I have been keeping a personal journal since 1973 when I was in the MFA program at the Dallas Theatre Center. The idea was (as I recall) to tap into an 'inner dialogue' in order to spark your creativity. At the beginning of each class--whether it was acting, directing, or design--we had to spend five minutes or so doing 'stream-of'consciousness' writing, presumably to get us focused on the project at hand or simply to 'warm up' I guess you'd say. Although at times I left the journal aside, for most of the time sense I have made it a habit to write this and that wondering if anyone besides me would ever read it. I have used journaling for prayer and contemplation, to vent, to try to work through some problem or another, or simply as an outlet for anxiety. I guess you could say I was journaling in order to 'friend' myself!

Now as I come into the blogosphere, i wonder what happens to that practice. In a sense one goes public. It is a new outlet that I hope will serve to build and to deepen community. It feels good to have blogging available when I am thinking through something. My hope is that it will help me get unstuck in places where I feel blocked in my thinking and writing.

So, welcome to my blog! Perhaps we will make some new discoveries together!

Richard