Live. Play. Create. Imagine New Ways to Make a Difference
I saw this photo appear in a colleague’s Flickr stream. He took this pic of a chalk emblazoned footpath (sidewalk) in Chicago.
It captured my attention because it’s:
anonymous
organic
free
original
expressive
It reminded me of this
It’s:
fun
enjoyed by others
innovative
simple
creative
Now if we could just grab hold of that and apply it more often to the way we use social media.
Do you draw outside the lines? Think of the possibilities 
It’s now been two years and two hundred posts since Andy first helped me to get started blogging here on Wonderwebby! Upon reflection, that’s a bit of time spent drafting, editing and reading comments. So why do I spend time blogging?
I make time for blogging because it’s part of my learning & personal development and it sparks my creative thinking. I make time for it the same way you might make time to attend conferences, after work events or training. I only work three days a week, which restricts the days available to attend networking events. Also my husband and I have three young boys so I don’t travel for work often. Blogging (and Twitter, Facebook etc) helps me to stay connected in so many ways.
I don’t see myself as a serious blogger. There are times when I might choose to read a book instead of writing a blog post, or I might choose to do something creative, or spend time with the boys instead.
Sometimes I’ll begin writing a blog post late at night once I’ve tucked the little ones in bed, folded some laundry, and then I’ll finish the post first thing in the morning or later when I have a spare moment. Blogging is often ‘me time’. It’s a choice. Free expression. I suppose that’s why I hesitate to accept offers of advertising, or to write about products that don’t interest me. If it’s genuinely wonderful, I’ll write about it.
When I ramble write, I try to think how my posts might bring some value to you. Blogging helps me to practice communicating and writing quickly, concisely and it challenges me to try different writing styles and approaches. I like to use this blog to express my thoughts, the things I learn, to share creative moments and wonder about the wonderful possibilities with you. I enjoy sharing ideas that might help create a better world and collaborating with you on your creative blog challenges.
But for the most part, I spend my time helping with homework, making lunches, working, washing clothes, connecting with and caring for my family, friends and others. Blogging is something I enjoy – and now 200 posts later (201 if you count this one) I’m just looking forward to the things that might find their way into this blog or your comments!
Thanks to those of you who subscribe - it’s really lovely to know you’re there! And to those of you who comment – I always enjoy reading what you have to say (although I’m really not so great at writing comments myself!).
What about you? Why do you spend time blogging?
Always late to the party, I just found Bench Monday. Looks like a fun Flickr group challenge! (note to self: need new shoes)
by neon.mamacita
by jek in the box
by leedav
from Jesshibb
There are some fun pics in the group Flickr pool. You should take a look-see.
Here’s a list of some ways you can begin to explore social media- or 13 tips for getting your social media mojo back
A bit of background: In my last post I wrote about Keri Smith’s book “How To Be An Explorer Of The World.” I also suggested you read some of her tips and consider how they might also apply to your conversations, even those on Twitter. This is my attempt at providing some tips (based on Keri Smith’s list) on looking beyond the tools and discovering the amazing conversations, people and their ideas through social media.
1. Always be looking. (Notice the ground beneath your feet.)
Don’t just broadcast or consume information. Pause and notice the things people are saying around you and take time to nurture relationships. There are some wonderful people out there.
2. Consider everything alive and animate.
Notice the many ways your connections express themselves. Enjoy being part of living, breathing and sometimes even abstract conversations. Animate your own conversations, blog posts and tweets through photos, music and video.
Image by Simon Lee
3. Everything is interesting. Look closer.
4. Alter your course often.
In a recent post about the need to connect with all kinds of people, Stacey Monk from Epic Change wrote how societal change is“created by musicians, politicians, journalists, technologists and so many others”. Michele Martin has written some interesting thoughts about cultural connections and online homophily. Do you alter your course to discover and explore new conversations?
5. Observe for long durations (and short ones).
You can learn a lot, just by listening. Which conversations really grab you, inspire and motivate you?
6. Notice the stories going on around you.
Be amazed by the stories around you. Practice childlike fascination. If you pay attention you’ll notice some wonderful stories going on around you.
