When I first got into writing and took a pen name, I had no idea what it would turn into or even that this community would exist as it was. I've made some very close friends and have met many others who are wonderful to know. I've learned to trust people and I've learned also to trust my intuition. Not to say I don't make mistakes but when mistakes happen, they are me ignoring what I know in my heart to be true. I just sometimes have to listen better.
I am out to quite a few friends who know what I do, who know my pen name, but where I live, I choose to keep my every daily life separate from my author's life. I'm neither ashamed nor am I hiding. I simply choose not to share this as I do not want to and that is all. I think it's a choice for each of us and there are different reasons why each of us shares what we share when and with whom we share it and I feel strongly that this choice needs to be respected. I love my friends and value my friendships. I appreciate what people are willing to share and respect their limits. I am not interested in having mine invaded nor am I interested in taking what someone else is not ready to give.
I love to connect with people and the messages I value most are those heartfelt e-mails or even anonymous comments on my blog that say that in some way, I made some small difference in a life or I made someone feel not so alone or just a sharing of a story. I think I'm overly polite at times and that won't change. Using a pen name is a choice and I ask that it is respected. I have a private life and it will remain private. I have a family and they come first, before everything else, always. I'm not willing to budge on that.
I do realize that if someone wants to find you, they will. It's the age we live in, but honestly, I don't give it much thought. Maybe it's a natural belief in the goodness of human kind.
A solemn post for today. I promise something naughty sometime this week though. For now, go and visit the other blogs participating in this challenge.