Providing Value
It has often been said in the blogging circle that the way to make a self-sustaining blog is to be patient, and provide value.
I like to think that I’m patient… It has been nearly nine months since I started blogging, four months using this domain name. Sometimes, I’ve been distracted with daily life, and others, I’ve posted daily. What hasn’t changed is that I have always come back to add something more.
The question, though, is what value do people get from this blog? In its first lifetime, this blog was here to answer random questions, such as why printers jam when you’re in a hurry, why the grass is green, and what was the meaning behind a dream’s symbols. (That last one earned me my first long-time reader, Jeff Lilly of DruidJournal.net.)
Shortly before answering Jeff’s question, I had decided to change the topic of the blog from random questions to write about general personal development. The loss of my database (I was hosting the site on my own personal computer at the time) made the transition a lot easier, as I didn’t have as much ‘baggage’ from past posts to deal with, although the answers that I gave at the time are unfortunately lost in the ether. Writing about personal development in general, though, was beyond my scope, and I was in the process of starting to live my life purpose, to bring peace to everybody.
The third life of this blog started a couple of months before I switched domain names and servers. I narrowed my topic down to talking about inner peace. Sometimes, I have strayed from this topic, and other times, I have remained extremely faithful, but the purpose of this blog has always been to encourage other people to talk about inner peace, whether here, or in their own domains. Jeff has done so many times, as has Kara-Leah, Slade, Damian, Angela-Eloise, and many others who are unfortunately cursed by my bad memory, so won’t be receiving a link until I edit this post and add them. 
A character created by Orson Scott Card, named Ender Wiggins, once said that it is alright to die, as long as you’re always reborn.
So, it is time for this blog to be reborn again.
All jokes of Pagans being Reborn-Agains aside, it is time for a change. I would like to revive part of what made the blog good in the beginning, and keep part of what keeps this blog good now. I want more reader involvement, because, at the heart, the message is never what is intended by the author. The message is always what the recipient receives.
To do that, I am re-inviting the random questions, although I ask that the questions be limited to inner peace. The definition of inner peace is broad, though, as are the methods for growing your own peacefulness, so if I’m asked, I will write about why the sky is blue, in the hopes that the answer will bring a measure of peace to someone.
Keep in mind that my ‘religion’ is Universalism, and I am comfortable discussing quotes from the Old Testament along side philosophical ruminations, Tao, and pagan rites and symbolism. I am also scientifically minded, where I keep as much separation between objective and subjective observations as I keep a separation between two sides of a coin. Objectivity and subjectivity are not the same, but they can not exist without the other, so I strive to keep a healthy balance between the two.
So, I am officially inviting any and all questions, with the intent to bring peace to everybody. If you have a question, feel free to use either the Contact Form or scroll down to the bottom and leave a comment on any post. I also encourage everyone who reads to also participate and help answer the questions as well, as I’m not the only source of inspiration and peace, and often, you’ll be surprised at how much peace you can spread, as well as gain for yourself, just by trying to help someone else.
Here’s the new closing for each of my posts from now on:
If you have a question about peace, in any of its forms, feel free to use the Contact Form or leave a comment on this post. If you would like to add to this answer in any way, feel free to leave a comment here.
Adam,
Many thanks for including me in your ‘transformation’ post its a real honour to appear alongside such wonderful company
I would also like to take this opportunity to wish you well as you re-define your path - a regular period of unrest and adaption serves the soul well - it demonstrates Evolution in the most positive way.
So to start you on the way let me ask a question - “As we (the human race) appear to be accelerating towards a point of Spiritual Growth or Ascension, what do you see as the greatest hurdle and why?”
Anchor in your past - Live in the moment - have Hope for the Future,
Your friend and companion on the path to Peace,
Damian
Hey Adam,
I like this idea… I’ve also been musing over the evolution of blogging and wondering how I can ‘give’ more to my readers. I like your idea of answering questions… so to get the ball rolling… here’s a question for you.
Why is there war?
I look forward to reading your answer! And thanks too for the link, always appreciated.
Happy answering!
Kara-Leah
Damian, yours is done already, and will appear at midnight, my local time. (GMT -7, so it will appear at 7am your local time, depending on which timezone you’re in.) I did this because I want to have at least one day between this post and the first of my answers…
Kara-Leah, your question is quite a bit more difficult… I’ve already decided how I’m going to answer it, though, so don’t go trying to give me an ‘easier’ question… I’ll only (and gladly) answer both.
Your post should probably appear about 18 hours after Damian’s, which, I think, would be a couple of hours on either side of 8am on the 7th, your local time… then again, I’m most probably completely backwards with the time zones anyway, so expect it when you see it. 
You’re both very welcome for the links, and you’ll be receiving a couple more as your answers are published.
To both of you, thank you for such quick replies and questions. I really appreciate it.
Adam,
As you know, I can totally relate to the need to re-incarnate a blog. I find it very liberating to give my writing projects seasonal reboots and course runs. You are the glue of all your stories — I encourage you to focus, re-focus, and re-invent.
I was recently telling Jeff Lily that one of the reasons I decided to move everything under a domain named after me is the flexibility. I fully intend to start new conversations, focus on particular topics, and then move on.
I just returned from a week-long Beltane Gathering — my yearly reboot. I’m struggling to re-enter my life in many aspects — there is a momentum to conversations, to writing… I thought I’d ease back in and find the thread by discovering what my peers and colleagues are gabbing about.
I’m trying to find a way to communicate the theme I’ve brought back from Beltane — which was “The Stories that No Longer Serve You.” Perhaps that is what you are addressing here.
I will quote you now, so that you can know what resonated with me from this post:
WELL said.
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