Okay…Just hit publish and it will be out there for everyone to read….. okay…now…..okay… maybe I should just check it over one more time…. I don’t know…..I think I will wait until tomorrow to publish it…. Let me think about it a little longer…..I am not sure that anyone will want to read it….I am not sure it is good enough to share with the rest of the world…..
I struggle with this mantra every time I write a blog post. I seem to hesitate before posting it. Why is this? I have spent the last couple of weeks pondering this. Why is it so difficult to hit publish? I don’t struggle with writing it. The words seem to flow freely and easily. I am not lacking in the idea department as there always seems to be a topic that comes to mind. What I think I struggle with is the thought of others reading it and passing judgment on my words. The blogs I have read recently have been so insightful and full of wisdom that I feel mine wane in comparison.
Two weeks ago our district hosted the first session in a series called “Engaging the Digital Learner” where Antonia Vendramin was a guest speaker. His presentation really hit home for me. He spoke of the importance of us sharing our voice and ideas with others. He showed the video clip, “Obvious to you. Amazing to others” that seemed to fit me to a letter. I have been hesitant to post, unsure that others would be interested in what I have to say. After listening to him I have internalized his words “What you have to share is good”. This really hit home for me. I might actually have something to say that others would appreciate reading.
This term, for the first time ever, I have hosted a class blog where students are asked to provide a reflection every week. I often wonder if they too have the same reaction to posting their work online or is this generation far more acclimatized to this? Do they go through the same panic right before they hit publish? This question I might pose to them out of curiosity.
As time goes on I feel like I am coming to terms with my digital persona and am able to share what I know with the world. It is not so scary to put myself out there. I feel the hesitation to post ceasing and a desire to share increasing. I think that this is partly due to a support network that has helped to build my “digital self-confidence”. They respond to my tweets, they comment on my blog posts, and they start to follow me. This in turn helps me to feel that what I have to say is important to someone. I too have internalized this. As a Digital Literacy Coach I feel the need to play that same supportive role for other teachers that are just beginning to navigate into social media, hoping to recreate the same positive experience I have had.
My mantra now is “Go for it, you have nothing to lose!”…… and with that I will hit publish!