Hey Everyone,
This thread was inspired by our very own Gracie.
Her post about writing threads here in Singles got me thinking about the hobbies, interests, and aptitudes that God has put into all of us that make us so unique.
* Tell us about something you love, have a knack for, or that you feel defines YOU as a person-- it could be a hobby (like baking or working on cars), career (is there a certain career path you've ALWAYS been drawn to?), interest (music, sports, etc.)--anything that you couldn't see being "you" without.
* What got you interested in that particular thing, and why do you love it? (Does it remind you of someone, does it help you relieve stress, does it enhance the quality of your life, etc.?)
I love hearing about what people do -- and why they do them.
So... I'll guess I'll kick start this by answering Gracie's post about writing threads. I would say that writing is a crucial part of me, but I don't consider myself to be a writer -- I'm just someone who has a great interest in communication, and writing is my primary tool (or weapon) of choice.
My sole purpose of writing is for either two-way or multi-way conversation. I see a thread idea as being the starter log that will hopefully start an entire bonfire of conversation! Everyone who posts adds a valuable log to the fire, making it burn all the brighter in the process.
I have several people who have inspired this along the way:
1. Grade school teachers who taught me how to answer a letter by reading line by line, and writing something in response to every paragraph that the sender had written. I still do this today when I receive an email, PM, or longer text. If it's someone I feel comfortable with, I take notes as I read so that I hopefully won't forget anything important in my answer.
2. People who were willing to answer me back as I was growing up (via pen pals and general correspondence,) as well as teachers who shaped my writing style. I had to write a paper for a high school science class (all I remember is that it was something about electricity), and I entitled it, "Watt a Switch!" The teacher gave me a lot of positive feedback on that, and that's probably what started my love of word plays and titles that pull a bait-and-switch. It's just that now I apply it to informal communications rather than academic papers.
3. And finally, the inmates I used to write for some time back in the days when I was more active in ministry really polished it off. This was a lesson that seriously shaped my communications into what it is today (though I know I still have a lot to work on), for both the good and bad. While it's true that I've never had my character shredded to pieces more than by people who are literally sitting around waiting to analyze every word, it also taught me to learn how to attempt nearly every possible expression through writing.
And one of the inmates gave me one of the highest compliment I've ever received -- he said that reading my letters felt like actually sitting down and talking to someone, and that's something I strive for in every thread. My highest hope is that these threads will feel closer to sitting down and talking with a group of friends rather than just words on the screen, which I know can be life-saving for a group of singles who are trying to navigate what can be, at times, a very lonely path.
Ok-- I've shared far too much about me, and something that I love...
So now I'd really like to hear about something YOU love, and why you love it.
This thread was inspired by our very own Gracie.
Her post about writing threads here in Singles got me thinking about the hobbies, interests, and aptitudes that God has put into all of us that make us so unique. * Tell us about something you love, have a knack for, or that you feel defines YOU as a person-- it could be a hobby (like baking or working on cars), career (is there a certain career path you've ALWAYS been drawn to?), interest (music, sports, etc.)--anything that you couldn't see being "you" without.
* What got you interested in that particular thing, and why do you love it? (Does it remind you of someone, does it help you relieve stress, does it enhance the quality of your life, etc.?)
I love hearing about what people do -- and why they do them.
So... I'll guess I'll kick start this by answering Gracie's post about writing threads. I would say that writing is a crucial part of me, but I don't consider myself to be a writer -- I'm just someone who has a great interest in communication, and writing is my primary tool (or weapon
) of choice. My sole purpose of writing is for either two-way or multi-way conversation. I see a thread idea as being the starter log that will hopefully start an entire bonfire of conversation! Everyone who posts adds a valuable log to the fire, making it burn all the brighter in the process.
I have several people who have inspired this along the way:
1. Grade school teachers who taught me how to answer a letter by reading line by line, and writing something in response to every paragraph that the sender had written. I still do this today when I receive an email, PM, or longer text. If it's someone I feel comfortable with, I take notes as I read so that I hopefully won't forget anything important in my answer.
2. People who were willing to answer me back as I was growing up (via pen pals and general correspondence,) as well as teachers who shaped my writing style. I had to write a paper for a high school science class (all I remember is that it was something about electricity), and I entitled it, "Watt a Switch!" The teacher gave me a lot of positive feedback on that, and that's probably what started my love of word plays and titles that pull a bait-and-switch. It's just that now I apply it to informal communications rather than academic papers.
3. And finally, the inmates I used to write for some time back in the days when I was more active in ministry really polished it off. This was a lesson that seriously shaped my communications into what it is today (though I know I still have a lot to work on), for both the good and bad. While it's true that I've never had my character shredded to pieces more than by people who are literally sitting around waiting to analyze every word, it also taught me to learn how to attempt nearly every possible expression through writing.
And one of the inmates gave me one of the highest compliment I've ever received -- he said that reading my letters felt like actually sitting down and talking to someone, and that's something I strive for in every thread. My highest hope is that these threads will feel closer to sitting down and talking with a group of friends rather than just words on the screen, which I know can be life-saving for a group of singles who are trying to navigate what can be, at times, a very lonely path.
Ok-- I've shared far too much about me, and something that I love...
So now I'd really like to hear about something YOU love, and why you love it.
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