Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Why I Blog

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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 :) 

43 comments:

Bridget said...

i hear you! the last one is so legit for me too-- it forces you to recognize the beauty in the ho-hum... and for that, i'm grateful!

and the people. i have serious friends that i've never met (but hope to).

the mrs. said...

amen! i love remembering the little, yet important things in my lovely life. :)

p.s. i'm looking for some guest bloggers to keep my blog lively while i'm on my honeymoon. wanna help? email me: lexalou222@yahoo.com :)

A+J said...

I'm really glad that you blog! =) I blog so I can remember. Blogs are full of the blessings of life. They are good reminders to be thankful

sarahannnoel said...

Oh, I am so with you on the junior high thing. And the journals thing. And the censoring myself thing.

I agree with everything you've said here, actually.

Mostly for me, it is a sense of community, of validation, and a way to feel good about myself. I love finding other blogs with the same vibe--people happy with their lives, with deep thoughts, who take pleasure in the little things and who have a sense of humor.

I'm certainly glad I stumbled upon your blog!

Lindsay @ Tails to Tell said...

I absolutely agree with you on everything you said... especially about blogging helping you to focus on the positive. I've found myself sitting down to write an "oh woe is me" post, only to think about how no one wants to hear it, and what I think is so bad at the moment is nothing compared to some. Like you said, it's like an emotional switch, and you suddenly see things differently. :)

{andthisiswhatshesaid} said...

Im a new follower. Love your blog!

Nicole Marie said...

love these reasons! totally agree on the seeing things on a more positive note.

Samantha said...

GREAT reasons :) My reasons for blogging are just like yours :) I'm glad to be able to follow your blog and read about all your blessings :)

Lissa Chandler said...

I was going to write a post about the same topic today! Maybe WE are kindred spirits :)

anna said...

great post! i think its great to reflect on why you're writing a blog in the first place. i know how hard it is to sit back and wonder "what the heck am i doing here, on this blog?"
its good to edify yourself and hae a purpose.

i'm glad your blog is helping you with life! that is so marvelous.
happy tuesday.

dear prudence

Unknown said...

GREAT post. I think having an outlet to focus on positive day to day things is so important. My mom and I have had numerous conversations about that....she was a stay at home mom before the internet and said that many days were long and boring. She thinks that having an window into other SAHM's lives would have been SUCH a blessing...just to get ideas, get advice, and see that even a life of changing diapers can be somewhat glamorous if you're focusing on the pretty and happy things.

monster cakes said...

Oh my gravy! I'm so glad you found me so I could find you! I love this adorable blog, and I can't wait to read more. Btw, I love that Oregon has your heart because I'm an Oregonian native. Holla'! Have a great day new friend.

Jenny said...

good post! i started blogging for the grandmas when we had kate, but i have kept at it because sometimes i get lonely staying at home with the kids all day. when i blog and read blogs, i feel a little bit more connected. it feeds my love of photography, humor, and journaling. hooray for blogs! without blogs i would have never in a million years been able to keep in touch with you after college! i'm glad i have :)

Suzzie Vehrs said...

You blog is soo cute and I completely agree. I love reading people's blogs and just barely started writing my own. PS I really love that you linked to the Mormon.org.

Suzzie
http://www.svsmiles.blogspot.com/

Hilary Ayers-Kurtz said...

I'm glad you blog :) And I have kept a journal since I was in 8th grade too! I completely agree with everything you said!

HettyA said...

:) Thanks for sharing you reasons. It's always nice and interesting to see what inspires others to blog. It's true blogging is a way of releasing you mind in so many ways! Thinking positive and enjoying it all.

christine donee said...

This is so beautiful and sweet. And you are awesome.

I blog cause it's an amazing way to get connected to some truly wonderful people, as well as document my travels through life as a beginning photographer.

Clandestine Road said...

I love this. Your blog lifts my spirits. Thanks.

I blog to keep my kids' baby books (I'm rubbish at them in the physical form) and to journal. It helps me to see how far I've come, to focus on the positive, as I am a bit of a melancholy person, and to focus on God and what God's teaching me.

Hannah said...

I blog because I get to "meet" such incredible people (like you!). I love social networking friends...you'll never know each other in real life, but the blogging world always seems to be so supportive doesn't it?!

xoxo

NKriste said...

Love this post! I blog for similar reasons. :) Maybe, I'll write one of my own Why I Blog posts. Sounds like fun!

Alycia Grayce (Crowley Party) said...

Oh I echo all of this. I was really surprised that I got so sucked up into it all. I blog because of all the reasons you said really, it started of as a way to document my life, then it turned into a creative outlet for me... and then I have become friends with people online through it :) love love love it all.

Pam said...

I'm new to blogging, but #1 and #3 are big ones for me, and #2 and #4 also ring true! Anyway, I'm glad you blog because I love reading your posts :)

Amy @ Amy Day to Day said...

Thanks so much for the comment on my blog the other day! I'm so glad to have you as a follower now. I'm a new reader, obviously, and am so curious to know more about you and your story! How old you are, how you and your husband met, etc. Are there posts you can direct me to so I can get a little background? I get so curious about my bloggy friends! Oh and your reasons for blogging are really great reasons!

amy day to day

Unknown said...

