A few days ago Cass posted a You tube video of Steve Jobs giving a speech to some grad students. I thought it was great advice and sent it to my 17 year old son.

He makes the point – which has been made many times by many people – that life is short – we are all going to die.

Right now, in my mind, that idea is connecting to blogging.

I got into blogging a few years ago and did it for about 6 months before losing interest. The blogsite was for ‘writers’.

I had a lot of time on my hands because I was recovering from major surgery and I was trying to avoid my ex-husband while we lived in the same house.

I wanted to write some stuff that I could publish. That’s what it’s all about. I’m no different to masses of people who want to give their point of view to the world.

Listen to me! Listen to me!

My posts were mostly formalized writing that didn’t invite comment. But I wanted the practice. Or seeing something I wrote published. Or my name on the page (though, I admit, the name on the page was a bit of a shock and I wrestled with that).

But it was ‘mine’ and I spent as much time designing my pages as I did writing.

The thing I liked best about this blogsite was the discussion and interaction that it generated. Responding to the content of other people’s posts. The spontaneity.

So, back to Steve Jobs’ speech in relation to blogging… I am much closer to death than other JSchoolers, so it’s easy for me to appreciate the reality that I am an infinitesimal speck in a vast timeless Universe. I don’t want to waste my limited time half-communicating.

The best blogs posts mean what they say and say what they mean. They are ‘authentic’, not written to impress.

Ultimately, blogs are about communication. Even if people disagree with you.