Ordinary

I read a review of an author the other day that criticized him for stating what is obvious. But personally, I don't see that as a problem. It seems to me that acknowledging what is usually just assumed is rather valuable, akin to noticing the ordinary. What is obvious to one person is not so to others (I generally find the term "obvious" quite insulting), and mentioning what is basic ensures that everyone is on the same page. Because we are surrounded by small, commonplace factors so often, we begin to take them for granted as we look past them for what is novel. They become hard to notice and identify; they blend into the background. This is a shame. Our small, ordinary habits create the fabric and substance of our lives, and articulating these matters helps us to see our lives more clearly. I want that to be an aspect of my blog: not merely sharing news and thoughts, but illustrating the ordinary. (Unfortunately, those are often the posts I forget to write because there is nothing pressing about them.)

Critique: I intermingle a discussion here about two related but separate matters: stating the obvious and noticing the ordinary. One is a matter of public expression, the other one of personal attentiveness. When I read of one I thought of the other, and they are two boards in the same treehouse, but they can't be used interchangeably.
That's the thing about writing: it has a will of its own, and although I can shape it, it offers some resistance. Sentences progressively lead from one emphasis to another before I've finished my thoughts, while some things just don't seem to fit anywhere.