I just started blogging about two weeks ago. I decided to do it because I'm hoping to meet people and it's a great way to document my life. I've been reading other people's blogs for a while and I thought it looked really fun. So far, I'm loving it. Thanks for sharing your reasons. I know a lot of them ring true for me too.

Jilleun said...

I defiantly agree and relate to all the same reasons to blog. But the number one reason I blog is for my mom! haha it sounds silly but only being able to see family twice a year, its another good way to stay connected beside phone.

Abby said...

Same and number one and three. :)

Kayla said...

Here's my "Why I Blog" post:

http://littledidkaylaknow.blogspot.com/2011/05/why-i-blog.html

:)

annton said...

I can easily go with all of your reasons; except Chas is Thomas and that makes us "People in Love" *laughs. Seriously, being a painter, alone in the studio many hours, which I love, blogging gives me structure at well. Blogging on a regular basis stops me from running in wrong directions or from standing still too long!

Courtney B said...

That is the cutest picture of you and Chas! Love it!
I love your reasons for blogging!
I originally started my blog to pring it into a book.. I don't journal so this is what will be our journal! I'm excited about it :)
But what I wasn't expecting from blogging is the many friends I've made. One bad day can be turned upside down by sweet comments. Sometime's a perfect stranger knows just what to say to make me feel better!

Evi Figgat said...

I absolutely love your blog and love why you blog. I did a post on it today. If you're interested here it is: http://evianenoel.blogspot.com/2011/05/why-i-blog.html

Honestly, a lot of our reasons are the same. Keep blogging, I love reading it everyday!

-Evi

Maria said...

Meps! I did this a while back as well, in 2010 when people asked me why I blogged! I sent you a copy of the link, but basically I started it all for my momma. She and I were always really close and I can talk about anything with her. It's a way she can keep in touch with me as I went off to college. And also, I love writing. It's a nice relief at the end of the night. [And I love making new friends as well] (:

http://adayinthelifeofria.blogspot.com/2010/09/say-what.html

Jamie @ charmingly ordinary said...

What a sweet, honest post! Thank you! I love the community I've found with other bloggers (like people I've never met...crazy, this whole Internet thing) and for the love of writing. As an English grad student, I get pretty sick of writing about dead poets. Dead poets are awesome, of course, but not always relevant. So I blog about the lovely things in my everyday life (and the not-so-lovely, of course).

Anonymous said...

wow! I really really like this and I can totally relate to pretty much all of the points! I really wanna take some time to write about this on my own blog as well.. thanks for the post inspiration!

Anonymous said...

I love blogging too!

http://lifeofmissfabulous.blogspot.com/p/why-do-i-blog.html

Amanda said...

I love this :) I started blogging in college, almost 7 years ago now. Crazy. It's been through a couple incarnations, and although I've thought about hanging up my hat a few times, I just can't quit it :) There's just something about processing "out loud" that helps me, and the relationships are really what makes it stick.

Megan said...

Oh my gosh, what a great post! I can definitely relate to your #2 and #3 reasons so very much. I go through waves of depression so I'm not always as "happy" as I want to be so I make sure to blog about the parts of my day and life that do make me so very happy (even if no one else finds them interesting, haha), that way I can look back, especially when I'm feeling down again and instead of remembering that I felt like booty, I'm reminded of awesome memories we made that I'll always have and how blessed I am. Also I just love to blog to document my whole family life because I think it's really important ;D

Frannie Pantz said...

Sam,

I saw you commented on my guest post and I just wanted to stop in and say hello to you! What a cute little blog you have here. This post, especially, really speaks to me as I have often wondered the same thing myself as of late. I appreciate you following me and I look forward to keeping up with you! Keep doin your thing girl!

Kristin said...

Really great reasons! You've got me to thinking...oh, and YES! The "kindred spirits" are the very fluffy icing on the cake :-)

Kelly said...

It's my journal - my silly thoughts that are fleeting, life through these crazy eyes. It's also my stash to store the things I think are beautiful so I always know where they are. :)

- Polly said...

well... i blog to find myself in this big world. :) i had a lot of internet journals but all of them failed. :(
however i still write in the "old fashion diary" :) :)

Unknown said...

I'm loving your blog! hm... I blog as a sort of therapy I guess. whether life is going great, or not so great, at least I can be open about it. and who knows, maybe someone will read it and have advice for me, or maybe my blog will bring a smile to someones face. thats worth it to me.

Some Korean Website Highjacker said...

oh Sam, i totally relate to this on SO many levels. the way you describe the way you can get down about your day and then flip over to blogging mode and everything appears brighter and better focused. this made me tingle all the way down to my toes. you are a stunning writer and a brilliant soul. it translates through to every ounce of this space on the net.

man am i ever glad i read this today, especially today! you've helped me out of a slight bit of funkdom, mass appreciation girl.

i also was married before, way long ago to a very "bad man" and feel blessed now to be with Sean as i know you are with your amazing Chas. it's sure something to go through but i'm glad to know you made it out okay. road rash of life i suppose, makes us have tougher skin too.

kindred spirits, yes and more yes. i have loved reading this post, you have no idea. thank you for being a galactic spirit and sharing this way. xo ♥

Clio said...

You are so lovely, what an honest post, thanks for writing it! I think on the Internet it can be so easy to dismiss what someone has put their heart into as nothing at all... Thanks for reminding me that quite the opposite is true. Keep blogging :)