I have ALWAYS loved this saying……I Dance, Therefore I Am. Almost as much as I love Dance as if No one was watching……I subscribe to both.
What a beautiful write, a beautiful read. In Wired (yes Wired….), they quote Kafka in a letter he wrote to Milena: “One can think about someone far away and one can hold on to someone nearby; everything else is beyond human power. Writing letters, on the other hand, means exposing oneself to the ghosts, who are greedily waiting precisely for that. Written kisses never arrive at their destination; the ghosts drink them up along the way.”
How beautiful — and sad is that? Thanks for including it in the piece, but then I lose connection on the reference to this ghostliness reference, which “is also the hazard of computing…” Yet, sadly another part of me relates more than I want it to…….
But then he brings me back. I like this guy. He weaves Brian Eno into the picture who was quoted in Wired in 1995 as saying, “Do you know what I hate about computers? The problem with computers is that there is not enough Africa in them. This is why I can’t use them for very long. Do you know what a nerd is? A nerd is a human being without enough Africa in him or her.”
WOW, am I LOVING this piece. I have a ton of Africa in me (always more than computers) and lately, I think computers have been winning. I’m not quite a nerd, but have grown boring and less passionate (okay, only slightly). Can’t take passion out of a girl, a writer or a natural. Yet computers try. And are trying. Know what I’m talking about?
He gives us references to explain PRECISELY what he means by this. Great writer whoever you are. “The now rather than deferred gratification? Spontaneous expression rather than planning? The concrete rather than the abstract? Will Africa always be these things? Are we, by using “Africa” as shorthand for these things, helping condemn it to failure?”
My book about Africa (physically and the deferred gratification and expression part) remains on hold. But not forever.
Always DANCE as if no one is watching. More importantly, never forget to dance. More Africa, less computers please. (I’ll take that straight up, without milk, without the cherry, just without anything extra please…..)
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
