Because I'm a Joyful Girl

I see pressure mounting online.  Pressure to be popular.  Pressure to be seen.  Pressure to get published.  Pressure to be cool.  Pressure to be known.  Pressure to prioritize.  Pressure to understand.

Pressure to answer the question:  Why do I do it?

I've made no secret of the fact that I am busy right now.  I am spread thin.  But I am addressing these pressures and I am watching you as you do the same.

I have so much to say about this and want to say it all right now right now right now.  But until BlogHer becomes just one more thing in the distant past of 2008 and the distant future of 2009, I still have things to take care of first.

And yet...

I can answer these pressures just a little bit right here and right now.  I can tell you why I do it.  And you may choose to believe me or not. 

Listen to this song.  Read the lyrics.  And believe me when I say that I do it for the joy it brings.  I do it because I'm a joyful girl.

Joyful Girl - Ani DiFranco
  i do it for the joy it brings
because i'm a joyful girl
because the world owes me nothing
and we owe each other the world
i do it because it's the least i can do
i do it because i learned it from you
and i do it just because i want to
because i want to
everything i do is judged
and they mostly get it wrong
but oh well
'cuz the bathroom mirror has not budged
and the woman who lives there can tell
the truth from the stuff that they say
and she looks me in the eye
and says would you prefer the easy way
no, well o.k. then
don't cry
i wonder if everything i do
i do instead
of something i want to do more
the question fills my head
i know there's no grand plan here
this is just the way it goes
when everything else seems unclear
i guess at least i know
i do it for the joy it brings
because i'm a joyful girl
because the world owes me nothing
and we owe each other the world
i do it because it's the least i can do
i do it because i learned it from you
and i do it just because i want to
because i want to

© 1996 ani difranco / righteous babe music

Joyful Girl from Canon and Living in Clip

*Feed readers and email people, you are missing out because I've got your song right here!  Must come visit and listen.

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Comments

[rachel]

Love it. Thank you so much for sharing this. You are spread thin, but it's because you're so busy spreading your awesomeness all over!
Have a blast at BlogHer. Miss Me!!
Rachel

[Allison]

Isn't that song amazing? I am a long-time Ani fan, and that has always been on my favorites list of her songs.

[Black Hockey Jesus]

I do it to try to trick people into saying "Look at Black Hockey Jesus. He's awesome."

Or: "His writing makes me want to have sex with him."

Or: "We should get that guy to write a book and make a bajillion dollars."

So yeah. The joy.

[World's Greatest Mommy]

Thank you.

I needed that, and it was like you were speaking directly to me.

I never expected the blogging world to become another pressure cooker for me, but it is 'cause I'm letting it.

I needed the reminder. I needed to be told that a silly little poem about my son's attempts to rename his sister are worthwhile 'cause of the joy and not because of the traffic boost, deep philosophical meaning, or advertising lure.

Thanks, and much joy to you!

[Velma]

After seeing the emotional ebb and flow in the Mommy Blogosphere each year leading up to BlogHer, I decided to do exactly this. Life is too short to squander my precious time on anything that is going to stress me out, so I'm going to BlogHer for the same reasons I blog and contribute - because it is a new and hopefully enjoyable experience.

[Rock and Roll Mama]

Thanks for addressing this...I've been putting alot of pressure on myself to do all of those things, and it's good to be reminded that none of it is obligatory. And if it is, then why?

I've been listening to the "revel" disc of Canon alot. I saw her in the spring, touring with new baby, and was so inspired. New ANi in the fall! YES.

[merlotmom]

I needed that. Reading about everyone's anxiety leading up to BlogHer I've begun having anxiety myself (and I'm not sure exactly why). I just want to meet a group of fun gals who are interested in the same things I am. I guess that will have to be my mantra for the next few days. Thanks.

[Queen of Shake Shake]

Great song!

I'm gonna have to get out from under the music rock I live under and buy this one!

[christa allan]

"i wonder if everything i do
i do instead
of something i want to do more"

OUCH. Thanks for this.

[Her Bad Mother]

yeah. this needed to be said *ahead* of BlogHer this year. let's go into that good fray mellllooooowwww.

[ali]

pressure shmessure.

popularity is overrated.
:)

if YOU think you are awesome, other people will too.

[Miss Britt]

"I do it for the joy it brings".

Amen.

That should be my new tag line.

