I haven’t been a fan of the writing-as-therapy model. Writing about one’s feelings and experiences as a way to work stuff out has long struck me as self-indulgent and narcissistic. But perhaps I’m too harsh a critic of people’s motivations for writing, especially in light of studies that show that expressive writing–including blogging–leads to better health.
I still have a tendency to roll my eyes when I come across writing that seems overly confessional or breathless. I like my blogging to show some restraint, thank you very much. That said, I can’t deny that I receive some therapeutic benefits from writing and keeping this blog. Not long ago, a friend rightly pointed out that underneath my charming exterior lies a pretty melancholy person. Actually, she might not have used the word “charming”, but that’s beside the point. I’m not melancholy to the point where I dress in black every day and sprinkle my speech with quotes from nineteenth-century poets, but I do live inside my head and there’s lots of shadowy nooks and crannies in here. Writing for an audience (however small) is how I get perspective. It’s my way of letting in the sun.
I conclude, between you and the readers of your blog there is some healthy and very fortunate”kruisbestuiving” (sorry, a Dutch word I can’t translate, but this will be no problem at all for you) and at the same time it is an example of…that thing which makes both parties profit…oh yes, symbiose of course.
Thinking of what you wrote yesterday, we might as well do any possible effort to reach that year when life expectancy will rise more quickly than age!!