I don't post to this blog much anymore. It isn't because I have nothing to say; I just don't get around to jotting it down and, truth be told, most of what I put here is just a shallow glance at some event or aspect of my life. I rarely, if ever, use the space as a "journal" where I might be introspective. Hell, I'm rarely introspective in any context of my life - I can't remember the last time I really looked deeply at myself and evaluated things. I just don't do it.
Maybe that's for the best? I dunno - but the concept of introspection, whenever the topic presents itself to me, is appealing. Today the topic popped up because a friend and coworker (Ed C.) recently won a t-shirt. He had been reading a website called "The Domino Project" which, it seems, aims to redefine the publishing industry. Their first published work is a special edition of Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Self Reliance" (I've never read anything by him so I can't comment on this book). I went to the site to see why they would have had the contest Ed won. (Well, other than to get people to go to their site). While at the Domino Project site I followed a link out to a separate but related project they are running called "#Trust30". The #Trust30 moniker is actually a twitter hashtag so, if you want to get a feel for how people are participating check out Twitter's Search Results For that tag.
The basic premise is that each day the project will email some sort of prompt that participants will then consider and write about. Here is an example of one of the Prompts:
To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, that is genius. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
What is burning deep inside of you? If you could spread your personal message RIGHT NOW to 1 million people, what would you say? (prompt written by Eric Handler)
Beyond being a marketing gimmick to sell the Emerson book the project is intended to be a writing exercise. I though about making the pledge and participating but then realized that I wouldn't have a clue on how to answer any of the prompts I read (and about half of the 30 day project has passed). This example prompt seems like a fairly straight forward question but I don't even know what the hell a "personal message" is. I certainly don't have one. Honestly, the project, for me would be more of a thought exercise than it would be a writing one because I would have to break down some mental barriers to find my answer to any of the prompts.
I have tried to think about what my "personal message" might be but I almost instantly become uncomfortable even thinking about it. I don't really know why though I suppose, like many things, you have to practice at looking at yourself before you can actually do a decent job of it. I don't think I live some form of deluded life where I have a false understanding of my self - just that I don't know if I really, honestly, know myself at all.
It's really awkward to write this because I don't know how to explain something I don't understand. I may give some of the #trust30 prompts a go though I won't be signing up for the project. I don't think I'd be capable of keeping up with the prompt a day pace.
I'll be posting this and any follow up (if they happen) posts in their own category on the site (trust30) so if you are subscribed to the site via email but don't want to read them you can exclude that category.