My Take on Blogging

When thinking about a definition for blogging, the first thought that comes to mind is a safe place on the internet to share information of all kinds with anyone who wants to look. The information can be useful or not because it belongs to an individual. Depending on the purpose, blogging can be very beneficial, or it can contain information that is useful only to the blogger. Anyone can blog regardless of age, gender, or race as long as they can use a computer.
Because blogging is so broad range, it has useful benefits for any technology user. A novice technology user can blog simply for the enjoyment of having a place where thoughts can be written down or the user can find a blog on almost any subject to attain or share information. For people who love to spend time on the computer, blogging is another avenue to use their time on the computer. Blogging can also be a channel to famous people that otherwise would be unaccessible to the average person. Blogging sights have become so popular and so broad ranged that a blog sight can be found on almost any subject and in almost any field of work.
My major is physical therapy. I can see many uses for blogging information in my field. Because physical therapy is a related medical field, information and techniques are constantly changing. Through blogging, information can be shared much more quickly. If I were working on a particular case and wasn't haven't any success, blogging could put me in contact with other physical therapists for help. As a new physical therapist, information could be obtained from many sources quickly. Just being able to get on blog sights related to my work field would provide a wealth of information. On the other side, if I came across a time saving technique or new way of doing something, I could also share information. Physical therapy is a demanding occupation and requires contant learning. If for no other reason, a blog sight could be useful just for venting.
A good blog sight must be useful for the person using it. Depending on the reason for using the sight, it needs to be updated on a regular basis. When looking at blog sights, some hadn't been updated in a year. A good blog sight needs to look appealing to the person using the sight. The font needs to be easy to read and it needs to be spaced so it's not overwhelming. In order to have any credibility at all, the information needs to be grammatically correct. When blogging for some information, the author's name can give credibility to the sight. A good blog sight often lists sources and related articles. A bad blog sight is one that is hard to read for whatever reason and doesn't give enough information for what a person needs. When looking for information through a blog sight, just listing a first name isn't enough. I was told once that one man's trash is another man's treasure. I guess this could be said for blog sights too.
The "good" or "bad" is in the eye of the beholder. What one person might consider a bad blog, another might find it useful.
I looked at three blogs relating to physical therapy. The first blog, http://mfschwall.blogspot.com, was titled "The Physical Therapy Etcetera Blog". It said it was covering varied aspects of physical therapy, health policy, science, politics and any other topic of interest. The blog was written using correct grammar and spelling, but the content was so broad it was hard to follow and you had to scroll through a lot of information. It was much more than just physical therapy. This blog had moved to a different blog, so everything posted was more than a year old. You even had to read through some information to find out that it had moved. I really found no information that the creator was treated as an expert. It seemed more of a blog to just talk. The second blog ,http://physical therapy blog.wordpress.com, was titled "Alison's Physical Therapy Blog". The blog gave information on back pain from a physical therapist. It was easy to read and written using correct grammar and spelling. The blog hadn't been updated in several months. The comments suggest the the author is treated as an expert and suggest the blog is a very good one. The third blog, http://physical therapy. about.com/b/, was very good. The title "Quick Tips to Help You" gave tips on all kinds of things dealing with physical therapy. It was very easy to read and the spacing was very appealing. One thing that made the blog seem so professional is that it asked each reader to take a poll and it also gave related articles and sponsor links.
Based on what I've seen, I think blogging will be around for awhile.

"You've got to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything"

I heard the quote, "You've got to stand for something, or you'll fall for anthing," on my way to school my sophmore year of high school. I was a dreary and rainy morning and I was not looking forward to my drive to high school. As I'm sure you all know, high school can be a life changing place. Sometimes the change is for the good, and sometimes for the worse. My friends and I were thick as theives. We had grown up with each other, played sports together, and even our parents grew up with each other. When we got to high school, older boys started to notice us, and we thought we were pretty cool. My friends convinved me to go to a party, and then one party turned into two, and three, and then every weekend. I was so worried about being cool and fitting in, that I put everything else second. My family, my church, and even school and sports. I wasn't performing well in any area of life. I knew what I was doing wasn't right. I was struggling with myself between what I wanted to be and who I was being. My battle with myself made me battle with everyone else. I fought with my sisters, my parents, and even my friends. I was going downhill fast and needed a change. It was on that rainy morning when I got my change. It was an old country song, I'm not even sure who sings it. The beat was good and it was keeping me awake, but other than that I wasn't paying attention. But then I heard the chorrus. "You've got to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything." Wow! Could those words be more perfect? I needed to stand for something, or I would (and was at the time) fall for anything. It was then I decided to get my act together. I stopped worrying about what others thought of me, and started worrying about what I thought of myself. I'm not saying I'm perfect now, but my priorities are straight and I am more true to myself. Any decision I make is because of me, not others pressuring me. I have beliefs, and I am willing to stand up for them. Who knew that that old country song on my old radio could impact my life in such a great way?!

