Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Blogging makes the world go round

We take a break from our regularly scheduled studying to bring you this random message:

A funny thing happened this week as I was trying to figure out how on earth I was going to survive my to-do list, volumes I, II, and III. In assessing my priorities, I realized that my blog was on that list. How did that happen? It actually stumped me because I am not so sure why it is. I really don’t feel an obligation to blog. I just, um, well, I think I enjoy it.

When I started blogging, it was a way to share some pictures of Kate with misplaced family and friends. It was also a place to put all of the random thoughts taking up valuable real estate in my brain. I hadn’t engaged in writing, outside of the corporate setting (and how riveting is a memo analyzing healthcare plan design?), in about 12 years. I didn’t realize I liked it so much. Coming from a person who rarely, If ever, does something for herself, that is pretty big news. So, in part, my blog has been something I maintain to feed my creative side.

I certainly never envisioned my blog being read by other people. Heck, I don’t even think I am that interesting. I’m being serious here people. To have hundreds of people reading my blog daily is an incredible, certainly welcome, surprise. I still don’t fully understand this new passion, but I am starting to realize it’s an integral part of my day. It’s become a priority. That only means one thing … something else has to go. I really should be lying on a strategically positioned sofa, staring up at the ceiling, debating this with a professional. On second thought, I think that is what the internet is for.

So, I am curious. Why do you blog? Why do you read blogs? Why do you read this blog? Give me something to help in my absolute unprofessional assessment of the human psyche.

In impolite blogger fashion, I apologize for not being on top of responding to comments right now. In all honesty, I shouldn’t even be here right now. We will assess that character flaw at a later date.

Off to cry into my textbook.

We now return to our regularly scheduled studying.

33 comments:

The Rambler said...

Ouuhh, first today...:)

I blog, to get peace of mind. To maybe write one day (yeah right), to do something that others, I don't know, possibly enjoy....AND finally. Because this blog is my subsitute for my BFF and our not getting to hang as much. So did you want a lime with that margarita?

:) Back to textbook Missy! You got til Friday.

Amy said...

L-You started blogging about the time Mason was born and my life was turned upside down. Your blog gauranteed me a daily laugh, it was often my only laugh of the day and for five minutes I was able to forget the situation around me and, well, relax. You were often the first thing I would do when coming home from the NICU, when I knew I needed to unwind. THANK YOU for that. Now I'm hooked on your funny stories.

Oh, and I feel like a spy, which is fun! :)

Jenners said...

I am a stay-at-home mom and for the past 4 years, I've felt so bored and that I was not using my brain very much. I felt isolated and boring. Then I started blogging (only last month) and it was like a floodgate opened. I had so much to say! And then people started to read it...and it amazed me. And I found other blogs (like yours) that are so entertaining but, unlike the books I love so passionately and have somewhat tossed aside, you could acutally have a real conversation with the people you were reading about. For me, it is connection to other adults, a form of entertainment, and a creative outlet that I really needed. They always tell new moms to have something just for you...and for me, blogging fills this empty space I didn't know I had so nicely.

C. Beth said...

I relate to your reason for blogging--it's something I do for me, because I really, really enjoy both the writing and the connection with other people. And I love performance.... Having people read my writing means I enjoy having an audience daily.

My One-Minute Writing blog...sometimes that's more of an obligation. I like it, but it grew so quickly that I feel sort of disconnected from most of the people who comment on it. And because I'm not revealing a lot of myself on that blog, it doesn't feel as personal.

I read blogs because a)I enjoy it, and b)it's part of the "community" aspect of blogging--I can't just have readers, I also gotta be one. Then friendships build, and that's a nice thing.

I read your blog because I like you and think you are totally hilarious. I'd read your blog even if you weren't funny, because we were cyber-friends prior to becoming blogging friends. So I guess to be more accurate...I read it because you're my cyber-friend, and it's one of my very favorites because you're hilarious.

Good luck with your studying!

angi_b72 said...

I started blogging to interact with my sister in California. Now I blog to meet new and wonderful people. I enjoy reading about everyone else's accomplishments, struggles, obstacles and families!

SuZ said...

I blog so I don't lose my mind!! :)

I found you on SITS and wanted to say congrats on being saucy!!

Call Me Cate said...

You ask tough questions. Why do I blog? I enjoy writing and my life is mostly dull so my blog has become a great creative outlet. And since I blog about a lot of things I can't/won't share with people I deal with day-to-day, it fulfills my need for "I just have to tell someone".

