So my cousin brought up a good point in her blog and it really got me thinking. She was asking WHY do people blog? Is it for journaling purposes or to keep your family updated? Is it to look like a deep thinker? Is it to entertain people? Are we really being honest in our blogs or fluffing it up to make our lives look all pretty when they aren’t necessarily so?
Good question! I guess its a little of all of the above. I always told my husband it was like keeping a journal, but I do like to share my entertaining stories and keep my family updated too. We are spread all over the place and I don’t even know that anyone reads it on a regular basis, but I pretend they might. However, I feel like I do have a bad habit of sorts. There are some blogs I can’t stand to read because they are filled with fluff – but I think I do that sometimes too. I don’t have a lot of the same challenges that mothers or families have on a daily basis, but when I do have personal struggles I like to leave those out or just make a side note – to not dwell on the subject. I have even written really negative blog entries that are still in my drafts because while I don’t like fluff, I don’t like people who whine either. I guess there are some fine lines.
I’ve noticed that this has been a habit in my life for a long, long time. (And it’s not just in journals). But yes, even looking back at my old journals I have always made things sound a little nicer than what I’m actually thinking or feeling. The meanest thing I remember writing (off the top of my head) was when I was 8 years old: “I hate my family (but not really).” I completely remember thinking If I hate them, are they going to be taken away from me? So I put a retraction in there, just in case God saw and wanted to teach me a lesson.
But my cousin is right, if we not only share the good times, but also the struggles we have, it might help others who are reading. Because we all have hard times and who wants to read about someone else’s “awesome” life when you don’t feel like yours is going so great? So while I continue to update with the fun things I’m up to, I will also try to be a little more honest when I’m faced with challenges. Not just to help others, mostly to help myself.
Let’s keep this going: Why do YOU blog?
awww! that’s so sweet. thank for thinking of me! i can’t believe it took that long to get back to you.
wait, actually i can. i sent derrick a birthday card and a christmas card last year and they both came back to me in the same week almost a year later! what?!
but really, i do appreciate that thought and miss you lots!
Good blog! sweetie, very honest! I liked it very much. I blog to get out what I think about. But a funny thing happened today. In the mail I got back your valentine card I sent to you last february!!! Can you believe it. I sent candy with it and the little box was all flat. it took nine months to get back to me. what does that say about our postal service?! I sorry it didn’t get to you. You are one of my special valentines.