“The road to hell is paved with good intentions…”

I created my blog, Blurbs from the Burbs, roughly five years ago. Initially my writing served as a therapeutic outlet allowing me to express in writing what I sometimes struggled to express with words. Through writing I began to discover my inner self- at last, a creative outlet that allowed me to release feelings and emotions I had been drowning in for years. Hate it or love it, writing has been and always will be cathartic for me.

When I began my blog, the social networking sites were in their infancy stages. Never believing anyone would actually be interested in reading my blogs, I wrote out of a deep need to express things that were going on in my life. During the first couple of years a few family members would read my blogs occasionally, however, it was sporadic at best. The audience (or lack thereof) was of little importance to me at that time- I simply had to put pen to paper in order to survive emotionally. While I know that my blog is posted on a public website I often forget I have several dedicated readers (for which I am grateful-it is my greatest wish that at least one person may identify with a problem I once had and as a result make better decisions than I was capable of making during those times).

With that said, I am no saint. I was spiritually and emotionally sick for many years during my blogging (which becomes very apparent if you begin reading them from beginning to end). In hindsight I realize I sometimes manipulated others through my blogging (many times without forethought however, ignorance is never an excuse). I have also found that whenever I am upset I sometimes revert back to my former manipulative patterns of behavior. I am not proud of this. This was not an easy realization to hear or to accept. While I cannot go back and erase any of the damage I may have caused, I do have a responsibility to ensure all future blogging is done so with sensitivity and tact.

When I write I do so from a genuine and sometimes emotionally raw place (thus, I am overly sensitive and protective of my blogs). Consequently when it was brought to my attention that although my intentions may be good, my blogs are open to subjective interpretation (albeit the reader ultimately formulates their own interpretation which may or may not conflict with my true intent) I did not react well. Upon hearing this I was hurt and angry. After taking some time and reviewing some of my blogs, I realized there were some that could not only be misinterpreted but also some that looked like character assassinations. At that moment I was overcome with guilt and remorse to learn that while I had been trying to help others I may have inadvertently harmed them instead.

For this I can only offer my sincerest apologies to those I may have harmed or wronged in any way through my writing. I will strive from this point forward to be conscientious and respectful in my writing whenever it involves a third person party. Though it was a painful lesson to learn, I am forever grateful for the person who was brave enough to act as my teacher…

You know who you are ;-)