"Anyone that doesn't agree with leggings as pants can physically fight me.
And I'm going to win because I have a full range of motion due to the fact that I am wearing leggings as pants."

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Sun Salutations for Comments

So, if I didn't completely put you off by describing my utter self-absorption during the month of May, I would like to take a moment to share another of my quirky neuroses.

Normally, I like to think of myself as a self sufficient person, unaffected by the opinions of people around me (hey, even the underwear oracle says so), but at other times I realize how completely and utterly needy I am.

Anyone who reads this blog regularly (or knows me in real life) has probably noticed many contradictions in the things I say, so this should not be surprising to you. I believe that this is because I'm a Gemini. Not only is my sun sign in Gemini, but my moon and at least one of the other planets are as well. This, you may or may not realize, makes me more of a Gemini than most Geminis.

Slightly Off Topic Tangent- whenever I start speaking like this, Jeff will mention something along the lines of, "Ohhh, you're talking about pretend things."

Whatever. Just know that if you had the same thought, I don't hold it against you and you needn't hold it against me. Jeff and I have managed to work out a peaceable arrangement in which he doesn't believe the same things that I believe in, but knows that it makes me the woman he loves and so he's glad that I believe the things I do.

Anyway, back to Geminis. That is the sign of the twin, and I think of it as polar opposites living in the same person. Apparently, most people are not able to (or don't want to) live with more than one absolute reality, which I believe is very closed minded of them.*

It is possible for me to, say, not give a crap what people think about some things (my parenting skills, my hair, my body, my house, my blog) and then be in total need of reassurance when it comes to other things (my parenting skills, my hair, my body, my house, my blog).

I've been wondering why it is that I have over 200 subscribers (according to Feedburner) yet only get a handful of comments per post. And I know that I've got a lot of family that read this regularly. They occasionally send me their responses via email, which is something that I give them immense grief over ("Go back and write that on my site" I tell them, or sometimes I simply copy their words in myself). One day Jeff's cousin in Canada even mentioned to him that I'd put up an interesting post (it was his ball poem). Debbie, I can't believe you didn't have something to say about that one, but then again, I could see how it would leave you speechless.

I would like to think that the lack of comments is not due to the quality of the posts, but more because you all don't feel that you have anything to add. And since I've recently experienced wild up and down swings when it comes to my motivation to write here and because the number of comments definitely help with the motivation, I thought I'd try something new.


(This lovely picture was taken by Flickr user Bosquetango.)

For the month of September I will do one sun salutation (it's a yoga vinyasa) for each comment that anybody leaves on this blog. It can be on any post, from any time. And it doesn't matter if what you have to say is funny or informative or even relevant. Just let me know you stopped by to read it. I know I've got a lot of lurkers (the stats tell me) so come out and introduce yourself. (The fine print- I will match each comment, one per person, per post. None of this one word per comment, take ten comments to make one sentence malarkey. Yes, I know who I'm dealing with here.)

In case you're wondering why I've chosen to do sun salutations, it's because I've been inspired by the Global Mala Project, in which yogis all over the world join together to do 108 sun salutations in a row. Maybe if I start training now, I'll be ready by next year.

Happy Yoga Month everyone! (And, come on, don't leave me hangin here.)

*Gandhi once said ”Constant development is the law of life, and a man who always tries to maintain his dogmas in order to appear consistent drives himself into a false position.” Take that, people who always believe the same thing day after day after day.

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Okay, you're on.
I just started reading recently.

I too am puzzled by my analytics v. comments, so my September resolution is to comment more.

I'm also starting a beginners yoga course this month, to get back into the practice.

I hope all of the sun salutations bring you delight and peace.

MichelleB said...

Okay, I'll comment. Now go do your sun salutation.

Anonymous said...

Ok, I admit it. I am one of your lurkers.

I love your blog, its so much like my life, so I check in with you daily.

You make me laugh, you make me think, but most importantly you are just yourself, sharing bits and pieces with lurkers like me.

Thank you.

Angeleen said...

Isn't it frustrating to see you have visitors from all over the world... even hear that your readers chat between themselves about what you've written... and NEVER LEAVE A FREAKIN' COMMENT?!!

Ohhhh so perplexing.

Oh, and weather or not it has anything to do with the fact we are Sister Gems or Blog Sisters, I don't know, but your post describes me perfectly as well.

One day, I could give a rats patootie. The next, "I wish I knew if they REALLY like me!!!" E GADS! We are deliciously complicated creatures, aren't we?

Love you, Sister!
~a :) xoxo

Unknown said...

I didn't see any fine print about how many times I can comment per post.

I wonder if I can write a program to automatically comment every hour or so...nothing too drastic, just to keep that heart rate up.

I don't want to overdo it though. Someone still needs to iron my clothes, cook my din-din, and all that stuff. :P

Unknown said...

Oops. I guess I should actually *read* the fine print, before I said I've read the fine print and try to make funny comments.

Sorry, I sit corrected.

sunflowerchilde said...

I will also comment. I've been lurking for a while, and never comment. Honestly, I am new to the blogosphere and until recently never commented on anyone's blog. Now that I've read this post, I'll try to leave comments more often.

And you've inspired me to try to do sun salutations in the morning as well - I really need a daily ritual that doesn't involve running around like crazy just to get to work on time.

Anonymous said...

I'm one of those lurkers who either said nothing or commented via email, until you told me not to do that! I really enjoy your blog, mostly because it let's me see what's going on in your life. I personally enjoy the more personal entries, even the utter self-absorbed ones (your term, not mine!), as opposed to your "pretend" or metaphysical ones (though I do find those "interesting" and food for thought). I also enjoy reading about your projects, mostly because I'm glad someone is doing projects because I'm certainly not getting any of them done in my life!

