People write to me sometimes and say the blog is important to them, that it is something they turn on in the morning, before they get started, or in the evening after work. This is humbling to me, and puzzling, too, as I don’t know why my life would have that impact. The blog is an important part of my writing now, and it has, in some ways, been part of my community for several years. It is grounding.

I appreciate that it means much to a lot of people, and feel obliged to say that that means something very important to me. At dark times, I found myself going to the blog.  And in good times, too. It is sometimes a great trial to share parts of one’s life, but I don’t regret it. I think it saved me in many ways, helped me when the mask came off, was grounding and healing. And forced me to be  honest and acknowledge the reality of my life, which I had kept hidden for so many years, and denied.

I can’t say I understand it, but when I head out every year on book tour I see evidence of it, everywhere I go, and in the flesh. Our world is magical and mysterious, and it is changing.

This is a new kind of community. In discussions about animals, I often find myself thinking that there is no substitute for meaningful human connection and community. And there isn’t. But there are powerful new kinds of community, and like animals sometimes can do, they can shape and define our lives. I sometimes tremble at the thought this might inspire someone. Maybe I will make sense of it one day. In the meantime, I appreciate it.