The Sunday Roast #1

Emerging From The Chrysalis

TODAY'S BLOGGER IS LEE, of Chrysalis Dreams.

Photograph supplied by Lee.

Why do you blog?

Well, I started blogging by accident. I had tried to comment on a friend's new blog and when I registered I ended up creating a blog by accident. Suddenly I had a blog out there with nothing on it. So I had to create a first post. After that I was hooked. Nothing has raised my self esteem more than my blogging and the responses I get from it. Additionally, I get the chance to reflect on what I’ve experienced and learn in the process. Some day I want to be a writer so this is a chance to hone my writing skills.

What is the story behind your blog name?

For several years now I’ve been in the process of becoming a teacher. This is since the breakup of my marriage and the goal of teaching was suggested by a new friend. My divorce left me pretty devastated so changing careers into something that challenges me in a totally new way is part of a personal goal to rebuild my life into something I won’t let anyone or anything destroy. So, since I’m becoming a new creature, and I love creatures with wings, I thought of myself in a chrysalis. You can tell from my image on the blog that becoming a beautiful butterfly is my "Birth of a New Age". Thus I labelled my blog Chrysalis Dreams. It is filled with my hopes and dreams in a way that almost nothing else has been to date. The next thing I’ll fill is my classroom.

What is the best thing about being a blogger?

The positive responses you get from others and the chance to feel normal. I love it when people comment. Even if they disagree with me it’s ok. The feeling normal part comes from seeing that others agree with you and my reminder to myself that "I can’t be THAT different" whenever I think I’m writing something people won’t like or agree with.

What key advice would you give to a newbie blogger?

Remember that what ever you put out there is "out there" for everyone to see, so unless you really like conflict don’t write to shock or offend. This is your "public voice". Also when you think you’re done writing, put the blog in "preview" mode and re-read your post. For some reason, reading a post in a published format is like seeing yourself in a photo. It won’t lie to you like a mirror will and you’ll see things you want to change.

What is the most significant blog post you’ve ever read?

Gee, I’ve read so many good posts. My friend Susan Palwick writes lots of them. But I can think of two I want to highlight. San Meredith’s post on finding your totem animal. That post sent me on a search to find my own. My totem animal turned out to be the deer and it fits perfectly with what I’m doing and what I need. The other was a prayer from my friend JS of Influxtransposer blog. She posted it at a time when I really needed to hear these words. The prayer is from the New Zealand Prayer Book ......

Lord, it is night.
The night is for stillness.

Let us be still in the presence of God.
It is night after a long day.

What has been done has been done;
what has not been done has not been done;
let it be.

The night is dark.
Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives rest in you.
The night is quiet.

Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,
all dear to us, and all who have no peace.

The night heralds the dawn.
Let us look expectantly to a new day, new joys, new possibilities.
In your name we pray.

Amen.

What is the most significant blog post you’ve ever written?

Well, the one that got the best compliment was my post "Comics and Ritual" which is about spirituality in routine. The one that is getting the most use and that I’m also very proud of is the "Walking Side by Side" post which I wrote for my father. That one was not only a gift to him. It is now being put into my professional portfolio for teaching to show how I learn from experience and what I want to do as a teacher. It will also be a good example of the quality of my writing.

Today's Sunday Roast with Lee is the first in a weekly series of interviews with bloggers from around the world.