An online friendship can be extremely liberating. Freed from the constrictions of time, space and hectic schedules, it is possible to exchange thoughts with people who look at things the same way you do. I know I have told things to people online that I wasn't able to tell my closest friends. I think this can be compared to talking to a stranger on a plane. It's possible to unburden yourself without worrying about any repercussions or judgements. It's also a great way to get another person's perspective on a problem or situation, totally free of judgement or bias.
Catherine Clay is one person who I am so glad the internet brought me together with. We have become friends even though we exchange emails maybe once a month (if that). Reading her online journal (and let me interject right now by saying that normally I cannot STAND online journals, but hers blows all the others out of the water) has introduced me to a woman of incomparable strength, intelligence and wit. I feel as if I know her better than some of my friends, and that is a real statement. The power of the written word is something that is not to be taken lightly. I have always found myself able to communicate far more effectively by writing than verbally. Not only is it possible to choose each word carefully to say just what it is you mean, but you don't have the burden of witnessing the other person's reaction, which may have an effect on what it is you were trying to say.
I have always been a highly analytical person, prefering to hide behind a wall of words rather than be forced to articulate them to people who usually don't have time to listen or don't understand my meaning. And that, I think, is the beauty of the internet. Here are my words, my thoughts, on display for the world to see. I do not claim to be profound or new or original. I don't honestly expect to change anyone's way of thinking. I just enjoy the knowledge that someone, somewhere, is reading these words, and knows that there is a girl in Texas who is thinking these thoughts and living these experiences. Perhaps it is a sign of self-importance, who knows. All I know is that doing this webpage makes me feel like my words matter, and that is a really cool thing.
On a lighter note, I have been getting some really whack-ass shit in my email box lately. I've got a mailing list set up, although I don't really know what it is I want to do with it yet. It's just kind of nice to have it there, you know? Anyway, I've been receiving stuff for me to moderate that I assume whomever is sending it to me wants me to pass on to the other members of the list. It's like feel-good little blurbs, you know what I'm talking about, the kind that get forwarded and forwarded and make one wonder just who the hell wrote such inanity in the first place. I have tried to give my page a theme and some consistency, namely one of eloquent rambling on whatever happens to entertain/amuse/anger me. Not fluffy little pieces on feeling good and self-esteem. OK? Ok.
Moving on...I really don't like the name of my page. I guess I'm having the same problem as the other Lisa, I just think it really sucks. Maybe I should change it to Beeyotch? Any thoughts? (This would make about the fourth name change in as many months...oh well.)