Repent and Change
October 1st, 2006Tonight is Kol Nidre, or Erev Yom Kippur. It is one of the holiest days of the year.. Yom Kippur provides us with the opportunity to cleanse our palette, ask forgiveness for any ills that we have caused to others, either with thoughts, words, or physical or mental harm. Yom Kippur is a chance to start over (a do over?) with a fresh canvas for life and our relationships. It’s not a coincidence that Yom Kippur falls right after Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
As I listened to the Rabbi’s sermon this evening, I thought about what had transpired over the past year, both professionally and personally. While I cringe at the embarrassing blog posts, idiotic comments made on others’ blogs, and private messages I wish that I had back, I tried to look on the positive side. In a learning 2.0 environment, mistakes can be made and then “taken back” once a clearer picture evolves. While the 2.0 world makes it easy to screw up, if trust is in place beforehand, it’s just as easy to make amends.
Which is why it is even more ironic that the first anniversary of Library 2.0 falls around this time. Trust, person focused, honesty, kindness, visibility, and connections (online and off), is what 2.0 is about. Yom Kippur is similar. While asking for forgiveness is difficult, it’s even harder to provide forgiveness. The 2.0 environment allows for failures, allows for mistakes, and allows for forgiveness.
With repenting comes change. A change in lifestyle and a change in thought processes. Over the past 6 months, my life has changed for the better. A new son, a growing daughter, a new job, and a different point of view about my place in the library blogging community. With my new lifestyle, I can’t blog as much as I used to. In fact, over the past few months I have thought about shutting down Library Stuff for good. The non-focused nature of my posts was a cover for me not being content with my new place in life and the library community. I felt lost and needed a change.
Today, on Erev Yom Kippur, on the eve of the Library 2.0 anniversary, I may have figured it out. I think I have a proposal for you that may get me back in the game without having to bow out of blogging. It’s not a few focus, but a different way for me contribute without having to spend so much of my time posting. It’s very 2.0 and comes out of a conversation that I had with Dave Winer on the phone a while back. It may not work, which is why I’m not going into any detail now.
The important part for me is that I’m happy with my contribution to the community and for a while now I haven’t been. I think my new idea has value, but only time will tell.
I would also like to take this opportunity to ask for forgiveness to anyone that I have caused harm to over the past year. I’m sorry.