"A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for"

Wow! What a good quote. "A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." It is so easy to not put yourself out there. To not try out for the team, not talk to that person you like, not take the advanced classes, or whatever it is you want to do. If we don't try something, we can't get rejected, and we can't feel hurt. Sounds like a good plan, right? WRONG. It does no good to hold yourself back for fear of rejection or failure. Think how this world would be if nobody went for their goals and dreams. There would be no president, because there is a chance of losing, and that is just too scary. There would be no teachers, because that requires intense schooling, and you could possibly fail. Nobody would be married, because it takes courage to meet someone. The list goes on and on. No athletes, no comedians, no movies, no nothing. The world can simply not function without the courage of people. Someone always has to be willing to go for their dreams in order to make this world spin. I realize that rejection and failure are scary. Nobody wants to be shot down, but not putting yourself out there is in essence worse. You will always wonder, what could have been? What if I would have went for it, and SUCCEEDED? Yes, success is possible, but not without risking rejection. Like the quote said, you can always be safe, just don't go for your dreams, but thats not what we were made for. We are designed for a very specific purpose. To be something, whatever it is, something. Don't be scared to fufill that purpose. Step up and be somebody. You playing little does not serve the world. If you fail or get rejected, its ok. Believe it or not people live through rejection and failure. Pick yourself up and try again. Don't stay in the harbor where it is safe. Go meet the ocean, and follow your dreams!

"Win like you have done it before"

I am from a competitive family. From basketball, to volleyball, rodeo, or school, being the best has always been important. We have always worked hard to make sure success happened. One of my biggest annoyances is when people are cocky when they win. I can't stand when someone wins a basketball game or whatever they are doing and flaunt it. Humble is they only way to behave in my opinion. I have a friend who rodeos who is very good, but the bad thing is she knows it. We are always neck and neck at the rodeos and sometimes I win and sometimes she wins. We were at the High School Finals Rodeo in 2008. I was beating her for the overall average but she was very close behind. After the first round i knocked over a barrel. My friend won the first round. This put her ahead of me by one half of a point. There were two more rounds left and I would have to win and she would have to do bad for me to catch up. I did well, but not well enough. She won the next two rounds and that was able to keep her in first place. She had won, and it was hard for me to swallow. I told her good job and went to my trailer to secretly pout. She paraded around, posted how she had beat me on facebook, and made sure that I didn't forget she had won. It took everything I had not to slap her, but I just bit my tongue. It was around this time when I discovered this quote, "Win like you have done it before," on the internet. It really got me to thinking about the situation. If you are successful, be proud, but don't be arrogant. Win with grace and class, like you have done it before. Sometimes being at the top gives people an easy reason not to like you. Whatever you do, sing, dance, play soccer, or whatever, if you are the best someone will always resent you. This is why you HAVE to be humble about your successes. Don't brag and flaunt what you have done. Quietly win and go on about your business. This is the most respectable way to be in my opinion. If you succeed, act like it is no big deal, like it happens all the time. This to me is so important. The only thing worse than a sore loser, is a sore winner.

"Tough times go away, tough people don't"

It was a hot day in the Texas panhandle when my whole world came crashing down. I was giving my dog a bath when my mom's friend pulled up to my house. I wasn't expecting anyone and where I live people don't just stop by. The news she gave me hit me like a semi truck. My dad had been in a horse accident and had broken his neck in three places. It still gives me chills just to type it. He was going to live, but walking was questionable. After being airlifted to Dallas for surgery, he was bound to a wheelchair. My invicible dad could no longer walk. The man who used to tower over me and kept me safe now relied on a wheelchair. The pain I felt in my heart was like knives stabbing me, or sharks nibbling at my toes, and there was nowhere to escape. My father is a very driven man, and he refused to believe he wouldn't walk. He would reasure me everyday that he would one day not only walk, but ride a horse again. It was during this time that my dad would say "Tough times go away, tough people don't." He worked hard, and when that didn't work, he worked harder! He was a man on a mission, and he was going to win. He gave a true definition to "tough." He never got down, he joked, and he inspired others. If I can be half the person he was during that time I will be doing something. I have yet to understand how someone can muster up that much will power. Im sure you are all curious of the fate of my dad. Today he went to work, came home, rode his horses, went for a jog, and is probably feeding all the horses right about now. Yes, its true, tough times really can go away. Especially when a tough person is involved. Whenever im down I repeat that quote in my head. I reminds me to keep going, and to always be "tough." I hope this might be of good use to you. Just remember, not matter how bad things are going, you can always get through it! :)

Quote one: "Though he be but little, he is fierce."

One of my favorite quotes is from the great Shakespeare. The quote comes from the play "A Midsummer Night's Dream." I first heard it on the movie Seabiscuit. If you haven't seen that movie, I strongly suggest you watch it! Seabiscuit was a small and gangly horse that was considered a loser. A man stumbled upon the horse and decided to give him a chance. He matched the horse with a six foot jockey, which in the racing world is unheard of. The two were by far the underdogs. I don't want to give the movie away, so I won't tell any more of the ending. But, as Seabiscuit was walking on to the track his jockey said, "Though he be but little, he is fierce." This quote spoke to me because as a child i was very small. I would always get asked if i ever ate and people would always tell me to "Put some meat on my bones." I would always get really annoyed because I ate all the time, but never gained weight. I was very tiny and people always counted me out in sports and things and nobody ever expected me to be any good. Although i was small, that didn't mean I couldn't be an asset to the team. I would always surprise people with my ability, and eventually people would stop judging me based on my size. The quote, "though he be but little, he is fierce," applied to my life at the time. Even though Seabiscuit was small, he was not to be counted out. Whenever I would get down about being small or "skinny," I would just think of that quote. Being the underdog is not fun or easy, but if you come out on top it can be inspiring. I am thankful for that short but meaningful quote from Shakespeare. Sometimes it gave me that extra push that I needed when I was feeling down! For more info and comments visit http://old.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-hibbs080103.asp.