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.)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
24 comments:
My main reasons for blogging are rather selfish... (1) it's an outlet for me and (2) it helps keep a "record" of daily minutiae and of smile-worthy moments that I might forget.
A purpose to blogging...wow. I guess my purpose is actually rather therapeutic, rather like a diary, or at least, that's how it started. I'm not sure what I'm doing now!
I know what I'm NOT doing...making any money off those danged Google ads!
It was such a joy to talk to you Simone! Thanks for indulging my one year wishes to my favorite readers like you. I felt like I could have talked to you all day long, if it weren't for my spunky two year old demanding my attention, that is. :-)
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
Blogging, like so many things, winds up being all about the ripple effect.
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!!!
Always inspiring, that's what you are Simone.
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
Blogging really started out as an outlet but has evolved into more of an outreach. I really never expect that I would ever form bonds or care about fellow bloggers. Whoa baby stop the mule, 'cause I was wrong.
I too want to hear more about your experience with the suicidal woman. Post please!
You have a fantastically blessed day!!!
I blog because to stop, would mean I died. It's become that much a part of my life.
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 started blogging as a way to keep in touch with family, but somehow it has grown from there. I have made many new friends in cyber land (you among them) who I may meet someday. Also the dog families, I love to keep up with all the dogs (yours included!)
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
I've been blogging for years. My earlier blogs had definite purpose, now not so much. I'd have to say it's cheaper than therapy!
I have been an on and off blogger for a few years now and I have only recently decided to do it as often as possible. It's a great way for me to express myself and a great way for me to get to know other people and get perspectives that I would otherwise never hear.
Tiffany
http://liferequiresmorechocolate.blogspot.com
I agree it's nice to hear a voice, blogging for me started as a way for family and friends to know about my life here. Now it fills my lonely days and I couldn't imagine life without it.
I'm not sure why I blog. I think I got heavier into it when my mom died. It was a way for me to express my feelings without burdening my friends or family with the pain.
I enjoy every post from you. I love getting to know you! You are nothing short of amazing!
I thought I'd blog to keep in touch with family members who live far away. But it's turned into more than that. Meeting people like you has certainly been a highlight. And I have to say that I so enjoy hearing your voice on the other end of the phone!
My purpose in blogging is to keep my recovery on track and to help others avoid or recover from their fatigue - FAST.
Great post. Thanks for sharing.
V
I've been able to speak to a few fellow bloggers on the phone, and have made some amazing friends :) Even though we will probably never meet face-to-face, it is so nice to be able to pick up the phone and talk to them!
Hope you have a great week :)
You know it's one of my favorite things when a blogger posts of video and I can either see them or hear them in the background. There's just something about hearing someone's voice! Or being able to put a voice to a personality. It's great! I think my purpose in blogging is a little bit therapeutic. I do it because I need a creative outlet and I love to write. And I love to see my kids on the computer screen! :o)
351 posts!!! Amazing. Congratulations CCD.
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
I love meeting bloggers across the world and as you already know, I'm a gratuitous googler and love to share interesting finds in my blog.
Congrats on the 351 posts.
Thanks for this. I have to remember that there is a purpose.
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.
When I've blogged something random and received a personal email that my post actually helped someone in someway, that means a lot to me. I enjoy letting everyone who reads into my life. I blog the good and the bad. Not sure if I do it for a purpose, I just do it. And I love it. I love Skype too. I've met a lot of bloggers in person through Skype and it's like we are such great friends. I look so forward to my social media world.
You follow Mandy too?!?! So do I! What is weird though is that I found you through someone else.
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 blogging started as a way for me to escape the reality of an unhappy life. Now that I'm on the cusp of true happiness, I have to be honest and say that I'm not sure how it's going to fit into my future yet.
What is my purpose to blogging?
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.
I had been wanting to blog for about 6 months. My desire came from my need to write. I have kept journals for over 45 years....and I am running out of room to store them!
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.
Post a Comment