Women’s Health Blogs - Adventures In The Blogsphere
Sue Richards
Writing, as a form of therapy, is as old as ink itself.
Universally understood as a transformative process, the simple
act of putting pen to page can effectively jump start personal
growth and healing.
Over the years I’ve had more than a handful of sessions on a
therapist’s couch sorting through the baggage I’ve built,
bought, borrowed and inherited in my 48 years. Without
exception, each qualified practitioner proposed the following
recommendation: start and keep a daily journal.
Seems much angst and worry can be worked through with pen and
paper. Yet for reasons that can only be explained as part of
‘my personal charm,’ my journal keeping would start and lapse
in record time. Nevertheless, I knew the writing process to be
powerful despite my inability to be consistent. Once, after
managing to hold my journaling nose to the grindstone for 13
weeks, I leapt tall buildings made of artist block and landed
on the other side, with renewed energy and fabulous paid work.
And yet, despite my success, I quickly discontinued putting my
thoughts on paper.
Miraculously, last spring, my lifelong writing inertia
evaporated with the click of a computer button. As easy as one,
two, three, I started my own on-line journal, more commonly
known as a blog.
A blog is a web log comprised of a series of posts, about the
author’s choice of subject, from professional to personal.
Every entry is date and time stamped as they are published,
giving the material the feel of a traditional diary.
Blog procedure is exceedingly simple and free for anyone with
access to a computer. I type my thoughts, press the publish
toggle and instantly my rants and raves go live on the World
Wide Web. There is no middle person, web mistress, publisher or
editor to be found. Blog control post, pace and frequency is in
the blogger’s hands.
However, there is one distinct motivating difference between
your traditional hard copy diary hidden away, under the bed,
and your blog. Blogging offers a possible audience.
My first thought was to use a blog to share the unusual
adventure of my Calendar Girl life and draw attention to the
Breast of Canada project. It took no time to realize that a
following of fans was a big buzz, injecting tremendous energy
into the somewhat relentless process of making, marketing and
moving 3000 calendars every year.
My second blog took on a digest format offering alternative
breast related news that was a simple by-product of my role of
publisher.
Blog number three was born thanks to a peri-menopausal fit of
memory and hair loss. Fondly called ‘My Menopause Blog, How to
Punctuate Life Without a Period,’ This effort truly fits the
therapeutic writing model and contributes enormously to my
state of mind.
Writing publicly about my petulant period, in real time, is
like inviting a bunch of menopausal women over for tea and a
heart-to-heart. Not surprising, scaling the dome of silence
surrounding menopause, and talking above a whisper about ‘The
Pause’ resonates deeply with women readers.
Shooting from the hip and funny bone, I share my findings of
remedies, attitude shifts and my belief that menopause is not a
disease. Thinking broadens with each entry; confidence grows as
does understanding and a liberated sense of ageing. My
Menopause Blog is like a cyber red tent for anyone interested
in musing on maturity.
Eventually, curiosity lead to an on-line exploration of blog
networks, blog rolls and search engines to see if other women
were writing about their lives, health and well being.
Turns out, they are. Thousands of blogs are written by new
moms, freshly divorced, empty nesters, the menopausal,
survivors of cancer, stay at home parents, clinically depressed
and chronically curious. Photos are up-loaded. Advice is sought.
Human contact is collected by way of comments that reader’s
leave like cyber hugs. There’s a whole lot of contact being
made between people separated by geography, but connected by
circumstance.
Clever blog names are common with blog owners. Ellie at This is
My Body, This is My Blood offers a hilarious window into her
peri-menopausal pity party. ‘I'm Out of Estrogen and It's Not
Pretty’ provides a window into Victoria’s menopausal life. A
group blog that I randomly come across claims: “Running this
blog is about 50,000 times cheaper than a good therapist.”
This new cyber kid on the block follows a blogger code of
conduct that creates a safe, encouraging and friendly zone
where you can let yourself hang out, be human and be heard. Not
everyone writes like a professional, although there are
excellent pro bloggers leading many a parade of readers.
Countless circles of similarly focused, differently skilled
people gather in and share the Blogosphere.
My greatest blogging benefit comes from my daily commitment to
write just like the psychologists suggested. I clear my head,
sort out my hormone-scattered feelings, get cheered on and
remind myself that life is dynamic. Indeed, the cyber trail
documentation of my menopausal mood swings is time stamped
proof.
About The Author: Sue Richards, publisher of the breast health
calendar Breast of Canada is a Social Science alumni from
University of Guelph. A YWCA Women of Distinction and founder
of the community arts project Art Jam, Sue currently spends her
time Blogging about menopause and breast cancer prevention.
http://www.mymenopauseblog.com
http://www.thebreastviewsblog.blogspot.com
http://www.breastofcanada.blogspot.com
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