Yesterday, I read a blog post by Christian Long about why people blog and what sacrifices they may make for blogging to be such a significant part of their lives. I guess I fit into his last group:

Some are still figuring where they stand in the aforementioned mix. They have a blog. Sometimes they actually use it. Or they are still wondering if this blogging-business needs to take up precious time otherwise spent with their families and friends and hammocks. They might be in your audience, in your faculty room, or reading your blog right now. They may be looking for Google Juice by linking to you so that you’ll link to them, if they’re clever (he smiles).

I have a blog. I have had one for a few years. I documented some personal ramblings and saved some pictures on another “blogger” page. I was using it as a kind of “therapy” for that mystical experience of figuring out who I am and what I want to be when I grow up. I wasn’t really sure I wanted anyone else to read it, yet I really did want someone else to read it and respond…maybe. But was I up for criticism of my writing?

Now, through a few serendipitous clicks of the mouse, I have discovered a fountain of “Google Juice” inspiration. I am totally guilty as charged of linking to someone, hoping they’ll link back to me, creating a network of “experts” that I can learn from. In my mind, anyway, this may be the antidote for feelings of isolation during the school year.

I had a recent discussion with someone not in education about blogging, and why anyone would want to do it. He said he was a private person, to which I responded “Don’t you ever want to share ideas with someone?” His answer, of course, was that he would much rather do that face to face with someone he knows. I can understand that, but I have identified a particular character flaw in myself. I can’t get past a need for affirmation–someone, anyone, saying “YES! Exactly!” or “I think you’re on the right track” or even “You might want to rethink that one.” I have a limited number of people in my school that I feel I can turn to without being tiresome.

Perhaps, even if I am tiresome here in my own little blogworld, someone I don’t have to face on a day to day basis might have an easier time telling me to stop whining. I think I can be more open to criticism in writing because I have more time to reflect on it before responding. Whatever the case, because of this whole “new world” that has opened up on my screen, I am almost looking forward to getting back to school, collaborating with colleagues, and helping to create the kind of school I envision.

The internet never ceases to fascinate and amaze me. When I first entered a chat room on Christmas break in 2000, it was because my kids were driving me crazy and I hoped for some adult conversation. What followed was a whirlwind of time-sucking, often inappropriate, but ego-boosting conversations with people from all over the world. While the addiction eventually threatened my marriage, and MSN has since closed it’s chat rooms, I have pleasant memories of stimulating conversations with a DJ from Italy, and English professor living in Spain, a Harvard law criminal investigator and a pro golfer. When we were building our new house, I had conversations with a roofer, a framer and a well-driller. I know that people aren’t always honest about themselves online, but I was able to ask enough questions that I was satisfied that I was being spoken to truthfully.

Truthfully or not, I was talking to these people to fill a void, or at least a perceived void in my personal life. Much soul-searching and a renewed commitment to my marriage and my career led me away from the social networking aspects of chat rooms, but the desire to connect with others of similar interests never really disappeared. Don’t get me wrong–I’m not a troll who has trouble making friends. It just seems that life is so busy between my school activities and my sons’ school activities, and everything else that goes along with a marriage and maintaining a home. “Friends” end up being other parents at the same ballgames, or other teachers in the three buildings I work in, but even then, the kind of knowledge-sharing I crave just isn’t there.

This spring I added Google Reader to my iGoogle page and subscribed to updates from several educational bloggers. Through their posts, a whole new world has opened up. There are actually others out there excited about what they do and enjoy learning knew things as much, or even more than I do. They also seem to thrive on sharing what they discover with others! I have been introduced to Second Life, Ning, Scratch, PBWiki and most recently, Twitter.

Twitter didn’t seem like so much at first, but I was led to it through a post on Moving at the Speed of Creativity, so I looked up the author of that great blog to see who he was “following”. From there, I added other educators, reading their blogs as I did, then seeing who they were following. Needless to say, it has once again been sucking up a lot of my time, but it’s much more intellectually stimulating than my earlier “What are you wearing?” chat room days. Although I haven’t personally corresponded with any of the great colleagues I have become fans of, I feel like I have a support network when I do get ready to ask questions.

It’s a great feeling to be heading into a new school year knowing that a whole virtual network of inspired educators is only a click away. As the summer ends, I raise my glass to all who have inspired and continue to motivate me. Cheers!