Do you have a purpose to blogging?
This is my 351st blog post and I've only been blogging for a year and a half. I guess it took that realization for me to question whether there is a purpose to my blogging in the first place.
Actually, what really got me thinking was someone so very adorable and sweet...another blogger. Mandy of Mandy's Life After 30 is celebrating her one year blogiversary on her blog. As a part of her celebration, she gave her followers an opportunity to talk to her via phone. She even volunteered to write a poem for a loved one...just because she's so talented like that. I chose to give her my phone number, knowing that with a toddler, she was perfectly harmless and wouldn't sell my number to a Nigerian scammer.
I LOVED hearing her voice and her sweet Southern accent. Most of all, it made my day to hear her precious baby girl count to 20 for me. She is only 2 1/2 and can count like there is no tomorrow.
After talking to her, I realized just how much I value hearing someone's voice. Sure, blogging is great but there's nothing like being able to sit face to face and chat or to kick back with the phone in hand and chat as well.
With blogging, there's no inflections in your voice tone to be heard. There's no laughter to be heard. You can't even hear the smile in your voice.
In spite of all of that, there is a purpose in blogging for everyone. Do you realize how many people that are touched by your words?
Don't ever doubt your purpose in blogging. You may be touching someone that needs to be touched more than ever.
PS--Remind me to tell you all about the time a lady tried to commit suicide in a chat room and I helped save her life. (This was over 12 years ago...but it was like it was yesterday.)
Actually, what really got me thinking was someone so very adorable and sweet...another blogger. Mandy of Mandy's Life After 30 is celebrating her one year blogiversary on her blog. As a part of her celebration, she gave her followers an opportunity to talk to her via phone. She even volunteered to write a poem for a loved one...just because she's so talented like that. I chose to give her my phone number, knowing that with a toddler, she was perfectly harmless and wouldn't sell my number to a Nigerian scammer.
I LOVED hearing her voice and her sweet Southern accent. Most of all, it made my day to hear her precious baby girl count to 20 for me. She is only 2 1/2 and can count like there is no tomorrow.
After talking to her, I realized just how much I value hearing someone's voice. Sure, blogging is great but there's nothing like being able to sit face to face and chat or to kick back with the phone in hand and chat as well.
With blogging, there's no inflections in your voice tone to be heard. There's no laughter to be heard. You can't even hear the smile in your voice.
In spite of all of that, there is a purpose in blogging for everyone. Do you realize how many people that are touched by your words?
Don't ever doubt your purpose in blogging. You may be touching someone that needs to be touched more than ever.
PS--Remind me to tell you all about the time a lady tried to commit suicide in a chat room and I helped save her life. (This was over 12 years ago...but it was like it was yesterday.)
Comments
I know what I'm NOT doing...making any money off those danged Google ads!
Great question - I started blogging as an outlet, as a way to journal my thoughts and feelings, never thinking I'd have people reading it months later. Now I blog because of that same reason and to learn from others and get inspired in new ways. Thank you for being a part of that inspiration!
Hugs and best wishes!
Mandy
I blog for self-expression, but people read...so there IS a ripple effect.
I want to hear the story about the woman in the chat room!!!
And now of course you must tell us the story about your experience with helping the woman who was so desperate she wanted to end her life. Why am I not surprised that you were able to help her from her ledge? xo
I too want to hear more about your experience with the suicidal woman. Post please!
You have a fantastically blessed day!!!
Having said that, I can't tell you how much I enjoy chatting on the phone with bloggers that I have come to know and love. Hasn't been a ton of people yet but those that have reached out and said, "Hey, Hallisicle/Wiener Woman/Woman Who Really Deserves An Everyday Prada Bag, wanna chat?" have absolutely MADE MY DAY!!
Hallie
I have had the pleasure of speaking by phone personally with Deb of Lifescapes.
Tomorrow, Thursday, I will have the pleasure of meeting in person Kit of Dog Daze. She is in Anchorage from GA volunteering for the Iditarod, which begins Saturday! That will be fun to meet her. We are going to have lunch, then she will come over and meet the 4 poodles.... xoxo
Tiffany
http://liferequiresmorechocolate.blogspot.com
I enjoy every post from you. I love getting to know you! You are nothing short of amazing!
Great post. Thanks for sharing.
V
Hope you have a great week :)
I agree that it great spending "live" time with fellow bloggers. It's been a pleasure having lunch with you twice :-)
A suicide attempt??? Wanna have lunch tomorrow (I wish!)
xo
Congrats on the 351 posts.
Mainly I want to get my thoughts out of my head and share them. I do hope I'm encouraging sometimes and I'm thankful to my readers who encourage me back.
I still don't know what my reason for blogging is, but now that I am doing it, I just can't stop. I love the friendships and getting to know new people.
I think in many ways, blogging has taken the place of being able to sit on the porch and visit with neighbors.
For a few years, I thought the cyberspace computer world had in someways injured our ability to have face to face conversations. But being the creative people we are with that need to connect to one another, we have found a way!
I want to hear about the lady and the chat room. I bet that is an awesome story.
Ironically, when I started my first blog, it coincided with my Father's diagnosis of Alzheimer's. My blog is our journey with him.
I started a second blog on a whim from an inspirational day...and was surprised at the responses I received...
So bottom line...I agree with most of the comments here...it is an outlet and an outreach. I am a "connector". I love people and find how they run their lives so very interesting.