The Daily Prompt folks picked a suggestion by Courtney that certainly seems a lot easier than that old Shakespeare quote: To Be or Not To Be. Although really if one is then you already are Being which of course is a very very superficial interpretation.
Today’s Challenge from WordPress is: If you had to choose between being able to write a blog (but not read others’) and being able to read others’ blogs (but not your own), which would you pick? Why?
For me there is no challenge. I am definitely a reader. I’ve tried writing…okay..so I continue to try.. and it is difficult. Okay Okay…sometimes it is fun. Well most of the time it is fun and there is a certain satisfaction to be had in creating but, and this is a pretty big BUT, I am a reader. Of many things.
If I have four books at hand then I will devour them within a week. I know, we are not talking about books. The Challenge pertains to blogs. Your blogs. And yup I will surrender my pen or rather keyboarding digits to read what you write.
Reading (blogs) is more than information gathering and it brings to mind yet another poem. Elizabeth Barrett Browning‘s How Do I Love Thee. If I had one thing I have not had in this life it would be the relationship she had with her partner, coauthor, and husband Robert Browning and the passion and devotion she so sweetly shared with the public.
You see for me, reading your blogs, inspires, educates, motivates, consoles, comforts, exhilarates, invigorates, provokes, prompts, excites, and generates a whole mess of thinking great thoughts. Why I wish I could list all of you and what you do for me (although that is what I am seeking to do in my Friday Following in the FootSteps series – about to be continued this week). To name names in a single post fills me with fear of forgetting even one person and besides it would take pages and pages and pages and … well you get the idea.
To read and not write, if it had to be one way or the other is a no brainer for me because in addition to all the reasons there is one even more important. In sharing yourselves, your thoughts, you are allowing yourself to be known. To be cherished. And therein lies the real truth. You have become part of my world, part of my existence. And my life would be poorer without you.
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
Elizabeth Barrett Bowning (1806-1861)
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bridgesburning 
I love that poem, and you’re right, you’re not so shy anymore! The more you share, the more powerful you become. Remember that!
” In sharing yourselves, your thoughts, you are allowing yourself to be known. To be cherished. And therein lies the real truth. You have become part of my world, part of my existence. And my life would be poorer without you.” – says it all and so beautifully. Who knew, when we joined the challenge in 2011 that a world of companionship, of laughter, of tears and sighs, of kindness would open up this way.
Many thanks for the Pingback. Very poignant for me at this moment, as a few days ago I lost my dearest companion of the past 25 years.
I have always loved that poem. thank u for the ping back my writing friend!
Always happy to ping Terry. I had forgotten just how much that poem touched me as a young teenager.
it is still as wonderful now that we are a bit older too!!!!
I love both. Reading feeds my inspiration and writing defines my thoughts. I am so grateful to wp where I can record and organize those thoughts.
I’m also giving thanks for WP Georgette – and the inspiration that comes from reading such great posts!
Great post! I love writing so my first instinct is to say I’d choose blogging, but really what makes me enjoy writing is the culmination of a million little pieces of inspiration I picked up from reading a book or article or blog post. I’m not sure I’d have much to write about if I was closed off from reading of the outside world!
I feel the same way you do Tori. Exactly that way!
Great post Chris. I’m a little fond of this poem as well. Husband read it to me when he proposed to me. 🙂
Ahhh how romantic! He has to be solid gold Colleen!
And wrapped in platinum? Diamonds? Well, he’s wrapped in “precious” how’s that? 🙂