We had mentioned earlier that blogger Lynn Chen won’t able to serve as a conference panelist due to her father’s death. Even though she is dealing with the passing of her father, she found time to send over a special message to everyone! Hopefully, you will find some inspiration in her words.
How I wish I had the strength to be with you all today, amongst friends and
community. Unfortunately, with the recent death of my father, I’ve decided to be
with family as I transition and ease back to life…
I’m surprised that during my darkest times I did not take a break from blogging. I
have two sites – one is a daily journal called “The Actor’s Diet” and the other is a
community forum that I oversee with Lisa Lee, “Thick Dumpling Skin.” Right before
my father passed away, I contemplated changing/quitting the former, believing it to
be too personal, and perhaps the reason why my professional career as an actress
was stagnant. Plus, 3 years of blogging saw the natural ebs and flows – comments
went way down, hits were at a year-long plateau, and the logistics of monetizing
were too frustrating. It felt like there was no “payoff.”
However, when my father went into the hospital, none of those things mattered.
The blogs became a form of therapy for me that I was so grateful were already in
place. Even as the occasional negative comment surfaced during my darkest days, I
found strength in sharing my experiences. When my dad passed away, it became my
way of grieving, and connecting to my father, who religiously read my sites every
day. Now it’s a way for me to help inspire others – myself included – to speak my
heart when my mouth just can’t do it.
People often ask me how to start blogging, and I often tell them to just do it. It’s not
something that’s for everyone, and the reasons why we choose to share our lives –
and how much of it – are very personal.
I’m sure my reasons to write, and the sites themselves, will continue to shift and
change continually, but I’m grateful I’ve found an outlet to express myself. Thank
you all for doing what you do, and being a part of this amazing community.
Lynn Chen
Actress/Blogger/Activist
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