested in feedback, suggestions and VOLUNTEERS…
… once we have a core team, some of the planning ‘discussions’ may be done out of the blogosphere, but if anyone knows someone with programming / website design skills, they should contact me asap, because they will be essential for implementation.
Hubby
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Sandra said:
I think your idea is genius! I’m always up for anything that will help me or my fellow peeps. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help. I’m not sure what you would need from me, but hopefully there’s something….
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Sandra said:
Forgot to click the “notify me of new comments” button…so here I am clicking it.
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sheldonk2014 said:
Thank you for your follow
See you soon
As always Sheldon
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Kitt O'Malley said:
There are psychotherapists and health care providers (even Anthem Blue Cross offers LiveHealthOnline startlivehealthonline.com) who offer services online. Both NAMI and DBSA have online support groups. Check out my resource page (some offer online help, others information): http://kittomalley.com/resources/
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