[workout mommy]

ok first, Black Hockey Jesus? I nearly spit out my drink when I read that comment. HILARIOUS!

second, this could not have come at a better time. I told my hubby this morning how stressed i am over blogher and blogging, etc and he looked at me like I have 2 heads.

Your post however, puts it all in perspective. I do this b/c it is fun. I am going to blogher for FUN.
dammit.

:)

[Amy in Ohio]

Great post - can't wait to go home and listen. Beautiful lyrics.

I'm glad you do it.

[Mrs. Flinger]

I love Ani!! Awesome.

Just another reason I like you. And honey? You know how you said we're the exact same online-ish? TOTALLY. I mean in that I completely agree with the pressure and I don't have time to build up my blog. It's a fading hoby, really. And it's ok... Really.

[catnip]

Amen sistah! If it isn't fun, what's the point? Bloggy stuff is supposed to be my getaway from my real life stress - I want to keep it that way! And I'm way too much of a dork to ever be cool, so why try?

[Angella]

This was SO NEEDED, Megan. It is too easy to get caught up in the highschool-ness, but it is SO not worth it.

Thanks for this.

[Anissa @ Hope4Peyton]

I guess I'm too new to the game to realize how much politics there is to this. I guess I'm sort of just like I was in high school, bopping around smiling at everyone, stupidly oblivious to social standing and uncaring of it. I was THAT dork who'd talk to everyone and who cares!

I realize that my blog is never going to be one of the big blogs (my stuff is wayyy too heavy) and I'm all good with that, it's more than I ever thought it would be to start.

But it's fun, it makes me happy and if it ever stops doing that, i'll stop too.

[Laura Iriarte]

So true, I think we all feel like that. Never enough hours in the day is there? Or where did they go? how long was i on the computer? yikes...
and btw...because I admire what you are saying...i tagged you!
http://lauralovesart.wordpress.com/2008/07/11/tag-youre-it/

~Laura

[Backpacking Dad]

I do it because of the suburbs. And because I can't afford drugs.

[Nina]

Um, are you inside my head or something?

Serious. This post. What I am feeling. Exactly.

Thanks for articulating it.

[TLC@SendChocolate]

I like this. I do it because if I didn't, I wouldn't be able to breathe deeply. And because it is cheaper than therapy. AND because I view autism as an opportunity and connecting parents as a passion. My blog allows me to do that. I have a voice in the community.

It is easy to forget the joy of writing, though, because it does feel like I have to entertain, and be "All Top" so I increase readership and comments. And now writing jobs are flowing in, along with added pressure to perform, and it is important to remember WHY I started doing it in the first place.

Once again, you have hit on the pulse of the blogging community, Megan.

T.

[AMomTwoBoys]

Mwah!

I do it to have a legitimate reason to ignore my kids.

Oh...not legitimate? Damn.

[MommyTime]

You are such the voice of reason. I adore you. This is a great reminder -- which I really need, as I've had a week or two or IRL stress and extreme business that has nothing to do with blogging but seems to be making my online life feel faintly stressful too. Anyway, thanks for the deep breath!

[All Adither]

Fire door is good too.

[bejewell]

It's true - it IS fun. It's fun, and fulfilling, and creative, and interactive, and better than getting drunk (although the two are not mutually exclusive).

I spend WAY more time blogging than I should, and I think of everything now in terms of blog posts (and I haven't figured out yet if that is a good thing, or a bad thing). But I love the process, love having a reason to write, feeling like I'm doing something productive, that I can point to later and say - See? I did that!

Plus, I've "met" some absolutely wonderful people through this process, and that, to me, is invaluable.

Thanks for including me in this post - and for the reminder that it's all about having fun!

[Amy in OHio]

Okay, got home and listened. Love her voice. Thanks for the introduction.

That should be the BlogHer theme. I love music that forces me to relax and wait for it.

Thanks.

[Brittany]

I could not agree more, I find Ani writes from my soul!

[Mommy Cracked]

Nicely written. It's so easy to get caught up. So easy.

By the way...I email you about getting your address to send cards for BlogHer and never heard back. I know you are super busy, but if you have time could you please email it to me? My email is in my profile. Thanks so much!

[Mel]

Great song--and a great reminder heading into BlogHer.

[blogverary]

Doesn't Ani just breath commen sense and wisdom?

I hope your week goes well at BlogHer. Peace.

[sizle]

Joyful girl is a favorite Ani song of mine. :-)

[andi]

Thanks for the cheer up and the encouraging comment over at my place. I can't wait to meet you! (Practicing my uber-cool scowl as I type this).