Thinking back and looking forward

Quote of the day:

Out of the heart the mouth speaks. [Josh Thompson and Stephen Garretson in Encouraging Men in Their Conversations with Children from Perspectives on Gender in Early Childhood, Editor: me]

Five years ago I started blogging. Yes indeed, this is my fifth anniversary of this writing project. I must admit I had forgotten all about that until I was reminded while reading Danny Miller's blog yesterday. In 2001, Danny wandered into a presentation of mine at the NAEYC conference in Anaheim. It was called "The Anti-Bias Curriculum: Looking Back and Thinking Forward." There must have been about one hundred people in the room that day, so I did not notice anyone in particular. It was only a week later that I met Danny - through an email to me. As an acquisitions editor, he was looking for early childhood authors and stumbled upon me that day, one week earlier. In his email, he asked if I would like to write a book on the topic of my presentation. I stared at the computer screen in disbelief. It felt as if I had won some kind of lottery. I felt discovered! Finally! After all those years! It is impossible to describe all my intensely mixed feelings of excitement and anxiety as I replied eagerly agreeing to write up a proposal of a book I had been thinking of for many years. A couple of weeks later I flew into Washington DC to meet him. The rest is history. Four years later he encouraged and inspired me to start my first blog, and has been a constant supporter of how, and what I write for the past seven years. Danny has given me the perfect support and encouragement I needed for writing right from my heart, and from the depths of the emotional memories in my brain. In short, Danny, gave me the opportunity to find my author's voice. I will be forever grateful to him. 

This morning, as I look back at the very beginning of blogging, I feel as if it has been more than just five years. The Internet became a great friend to me. I have learned so much through writing these two blogs, and have connected with amazing people all over the world. Writing in the blogs has given me the expression I desperately needed during some very difficult and lonely days when we first moved to Philadelphia from Buffalo. But more than all that, I discovered that I really and truly like to write. I adore having a public forum to write to. I do not know who reads me, and, although my audience is not as great as many other bloggers I know, it is important for me that others read what I write. At times, it feels as if I have something important to say, and that it is worth sharing with others. Indeed, I want to be heard. I do not want to be invisible with what I say or think ...

... And, speaking of thinking ... and as I look forward, I wonder what will develop and evolve from my future blogging. For example, I was able to incorporate some important posts into my second book, and even in the introductory chapter of my third. So, it appears that blogging the hours away has not been wasteful! 

As I celebrate my fifth bloggaversary this morning, I would like to thank Danny Miller, the Internet, my trusty computer, and especially all those who take the time to stop by and read, or make the effort to comment, or just to read and not comment. 

All are welcome, for I am always grateful to realize that you might have passed by my humble blogging abode! 

A year ago at Mining Nuggets: No more declarations

Comments

[Danny]

Always grateful that I wandered into your presentation that day. And for your books, your blog, and especially our friendship.

[tamarika]

Dear Joy,
Thanks so much for these very kind words. Much appreciated.

[Joy]

Happy 5th Blogiversary Tamarika. Congratulations on this milestone my friend. You are a loving soul with a beautiful heart; and you always have many wonderful things to say....may you continue to say them. Love, Joy

[tamarika]

Dear Frank. Thank you so much for linking to this post so generously on your blog! As always I am moved by your thoughtfulness and support of my blogging. I so enjoy accompanying you, too, as we dance through Cyberspace. Indeed, it was you, who introduced me to Twitter and Facebook. I have learned so much from you over the years and so often heartily agree with your points of view and ideas about - well, oh - everything, almost!

[fp]

Happy fifth "bloggaversary" Tamar! I am happy that I was able to share some of this journey with you and I look forward to reading more of your work as time goes by. Today I'll steal a few of your thoughts and post them at Listics (duly acknowledged and credited, of course).

"Authenticity" is a concept that many find ephemeral these days. Sometimes it is more easily described with an example than with language lubricated by postmodern relativism. You write from the heart and provide us all with a good example of how to share our experiences authentically.

In 2010, as I struggle to revitalize my own blog in an expanded online world, I can wish for no better example of the way forward than "Mining Nuggets."