I used to read older entries a lot, with a sort of humiliated fascination, desperately hoping, I think, that I had changed dramatically since those days. I don't do that anymore for the same reason you said--just doesn't call to me. Maybe because I know now that I have changed.
Funnily, though, yesterday I read through a bunch of your old entries, for inspiration to write.
Here, I am addressing a specific community of people, many of whom have shared incredibly intimate details about their lives.
I think I have not moved on to a traditional blog because I consider my LJ friends actual friends. I would miss them dearly. And it would feel like betrayal.
I hope you won't leave. You are one of my very favorites.
when did you begin yr el jay? at what point in yr life did you begin yr space? i wish i'd known you earlier. is that weird to say?
awwwww! you are so sweet/kind/nice. i'm so lucky to have discovered so many creative folks via el jay. i genuinely feel like i know a lot of people on here that i've never met in person. perhaps it's because there are so many writers here: back in the day -- when i was moving out of self-reflection posts and mixing in the art -- i would search for new friends using poets i loved/admired. i figured i'd find quality people by searching for people who appreciated marie howe or atwood. you know?
ah, betrayal. you know, i do feel a responsibility to the people in this space. it's funny to word it that way. i can disappear for long stretches -- summer -- but to delete or abandon the el jay would feel terrible.
i'm just glad i don't annoy people with my posts. i'm just glad to know people here.
I wish I had known you earlier too! Way earlier. I started my LJ in 2003 when I was living in a small apartment with my mother, taking a few community college classes, and deeply lonely and depressed, my self-esteem so low that I truly believed my situation would never change and my life was worthless. Now that I think about it, LJ changed my life in a huge way. Not just because I met my husband here (and thus moved to Cali and attained my current job) but because the friends I made here improved my sense of self-worth to a huge degree. Wow, that's kind of a revelation. LJ is kind of responsible for, like, my entire life. Damn.
That was a long-ass answer!
perhaps it's because there are so many writers here: back in the day -- when i was moving out of self-reflection posts and mixing in the art -- i would search for new friends using poets i loved/admired. i figured i'd find quality people by searching for people who appreciated marie howe or atwood. you know?I did the same thing! I'm kind of amazed that I ended up with this group
( ... )
I didn't know you met Tim that way! How lovely?! It's kind of lovely to say that el jay gave you the space to really connect with people in a meaningful way. Your life, now, seems rather full and lovely, no matter the blips. How does your mother feel about you being so far away? I imagine it might be difficult to explain el jay to someone from another generation, one that hasn't connected with folks via the Internet.
So glad I'm not the only one who searches for friends via writers & interests! I'm thinking about doing it again: many of the people who were here when I began the journal post infrequently. I know life revs up, but I engage with livejournal because I like reading as much as I enjoy writing/posting/curating.
Funnily, though, yesterday I read through a bunch of your old entries, for inspiration to write.
Here, I am addressing a specific community of people, many of whom have shared incredibly intimate details about their lives.
I think I have not moved on to a traditional blog because I consider my LJ friends actual friends. I would miss them dearly. And it would feel like betrayal.
I hope you won't leave. You are one of my very favorites.
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awwwww! you are so sweet/kind/nice. i'm so lucky to have discovered so many creative folks via el jay. i genuinely feel like i know a lot of people on here that i've never met in person. perhaps it's because there are so many writers here: back in the day -- when i was moving out of self-reflection posts and mixing in the art -- i would search for new friends using poets i loved/admired. i figured i'd find quality people by searching for people who appreciated marie howe or atwood. you know?
ah, betrayal. you know, i do feel a responsibility to the people in this space. it's funny to word it that way. i can disappear for long stretches -- summer -- but to delete or abandon the el jay would feel terrible.
i'm just glad i don't annoy people with my posts. i'm just glad to know people here.
Reply
That was a long-ass answer!
perhaps it's because there are so many writers here: back in the day -- when i was moving out of self-reflection posts and mixing in the art -- i would search for new friends using poets i loved/admired. i figured i'd find quality people by searching for people who appreciated marie howe or atwood. you know?I did the same thing! I'm kind of amazed that I ended up with this group ( ... )
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So glad I'm not the only one who searches for friends via writers & interests! I'm thinking about doing it again: many of the people who were here when I began the journal post infrequently. I know life revs up, but I engage with livejournal because I like reading as much as I enjoy writing/posting/curating.
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