Some Favorite Blogs

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Here are links to some of my favorite blogs: (Please see the separate page for spirituality and self-development blogs.)

Personal & Humorous Blogs
(By which I mean personal blogs and humorous blogs. They don't have to be both - though they sometimes are.)

Big Side Order: Gary James' blog is so funny that it has now come out as not just one but two paperback books. You can read his posts in their natural habitat here on the blog, but I will shamelessly quote from the paperback blurbs to try to explain the sort of stuff he goes on about: "Meet Gary James. He doesn't know what a scart lead is and it takes him five attempts to spell 'aerial'. He is also spiralling helplessly out of his thirties, out of a long-term relationship and into a confusing new world of blind dates and duvet covers that fight back." All this plus cows and hiking too...

Cardiogirl: I think what first made me sit up and take notice about Cardiogirl's blog was a post she did about about people sitting alone on park benches talking into cellphones, as though they all needed human company but nothing too close. That's the sort of unexpected observation you can suddenly get amongst these entertaining and prolific snippets of everyday life. Oh yes, and every post is topped by a color-coded running shoe. Like I say, expect the unexpected...

Earth2Karen: Karen's subtitle says it all: "The random thoughts of a bisexual Buddhist/Wiccan treehugger... just your average girl next door."

Guilty Secret: "Just one side of the story," says 'Guilty' very honestly, as she gives a very detailed and perceptive account of her attempts to save a long-term problematic relationship. It makes for compulsive reading and I really really hope they make it.

Life In 360: An  eclectic series of posts from Vinni in Pune, India. Subjects covered include software & the internet, music, business, politics, rock music, comics, life, love, and MBA (which Vinni is studying).

Of Course, I Could Be Wrong: The title gives you a good feel for this prolific blog by the Anglican vicar who calls himself Mad Priest. His incredibly frequent posts reflect his hilarious wit; his concern for people; and his scant regard for the excesses of the Christian Right. "If you think you don't belong," Mad Priest says in his sidebar, "you belong here." Here's an example of a particularly amusing post  I've just come across.

People In The Sun: This is another of my very favorite blogs. Having lived in Israel, Britain, and now the USA, this guy can write both movingly and wittily as he tells stories from his past and keeps us up to date on current events in his life. All this and his profile picture is one of the cutest things I've ever seen. (I don't say that about many male bloggers...)

Raised By Chaffinches: "I was abandoned as a baby by my parents and brought up by a lovely chaffinch couple," reads the subtitle of Birdy's blog, though the posts themselves are much less wacky than that: most of them gently amusing snippets of Birdy's life, with a smattering of references to wildlife and the occasional fit of setting the world to rights.

Silent Cacophony: Thoughtful personal posts by Canadian primary school teacher and writer Chase March, who always comes across as a thoroughly decent guy.

Smaller Than Life: The heyday of scriptwriter Salvadore's blog was late 2006 when he posted daily pictures of an abandoned bathmat in the street outside his house. Then the Grim Reaper (aka the council refuse department) came along and since then he's had to content himself with other random slices of everyday life. But it's still very funny.

Sunflower Optimism : Once The Secret Of Life's most prolific commenter, Sunflower has recently had to take a break from blogging. But as I write this, this she's found a bit of time to start posting again, so I'm looking forward to reading some more of her perceptive comments on life.

Templar Knight - The Quest Begins: An eclectic series of posts from a member of the Knights Templar.

Theory Of Thought: The Thinker probably gets heartily sick of people telling her that they can't believe she's so young, but in her frequent posts, this teenager really does write about her life with extraordinary skill and insight. Whenever I visit, I am always glad that I did. I suspect that if her parents ever find out about this blog, even they will be impressed.

Art & Photography Blogs

Boogie Street: A personal journal from accomplished artist Mr Zip, who shares with us the evolution of some of his paintings together with snippets from his life. And as if this wasn't enough, you get to see the paintings too, which I think are wonderful. Though they're mainly architectural and landscape pictures, I always get the feeling that the local inhabitants are lurking in the pictures just out of view, carrying on the business of their everyday lives. (OK, so maybe it's just me...)

Maui Skies: Another blog that does what it says on the tin. Fill your soul with Maui's celestial light.

Montana Outdoors: Montucky says: "There is a very beautiful world out there in the wild country. It is my wish to make it visible, by words and photographs, to those who are interested in seeing it." Wonderful pictures.

New York Nitty Gritty: Stunning pictures of NYC. This guy knows photography.

Peripheral Vision: Lynda Lehmann's lovely blog features her nature photography and abstract paintings, plus her ideas about life, creative process, and preserving our planet. She writes: "I'm interested in the spiritual aspect of art and our connection to nature..."

Travel Photo Blogging: I sometimes get offers to swap links from places I don't expect - and sometimes I say yes. Who, after all, could resist a travel blog from Ljubljana in Slovenia? Especially one with pictures of a 'beware of the bear' sign.

Winsome Gunning Art Walk: I often talk in The Secret Of Life about a mysterious source of energy which you may find in the present moment if you can stop your mental chatter for long enough to notice. Winsome Gunning has the knack of putting that energy into her paintings. Take a look - you may find you can tap into it... (Here's one of my favorites. It reminds me of Turner.)

Blogs about Blogging

Blog About Your Blog: A community blog which aims to give bloggers a platform to share their ideas and articles. So anyone (including me!) can apply to blog here to publicize their own blogs, share information, or do whatever they like. You can write about anything you like but most of the articles are about blogging: how to get more readers, improve your blog etc. etc. It's a great place to pick up blogging tips.

Blog Dumps: The Secret Of Life was one of the first blogs to appear on Wolfbernz' blog directory, which now has a blog of its own, with info on the latest submitted blogs and an eclectic range of posts.

Freelancing Journey: Lots of useful information, tips, and links on blogging and freelance writing.

NEW! FronTools: A very useful collection of links to free online tools for blog development etc.

Spirituality & Self-Development Blogs

Comments

[cardiogirl]

Oh Simon,

You are too, too kind! Thank you so much for your thoughtful words (blushes and looks away).

I like to think I write first and foremost for myself (it can be cathartic for me) but I love the feedback. I really do, and you just sent me over the moon!

Thank you again.

cardiogirl, low tops optional

[cardiogirl]

Hey Simon,

I am currently transitioning over to my own domain http://www.cardiogirl.net and I would like to extend a personal invitation to you. I wrote a little bit about you today and linked over here. Then it occurred to me that you might miss that, since I am toggling between the two sites (D-land and my new domain). I basically double post each day, but D-land is a day behind.

So my final digs will be at my domain but I still have to figure out how to add a third column on the far right hand side on this WordPress template before I re-direct my D-land traffic.

But you are welcome to see the preview. And thanks again!

[Guilty Secret]

Thanks so much for reviewing my blog, Simon :) I am very flattered by the way you describe it and thank you for your good wishes.

I think this is a great idea and I look forward to checking out the other blogs you recommend.

[Simon]

I was delighted to include you, C & GS - thanks for stopping by!

(C - I think you have the best attitude to writing. Write for the pure enjoyment of it and view any feedback as a bonus. I wish I could always connect with that feeling myself!)