Five Reasons Why I Blog

Have y’all ever found yourself at a loss about what to write on your blog? I confess that two weeks ago I was right in that place. I thought to myself, “Self, you’ve only been blogging for six months. Is this all you have to say?”

Then just last week, I found myself a “mission.” If you’ve been here before, you know what it is. If you haven’t, I started a program called Share A Square to give afghans to children with cancer. Lately, I have more to tell you than I have time to write it.

Some of you may notice that I post more than once a day. That’s because there are those who aren’t participating in that mission of mine. It isn’t that they are not concerned about kids with cancer, it’s just that they don’t crochet. Other than tell folks about it, there isn’t much they can do. They come here expecting my normal post, and I’m trying to make sure that I do those, too (though “normal” is using the term loosely when you are talking about me). All of this leads to the answer to a question that was posed to me.

My friend Jennymcb at J’s Thoughts and Musings tagged me to tell Five Reasons Why I Blog For those of you who aren’t bloggers, when we tag each other with “questions,” it’s called a “meme.” I refuse most personal memes, because I tell enough about myself on a day to day basis. But, this one is timely for me right now.

You see, as I go around trying to explain about the Share A Square project, I’m telling these community and business leaders, “I’ve been writing about this project on my blog.” They stare at me with a bovine expression and say, “Do what?” That’s Texan for “Huh?” We never use one syllable when two will do the trick (which is pronounced “tri-yuk;” also think “fo-wark” for “fork,” and “yay-us” for “yes,” and many more!). People are asking me why I blog. So let me consider 5 reasons:

1) I tell people it was to cure my addiction to mahjongg. I lie. I’m still addicted; all it has done is distract me. But, perhaps blogging is better than playing “Shisen.”

2) Really, I started blogging because I have an insatiable curiosity. I get interested in things like “where was eggnog first made,” or “what’s the origin of the word ‘kioske,’” or “what about that train wreck in Crush, TX.” I have to look it up to see. Writing it down helps me remember it (because I’m old, and my memory is shot, and I only remember things in “story form”).

3) When I began blogging, I was writing “essays.” While I’m still pleased with some of the first posts that I did, they are vastly different from what I do now. This blog was never a “journal.” It became a “conversation.” From the time I got my first real comments, I began writing as if you are sitting on the porch with me for some sweetea and a chat. I enjoy interaction (though I’ll admit that lately I’m overwhelmed and not getting to “chat” with other bloggers as much as I like).

4) I also get great enjoyment from entertaining an audience, after all, I’m a professional storyteller. It’s what I “do.” If I can make people laugh, or get tears in their eyes, or make them think, why then I feel as if I’ve accomplished something. When I can get them to crochet granny squares and send them to me for afghans for children, I realize the power of words on the internet.

5) The main reason that I blog? It’s all of you other bloggers out there who daily inspire me, and tickle my funnybone, and share your trials and tribulations. It’s you big-hearted folks, though I wouldn’t recognize you if I saw you on the street. I’m proud to call you my on-line friends; my “clan.” Thanks for being you.

I’m supposed to “tag” five people. But, the “tagging” game feels so much like playing favorites. Just take it and run with it if you would like.

Related posts:

1. Building a Blog Community
2. Thursday Thirteen Number Forty—Things I’m Learning From Blogging
3. Increasing Blog Traffic
4. Bragging Rights
5. Nice Matters Award. A Nice Surprise.

Tagged as: All Things "Blogging", humor