The Distance of Those Around

I was reading a blog this morning from Joe C. Combs 2.  A fascinating piece of work, it had me thinking about something I have had on my mind, off and on, for months:  Why is it, that no one here follows my blog?

I mean, I have a lot of followers, people who tell me how much they enjoy what I have to say.  I even have those who I have a longer, more detailed conversation with over time and comments (ie.  Sam, Soma, Jmmcdowell, and buckwheatsrisk come to mind easily).  I appreciate each and every person who comments or reads my blog, whether once or following.

It’s not that; it’s not a matter of greed or need; it’s a desire of sorts to, simply, want to understand what it is that keeps people who are close to someone physically, emotionally, and family from choosing to understand what is being said by another of their clan or neighbor.

My son tells me he collects my posts and reads as he can.  I am not putting down any one for not following or reading.  This is more basic; this is on the level of “a prophet in his own country” kind of thing.  I am not a prophet; I am just someone with something to say who is wondering why the people of the area don’t, at least, read it and say whatever.

Sounds like a rant and rave, doesn’t it?  Sorry.  Not my intention.  I will get back to the point I got from Joe’s post.  I am not certain if it was a point he intended, but I got it.  Celebrities, prophets, people with something to say have, traditionally, lost out a lot of times when it comes to close family.

I sort of understand it.  I start saying stuff I believe in and, quickly, there will be those who know me (well or not) who say, “Well, when he was little, he…” and go to  point out that I was not always that way.  As I have said in earlier posts, I was a very nervous, shy, backwards person for the longest time.  I worried all the time and was always trying to “not make waves”.  That stopped, especially, after the stroke.  I became different; I believe God allowed me to see differently.  I think He allowed me to understand what I had been doing that was hurting me so badly, so I could stop.  I worry now, but not like I did.  I don’t lose much sleep (for that, anyway) over worrying.  I try to hit things head on.  But, people who know me well do not seem to believe that is possible.  I must be as I have always been.

Perhaps, it is a bit unsettling to have someone close change a lot.  Perhaps, because I am not as I was, I seem strange and out of place to those closely around me.

It’s just a thought; it’s just a question I am asking.  Not everyone is that way.  There are those who are accepting me.  I just realized that there is a very small percentage of people who are following this blog who know me well.  It seemed odd, but is starting to make sense.

What do you think?  I would put a vote box on here, but I don’t know how it is done.  As usual, I would love to hear your comments on this topic.  You all are some of the most talented, intelligent people I know and your opinions matter to me, so they will matter to anyone reading this post.  Let’s hear it.

Do you believe that people who change are, normally, recognized as doing so by those close to them?

Namaste,

Scott