Question: How can you tell such personal stories online when people could so easily use this information against you?
Answer: This is actually a great question that many people have asked me. It has several answers. Let’s start with the following… writing down my story has been very therapeutic for me. Many of the things that have happened to me in my life I have never had the time or know how to deal with. Life is fast paced, especially when you work full-time and have children. There is no, ”lay around with a half-gallon of Ben and Jerry’s for 3 months in the same pajamas” time available in my life.
I am the oldest child in my family and as such, it was always my job to be the “mother hen” to my siblings. They didn’t mother me, it was my job. So when it comes to taking care of me, I always considered it my job. (And yes, I have great loving parent’s but I have this deranged inability to disappoint them that prevents me from talking to them many times when I should).
Sharing my personal stories in many ways has moved certain things out of my system, but just remember for every story you’ve read, there are a million I have buried. The ones I have written have typically been about people who are completely out of my life at this point. I have yet to really have the guts to write about the people still in my life.
After I began writing my story, I received many emails from people who had gone through similar traumas or events and reading mine made them feel less isolated. Being inspiring through agony? Well that’s quite flattering, and if mere words could comfort someone else, then I was definitely up for the challenge.
Now back to the meat of the question… things that people could use against me… hmmm… well to be 100% honest no one could ever beat the shit out of me about my bad choices more than I CAN…. HAVE…. DONE…. WILL CONTINUE TO DO…. more than me. There is nothing that can be said that I haven’t said to myself. And I can’t change it now.
So as brave as it may seem to you readers, that I do put so much out there… I’ve held so much back. I suppose if my blog was completely anonymous I would write all my thoughts and life out as I see it… but sometimes knowing your audience is crucial and being any more honest than I am, would destroy my world as I know it. So don’t think me too brave. 
Brave you are nonetheless, even if you do not consider yourself to be.
Very honest and BRAVE answer
I applaud you for your fearlessness. The people who question how others can be so open and honest haven’t conquered their own fears yet, and are still too concerned with gaining other people’s respect and approval. The irony is that there is no respect or approval to be gained! Not from being fearful anyways.
I love this quote from Peaceful Warrior: “A warrior isn’t about invulnerability. A warrior is about absolute vulnerability.” Saying “this is me, flaws and all” is what true courage and strength is about, and I’ve found that it has inspired many others to be truthful and courageous as well. “That’s me as well!”
Peace & grace,
~Miro
loveLOVE this post! It should be on the forefront of every “why do you blog?” discussion!
Jeanna, Great answer. I know why you do it. It’s why I do it. We are generous people who aren’t governed by fear.
(Even if life has given us every reason to be.)
Sometimes I wonder if my lack of fear is what gets me in so much trouble to start with
I’d never leave you no matter what you wrote.
I think this answer was written out very well…very understandable. People connect to you because you are a regular person who has been through things that other people have in common with. I think it’s great that you blog because honestly when I have a bad day or am annoyed with my kids I read your blogs about the girls…and it reminds me. Hey…they will be grown one day. Take advantage of the fact you can still kiss them without them wipeing it off.
well that’s cause you’re my sister. You’re stuck punk