Does This Blog Make A Difference?

This post is in response to Lorelle’s Challenge “Does your blog make a difference in the world around you? How?” that was posted on her site last week. I’ve been thinking about the best way to answer this question, trying to avoid the traditional cheesy answers and really taking a step back to discover a sincere statement. I think what I am going to end up with is more of a confession.

The first thing I thought of when faced with this question was the embarrassing admission that “I am worth $242.08” in which I lamented that I wasn’t making a whole heck of a lot of money for the amount of time I invest in this site. I don’t do this for the cash, but it is difficult for a college grad to earn just twelve cents an hour. It was not a very inspiring post and to my defense I was heavily medicated for an ear infection with some prescription drug that causes depression, so I blame the meds. The responses to that post were amazing and I have to admit I almost cried. Ok, maybe I did shed one tear, but no one needs to know that. Shhh :-$

I don’t think it is a coincidence that Martina McBride’s “Anyway” came on the radio as I typed that last paragraph. The line “You can spend your whole life building something from nothing/One storm can come and blow it all away/Build it anyway” is especially moving to me. I was never guaranteed that this site would be effective or do anything for anyone. I just did it anyway. The truth is, I felt compelled to do it. In a way it is therapy for me. An outlet for my thoughts. And the response has just blown me away.

Take for example, the day after the “I’m worth $242.08” post where I sobered up and wrote “Do you know where you are?,” a post about the difference between a journey and a road trip. It was really just me sorting out my thoughts for the moment and I didn’t expect anyone to remark on it at all. In fact, I thought it was so insignificant that I almost didn’t post it. But I did it anyway. A few hours later I received this comment:

I swear you are reading my heart today. [details snipped] …I needed you to write what you did today.

Followed by:

And the above comment is WHY, my friend Gretchen, you have this website. ;) Ya never know what kind of difference you can make just by being you.

And then it struck me. Its not about me doing anything special or writing some great content to raise my search engine ratings. We’re all in this together. The people that truly inspire me are not always the people I interview or talk about in my articles. The people who inspire me are the ones I talk to every day both online and off. The “ordinary” people who encourage each other at every opportunity. The ones who aren’t afraid to be real, confess their struggles and ask for advice. “Ordinary” people with extraordinary gifts. That’s who we are here at Girls Cant’ WHAT?. This web site exists so that we can help each other. It’s a community. Group therapy, if you will. ;)

So does this blog make a difference? It does to me. And if it existed for me and me alone, I’d build it anyway.