Friday, September 4, 2009

What does blogging mean to you?

Ever since I've read Andhari's brilliant post about blogging, I keep thinking about it. She really struck a chord with me and wrote about so many things I totally feel the same way. Apart from her being an accomplished blogger and me blogging more or less since this year (I blogged before, but not so much), the things she said apply to me as well. So, if you're a blogger, read thru her post, she makes excellent points and you will learn so much from her (as I have).
I guess every blogger asks himself this question at one point: Why do I blog? And sometimes, if I drill very deep, I can't seem to find a definite answer. Seems like all of us kinda start quietly and carefully and without knowing we all of a sudden have readers, followers, even friends. And we're just like Wow! I totally did not expect that! And in my case, I really didn't.
There's so many reasons why I started to blog. I had like 2 waves, where I suddenly felt the urge to write: one last year, one this year - each time after a break up. I guess blogging seemed like a therapy for me. I instantly realized how good it felt when I wrote things off my chest. I remember how I used to have a book as a teenager, where I wrote in poems and things that happened in my life. It always felt like my private shrink and I cherished it (I still have it, but it's worn out). Didn't we all, who blog today, have something like that in the past? That means that we always were bloggers, we just didn't have the platform (internet) to connect with other like-minded people.
I think blogging really changes a person. It changed me. It helped me a lot. And the most rewarding thing about blogging for me is meeting new interesting people. Blogging connects. Of course one also encounters morons, but don't we all encounter them in real life, too? It's funny when I look back, how important page impressions or hits were for me. And I still see people who are totally focused on them. If they blog for money, that may be one of their objectives, but that was never the case for me. My blog will always remain ad- and advertorial-free. All of you, my dear readers, who left so many comments recently, made me realize that hits don't really matter. Really thank you guys. I prefer quality over quantity (I try my best) and I don't post like 2 times daily anymore, but rather once in a while. And it feels so much better. It's liberating. But people blog for various reasons and have all kinds of objectives. I don't judge you. I won't ever tell another blogger what and how to blog, even if he makes a fool out of himself. I'm doing my thing and the blogosphere is like the universe. There's enough space for everyone.
And yes, I admit, I really like it when you guys give me feedback. It keeps me going, it makes me think, it makes me want to improve. At the same time, I don't feel pressured, but rather reassured and confident, that I can scribble something and make people smile, wonder, think (even if it's just for a day or for a moment). Blogging is about giving and recieving. And I'm always giving a part of me to you. I'm always putting a lot of thought in every post, even if it seems the silliest post you've ever read. Because I always try my best, even when I'm trying to be funny. I'm aware of my flaws, but I know all of you are forgiving, because that's how our kind is. And if sometimes something I write upsets you or if it just doesn't seem to make sense to you, stop for a second, take a breather, pull your head back and try to see the whole text like this:


And then you'll realize: It's just letters! Is it really worth to get upset over a combination of letters? No, it's not. It really is not. Because in the end, you will have to switch off your computer and go back to reality and deal with your own real life issues. So will I. I think blogging can be part of one's life but not be one's life. I've been thru that, too and I've learned my lessons. Especially the part that we shouldn't take everything too seriously online. And mostly it was my "bloggy friends" who taught me that (special thanks to Jerine).

And that's the point for me (besides being my therapy): to learn and evolve. Each friendship I made thru my blog is really precious to me. Even if I'd make just a single good friendship, it would be worth all the effort I put in here. Because good friends are hard to find.

Blogging is my therapy. And I think I want to remain in therapy as long as possible.


And what does blogging mean to you?

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