Thursday, May 08, 2008

This Space for Rent

Picture this:

You've got some big issues weighing you down. Maybe it's your job, or your family, or something from your past suddenly back in focus. Whatever it is, it's on your mind and you really need to talk about it. But, for whatever reason, you absolutely cannot write about it on your own blog.

What do you do?

Most bloggers have been there at one point or another, and it sucks. You could just keep it bottled up, but I think we can all agree that that's not very healthy. You could send something in to Post Secret, but that might feel a little empty, not to mention brief. You could go to Her Bad Mother's Basement - which I'll be first to admit is a great safe place to talk - but maybe that just doesn't feel like the right outlet for your particular problem. So again I say: What do you do?

I'd like to offer another possible solution: This Space for Rent. I am going to put up a sign letting all of my readers/visitors know that my space in the blogosphere is open and available if needed. If you have something to share and nowhere to share it - either because your own blog isn't safe or you don't have one - I invite you to share here. Just shoot me an email and the space is yours - if you prefer anonymity, I promise to keep your identity a secret under pain of death, but you can also use your name if you'd like. The point is that you have a space available should you ever need it.

Now, I know many of you are bloggers too, and you might be thinking, "Hey, I could rent out my space too!" Well, you know? I was just hoping you might say that. And, in fact, I know a couple of you have recently done just that. So I encourage any of you who are willing to open up your space too. Here's all you have to do:

- Write a post letting your readers know that your space is available.
- "Steal" the button and place it in your sidebar (link it to this post so that when your readers click, they will come here, where there will be a complete list of spaces).
- Invite your blogging readers to rent out their space as well!
- Link back to this post so I can aggregate a list of all the available spaces.

Hopefully, no one will have to feel silenced in the blogosphere because their own blog is unsafe. Soon everyone will be able to share space and support each other in new and exciting ways.

Thanks in advance to everyone who joins. I'll keep a running list here of all the spaces available; if you'd like to be added, just let me know in the comments.

This Space for Rent:
Life: The Ongoing Education
Oregon Sunshine

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

What an amazing idea! Oh I'm definitely going to keep this in mind the next time I need to let go! Thank you! :)

flutter said...

cool idea, girl!

Cate Subrosa said...

Brilliant idea.

And thanks for directing me to her bad mother... looks fascinating!

Mrs. Chili said...

Lara, I did this the other day for a friend in need, and I've done it in the past for my sister (before she decided that she DID have enough to say to open her own blog). It's great to open your home like this; it's putting good energy out in the Universe.

I've directed someone to your site this morning. I've got a friend who needs to work something out, but she can't do it on her space and it may well be that we're too closely associated to make my site save, either. I don't know if she'll take you up on the offer, but it was important to me that she knows about it.

Love ya!

Chili

Mrs. Chili said...

that should be "it may well be that we're too closely associated to make my space SAFE..."

It's early; sorry...

Amanda said...

You are wonderful!

MB said...

this is a fabulous idea. I'm stuck a little about posting because of all who read my blog. I might take you up on this!

Trina said...

What an awesome idea... your desire and willingness to help others never ceases to amaze. What a lucky guy this "Batman" is :) If I ever give GC the keys to my blog, maybe I'll take you up on the offer and post here when I need to vent about his questionable boy behaviors.

LaLa said...

Great idea missy... I might even use your space...

William said...

I might have taken you up on this, but I already had a conversation with you last week where I told you the big stuff that was bothering me, so I got it all out.

Thanks for listening!

Arizaphale said...

LOVE metablognition
LOVE sharing the space idea!
Found you via BSM. Enjoying your 'take' on life!!

MarĂ­a said...

I'll DEFINITELY do this!! Awesome idea!

Her Bad Mother said...

WONDERFUL idea.

ORSunshine said...

I would really like to rent your space, Laura. May I please? I need to be anonymous yet get some stuff out.

Anonymous said...

please add me to your list of blogs for rent!

Thanks!