Trying to dress herself.I have quite a few thoughts running around in my head. I’m not sure this post is going to make any sense, but I’m going to try.
Blogging is of necessity just a small glimpse into any one’s life. Just as any reality show isn’t the whole story- a blogger’s post is edited, photo shopped and cropped to fit the space and theme available.
Whatever the genre a blogger is focusing on, she is trying to put her best foot forward.
But, I wonder, at times, if we are doing ourselves more harm than good. I believe in smiling through the tears, in looking at the bright side (remind me to tell you about my wedding reception sometime) in being optimistic and happy in the face of challenges and stress. But, I also believe in being real. I believe in being honest about the hardships and trials of motherhood/ wifehood/ womanhood. I believe that if we share those things, we strengthen each other. We remove the barriers of jealousy, competition, assumptions and misconceptions.
As I work on my photo-shop skills, and learn how to edit my photographs so they are more visually pleasing, I hope I don’t learn so well that I photo-shop my life. Even though the Avon lady thought I was crazy- I told her that the big crease in my forehead didn’t bother me. The laugh lines and the cushion around the edges aren’t what I’m about. Erasing those things erases me. It erases the experiences, the compassion, the understanding, the empathy I have gained through those hard-fought experiences. And hiding them behind a veil of “perfection” isn’t helping anyone.
I’m really curious how other people feel about this idea- Do you only want to see the magazine-worthy cropped and staged lives of other people? Are you only interested in the ideal because you already have enough of the reality at home? Or do you look for some oneness, some similarity between what you’re seeing and what you are? Would anyone else like to see Martha cry, just to know she’s human?
Leave me a comment- or a link to your own ideas about this. I’d really like to know what you think.
XOXO,
Amy
Amy @ Increasingly Domestic
February 28, 2011 at 5:34 amI am so moved! I agree that we need to not photoshop our lives. Life is messy and painful and beautiful, but without the pain the beauty would not be as intense.
I love that you put it all out there and feel such a bond to you as a woman because of it.
Keep it real ladies!
Kathleen
February 28, 2011 at 12:45 pmAmy,
I love your posts. And I think we need to be honest because who knows you might encourage someone who's struggling. I am very new to blogging but I posted Saturday about the rough year I had had. I am glad I did although after I posted it I wondered if I should have. 🙂 I might not put everything out there but I will always be honest about my life. The good, bad, and in between!
AlwaysSewLove(at)blogspot(dot)com
Gwen @ Gwenny Penny
February 28, 2011 at 2:12 pmI think it's important to be real sometimes. No one's life is perfect. I'd like some proof that Martha isn't a robot:) Although some people don't want to share the messy stuff, it's OK if you do. Like right now, we've been up for over two hours, my youngest is the only one dressed (and that's only because she had a poopy diaper), the breakfast dishes are still in the sink, I haven't emptied the dishwasher from last night, and the playroom is already destroyed. Will I blog about it? No, but that's how it is.
On the other hand, I also think that there are things that shouldn't go on a blog. If you're going through a messy divorce, I probably don't want to read about how much you hate your husband on your craft blog, know what I mean?