First, it’s beyond amazing to write something and then get an almost immediate response. I’m still a girl who thinks it’s amazing that if I’m wondering about anything, I can just Google it. But, getting real responses from real people who are really smart and supportive is freaking amazing.
Second, I’m a classic introvert in that my motivation and interests mostly come from within. My mom just said of me a few days ago, “Ashley is a girl of herself.” I knew what she meant, but it also hit me the wrong way. Because it’s true and because it’s not true. I was thinking about it on the plane ride home. I was thinking about how much I want to share myself and how much I like talking, debating, singing along with other people. Blogging has given me a way to do that that feels like me and not like me pretending to be someone else.
Third, I’ve written more in the year plus that I’ve been blogging than I ever have in my life. The best way to become a better writer is to write. But, mostly, it’s just what I like to do. It’s pretty cool to have a place to write the way I most like to write. Informally. As myself. With lots of punctuation!
Fourth, excuse me for sounding like a mid-level manager, but it’s about the people. There are a lot of things I didn’t understand about blogging until I started. Now knowing better, I have to say that I think people are getting it wrong when they reduce personal blogging to just content or writing. I think blogging is much more about the blogger than about her life or her talent for writing. I enjoy the blogs I read most, because I care about the bloggers.
Fifth and Most, since it’s about the people and you’re all so supportive, I’ve come to expect that if I’ve had a bad day, the blogosphere will be there to pat me on the back. But it’s the times I don’t expect it that it touches me the most. It happens very often, which makes me wonder why it continues to be a surprise. When I was in high school, we more than once had this motivational speaker guy come talk to us about relationships. I remember that he always said love was wanting the best for the other person. Not to get too mushy on you, but hearing people respond to my post about starting my PhD by saying they’re excited for me and think I’ll do well just warmed my cold little emo heart. I think you’re pretty lucky to find people who want you to be happy, so I don’t know what that makes me as someone who’s found a whole community of such people.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
People that don’t blog, most often, just don’t get it. And it always makes me so sad, because they don’t know what they’re missing. I have made so many friends, and connections through blogging. Knowing that there are people out there, reading, with no judgement and only with care and affection and interest is so fantastic.
Just so you know I love your blog, and I think that you’re an awesome person to know. :)
I definitely didn’t realize, nor did I expect, that there could be these kind of inter-personal relationships through blogging and where the content would, at times, take a little bit of a backseat. I thought it was all about the content and that’s it but, at least in this world, it definitely isn’t. But, to spout the time-honored cliché, that’s what’s great about the internet; it connects people from places all around the world who have similar ideas or views, but might not have known that these other people existed.
And congrats on starting the PhD program! I’m 110% certain that you’re going to be amazing and that it’s going to be a great experience (even when the grind of the grad school life wears on you). And keep on sharing about your research because I (and I’m sure I’m not the only one) find it very interesting!
Why I hate blogging: My RSS feed for your blog was malfunctioning so I’ve missed like 10 posts.
But otherwise, I adore blogging, and sometimes you :P
Blogging: teach your kids — or someone else’s kids; whatever — it’s not a dirty word.
I have absolutely no regrets about becoming a blogger. And I’m glad you’re one, too.
I never realized how much blogging can help people feel like they’re not alone. It’s great finding other people you can relate to about various things. I’m glad you are starting to feel the love :)
Couldn’t agree more with all of those reasons. Especially the part about becoming a better writer. I’ve definitely seen a huge difference in my writing over the last year and I think that blogging has a lot to do with it!
I feel the same way. I never realized how much blogging is about community and the way people rally around each other.
Also, are you near the fires? I hope everything’s ok up there and that it’s not getting in the way of your first PhD week.
This is exactly why I love blogging. Plus it helps me remain more peaceful in my everyday life.
I always joke that my online social life is way more hectic than my real life social life (even though it’s kind of true…), but it’s because like you said I have developed relationships with blogger buddies and I feel like I know so much more about their lives b/c I read about them everyday, whereas in real life (my friends don’t blog/aren’t on twitter) everyone is busy with different schedules and it’s hard to catch up and share everything that’s happened, it’s like where do i start?! so there is somewhat of a disconnect.
I also love how I’m writing more and thinking about writing which is something I have not done since college.
I cannot agree more with #4. It’s very true. Even when I started blogging 3.5 years ago, I was very confused. But now, it’s very apparent to me.
I can definitely say I’ve made friends through blogging, seeing as I just stayed with one blog friend in London. Crazy!!!! Blogging is indeed a community! :)
High five for oodles of punctuation!
I love reading your blog. If I subscribe to a blog it’s because I care about the person writing it, because they are interesting. Doesn’t it feel amazing to know that someone is always checking in on you? That people all over the country, all over the world care enough to read the things you have to say? No one in my family reads my blogs on a regular basis, but I feel like I have a family outside my blood relatives: people who take the time to read the things I have to share, who give me support when I need it and celebrate with me when I’ve accomplished something.
I love your blog and love that you’re written this. Most of these ring true for me as well, especially the one about the community. I have friends that I’ve made through my blog that I call when I am having a bad day, I call them when I have exciting news to share, or when I know they need a friend. They are my friends, even if we haven’t met face to face and I think its amazing how much we all care about each other.
The blogosphere is so supportive. It’s always so nice to hear the opinion of someone who doesn’t know you in real-life, but knows you and they way you think.
Your “third” point sums up how I feel very well. Blogging is such a great outlet and such a fabulous means of writing – without having to stick to something particular, like a college assignment or in writing a book – that it keeps the juices flowing (sounds lame, I know).
And the support system blogging provides is definitely fabulous. You nailed that on the head.
it’s true about the people..
my more ‘regular’ reads may not necessarily be because of AMAZING writing but simply because i care about the people and have considered them friends.
Awww, I love this. This is how I feel about blogging a lot of the time too. I especially love the instant connection with other people who just get you when you think nobody else does.
Love this post & the blogging world! It continues to amaze me how wonderful it is being a blogger and makes me want to become a better one and network more. :)