I read your blog because I enjoy your sense of humor and generally find your writing amusing.

Ann Imig said...

Hi Lyndsay,

Thanks much for visiting and commenting I've been blogging for a couple months and its a compulsion at this point. I love that I swandived back into creativity, and I really like the bloggie commeraderie. However, way too tired, must go now.

Isabella said...

I have similiar reasons for why I blog - writing my thoughts down, mostly.

I read your blog because it's hysterical - you don't find too many of those these days (and I found you through C. Beth).

Good luck with all the studying/classwork you have to get done. :)

Corine (@ComplicatedMama) said...

My blog is my therapy...and i need lots of it lol...

I enjoy blogging and reading blogs to relate and laugh with other moms going through the same things I do.

Its a nice "ahh thank Goodness Im not the only one"...

PS- we took pics of the kids infront of the tree with the lights like you had posted of your daughter... they came out SO SO CUTE! Theyre our christmas cards... thanks for the idea! :) Ill post them as soon as my cards go out! I dont want anyone getting a sneak preview!

Pamela said...

I found myself really wanting some new friends, and wanting a way to really "be me" and not have to worry about what people thought of me.
I'm an artsy-fartsy gal and I wanted an arena to show off what I make without looking like a show off.
I like to read blogs cause I'm naturally nosey and to me nothing is more interesting than domestic life...

Debbie said...

Why do we blog? IF I were lying on that same couch talking to a professional about this, I think I would have to say that we blog, because we think we're a tad bit interesting. Don't get me wrong, I KNOW I'm not all that interesting, but don't you think there is a part of all of us who wants to share... maybe that's it. It's not that we think we're all that "Interesting", but we have an inner desire to share and be heard, and blogging is the perfect outlet. It's fun, and other bloggers are kind. Think about it....bloggers are a kind lot. We lift each other up. We encourage each other and support each other.
It's kind of a safe place to be ourselves.

oh...and I think you "are" witty. No "used to be" about it.

Anonymous said...

I blog because it gives me a place to express all kinds of things that I am dreaming about, thinking about, want to share with others. I also blog because through blogging I have "met" some amazing women. I read blogs to know I am not alone in how things are right now and how I feel about them, to feed my passion of all things French, to find great recipies, to look into other's lives and see how other people live, to feed my gardening habit. Many of the blogs I visit everyday I don't or rarely comment on but they are my friendly places to go. I read your blog because you have found your witty, inteligent, beautiful voice and I love reading it.

Scriptor Senex said...

Your second (or is it third) paragraph sums up why I blog far better than I could have done. " It was also a place to put all of the random thoughts taking up valuable real estate in my brain. " That's so true...

Jodi said...

You know why I started, party becuase of your blog. But, I wanted a place to put pictures and stories of Jenna for me, her and our friends and family. The fact that new blogging fiends comment and read makes it even better!

It is something I do that I enjoy! And I hope one day Jenna won't be as mad that I didn't keep up on her baby book b/c I have the blog!

Keeper of the Skies Wife said...

I started blogging so our family who lives in different states can see what we are up too!

Then it turned into something else. I, too, didn't expect to have so many readers. But, I love reading other blogs and getting comment loving!

I have met so many awesome woman & a few men too!

Happy Saucy week!

Caitlin said...

I blog...well, to de-stress, for one. University theater departments can be crazy. And it's a way to talk about my wedding plans and get feedback from my friends who I don't get to see often. And...yeah. It's really therapeutic.

I really enjoy reading your blog. I know an unmarried college girl without kids may seem like a weird demographic, but I still like it. It's a good time. ^_^

Anonymous said...

I read blogs to get an inside look into others lives and to know my life is similar and crazy too! To know I am not alone with my crazy thoughts about my child, my future, daily events etc...Thanks for the blog!!!

Sumira said...

i blog! i am still digesting those two words. will get back to you.

Becky said...

I blog 1) to keep distant family and friends in the loop with what's going on with my family; 2) as a virtual baby book, since I can't ever seem to fill out the paper ones; and 3) to make a connection with other moms, since only a couple of my real-life friends have young kids.

I read your blog specifically because you have a child the same age as my oldest child, so there's a lot I can relate to. I can also relate to you in other ways, as well. I "knew" you from BBC, although I wasn't as frequent a poster as I'd have liked to be, so you probably have no idea who I am. :-) Oh, and last but not least, you're funny.

Maddness of Me said...

