Why I love blogging: Reason #1-4

I've decided to write the praises of blogging today as the cold weather begins to make me feel blue. I always get the "mean reds" as the weather changes and I see less of the sun. It helps now that I'm not in a classroom with no windows all day, but the weather (lack of sunlight and plummeting temps) still gets me down. The "mean reds" bring to mind that my friends are scattered far away, and I have no plans to see any of them in the near future; my parents live far away (but I get to see them at Thanksgiving); and I have no close friends in Columbia (sort of feeling sorry for myself here, indulge me).

So in order to lift my spirits here it goes.

Why I love blogging reason # 1: online journaling

I've always sucked at journaling. Blogging makes me feel a little vindicated here. I can be self-reflective and keep in touch at the same time-SCORE!

Why I love blogging reason # 2: anonymity of being nosy into other people's lives

People are inviting you in to be nosy, and you can be anonymous about it. That sounds creepier than I intend, but it's kind of true. I like to let people know I'm looking though by posting (to eliminate said creepiness). I'm sort of obsessed with friends posting, so I feel like I'm keeping in touch without really keeping in touch (see reason # 3)


Why I love blogging reason # 3: I hate talking on the phone and I'm not much better with email

Again I love being able to keep in touch without having to really put in the effort to keep in touch--that sounds horrible. I love face to face interaction with people, getting together and visiting---I hate talking on the phone. It's always been that way. I like talking to people I haven't talked to in a while, but I've never liked talking to people frequently on the phone (family excluded, especially since there is distance b/w us).

The bitter reality though is all my friends live scattered across the country. From Georgia to Texas, Missouri to Washington, Illinois to Alabama--I don't get face to face time with any of them. So I always hope they have posted, so I can at least feel a small part of their lives still. In fact blogging has brought me back in touch with people I had kind of lost touch with.



Why I love blogging reason # 4: Friends' comments on my blog

I like feeling like people are interested in what's going on in my life. You don't know if people care about what you are saying or are attempting to keep up with your life except when they post comments. I love seeing that people have commented--even if it's an insignificant comment b/c it helps bring that feeling of connectedness that I dont' really have here with a physical presence. The world wide web is a poor substitute for physical presence, but it's better than no connection.

So to all my girlfriends out there that read and post comments on my blog, thank you.

To all my girlfriends that trudge away posting on their blog (even when it seems like no one is listening/reading)--I'm reading, so thank you.

To the person that invented blogging-whoever you are, wherever you are, thank you. Thank you for giving me a means to express myself and keep in touch with friends afar.