What are you still doing here??

I've moved to:

www.thedoctormom.com

This marks the first post at my new 'virtual' home.  No fleeting moments of sadness with this move though.  One of my links is "meet the doctor" and should be easy to write but every time I sit down to define myself on paper, I can't get the words out right.  Make of that what you will.  Now that I have this fancy home, I'm having a severe case of bloggers block.  How typical.

Anyway, now that I have an avatar I feel like a superhero.   But who is this mysterious supermommy?  Does she have her own identity as well?  Well, like me, she is a person still in development.  On an endless quest for perfection.  She may not be able to fly, but I bet she could make dinner and do the dishes blindfolded.  This avatar is a slightly more put together, more polished and possibly a more sophisticated version of myself.  Awesome.  I already want to be her, and my husband may want to marry her. 

I came across this article, "I tweet, therefore I am" through a friends link on facebook and thought it was quite timely with the launch of the new website.  One writer's opinion on how social media is shaping our lives. 

So, how true is our 'virtual' self to our real self?  Are they always going to be a slightly better version of our real selves because we are "playing to our audience"?  Is that ok?  How much of our internal dialogue should be shared before it is too much?  Is there even such a thing as an introvert anymore?

I'm new to twitter but I am at high risk of becoming addicted.  The risk factors are obvious.  Iphone attached to my person, avid facebook user and newbie blogger.  Risk score approaching 100% if I can figure it out.  Apparently, I am not the only one if there are 55 MILLION tweets a day.  That is just insane.

If you are at all into social networking you surely can relate to this.  You may be in the middle of a vacation, having a perfect moment of happiness and suddenly have the urge to share this with others.  After all, posting your memories makes them permanent.  Seals them in cyberspace.  And may give you some conversation piece upon your return.  Even intimate moments can be shared to others likings (no dislike available yet, but I'm sure its soon to come).  Your facebook status updates and tweets can serve as a sort of portable journal of your life, if you let it.  The question is, should you let it? 

It is obvious what these social networks have set out to do. They want to strengthen our connections to other people, because, connections, after all, are what provide meaning in our lives.  Finding a friend that you haven't seen in 10 years is exciting, but after you catch up, they may not want to know about the temper tantrum your 2 year old had this morning.  But, if they don't want to know and don't share themselves, then they shouldn't be looking. (you know the facebook voyeur type).

The Doctor Mom is my super hero avatar.  She is pretty and skinny and eats whatever she wants without having to workout.  She wakes up early to clean the house, and makes a healthy, homemade breakfast by 7 am with makeup on.   She folds laundry perfectly, and never gets mad at her kids.  She works, blogs and takes care of the kids without breaking a sweat.  Oh, and she doesn't drink coffee or diet coke.  She is part of me, just (clearly) not all of me. And she is the author of this blog.  She is the side of me I want to share, and the part you would want to see.

So if you don't like it, I'll give you her email, and you can surely complain to her.  I'm sure she won't mind a bit.

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• Do you think there should be accepted "rules" for social networks?
• How often do you 'tweet' or update your status?
• What is the most annoying TYPE of facebook user? (no names please!)

This is a previous uncompleted entry that deserved attention....

Writing is interesting.  It makes me reflect.  Bring more meaning to the mundane.  But in order for it to be interesting, I have to put myself out there.  Like standing in front of a virtual crowd totally naked.  Horrifying.  Maybe someone will read my post and find it interesting.  Maybe no one will read it.  Maybe someone (anyone!) will post a comment.  Whatever.  It is for me.

My best readers so far are my relatives and friends.  I know that it is easy to increase my numbers on my blog, but frankly, adding comments to other peoples blogs right now is way too much of an investment.  So I will continue to do this now for me.

But I got myself into trouble.  As I always do.  And I cannot please everyone and I have to be ok with that.  But I'm not.  I hate hurting those that I love.  Sometimes my posts just flow out of me so easily, and sometimes they feel forced leading to periods of no postings.  These are the times that I am digesting.  But still thinking.

After an overwhelming feeling of emotion I posted a heartfelt "thank you" to my mom.  And it was exactly how I was feeling at that time.  I then wrote it in permanent ink by clicking publish.  No going back.  I thought that was fine.

But later I thought about those that I did not thank.  Publicly, that is.  Will they feel cheated?  Unappreciated?  UNIMPORTANT?

Apparently they will.  But not intentionally.  Because everyone innately wants to be recognized and appreciated.  So, should every post come with a disclaimer?  How do I not neglect one when recognizing the other?  So, just like in life, in writing, I cannot please everyone.

I will stop worrying.  Or I will try.  I will post what I feel in my heart.  True to myself and my readers.  And in time, I will get to you.  I will one day post how I could not do my job and raise my kids without my mother in law.  How I would not feel comfortable going out without my incredible babysitter.  How I would be lost without the emotional support of my sister.  How I may lose direction without advice from Dad.

And if I forgot you in the above sentence it is not because I don't love you or you are not important to me.  It is just a stream of consciousness and truth.  And it is for you to read.  But it is for me to write.