If you were to take a close look at the blog you might
notice that I first started writing these reflections in 2015. While that
appears to be the case the reality is that I actually created this blog way
back in 2011. It was spring. I was graduating high school, I had just gotten a
new laptop and was getting ready to head off to college. Starting the blog was
a suggestion from some friends and family. I cannot say with certainty, but I
have a sneaking suspicion that the suggesting came as a result of reading one
too many angsty Facebook statuses from teenage Mike.
Fortunately, in 2015 when I decided to breathe new life into
the blog I deleted all the original posts. True to dinosaur form, and my love
for hard copies of books, articles, and all things written I do have printed
copies of some of the better reflections from the blog's first chapter. Buy me
a coffee and just maybe I'll share a copy of two with you.
Chapter two of the blog started in 2015, with 22 reflections
posted. In addition to these reflections, I updated the about me section of the
blog. A section that was again amended in 2017 and has been updated again
(2022). In 2015 having just graduated from college there were still remnants of
angsty teenage Mike but more and more the reflections became focused on my
academic passions and theological pursuits most particularly an attempt at
reflections on the readings from Mass on Sunday. Here is what the about me
section used to say (included here for your enjoyment but also for a historical
record for when I inevitably change it again). "Hey everyone, for those of
you who don't know me, I'm Mike Ingram and this is my blog. I graduated from
Aquinas College (May 2015) Grand Rapids MI with a BA, having majored in
Theology, and minored in History and Catholic Studies. I then furthered my
academic career by attending the University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio to pursue a
Master's in Theological Studies (August 2017). Since graduating from the
University of Dayton I have been working as an Area Coordinator at Aquinas
College. In my free time and when feeling most passionate I take time to write
reflections. In the event that I am ever quoting scripture it is either coming
from the USCCB, or my personal bible, Saint Benedict Press NAB Revised Edition,
translation approved by AC of the USCCB in November 2008, and September 2010,
Copyright 2011, any quotes used I will give the name, and only provide a full
citation as needed, case by case, as requested. Please always feel free to
comment or contact me directly to further any and all fruitful
conversation."
With 22 posts in 2015 it's interesting to look back and now
see that in 2016 (2), 2017 (5), 2018 (6), 2019 (6), 2020 (2), and 2021 (6) a
total of six years I only had 27 posts (with this post, 2022 has 1 post).
Over the last six years, I have identified a number of
reasons for why the sudden drop-off in posts. First, I was in grad school, life
was not my own and there was too much reading and writing to be done elsewhere.
Second, I had just finished grad school I was tired of reading and writing.
Third, I was starting a new job that I failed epically at establishing a
work-life balance in. Fourth, I didn't have a laptop. Fifth my Chrome book
sucked. Sixth, I was moving out of state and starting a new job with about as
much luck establishing work-life balance as the last job. Seventh, I once again
didn't have a laptop. Eighth, I bought a new MacBook Air, but was once again
moving states and starting a new job that was going to take a lot of focus and
energy (proud to say I've gotten a little bit better at balancing work and
life). Ninth, I didn't have a nice desk in my home office to work at (new desk
thanks to Facebook marketplace in March/April). Tenth, I didn't love my desk
chair (new desk chair thanks to Facebook marketplace in April/May). Eleventh, all my great ideas come to me when I'm driving back and forth from Michigan to Ohio and by the time I reach my destination all brilliance and desire to write has vanished. Reason D,
all of the above plus not having my go-to coffee shop that I absolutely love
and do my best writing at [RIP Saxbys/Tastefully Roasted (ok not actually RIP,
but I do miss living in Dayton for this and a couple of other reasons)].
All these things are true and excellent excuses. However, I
think the more accurate reason for the drop-off in posts and my inability to
write more regularly is because without fully realizing it the about me section
changed and needed to be updated. The blog seemed to have a clearly defined
purpose. I seemed to have a clearly defined reason for writing and sharing my
thoughts. Yet somewhere along the way I lost that purpose or perhaps more
accurately the purpose shifted and it hasn't been until recently that I've been
willing to really sit with and admit these things to myself or to those who
from time to time read these posts.
One thing that I remember clearly from 2015 when I was
posting the most was the advice that I got to keep these posts short. With that
in mind come back later today or tomorrow for part two of this adventure New Chapters: The Future of a Blog.
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