Ocean people are very different from land people. The ocean never stops saying and asking into ears, which don’t sleep like eyes.
(Maxine Hong Kingston)
Thinking about this quote this evening as I was walking along Kilfarrasy Beach, I got to thinking about the extent to which there is a similar difference between bloggers and non-bloggers.
It continues to be a source of amazement to me that lots of my blogging friends across the ocean will be blogging away merrily when I am fast asleep and that there will be a batch of surprise posts waiting for me when I wake.
There’s a kind of reassurance and comfort in that which I find hard to describe. Maybe, it’s the knowing that if I wake with nightmares in the early hours that I will always find a post which will bring me off to some other place far, far away in terms of either thinking or geography and make everything seem well with the world again.
More than two-thirds of the readers of Social Bridge are from outside Ireland and over half are from beyond Europe. I simply love that diversity and the range of time zones involved, not to speak of all the different individuals with their own histories and places to share.
March is well underway in places like Australia but only young on the West Coast of America. I sometimes look at the list of countries from which people read some of my posts and simply stare in awe. I’m no geographical genius and to see the names of small countries far, far away is a huge thrill. I wonder if these readers know as little about Ireland as I know about their countries.
These are the little things about blogging that keep me motivated. I suppose it all comes down to a sense of connection.
So Happy March Everyone and I leave you with this Irish blessing:
May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun.
And find your shoulder to light on,
To bring you luck, happiness and riches.
Today, tomorrow and beyond.
SOCIAL BRIDGE ~ Jean Tubridy connecting with you from Ireland 
I love the Kingston quote, never heard it before but it’s now one of my favorites..:)
Thank you.
So glad you like it, George. It’s been one of my favourites for a long time.
The Maxine Hong Kingston quote is so true.
It’s a gem, isn’t it? Yes, true, but so nicely put.
🙂
Isn’t it astounding? And what amazes me just as much is that we have all grown up in different cultures with no common experiences and yet we can understand each other discuss, examine and conclude together. Amazing.
Ah, if only the whole world could get that, Paul!
I’ll second that, Suz!
Beyond amazing, I think! I guess the only thing we have in common is that we speak English but even that wouldn’t be a problem with translation available.
I love that part of blogging too. Like you many of those who read my posts are from outside Ireland. Some people speak of ‘the best time to post’, but I just post when I can in the evening and know that as I sleep my foreign friends will read and write.
Tric, funny you should mention ‘best time to post,’ It always makes me smile when I see it as there’s no such thing as ‘best time’ really with so many time zones involved.
Somewhere along here, I was typing a comment that most of us probably do not know much about other countries and I lost it, so hopefully, this will not appear twice. I think it is the advantage of people-to-people contact, whether via blogging regularly, or visiting the country. One of the things I enjoyed most about my years of trips to the same area of South Africa was making connections with ordinary people, who then introduced me to other ordinary people, and learning through them about their lives and the issues with which they dealt.
No, it’s not lost, Suz! It’s in response to Paul above and seems very appropriate there.
I wonder if there is any such thing as ‘an ordinary person?’ I’ve yet to meet one either blogging or anywhere else! (But, I totally get what you’re referring to and agree wholeheartedly).
Yes Jean, blogging – globalisation without the perniciousness of trade or the expense of travel!
That’s a nice summation, Hariod. Thanks!
And happy March to you also! Thank you for the lovely Irish blessing!
Oh glad you liked the Irish blessing, CC. We pride ourselves on them and there’s so many to choose from.
Are there American blessings?
Yes – I love the round-the-world aspect of the blogging community. And speaking of a connected world, looking at your photo, I just thought about how it’s the same gulf stream that rolls by the coast here in North America that washes up so beautifully on your shore.
Oh the Gulf Stream is a dear friend, Sandy! It’s one of the main things I’ve remembered from Geography Classes way back in the day. It always fascinated me.
One more thought on thinking globally: another thing that amazes me — besides others blogging while I’m sleeping, and v.v., as you mentioned — is there is winter blogging while I’m summer blogging, and blogging while water is swirling the opposite way down the drain, and blogging under different stars…
Yeah, the Winter/Summer blogging is all upside down alright. I’ve still to get a complete handle on that.
So much comes to us via blogging..learning about peoples’ culture, and their country. We gain a vast amount of knowledge and acquire new friends…I love that Irish blessing as I’m partial to butterflies…Have you ever visited a Butterfly garden or museum..it’s quite intereting to learn about their habitant and they flutter all around you ..landing on you if your color that you’re wearing or scent attracts them…
Hi Joni, glad you liked the blessing too. I’ve only ever been to a butterfly farm once and that wasn’t for long enough. I’d love to be able to spend hours in one. Must make a point of doing so on the basis of what you’ve said, especially.
I love to think of us all writing away – so many thoughts and so many stories that, before blogging, would never have been heard.
Hi Andrea, I wonder how many of us have blogged about stuff that probably would never have seen the light of day or night if it wasn’t for the existence of blogging.
Well said. I agree.
Thanks Elen!