Saturday, June 25, 2005

Complex Apartment

Light and Fluffy. A circus of vanilla words and pretty musings.

I wrote last night, today I would be all about Light and Fluff, but the writing Muse in me is nixing that idea. Holding back that muse is like trying to push a 2 ton boulder up a hill, it really is a dictatorship here in my Mind.
      
       Have you ever stood in front of a large Apartment Complex and wondered what it would be like to be the proverbial "fly on the wall" for a day in each of the Apartment units. To gain insight into the individual lives of each person living there? I would gladly sign up for that peeping Tom adventure. So in using that as a metaphor, isn't public journals a bit like being in the peeping Tom adventure with out having to sprout wings, risk of flyswatters and for that matter, police! :o)

       So flip a few of the words around in that first sentence. Have you ever stood in front of a Complex Apartment and wondered what it would be like to be the proverbial "fly on the wall" for a day in each of the Apartment units.


Complex Apartment, meaning, a persons mind.


I think we achieve that scenario by being participants in the public journal phenomena. Just like yesterdays revelation or peek into one of my very personal mind apartment units, I think by writing publicly we open the door, and invite company into the many units I call our mind, and invite visitors to mingle with our thoughts. 

       Now again picture that Apartment Complex, that is several stories high, with stairwells and elevators taking you from the simple understated units to the high rise elaborate units. Again, the Complex Apartment is very much like that. In my writing yesterday, I invited people to one of my upper level units for a peek around. Thankfully I didn't have to boot anyone out and I have to say I appreciate that very much. If I go back through my entries I can pretty much assign levels to which I was writing. Observation deck ground level, midlevel musings, and upper level/putting myself out there writing.

       As I wander around journals I assess an entry much like my notion of the Complex Apartment. Someone's entry one day, may invite me into ground floor observation deck and I may leave a light hearted comment with funny commentary. Or I may stumble across someone who has opened the door to a high level room and comments are given openly and objectively with careful thought to respecting that persons open door policy. When handed a key to the delicate upper levels, I feel caution and appreciation should be held to the highest level.

       On that note, I have found 99% of the people in Journal Land adhere to an unspoken code of honor, and are to the core, respectful of each other. Whether placed in actual words, or just held in the highest levels of our minds, I think we've all found a safe place for our thoughts to mingle with others. This community continues to surpass anything my complex apartment dreamed it could be.

       If you haven't already, please visit Pamela at  Just One Girls Head Noise She and her family need your prayers and positive thoughts.

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

On a "lighter" note....My complex apartment needs some serious dusting!
On a less than lighter note...I admire the people of Jland. Whatever they write. Whatever level they let me peek into, I appreciate. I learn. Hence when I myself venture out onto that ledge, I have never ever had a mob with pitchforks, shovels and torches demanding that I throw myself at their mercy. The support, the observation has always been positive. And sometimes, I see another direction to take...The process is a beautiful thing!  Another great entry Rebecca!
*proof reading this time*
Peace
Jodi

Anonymous said...

I totally agree with this whole posting.  Some days I am very deep, if I am brave, and some days I am very shallow and mundane, that's my journal.  I like to think I live my life out in it, in front of all the net to see, but to be honest, we all hold something back now and then.

If you go back to my first entries (wow so long ago now) I started the journal on a whim but also because I missed journaling from when I was a kid.  I took my public journal as a form of control that I didn't have with my old childhood one (it was passed around and read to my horror when I was 13 and until now I hadn't been able to keep a diary out of fear).

J~Land has often been compared to being invited into ppl's homes and sharing pieces of our lives with each other and I love that about all my neighbors, no matter how mundane or deep they can be.  We are a community.  LOL sometimes a better one than you can find in the off line world down the street.

Anonymous said...

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR BEING EDITOR'S PICK OF THE WEEK. I ALWAYS ENJOY MY VISITS. I LOVE JOURNALING AND HAVE HAD MANY HAPPY HRS READING POSTING COMMENTS AND MAKING MY OWN JOURNAL. J-LAND IS ALWAYS A HAPPY PLACE FOR ME TO RELAX AFTER A CRAZY CASINO WORK LIFE. COME BY AND VISIT MY NIGHT OF DANCING ON THE TOWN.

Anonymous said...

I was just thinking that when I started my journal, it was a whim.... I had intended it to be a month long foray and then figured I would move on to something else. Here it is 6 months later and I'm hooked!! Hooked on readin about others, hooked on being able to share the mundane, the silly, the painful and the extraordinary moments that are a part of all our lives. It is an incredible community, isn't it? Penny

Anonymous said...

Sometimes in the upper levels of people's minds, I sit there on the fire escape watching and waiting to be let in. Sometimes they open a window; I am free to walk around and explore. Other times, I'm left out there in the cold.

In my own highest levels, it sometimes gets lonely. Letting people in is one of the hardest things to do, but it's important for me. Sometimes you find similarities and absolutely adore the highest levels of each other.

Man, that is one big metaphor.

Ari

Anonymous said...

