Why I Blog

{photo by Lissa}

As Young People in Love continues to grow, I've been thinking more and more about why I blog. It feels nerdy to admit, but honestly, writing this little bloggy brings me a surprising amount of happiness and satisfaction. Why is that, I wonder? 

This is what I've decided are the main driving forces behind Young People in Love: 

1. Ever since I was in Jr. High and had basically no friends and was kinda teased like crazy (sob story alert), I've kept a consistent journal. Being able to come home at the end of a hard, dramatic day in 8th grade and pour out my little lonely soul into my journal quickly became an important, validating ritual for me. I kept filling up journals all the way through high school and into college. The only thing is, I wouldn't want anyone to ever, ever read the vast majority of what I wrote in all those journals. I've even thrown out entire books. Burning them would have been my first choice. Pretty embarrassing stuff. 

During graduate school, I somehow discovered the wonderful world of blogging. I decided it was a fantastic way for me to continue my journaling, while at the same time, censoring myself just enough because I knew other people may find and read what I've put out on interweb. 

So, first and foremost, blogging has been a way to document my life. I can journal in an honest, genuine way while also feeling comfortable with others reading what I've written. 

2. Life hasn't always been as wonderful as it is now. 

I've been divorced and so have also experienced a marriage that had a lot of sadness revolving around it. 

But, clearly, things are different with Chas. Everyday of our life together is filled with crazy amounts of happiness, love, and peace. I know how rare and special of a blessing this is and would feel ungrateful if I didn't take the time to document this marriage, this goodness, via this blog. There are so many little things that happen that would go unnoticed otherwise. These things deserve to be noticed, to be recorded, and to be honored. 

So I blog because it's my way of being aware of and thankful for my blessings. 

3. I'm someone who easily focuses on the negative. Even if I have just a ho-hum kind of day, I can quickly feel a little sad and blah inside. 

But if I come home from work on a Monday, for example, feeling blah, I can write a blog post about how wavy hair and cute shoes made me happy today. Then, suddenly, I've made an emotional switch from focusing on feeling sad and tired to focusing on the little but important positives that made that day a happy one. Not only have I identified these happy thoughts, but I've also put in the time and effort to write about them and throw in a couple fun little pics, too. And BAM! Just like, I feel much more content than I did before. 

I blog because it helps me be positive and see the good. 


4. Last, but not least, is the peeps.

There are so many friends who I've "met" through blogging. And not we're not talking just casual acquaintances I've never met. These are full-on legit friends...I've never met. At our wedding reception last year, there were actually at least three wonderful bloggy friends who came and we got to meet for the first time. Besides Chas, I think that may have been in my top three favorite things about our reception. No joke.

I blog because I love the kindred spirits. 

So, dear bloggy friends, why do you blog? 

Hmmmm???

Tell me all about it in your comment or write your own "Why I Blog" post and send me the link!

Either way, I'm curious :)