I recently started reading a New York Times blog dedicated to the topic of migraines, which is also written by migraine sufferers. Yesterday’s post, by Paula Kamen, talked about blogs written by female authors with chronic illnesses.
She writes, “… This constructive approach counters the long-standing speech- and activism-chilling stereotype of women who speak out about illness: that they are “wallowing” in it or creating a “pain identity.” The basic message of the growing number of young women blogging about chronic illness — who have just become a significant force only in the past three years or so — is not one of victimhood: It’s to concentrate on what you can do, not what you can not.”
After I read her post, little bubbles of hope rose in my chest– not too familiar of a feeling.
Something that eats at me is the thought of letting blogging be therapeutic. I feel like if my blogging is therapeutic, then it will be a drag for other people to read. That it will be akin to a 13-year-old’s LiveJournal post about what she ate for lunch that day. I guess I have this belief that if I’m going to blog for myself, I should just keep the content to myself in the first place. That I shouldn’t pollute the intertubes with my self-centered, depressive musings.
Well, I feel inspired to officially declare, “fuck that.” I do have ideas about where these irrational beliefs come from (parents, interweb traditions), and I’d like some new ones.
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