It's a balancing act for me, trying to figure out how much to share and what to hold inside.  There are times when I just want to bare it all, kwim?  And then the realization that my twin sis reads my journal holds me back.  It's like an electronic see saw.  Thanks for this entry.  It's true in so many ways.  

~Laurie

Anonymous said...

OMG I love your journal.  Your thoughts and ideas are brilliant.  You definitely deserve to be in the editor's picks.  Just the other night I was walking my dog around my apartment complex and thinking about how many different stories and lives were going on around me in each unit.  I love your words and your views.  Keep up the good work.

Brian

Anonymous said...

I clicked on this journal entry alert without catching the screen name and was reading, thinking to myself, "Wow, this author is an EXCELLENT writer! Who wrote this?"  

Then I realized you had written it and was not surprised.  I don't comment on everything you write, but you are a fantastic writer.  One who writes :)

Chris
http://journals.aol.com/swibirun/Inanethoughtsandinsaneramblings
http://journals.aol.com/swibirun/MyJournalJarSaturdaySixetcanswer

Anonymous said...

I was in this entry earlier but couldn't find words..you've said it all!...
then I was sweeping my living room when this thought came to mind: "Rebecca...you did it again...you walked me through for the uptenth time into the journey of your mind!"
   Yes...you did! ;-)
        Gem ;-)
(btw, why don't you have a book out??)

http://journals.aol.com/libragem007/JournallyYours

Anonymous said...

This is incredibly wonderful. I love the analogy of the apartments being corridors into ones minds. It really is great.
Like the brain with all its fragments and being being peiced back together.
I love your intellegence.

Anonymous said...

you expressed what I have felt perfectly...I think tha tis what good writing is supposed to do, alow us to see our own feelings in someone else's words
Marti

Anonymous said...

It is a bit surreal, this journal land...reading of strangers lives that no longer exactly catagorizes them as strangers, but what else can we be...?  It's hard for me to let go of myself completely and write freely.  I'm not sure why.  There's just things that are too personal that even though those issues are a big part of who I am and what I deal with, I can't share them.  I agree about most journal writers being honest and respectful.  It certainly would ruin the fun for the rest of us if was full of filth on every other page.  I always look forward to your entries!
Michelle  

Anonymous said...

yes, I would agree with that percentage. There is a small percentage of people who have failed to respect the welcome mat and who have caused harm and hard feelings to people who were honest enough to tell the truth here in journals.... and then there are the sociopaths here (a handful) who we have watched time and again trample the thoughts and rights of others. They lie and cheat in real life, so no better can be expected here.... but it still hurts to cross paths with them. I was honored to read your post and am so glad to know you..... you possess the honest kind of spirit that I can really respect.
judi

Anonymous said...

That's exactly how I feel about journals...but you said it so much better!

I've enjoyed reading here tonight.

mara

Anonymous said...

The J-Land Apartment Complex is quite large and there is something for everyone.  It's so easy to find a friendly neighbor.  There are thousands of apartment dwellers with many different kinds of lives; therefore, there's a wide variety of writing styles, varied life experiences, and theories.  We gravitate to the apartments that are decorated in keeping with our own taste.  

The one thread that I appreciate most amongst J-Landers is one that you mentioned, the support and kindness.  It's impressive!

Somedays the kindness found in these individual apartments, warms my heart and makes me wish we could have a big ole' J-Land Barbeque!!!  LOL!

I enjoyed this entry, neighbor!

http://journals.aol.com/cyndygee/TheRealWorldofcyndygee

Anonymous said...

So, is it the writing that's sisyphean, or the not writing?
-Paul

Anonymous said...

Nicely stated!
Judith
http://journals.aol.com/jtuwliens/MirrorMirrorontheWall

Anonymous said...

Rebecca...REBECCA...I love that apartment analogy..YOU hit it on the head...Wow the way you use words....my goodness simply amazing...YOU GO GURL!! Thanks for making me laugh with your comments on description...YOu had me rolling...lol...~flava~

Anonymous said...

Very well said. ~ Lori

Anonymous said...

i love your analogy .. your style of writing is captivating :)
and thank you .. for sending positive thoughts my way
pamela
http//journals.aol.com/his1desire/GirlsHeadNoise

Anonymous said...

wonderufl insight and great ability to "loop" from your thoughts into language
natta

Anonymous said...

No you didn't...  Tell me you did this without being prodded...  You submitted to CarnivAOL!  Yeah, yippeeee, yahooooooo...  I'm so glad you submitted, this entry is even better the second time around.  So beautifully written, yes, so beautiful indeed.  You know where to find the spare key to the upper level of my complex apartment.  You are welcome there anytime, just don't get tangled in all the cobwebs and stay away from the trail of stale bread crumbs.
Best,
Judith
http://journals.aol.com/jtuwliens/MirrorMirrorontheWall

Anonymous said...

Wow, great entry.  And you are right, there does seem to be an unspoken code of honor.  I think most people are "good" and operate in that way in general.  Unfortunately, it is all the assholes that get the press.  Sorry, pardon my french.  Having a day...

be well,
Dawn

http://journals.aol.com/princesssaurora/CarpeDiem/
Poetry:
http://journals.aol.com/princesssaurora/TouchofEmpathy/