Accept what people can give

CC. Photo by Jacqueline.

Kindred Road is live, but I still haven’t broadcast this revelation to most friends and family in the “real” world. I’ve been wrapping up a nearly two-month stay up in Canada and have been taking it pretty easy this last week as I let Kindred Road’s existence sink in a little. I want to give myself a little time to get comfortable with the idea of being “out there” for the world to see. It still scares me some to think that some people (one or two?) will eventually start reading what I write. I also need to work on creating a life routine that makes Kindred Road-related writing one of the focal points of my day. Ideally, I’d like to get some thoughts out to the world every single day, but in these beginning stages, I’ll settle for a couple of times a week (well, one this week…). Writing is hard enough as it is, but it is especially hard during these early days. Practice doesn’t always make perfect, but things usually get easier with practice. I’m hoping that the writing gets easier, but more so, I’m hoping that the idea of being “exposed” becomes easier to swallow. I suppose I just need to give things some time.

I’ve been catching up on my blog reading this past week (and liberally using Google Reader’s “Mark all as read” button as well). As I whack through my Google Reader inbox, and then my Google+, Twitter, and Facebook streams, I can’t help but get a little nervous, as the same thought keeps coming into my head:

There’s a ton of great content out on the web already, and the volume of that content is growing exponentially every day — what could I possibly contribute to the conversations out there that hasn’t been said already?

If I think too much about this question, I start feeling very intimidated, and my mind starts reeling to the point where I think I might as well just shut the whole “Kindred Road” thing down (as well as my other online aspirations), even though I’ve barely started. But that’s really weak. And I know I’m better than that. I’ve just got to plug along and give things a fair shake. I owe myself at least that much….

As I work to outline, craft, style, and schedule the forthcoming posts here on Kindred Road, I have a lot to think about, as any new blogger would. I’ve read a lot of things from other “successful” people in the online space, and my head’s filled with ideas, recommendations, best practices, etc. I have a lot of work to do, but I’m looking forward to the journey I’ve embarked on, even if I am a little nervous. As my ship slowly sails from the safe harbor, I’m going to keep in mind some honest, thoughtful words from Seth Godin, which I heard today while contemplating just what the heck I should write about:

–Seth Godin, in an interview with Zen Habits’ Leo Babauta, 11/17/2011)

I will write for those people who can accept what I can give. And I will do my best. And I will have fun in the process.

See you on the Road,