COME OUT, COME OUT, WHEREVER YOU ARE

Every now and then, someone who is off my social-media radar says, in real time, “I read your blog.”

When this happens, I’m surprised because this isn’t from someone who posts comments or “likes” my Facebook status changes with cute faces  or leaves any kind of online footprint in my cyberspace world.

Of course I want to ask, “Well … do you enjoy it?” But if I have to ask, I shouldn’t; too much like fishing for a compliment. Besides, I don’t know that I want to hear if the person’s reaction is quite the opposite of positive.

The other day I had a face-time conversation with someone who mentioned Facebook. I asked, “Wait, are we Facebook friends? I never see your posts.”

She said, “Oh, I never post. I’m just a – what do you call it…?”

“A stalker?”

Yeah, that.

With the blog, I get hundreds of views a week, according to the website statistics. Sometimes, the views surpass a grand. I don’t quite know what that means; if folks politely scroll right past the feed on their way to someone else’s content, or if the number measures those who are clicking on and reading the posts. As for who is reading what, beats me! Rarely do they leave comments.

I think this is much like life. We are always watching people, and they are always watching us. We judge, yes we do, based on what they post on social media or how they interact with the grocery-store clerk, and on a whole lot of other factors that happen instantly inside our heads.
We observe their actions, their buying habits, and if they walk their talk. We just do. And they do too regarding us.

The thing is, I do this very thing that I wonder about. There are a good number of website blogs to which I subscribe at the national, regional and local levels. They are very well done, the writing solid, the messages keen. There is so much great material online that I find myself overwhelmed with possibility. I could sit here 24/7, read nonstop and never remotely get to the bottom of the must-read stack.

I have to lead a real-time walking-around life besides an online one.

And you do too.

Something to think about as we consider our lives (and social media) platforms, shares, rants, raves, and the lives we live in real time and space.

Still I wonder.

Here’s a challenge from me to you: if you have never posted a comment on this blog but read it, would you do me the honor of a comment? I’d love to know who is out there looking in and offer my thanks that you take your time to stop by. I know that you have endless other blogs you could be reading. I’m delighted that you visit mine. Even if I have no clue that you are doing it.

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