Are You What You Blog? What is the Purpose For You?
When I look back over the many posts that were created for this blog, its content and character have grown, and changed direction from its inception.in reality. When this blog was first started, it was done in an attempt to have a place, and serve as a sounding board for my displeasure and hatred of the Bush Administration. The purpose was mainly political, and in order for me not to explode each day, as I watched our country, America, lose its meaning and go in a direction that was ever so scary, I needed to write about my thoughts. Some people shared my beliefs and others were completely in disagreement. Often, there was mud-slinging and although one may agree to disagree, a mean-spirited tone grew out of many of the comments. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the banter, and it was cathartic to let go of my thoughts here about Bush and his posy.
Afterwards, I see that the blog began to change, and it was about my journey into rediscovering my roots as a Jew. Ultimately, by writing, and by many of the comments I received here, I became more observant, thoughtful, and enjoyed doing good deeds for others. My love for Israel grew and resulted in our going to this magnificent country in the middle of the war with Hezbollah in August 2006, a truly unforgettable experience and milestone of our lives.
Fast forward and put these events in the context of life as I knew it. A new job, having to cope with illness of close family members, hospitalizations, and fear, and the blog took on another dimension yet. It became a vehicle for writing about my feelings, emotions and thoughts. More often than not, the hope was that by writing, some of the pain and suffering that was experienced could be transformed one day at a time. Learning to accept people, places and things for what they are rather than what and how I want them to be, is a lesson that I have learned from putting thoughts into words for this blog. If the truth be told, this process has worked over the year and I am grateful for it.
Regardless of what was written here, a great gift emerged from these writings: I met some wonderful individuals, many of who remain my friends today. For this, I am truly grateful. Some of us talk on the phone, exchange emails, and support one another in causes that are important to us.
Are we what we blog? I suppose it depends upon our purpose for why we are here. Some love the comments (count me in please), and blog exclusively for them, and desire the attention, which is the main purpose of the blog itself. There is nothing wrong with this, frankly, if this is your purpose for blogging. For others, blogs are about sharing thoughts, events, ideas, or even theme oriented (attitude of gratitude, one about trees, another about fly fishing.) The content of a blog is as interesting as any human being we may meet in the world in which we live. There are truly no right or wrong answers to the blogging process. A blog can be like a relationship, and it can grow and blossom depending upon what one puts into it.
Today, this blog serves as a memoir, or perhaps, more accurately, a chronicle of life as it exists for me today. Since Gabriel Garcia Marquez is one of my literary heroes, he titled one of his books, Living to Tell the Tale. Although I do not compare myself with this literary giant, still, those words, that we live to tell what happens in our lives, looms larger than life for me, as I ponder why this blog is here and what purpose it is designed to serve.
Writing has helped me grow, and sort through some of the difficult issues of life each and every day. Every day is a new day, and by writing, that message is cast in stone as is the conclusion that everything changes each day too. Nothing lasts forever. For better or for worse, words are my tools, just like notes or paintbrushes are for those who compose music or paint. Writing has also allowed me to let go of thoughts, relationships, pain, as well as give me a means to share joy, happiness and prosperity. This is why I blog. I am what I blog.
Life is short. We must cherish each and every day as it is presented to us. Ultimately, it all ends the same way.
Thank you for your minds.
Afterwards, I see that the blog began to change, and it was about my journey into rediscovering my roots as a Jew. Ultimately, by writing, and by many of the comments I received here, I became more observant, thoughtful, and enjoyed doing good deeds for others. My love for Israel grew and resulted in our going to this magnificent country in the middle of the war with Hezbollah in August 2006, a truly unforgettable experience and milestone of our lives.
Fast forward and put these events in the context of life as I knew it. A new job, having to cope with illness of close family members, hospitalizations, and fear, and the blog took on another dimension yet. It became a vehicle for writing about my feelings, emotions and thoughts. More often than not, the hope was that by writing, some of the pain and suffering that was experienced could be transformed one day at a time. Learning to accept people, places and things for what they are rather than what and how I want them to be, is a lesson that I have learned from putting thoughts into words for this blog. If the truth be told, this process has worked over the year and I am grateful for it.
Regardless of what was written here, a great gift emerged from these writings: I met some wonderful individuals, many of who remain my friends today. For this, I am truly grateful. Some of us talk on the phone, exchange emails, and support one another in causes that are important to us.
