The last few days, I've been spending a fair bit of time in thought, formulating my plan going forward. Reflecting on where I've come from. I've taken some pretty big steps in the last couple years, and I have ambitious plans for 2013.
One thing that I've been considering is: what is the place my blog has in my journey?
I've realized something. My blog is very important to me. The most important part of it is simply getting my thoughts out of my head and down on paper (or really onto the computer screen.) Without it, those thoughts and words can endlessly swirl around in my head.
It's more then that too. It's part of my social network. I've made real friendships on this blog. Some people I've met in person. There are others that I have never seen in real life, but still consider real friends. When I'm having a rough time, I get encouragement, and when I'm flying high, I get congratulations.
It's public accountability. When I set goals for myself and put it in my blog, it's an announcement to everyone what I'm planning. I link to my blog on facebook and my email signature. So, while not everyone reads it, everyone can if they choose to.
Blogging is something you have to do for yourself. If it's just about the "audience", it comes across as fake. Sure, I've had some posts that get laughs, but there's others that were the most in need of being written that get far less attention. And that's okay, because while I like the attention, that's not why I do it.
My blog is a record of where I've been. I love that I can look back at it and know the actual day I started to run. Remember what it was like walking into that very first swimming lesson; how terrified I was just going into the deep end of the pool. I can see the good and the bad. The elation at finishing my first 5K over 2 years ago, and the effort to complete my first half ironman last summer.
My blog has helped change me, and it has recorded that change. Writing is something that is in me and is a part of me. So, that's the other need it fills: the need to write.
My blogging volume has dropped, and I'm feeling a bit out of touch with the blogging community right now. I feel like there's so much going on with my world that I don't even know where to start, but I am starting back. Expect one of my updates in point form in the next couple days.
Because this is a part of me.
Nice post.
ReplyDeleteJourney. Journal. I'm not sure if the words come from the same root. But what good is a journey without some record of it? I'd long since realized that in fact I WON"T remember stuff, when, where, how. Not even the big things. Lots of times I've gone back through my blog and been surprised how long ago or how recently something was.
I'm not so much into the public accountability thing, but that is a part of it. Mainly I like writing, and doing the social exchange thing with other people.
I think blogging overall drops off during Christmas. People are just so busy with other stuff. Plus there seems to be a season to blogging. There are times when there is a lull and nobody is blogging or commenting, and other days you can't keep up.
Ultimately, a blog is what the owner makes of it.
I feel the same way.
ReplyDeleteBlogging becomes difficult over the holidays for sure.
Could have been written in my own words. Just had a comment/email discussion with Patrick about this very topic the other day. Loved this post and look forward to the update. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteWe all go through periods where it is tough to write. 2011and early 2012 were like that for me. I agree, it has to be fun or it comes across as disingenuous. You've had a lot going on, but looking forward to reading what you have to say when you are back!
ReplyDeleteI agree with the public accountability piece, that was the whole reason I started my blog!
ReplyDeleteI think oftentimes your blog is as much a part of the journey as the journey itself. We come and we go but it's part of what we're doing and there are tons of readers who look forward to catching up with you with each new post.
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