Menothority; OoWaC I do, whacky day - an Official Blogville Post

Hari OM and Welcome one and all.

For regular 'viewers' this post may appear a tad ... odd... but let me reassure you that whilst the instigation for this has been via a pet bloggers' network, it carries some weight. Before going into the 'speech of office', owing to a dual role appearing on this blog, a little background is warranted... you may wish to put the kettle on, this is going to be a long one!

Most bloggers know that there are communities online; places where people of like-mind, common interest, et cetera, congregate. "Blogville" is one such suburb of the great etherweb metropolis. Just as we find in our physical world, there are places we like to call home; other places we love to visit and linger; others we don't mind visiting, but not necessarily all the time; and still others which once visited, we know they are not really places we feel the need to stay or revisit.  Just as in the physical world, the YAMster has been an explorer of Etherweburgh and it has brought some wonderful sights, several worthwhile connections and a good deal of fun.

Blogville is filled with Love (captial 'ell'!), outreach, support, crazy capers, oh and did I mention LOVE??? It in no way supplants what is to be found in the physical world. This is not an imaginary community for those out of touch.  It is a grounded place, with solid folks who have much to offer.

It has been my great privilege to find so many good 'penfriends' - for this is how I view blogging. Firstly, it is a place to practice one's writing discipline; this in turn connects one with those others who have an interest in what is being written and leads to genuine 'getting to know you' times. I do not subscribe to any other networking media...take note now!  No booking face, no chirping, no sticking pins, no trapping or any other such thing goes on here. It is rare, also, for me to take up blog-hopping, but for occasions such as this, exceptions are made!  What occasion?

Blogville is serious enough a place, believing it can make a difference, one pixel, one byte at a time, that it has a fully appointed administration with duly elected leaders. The new Mayors, Murphy & Stanley, have honoured me with appointment to the Office of Wellness and Concerns.

Today is the day in which all new office bearers are to write about their pawsitions and introduce themselves to all  Blogvillagers.

As intimated at top of post, I straddle two 'suburbs' now. "Meno-Take" is primarily a journal and creative writing bloggy, through which there are connections with no fur, fin or feather in sight. Until now my Blogville status as YAM-aunty has been confined to comments on other 'villager's pages. It is a special case here, for I do not currently share life with a pet. There have been pets in the past and it is not impossible to consider that there will be pets in the future.  Not right now though. Nevertheless, I have been totally accepted into Blogville citizenship, leading to this immense honour of bearing office.  There is no reason at all, as I see it, that ALL my readers cannot benefit even from the posts which will be made bearing the Blogville flag.

You see, within the scope of 'concerns' is the voice of reason, language of inclusion, demounting boundaries which cause negative divisions and mounting appropriate 'safeguard' boundaries which enhance community living.

How, then, do I see this portfolio working, interfacing my 'real' blogging with that of our little utopia?

Let me be clear. First and foremost, Blogville is a place of fun and entertainment. There will be frolics along the way. Beneath it though, is a current of true Love and Support, as all worthy neighbourhoods ought to have. Much of my 'pawsition' will be about being 'agonaunty' for lost toys and droopy tails and a good deal of that work can be carried out through stern or sympathetic comments and advising on remedial activity.

Here at Meno-Take, posts will continue as usual, but there will be more intermediary posts, Blogville specific, and these will carry the flag you see above. This does NOT mean that regular readers are not to read them - indeed the more the merrier!  There may be some of my regulars who simply have not thought about blogs in terms of their pets and who may find a new and exciting road to explore.

Now, then, to the actual SPEECH OF OFFICE.

I, Yamini Ali MacLean (YAM-aunty), have accepted term in the OFFICE OF WELLNESS AND CONCERNS.

Menothority; I am not a genius, but I am a terrific package of experience. Life and Lord have seen to it that I have travelled widely, studied variously, qualified severally. All this serves to show me that there is still a great deal to learn! Undoubtedly, though, I have a few tools and tricks which may be of help.

Specific to the Wellness part of this portfolio, I shall seek to place posts on matters of physical improvements as well as behavioural aspects to remaining well and balanced (pets take note - you may like to make sure your pawrents are paying attention too... just sayin'...) It may interest some who are philosophically inclined, to take up reading Aatmaavrajanam, as there is a significant personal development component therein, which does not require any specific religiosity; indeed sceptics are welcome. (You are encouraged to read the bio pages on each blog, to get a feel for 'who' YAM-aunty is - as well as reading daily here of course!)

As a counsellor also, where there is need for some deeper guidance, this may be provided, though it should be stressed here that nothing can substitute for face-to-face consultation with a professional near you. Definitely I am happy to be your first port of call, but if at any time it is felt there is serious need and proper treatment is required, you will be advised accordingly and supported in finding that help.

A large part of taking a wellness stance, is to de-stress; all too often we say we are 'feeling under the weather' without recognising that a large part of our condition is state of mind. That is to say, a stressed state of mind! It is one thing to be caring and concerned about events and conditions both locally and globally, it is quite another to be weighed down by them, to become overwhelmed, over emotional, over reactive and so on. On the matter of the 'concerns' part of the portfolio then, through menoducational and menosophical posts, as well as through focused comments on others' posts where such things arise, it is my fervent wish to bring some balance, relief and to prompt ways of looking at things differently. In this way, you will be encouraged to let go of the things about which you can do nothing, to act where you can and, hopefully, to know which is which. ...and let's not forget good ol' R&R on MenoSundays...

Our Mayor-doods will no doubt request specific things from time to time and if any other Blogvillager - or regular reader! - feels they would like a spotlight on something, please do ask.

To enable dialogue for more in-depth and private matters, an email contacts box has been provided on the Wild YAM page; but the comments box is the most immediate for all things which are general or may be of interest to others.  Make good use of it!  I don't promise to respond to every comment - but will always answer those which have a specific question (or demand a retort &*>).  Know, also, that whilst it is nearly impawsible for me to visit every Blogvillager individually, I AM keeping an eye on you and you never know when I shall make a 'spot check'... and just because we haven't met yet, there is no reason for you not to ask for assistance if you require it!!!

IN SUMMARY, the OoWaC is;

• For general health guidance, whether two or four-legged
• For general counselling and life coaching, with minor private specifics where required
• For words of comfort and ether-hugs
• For multi-national, multi-denominational détente
• For raising awareness of ecology, history and other matters which concern us
• For spreading Love with the capital 'ell'

...did I miss anything???
Watch out for the first of the Wellness interest posts this coming Thursday!
...and now, (if YAMster has done her coding correctly), you have a number of other posts to link to and learn more about Blogville and its 'officers'!