Why do I blog? Why do you read my blog? Read on…
Listening to a sermon by Tim Soots today carried me on a long train of thoughts. He talked about how we all buy things to reflect or enhance our identity. Seeing someone drive past in a new car often makes me want a newer set of wheels. Our old Corolla works fine – but oh, how much nicer it would be to have a newer [whatever].
I put someone into a category by looking at the clothes they wear or the vehicle they drive. We all know that people are more than what we see. That lady driving a pink VW Beetle with eyelashes around the headlights may shoot her Magnum pistol very accurately. That little guy driving a gigantic truck may need it to haul water heaters to remote mountain cabins.
Just as our possessions are sometimes glimpses into who we are, so are blogs. When you read a blog, you only get a small look at who the writer is. Even when you’ve been blogging as long as I have (more than eight years), blogs only show a small slice of who you are. My blogging friend Elizabeth wrote about how adopting children drastically reduced what she could reveal online.
Similarly, I am reluctant to share some of my more deeply-held beliefs, not because of fear, but rather because I want my readers to listen to what I say. If I intensely delved into a subject that is very close to their hearts, in the opposite direction of their belief system, they might shut me out forever. I want to keep connections open.
Why do you read this blog? I can’t answer that. But I can tell you why I read other blogs. I like to read words from people I find both real and interesting. I enjoy finding out what makes actual humans tick. Today, there are few such blogs anymore. Many people used to be writing in that space, but countless dropped out or went commercial. I’m sad.
I think there are probably several reasons why I read your blog, but the main one is connection. I’m not good at keeping in touch with old friends, a trait that has caused me pangs of regret when I realize I’ve lost that connection for good. I have enjoyed knowing you all these years, and I enjoy reading your take on the life around you. Yours is one of only two blogs that I read every time you post. (The other is a local journalist who posts about life in my neighborhood.)
I agree that it’s too bad people have stopped writing in this vein. But I think it is understandable in a time when there are myriad identity thieves, hackers, online stalkers, etc., etc. I have always been very reluctant to put very much personal info online or even on my computer, not even a photo. I’m just not that trusting, I guess. But that’s also true offline!
Deb, I very much enjoy keeping up with you here. I’m glad you like reading what I post.
I fully understand about your online privacy concerns. I’m reluctant to put much about the rest of my family on here… I’m willing to risk the privacy thing, but I don’t expect them to as well!
Dad,
I do agree it is very sad when we see people drifting away from true blogging to pursue alternative opportunities that life presents (some more beneficial than others). I absolutely love reading your blog and think it gives insight into who you are despite the subtlety. I do hope you keep writing for many posts to come because your impact on readers leaves a deeper mark than you know. Thanks for all the posts. Can’t wait for more.
Thank you, Jay! It’s a true privilege to count you as a reader.
‘ats my nephew! (proud uncle moment…)
I keep coming back to this blog because you are open-hearted. I like that this blog isn’t niche… it’s like life. Thank you.
Thank you for your kind comments, Elizabeth. And welcome back. It’s a privilege that you enjoy reading my little words. (And I enjoy your blog too!)