Blogging at Boomer and Beyond

When I first started blogging, it was because it was an unknown entity to me. I didn't really understand what a blog was, how one created one, or why one would want to bare all to the world. Now that I've been writing for several years, blogging has become a natural outlet for my thoughts and opinions. With all the talk of new media, can I really call my self new media journalism? No. Not in my opinion. In my opinion, what I offer is often factual, colored by my experience and surrounded by...well...my opinion.


Prior to telephone communication, people wrote. They wrote letters to each other, chronicling, in great detail, all aspects of their lives. They wrote journals, capturing the activities and thoughts of the day down on paper. For a period of time, writing seemed to wither away. But, the blogosphere has provided a different form of communication -- open writing. Whether I chronicle my day, a thought, an opinion, or commentary on facts, I write to a broad audience and whether you, the reader, are from India, China, the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, Italy, or anywhere in between, you choose to read or not read. If you are a subscriber, then your decision to read what I write about is a more deliberate decision. Some days you read the post, and some days you'll trash it...depending upon my title, my subject, your mood, your time available, etc.


All this is great, because it just means that writing is back in fashion. And words are very powerful. Reading opinion is back in fashion. Information is freely given (it may not always be correct, but the info is there for the sharing.)

That is what I love the most. Being able to learn something new every day. Whether I'm reading blogging tips (tons of great sites -- http://www.idiotsguidetoblogging.com/ to http://www.doshdosh.com/ to http://www.bloggingbasics101.com), news blogs, travel blogs, or boomer blogs, I learn. This evening I watched "The Miracle Worker" with my 8-year old. I hadn't seen the movie in years. It is the story of Ann Sullivan and Helen Keller and the pivotal moments that unlocked Helen Keller's world...by attaching a word to an object. Giving her a voice by giving her words. For Helen, it was associating the word "water" with the water flowing from a water pump. For many people today, they unlock their voices and their thoughts through chronicling and sharing their voice with the world.

This also translates through to job search at 50 plus. When you started in your career, how did you find a job? You physically walked, drove, entered many businesses, particularly ones you were keen on, and dropped off a resume. You read "What Color is My Parachute" and tried to network with everyone you could. You typed your resume and cover letters. And you followed every interview with a handwritten note.

Today, so many people are reliant upon internet generated search, that they forget that this is just ONE prong of job search. All the old methods still work and at 50 plus, they are necessary. Networking? Check. Targeting specific companies? Check. Following up with a note? Check, check. Having a personal website that chronicles your work history (like www.Linkedin.com or www.Facebook.com.) The written word. Whether on a web page, a piece of notepaper, or via email...never underestimate the power of words.