I blog because I enjoy looking into other people's lives (I mostly read). Sometimes I vent about high level issues in my life in my blog, but I try to keep it light. I may start a new blog some day where I say everything I really want. But right now I have too much family reading my blog.

I read your blog because I found you on Ashley's Closet :)

Breana said...

I started my blog for the same reason you started yours: we have a lot of family all across America, and since they can't see the boys on a daily basis, I wanted to have a blog that they could check to see how the boys are growing.
I agree with Beth, that I read blogs because it's part of the blogging community. I read YOUR blog because I agree, you're absolutely hilarious! Not only do you keep me guessing as to what you'll post, I always get a laugh out of your blog.
And though I don't know you in real life, since we're both January 06 mamas, I feel we have this connection that we probably don't actually have.. =)

Tiffany said...

Why do I blog.. hmmm. Well, I've always loved reading, talking, expressing myself, etc. and had been following a friends blog. Once I got my first comment from a "stranger" that was it. I was addicted. Hence, I started SITS and now I help fuel other comment junkies. I am a comment dealer.

The Tildy Spot said...

I blog to exercise my writing chops. I read your blog because even though I'm not married and have no children, somehow, strangely, I relate to you. Plus, I like your writing style.

Kara said...

I have two blogs. My cooking blog started out as a way to keep me accountable for finding new and creative things to feed Abby - we were in a serious rut. Now it's just fun, and I enjoy coming up with new things to try.

I have another, not public blog that is just for friends and family. I write about our days and post pictures of my girls every single day. I just had the first year's worth of entries published into a book to give as Christmas presents. I am so happy I did - I have the most perfect record of my girls, and I know I will treasure that for the rest of my life.

I read blogs, particularly mommy blogs, because they help me feel normal!! I love to read that other good, loving mommies have bad days or days when they are frustrated. I always love to hear the cute stories, too. And, as I am not digging the new Babycenter format, it's nice to branch out and read about the other mommies I've posted with for the last few years.

Josh said...

Why do I blog?

Complete Randomness.

I made an impulsive decision one day (possibly due to chronic boredom) to try my hand at writing for fun, as opposed to writing never-ending research papers.

I soon found out that I was clueless (no surprise there), and made an aimless decision to ask a random blogger (Sandra) for some help, and received the most helpful comment known to man.

Now, after subsequent recommendations from other bloggers (my thanks to you), I now have people who think I'm funny. (Go figure.)

So, bottom line: it was an accident. Now I have to wrack my uncreative brain daily to find something to write about that people might remotely find interesting.

I always enjoy a good challenge.

Kissi Girl said...

I like to read blogs because it gives the illusion of connecting with people. Reading that other people are experiencing some of the same things as I am makes me feel at least a little normal.
I blog because it's nice to just write, randomness, seriousness, opinions, doesnt matter. It doesnt even have to make sense. It's just clearing space in my brain... and it's oh so relaxing.

I like your blog by the way. Thanks for being part of my workday :o)

Rachel Cotterill said...

I blog because I started a website and wanted a way to interact with my visitors without hosting my own forum (or guestbook - which seems like a desperately old-fashioned notion these days). And now my blog sends traffic to my website, as well as the other way around. It's definitely addictive.

Unknown said...

Hiya all the way from sunny Singapore! :) Yeap - blogging does make the world go round!

Great work here!

Anonymous said...

Your blog is too fun! I'll def be checking back!

I mainly blog out of boredom at work (hehe) and to share my pictures too.

I'm visiting from SITS, by the way.

Anonymous said...

I started reading your blog because I was interested in YOU and KATE. Now, however, I have realized that by reading your blog and all of the comments, and others blogs, that we are all much more alike than we are different and in that, for some strange reason, I find comfort...
and of course I find you very very witty :)

Unknown said...

I blog because I have always been a journaler. I love to ramble about what's going on in my life, and surprisingly I love sharing it with others. I am also a scrapbooker at heart, and I love a chance to share my pictures, so it all comes together in my blog. I really do love it, and well, it's become a sort of addiction. I can't stop!

scrappysue said...

i blog to share words, pictures, a slice of life in a small country at the bottom of the world. to make new friends, to connect. i even flew to new york to meet my blog friends, and i've only been blogging since february! i'm slightly OCD - but in a non-pescriptive drug kinda way. i don't even know how i found you, and i only clicked in like maybe 5 minutes ago. anyhoo - cool blog. i would kill for as many followers as you have.