They say every journey of a thousand miles begins with one small step. This post represents the first step of my bloggosphere journey. Like most novice bloggers, I start this journey with a whole lot of enthusiasm, wonder and excitement together with a squeeze of trepidation and many questions. I am hoping that in a couple of years, I’ll look back at this post and see how far into the bloggosphere I have travelled, laugh at what I didn’t know and like a proud parent savour what I have grown and nurtured.
Why this blog? I enjoy the written word and entertaining people. If I can raise an “ah-ha”, a laugh or a smile out of just one person, then it’s a good day. I also love community. Ironically, my love for the written word came long after I left school – my English teachers will attest to that. I remember not so fondly my high school years in English class wondering why the English department had nothing better to do than butcher some great novels. Take Thomas Hardy’s novel, Tess of the D’Urbervilles – a fabulous girl meets boy story. At one point (actually several points, but let’s not go there), Angel leaves Tess and Tess is blue. What an amazing literary coincidence that at the time of Tess’ “blueness” the weather is dank, wet, cold and depressing to match her mood. And just my luck I had to write a thousand words about this very imagery. Why couldn’t Tess just turn up the stereo, listen to her favourite break up songs, eat a tonne of ice-cream, cry her little eyes out and funk out without the appropriate scenery like everyone else? It would have saved me an excruciating thousand words!
Roll the film forward and I am grateful that the love of the written word found its way to my life. This is a very good thing given I have spent most of the last quarter of a century working in a profession where every word counts and a stray “and” or “or” can change the meaning of a document or the course of a transaction (not to mention cost someone a whole lot of mullah). However, business writing is not creative writing and my creative muscle is begging for a regular work out. So the blogosphere it is.
I have called my blog “Raising the Curtain” because through it I hope to find a way to effectively prepare for life’s second act. What happens when you get to the crossroads and find out that the road map which you have been using no longer applies or that life has stopped providing the signage you need to finish your journey? How do you survive middle age and come out bigger and better than before? I don’t have the answers….. yet, but I am hoping to go at least some of the way to finding them through writing, sharing common experiences and humour. I am not a change your life guru or a dream merchant… but what I do know is that a journey shared is more fun than a solo journey and I love learning new things.
So, let’s raise the curtain to the second act. Currently at the crossroads I can see a “Stop” and a “Give Way” sign and a sign that says “U-turn”. None of these seem right. There is a whole lot of fantastic living still to be done and most likely a “Dip” or a “Hump” on the way. I love to hear your points of view, so let’s make this a two way conversation.
Welcome to my blog and let the curtain raising begin!
Judy
Raising the Curtain 
Well done Judy, you are always such a star! I look forward to your journey into cyberspace. May you find what you desire and inspire those around you. xxx
Thanks AM, loving that you can share it with me!
Break a leg with your second act, Judes! As we all know, not only does life not provide signposts, we are also the whole creative cast of our respective lives. Looking forward to your blogs.
Thanks Pammo. Yep, no soundposts and no manuals. You’re absolutely right about being the creative cast. Shakespeare was spot on when he said “All the world’s a stage. And all the men and women are merely players”.
Break a leg Judy.
Thanks Carmine for your support.
Sweet…love you starting your 2nd Act with class and strength!! Green Peace to ya – St. Pat’s Day!! hehe
Anthony, you’re one of my class and strength gurus. Thanks mate … hope you had that pint of Guiness yesterday!
Judy, i am looking forward to seeing where you go with this, or is it where it takes you. Follow your heart and see where it leads. Cheers Sean
Thanks Sean. It’s definitely time to tap into what my heart is saying.
Just started my blogging a little before you did 🙂 Look forward to reading more
Thanks so much startingover. Looking forward to sharing the journey with you. It has been a huge (and mostly fun) learning curve so far 🙂
I think the second act is better than the first. At least that’s what I’ve been finding out in the past five years since I retired.
Thanks for ‘following’ my blog. I look forward to crossing paths in this writerly world. Nice meeting you.
Thanks LCC and right back at you. It’s wonderful to meet strong role models for my second act :).
This is so cool! I started blogging 2 1/2 years ago and still remember my early days. It took me many posts before I ever realized as many comments as you got on this premier post. Since starting, I now have 4 blogs plus the communal A to Z Blog which I set up to divert that traffic off of my main blog. I hope you visit me on my site as well.
Thanks Lee for putting this all into perspective for a noob like me! Two and a half years and you make it look so easy. I will be sure to stop by all of your blogs.
Awesome blog you’ve got here! KUDOS! I’m really looking forward to being a new audience member in your 2nd act……….
“Life is a theater, choose your audience wisely” 😉
Thanks Stormlover. I’m looking forward to reading you as well. Totally agree about the audience comment… especially if you are on a dancefloor 😉
LOL! 😉
Your blog is off to a great start. I look forward to reading your A to Z posts. Good luck to you!
Thanks Jaime. The support through the Challenge has been wonderful. Good luck to you too and looking forward to some greats Challenge reads from you too.
As a fellow office dweller I can certainly relate to yearning for something different, something better. Is that called a mid-life crisis? I am curious about what you are doing to be able to leave that all behind you. I hope you are planning to write about this more as I am really interested.