Who Reads This Journal?

Captain’s Log  4,385

I was asked an interesting question the other day.  Where are SO-AND-SO and SO-AND-SO and SO-AND-SO who used to leave comments here all the time?  Answer…..I have no idea.  It’s interesting when people that you seem to have a good connection with just stop the interface with you.  The worst is when they stop reading but pretend they still do.  You talk about something that has been on your journal mind for days and they have no idea what you are talking about.  It’s so easy to bust someone that way.

I have also stopped reading certain people for various reasons.  I don’t want to read anyone who personally offends me with hateful rantings.  I also don’t want to read people who say “I am finished!  I am never going to talk about this crap EVER again!”  Two days later, they are talking about crap again.  I also have a hard time reading people who constantly blame their mothers and/or childhood experiences for every scrap of low self-esteem they can put into a journal entry.

Here’s what I have to say to you.  Heed.

 

I am so very tired of your misery.  Get off your ass and DO something.  I have noticed that people who wallow in self-pity do absolutely nothing for anyone else.  They keep their world tiny and contained.  What a pitiful choice. 

I also stopped reading people who made me feel creepy and uncomfortable with their chosen subject matter.  I have stopped reading journals by people who are smart asses.

I love to read journals of people who are mastering something – overcoming a hurdle – making forward progress – and honoring the journey of that discovery.

I love reading journals by people who pose challenging thoughts and ideas.  I love reading journals by people who make me laugh.  I love reading journals by people who inspire me to be even half as intelligent, dogged, or insightful as their authors.

But the best journals of all are written by people who have claimed their happiness.  I love reading about people who thrive on adventure or the sweetness of reading good books over a pot of tea.  I love reading journals by people who are passionate about something other than themselves.

So I guess that answers the question.  As much as some journals are not a good fit for me, so it is true for this journal not fitting with everyone as well.  I get that.  Over the years, I have certainly encountered some interesting writers and readers here.  I have met many people in 3D, and some have lasted the test of time.  There are still those I long to meet someday.  It’s a funny place, this Cyberland.

So is Geocaching Land.  Roomie and I headed out on an absolutely perfect afternoon to see what we could do in a few hours.  It’s high rattlesnake season, so going off-trail was not an option.  That’s the last thing anyone needs.  We stuck to urban treasure hunting.  We found them attached to stop signs, underneath electric boxes, etc.  It’s always fun to find more than 50% of what you are seeking.

When I first started this amazing game, we went out to find a cache in an industrial area.  We looked and looked and looked and the GPS coordinates said we were so close to the cache we could touch it.  Puzzled, we wandered around like Moses for what seemed 40 years.  Finally, I noticed that one of the sprinkler heads seemed “different.”  That’s a clue in geocaching.  Does something seem different?  Indeed!  The cache was hidden inside a fake sprinkler head.   Indeed.  Fake sprinkler heads are designed to hold extra house keys, etc.  Geocaches too.

Sneaky, eh?

But the most favorite container I have ever found was located inside an upright of a chain link fence.  I uncapped it to find this.  And I fell on the sidewalk unable to breathe because I was laughing so hard!

Batteries not included

 So yes, I know this journal is not for everyone.   And that’s fine.  Facebook has taken away a lot of this “art form” of actually writing something.  We are geared to sound bites and instant gratification.  Is it good or is it bad?  I guess that all depends on what you are looking for.  I seek inspiration and joy from these efforts.  Some days I am rewarded.