Blog, Interrupted

I had a post scheduled for today but took it offline. Why? It felt wrong to be snarky, pithy.. blather on about marketing, social media and PR when my friends are sad, my community is hurting.

Gone, but not forgotten

Popular marketer Trey Pennington committed suicide a few days ago. I never met him, wasn’t following him on Twitter or reading his blog, don’t think we crossed paths except for a stray tweet here or there. And yet, damn I am still feeling this.

For thoughts on Mr. Pennington by those who have met him:

Jay Baer, with more posts linked within, Social Media, Pretend Friends, and the Lie of False Intimacy.

Jayme Soulati, one of the first social friends to reach out and call me, RIP Trey Pennington.

Mark W. Schaefer, whom I got to meet in person a couple weeks ago, has really poured his broken heart out in a couple posts, really getting to me with The Problem with Personas.

This is the real me, but not the whole me. 

I mentioned that in a comment, have said it before. I don’t share everything, am not sure I’m comfortable with revealing too much. I’ve done the ‘random things about me‘ posts, but play my cards close to the vest since I think there is a limit on how transparent I want or should be.

All about keeping up appearances, maintaining an image – all too important in the image business. It’s late, I’m tired and emotional, so I am stopping short of stripping away the masks all together.

I’m ok, I don’t have and cannot fathom the kind of depression that would lead someone to take their own life. Today I am just backing down off my personal vs. professional meme, closing the divide a little. I’ve started reaching out to a few folks, especially those I haven’t seen online lately, plan to spend time making more of my connections, online and off. FWIW.

If there is anything you want to add or share, please do.

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5 thoughts on “Blog, Interrupted

  1. Thanks for this, Davina, even if I’m not timely. Shakirah mentioned this post on her blog.

    As I mentioned on her blog, it’s important to have a persona…as long as you don’t ever believe that’s the real you. I tend to live by that Chekhov passage about secret lives – my assumption is that everyone has one, and we’re all desperate to keep them that way. I’ll never understand the people who, say, share their browser history (something I read in one of this year’s Wired magazines). Let’s keep it private.

    And RIP, Trey. I saw him at #soslam, I’ll never forget his voice. He seemed so kind.
    Jenn Whinnem recently posted..jennwhinnem: Ripping The Heart Out Of Personal Branding – best post I’ve read on this yet. http://t.co/o7AzDwIk via @ShakirahDawud

    1. You can see from my comments here and on my close/friends post, it’s few people who know the real, whole, unfiltered me. Think that’s everyone; it isn’t bad but the way it is, full disclosure, transparency makes zero sense. But then working too hard for a false persona doesn’t either. I’m still not sure what to say about the tragedy, just knew I wasn’t comfortable running with usual content. Thanks for your thoughts Jenn, not late at all.

  2. Hey Davina. There are boundaries in blogging and they are all based upon subjective measurements that individuals establish. It is really based upon your comfort level. I feel terribly for Trey and for his friends and family.

    It is really hard to fathom how someone could do this and to feel like you aren’t sure what to do. But I think that letting people know that there are some friendly faces out here in cyberspace is worth something. We never know how a few words or a friendly ear might help.
    Jack @ TheJackB recently posted..It is Called Life

    1. That is all we can do and yet I just read a post shared by Thanks for taking the time to comment Jack, this was a bit of a departure for me. I feel bad for this family, as I feel bad for a friend’s family also reeling from a recent tragedy. Blogged then as now that I don’t know what to do, what to say. Words seem empty and meaningless ya know?

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