7. Notice patterns. Make connections.
Explore individual conversations, and notice patterns. Incredible things can happen when a group of people connect the dots.
8. Document your findings (field notes) in a variety of ways.
Take your observations one step further by interacting (commenting), sharing (eg a tweet or shared bookmark) or write a blog post to capture and explore those moments of inspiration.
9. Incorporate indeterminacy.
Keri Smith explains this concept in an interview with About Creativity. When you use social media, be ready to let your ideas take on a life of their own. Other people will interpret your idea in new ways, drawing upon different influences to express themselves. Embrace the unseen and prepare for the unexpected. Join in a collaborative creative blogging project or group Flickr challenge.
10. Observe movement.
Social media perpetuates a moving, creative dialogue. A song, leads to a mashup, leads to another mashup. Interpretation becomes open and serendipitous.
11. Create a personal dialogue with your environment. Talk to it.
Interact. Engage. Explore. Share your ideas. Be brave.
Image by FD
12. Trace things back to their origins.
If you appreciate a photo in a blog post, go to the original Flickr image, see if the creator has a blog, or a Twitter account where you can connect with them. Share your appreciation. If you enjoy a quote, find the original source. If you’re inspired by a mashup, search for others.
13. Use all of the senses in your investigations.
I’d be interested to hear what you think. How do you explore social media?
Yesterday I picked up a copy of “How To Be An Explorer Of The World” by Keri Smith. And a small handbag-size journal with a combination of blank pages for drawing and lined pages so I can take lots of notes. This will be fun!
I was reading the introduction and I noticed something. This, from page 5 of her book (thanks to Keri for letting me share these images, because it looks so much better in ‘written in the dark’ handwriting :
Now read the same list again.
Now read it again and think about how you engage with people. Yes, even on Twitter.
* * * * * * *
I’m looking forward to investigating my world over the next couple of months. I might even do some of the explorations with the kids.When my boys play with my camera I get a real insight into how they view the world, and their little explorations. This apparently, is how they see things.
Keri Smith’s book reminds me of the way we grew up, taught to find faces or people in everyday things (one of Keri’s exercises) and encouraged to notice the works of art to be found around us. It’s an approach to looking I hope I can pass onto my own children.
Do you like to explore the everyday? How do you like to capture those moments?
Hello! It’s lovely to see you. Really, it is. But it’s OK with me if you don’t want to look like your face.
Maybe you want to appear upside-down for a change. Or perhaps your 3 year old told you that his crazy scribble with googly eyes looks just like you. If you want to look like a cartoon character, a sunrise, a monkey or a polkadot, that’s OK with me too.
The thing is, when you change your face, I get to see another side of you. I’m won’t get upset or feel like I can’t find you any more if you do. Because hopefully, I’ll recognise your voice through our conversations and the value that you always add to my day.
Of course, sometimes it’s helpful to see your face, like just before a TweetUp, or if you’re inviting me to be involved with some kind of project. Sharing your smiling face can be a friendly and genuine gesture. And besides, your face is beautiful.
But, I just wanted to say, it’s OK with me – if at times you feel so inclined- you don’t look like your face
Now that my fundraiser is over I’ve updated the Worldshaper slides, including this shorter bite size version for you to enjoy!
I hope you are inspired by these women who use the web to shape, influence and change their worlds.
Joanna Young has an interesting writing challenge happening on her blog over the next couple of months on the theme of ‘Possibility’, covering the language of possibility, writing beyond our sense of what’s possible and helps to make things happen, achieving (im)possible writing goal and the promise of “a group writing project to help stretch the boundaries of what’s possible in blogland…”
Her post appeared in my RSS reader just after I read ‘The Value of Wonder’ by Chris Brogan where he challenges us to add some wonderment to our working day.
When I started this blog nearly two years ago I called it Wonderwebby because I like to wonder about the wonderful webby things. The possibilities. Just imagine. Dare to dream a little.
What sparks your imagination at work? How do you like to include ‘wonderment and possibility’ in your day?
wonderchatter