The purpose of this post is to confirm and clarify the vision or direction of this blog and to hold me accountable to it.
I have realized that my vision of my blog’s tone, style, and focus is somewhat murkier in my mind than I would like it to be. When I began this blog, I intended it to be a place for my reflections–even personal ones–and analyses related to life, literature, education, and other subjects of interest. My earliest posts (while definitely cringe-worthy in some ways, looking back at them!) tended to be conversational and unafraid of breaking academic paper writing conventions, such as the use of the first-person “I” and personal anecdotes. I of course endeavored to keep general grammar rules and create coherent sentences, but I allowed for free-flowing, “natural,” and relatable language and thoughts; sincerity, personality, and individuality aimed at expressing even half-baked observations deemed too beautiful not to share mattered.
However, recently (while working on several new post ideas), I have found myself thinking and behaving as though I were writing prim-and-proper academic papers, with an increasing attentiveness to “correct” uses of “one” instead of “I” or other personal pronouns, an increasing desire to identify and connect only novel and deep themes, and an increasing urge for perfection of analysis corroborated by external sources, among other things. Although I quite like paper-writing and recognize the value of formal conventions, I feel as though I am slipping a bit from the simplicity and sincerity that I seek when I instead choose to agonize over a post in this manner or mold a post into something I would submit for a grade rather than share with a friend.
Hence, I am resetting and clarifying my expectations and vision for this blog’s style:
The point of this blog is not to build up my self-image as a smart intellectual, but rather, it is primarily to share delight and wonder in a way that builds up other people and does justice to meaningful subjects. Hereafter, both more formal quasi-papers or analyses and more personal, more anecdotal reflections will freely appear here. Tone and elevation of style will vary somewhat from post to post as best fits the particular topic; length will also vary, rejecting the dichotomy of either crafting a “standard,” “impressive,” 1500-word article or nothing at all. Philosophical musings on the transcendent will not take precedence over sacramental lessons from the ordinary–and vice-versa.