Are we what we blog? I suppose it depends upon our purpose for why we are here. Some love the comments (count me in please), and blog exclusively for them, and desire the attention, which is the main purpose of the blog itself. There is nothing wrong with this, frankly, if this is your purpose for blogging. For others, blogs are about sharing thoughts, events, ideas, or even theme oriented (attitude of gratitude, one about trees, another about fly fishing.) The content of a blog is as interesting as any human being we may meet in the world in which we live. There are truly no right or wrong answers to the blogging process. A blog can be like a relationship, and it can grow and blossom depending upon what one puts into it.
Today, this blog serves as a memoir, or perhaps, more accurately, a chronicle of life as it exists for me today. Since Gabriel Garcia Marquez is one of my literary heroes, he titled one of his books, Living to Tell the Tale. Although I do not compare myself with this literary giant, still, those words, that we live to tell what happens in our lives, looms larger than life for me, as I ponder why this blog is here and what purpose it is designed to serve.
Writing has helped me grow, and sort through some of the difficult issues of life each and every day. Every day is a new day, and by writing, that message is cast in stone as is the conclusion that everything changes each day too. Nothing lasts forever. For better or for worse, words are my tools, just like notes or paintbrushes are for those who compose music or paint. Writing has also allowed me to let go of thoughts, relationships, pain, as well as give me a means to share joy, happiness and prosperity. This is why I blog. I am what I blog.
Life is short. We must cherish each and every day as it is presented to us. Ultimately, it all ends the same way.
Thank you for your minds.
12 Comments:
What a nice post! I haven't thought about that in a while - why I blog. I think it's to leave an imprint of myself in a medium (the internet) which is in many ways, un-imprintable-upon.
We are not what we blog, we blog what we are. And, just as we are multi-faceted and ever-growing, so are our writings. My life fluctuates constantly. Sometimes I'm rather sad that I literally have no time to write any more, but when I do, I know that it has gone from being LESS political, overall, to more personal. I'm sure it will fluctuate back some day, however.
I just like to yak.
A nice post Barbara.
I have watched and read your blog for some time now, and have enjoyed walking a little of the way on the journey with you, as have others.
Writing is so important, it not only communicates and discusses ideas, but also touches the heart, and your blog has done this many times.
My own blog..well, it was a platform for my artwork, which is, indeed, me, but, when I ran into bad illness and severe personal problems there, I stopped blogging altogether.
But, as they say, "what doesn`t kill you makes you stronger", and I have come back to blogging.
My own blog, I now know, will have to change, to accomodate the change within myself, so, I suppose I must therefore consider my blog to be an integral part of `me`.
And it is likely to become moreso.
A very interesting post, Barbara.
Zep.
Yes.
Thank you teahouse for your insightful remarks.
Saur, yes perspective is really important, when we think about everything.
becky, you are always a breathe of fresh air.
Zep,
How good to see you again blogging. Sorry to hear you have been ill, and I hope that you come to good health. Actually, good health cannot be understated, and frankly, everything else in life is really bull shit compared to one's health, I have learned. I will check out your art work again.
S & S, hope you are well too. Sometimes, the blog comments do not get published which is why I did not respond beforehand.
Hi Barbara! Just swinging by to say hello, and wish you and your kin a very Happy Hanukkah.
Just to contribute to the conversation: I originally began to blog because I'm a writer. It just made sense to make use of such a cool opportunity to reach an audience - no matter how small. I also began blogging as a challenge to myself to create new, interesting, and artistic material.
I've mentioned before that I began Arboreality to create a sort of window - a place to invite others to share in some of the beautiful things I find in this world. There's so much doom and gloom to be found in the news - and we can't just ignore it any more than we can allow ourselves to be swallowed by it.
I've continued blogging and extended my work into new blogs because I value the opportunity to share ideas with others, and to hear the ideas of so many different voices from so many different backgrounds.
Now how's THAT for verbosity?
It may be that I blog because I just can't shut up! :D
Best,
Jade
Jade,
I admire the way you challenge yourself, and have such a positive outlook towards your writing. May it always continue!
Good to hear from you again. I really enjoy your tree blog.
Well Barbara,
Isn’t it interesting how an introspective post stimulates we readers to introspection as well? I like what Becky..Absent Minded Housewife said, “I just like to yak.”
I meant to ask when the opportunity came and I guess the photo in your latest post is it, Why is Argon named Argon?
Cheers,
Steve
Steve,
I too like what Becky had to say. Keeping it simple says so much.
As for the name Argon. If you know about science, Argon is a noble gas. It has the numberical property of 18 as well.
My last dog's name was Astro, so to some extent, Argon is named after him. Moreover, in the Jewish religion 18 is Chai, and is associated with good luck.
Also, I really like the name.
Thanks Barbara,
I should have known there would be more to it than I could have guessed. An old friend of mine used to say, " What's more interesting than people?"
cheers,
Steve
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