I think a lot of lurkers like to just drop in for a quick read and then jump on to something else, someone else's blog or bill paying or kid watching, whatever. They want to see what someone else is doing in their life, but don't want to get involved ... kind of like watching a soap opera or craning your neck to better see a fender bender as you drive on by! (not that your blog is a soap opera or a wreck!)

Rachel@oneprettything.com said...

What a lovely idea! The Sun Salutation (X4 actually) is one of the best parts of my morning routine!

Anonymous said...

Guilty of lurking, I did a Google search on beginner sewing projects and your grocery bag came up. Now I must say I keep reading because you are interesting and informative! Maybe one day when my two youngest are down for a nap I will start my own blog.

Kathi D said...

Oh, I'm going for this one. In my pitiful, stunted, and interrupted yoga practice, sun salutations were the bane of my existence.

I did enjoy guided meditation, though.

Amy said...

Feel free to eat chocolate for my comment rather than doing a sun salutation. I haven't been reading for long, but I really enjoy your blog and look for new posts every day.

Amy

auroramae said...

Way to go Wendy! I am excited to see your lurkers come out.

Anonymous said...

Just because I hate sun salutations...there is always a collective grown in yoga class when we have to do them...I am leaving a post. You make me laugh and it is always interesting to see what trouble Jeff has gotten into...especially after his comments today. Miss you guys.

Anonymous said...

I have the same thing on my blog - lots of readers - few comments.

Sometimes I read via my google reader and just have nothing to say. But I usually do try to comment if I do have something to say. LOL

Both my firstborn daughter and my husband are Geminis. :) My youngest and I are both Aries.

Jenny said...

I believe you've mentioned before that I'm a bit of a perfectionist. So you know I'm always trying to figure out the "right" thing to say. And when I can't think of anything clever, funny, or meaningful, I just end up deleting what I have written (which is ah, about 98% of the time).

So here I go... posting something less than profound... but I'm actually going to hit post. :)

Shelly Knotts said...

Hi Wndy,
I just found your blog this evening and I really, really like it!! It has SO much stuff in it and the several that I have looked at, I love! I go into one entry, like the gingerbread house blog and then in that I find how to do the hard candy thing, then from there, etc. Wow, I think I could browse all your stuff for days! I feel like we are similar in our tastes and crafts, athough you do a lot more of them than me -- my craft days ended a while ago -- my youngest is almost 21 ! I have so many interests, yet, I am master of none! I'm not great at anything, but like so many things!
So, anyway, I really enjoyed your site and if you want to see mine, its at: fortknotts.blogspot.com
I quite a bit older than you and have four children, as well. I plan on navigating more of your site later! Yoga rules! Shelly

Tracee said...

okay,okay. i've been reading your blog for over a year( i've even linked it on my blog!). i hardly ever leave comments, because....hmm, I don't know. I think about it, but then something always seems to come up. Not a very good excuse, but there you are. So just know,Wendy, that i read your blog every day, and have used alot of the ideas you've talked about.( hello grocery bags out of old sheets! Brilliant!) Clicked on your links and found things that have changed how I do things, or thought about things(sometimes even more important.) so keep it up! and I'll try to comment more often.

Tonya said...

Namaste. Now go yoga with the yogis. :)

Renee Unplugged - said...

OK,ok....Not that I never comment, but it is fairly rare, and I think it took me about a year to post my first comment......
I have linked to your blog from mine (and as far as I can tell I have no readers) I have emailed links to your blog to friends and I have enjoyed just sitting back and reading.
I think I don't comment sometimes because I'd really like it to be more of a conversation and my reading habits are inconsistant. I spend time catching up, then may not get to read for a week or more.

babbl-on said...

Right, I'll bite. I read your blog on my google reader, so to actually comment would be a whole other click. Which I just did. But I probably won't do again, unless I feel really strongly about something. Someone has always beaten me to whatever I want to say!

Darla said...

I found your blog through a comment you left somewhere, I don't remember where/when. I've been by to read a couple of times. Like others, I have traffic but only a handful of faithful bloggers who comment.

I'll be back tho.

Darla

Wendy said...

Thank you all for all the nice comments! Just to clarify, I don't actually expect you all to say how great this site is (though I appreciate it), just to let me know you're there because sometimes it feels like I'm talking into a black hole.

And, I'll be adding my totals from the day before at the end of each post.

I am so glad to meet some of my lurkers. Thanks again!

Felicia said...

I've been taking a couple of months off blog reading this summer. Been reading novels instead. :)

Anonymous said...

I'm a Gemini, too! Maybe that explains the semi-split personality that I have. I realized at a really young age that nobody else thinks this way--I'm so glad I was wrong...:) I even catch myself in contradictions when I'm talking. to. myself. Great, two signs of crazy!
I just recently got into yoga, so I'll have to try one of those Sun Salutations. Maybe two. I have to give you props for finally getting people to post. I love jumping on your site to read your posts, and I usually skip the comments. This time I read through them--they really add another dimension to the blogosphere. And I found your site on a google search for homemade grocery bags, just like another poster. Keep up the good work!

Kim said...

I stumbled across you blog looking for grocery bag patterns but have returned because...

I'm a gemini too
My husband's name is Jeff
And I enjoy reading your blog.

Have a great day!

Anonymous said...

I go through binge phases of reading your blog, Wendy. I haven't read for a while, and was very excitedjust now to see that there are a bunch of entries that I get to read. I'm actually working right now, doing some microscopy, so I'm multi-tasking. I bet Geminis are good multi-taskers...or pretend to be. :) I can't speak for your other blog-devotees, but the reason that I don't write is simply that I suck. No excuse other than that. But, I'll do better...