Why I blog

I stumbled upon some blogs over the past few days that really made me think about why I love blogging and reading other peoples blogs, so I'm going to list a few reasons why I love this. I've tried to convice friends to blog, and I've said, you don't really "get it" until you do it.

1. I love to share myself...my life....things I've discovered. I just need people to listen....comments make me happy....let me know people are actually "listening" to what I am sharing. This is my forum to share my thoughts.
2. Writing and picture taking are probably my two favorite things to do in the world. This is the place I can share both with the people in my life.
3. I have been an avid journal keeper all my life, but i tend to write a in a more serious tone in my journals- the kind of things i put down are things of great significance to my kids and family. I don't always take time to record the simple or random. This is the place i can express my thoughts on things trivial. I can talk about recipes or friends or daily happenings. That is as much a part of who i am as the prayers answered, life lessons, and impressions i often record in my journal.
4.Relationships. I can't stand not being able to keep in touch with friends from the past. I just wish everyone had a blog....But at least I can do my part:) You want to know what's going on? look at my blog. If you have a blog, I will look at yours, we can comment and feel connected.
5. Memory keeping. The past few years I've been bad at my scrapbooking, now this blog has become my scrapbook. I am going to have each year made into a book using blurb as part of my scrapbooks. this blog is quite literally a record of my life.
6. I love to feel connected to other people...even if I don't know them. I don't very often "blog hop" but when I do, it is fun to read about other people in this world describe things I can totally relate to.
7. It's just so much fun to do!

I wish I felt comfortable having an open blog...because I enjoy reading peoples blogs that I don't know. I just got to a point that I didn't feel good about it anymore. Paranoia from this crazy world.

I'll part with an expert from Hollywood Flakes blog, (thanks Em for pointing me here) she is a Mormon mom living in L.A. who is quite witty in her writing...this is what she says about blogging:

People starting out their blogs often tell me, "I don't have anything interesting to say," or "my life isn't very exciting." Guess what, most of us live very mundane, predictable lives. I go to bed a bunch of days in the same outfit I woke up in. The key to making your life exciting is looking at what you have and digging into it. Maybe you think nobody wants to hear about your parenting tips but I promise you that if you write honestly about your feelings and experiences, the other people out there who are doing the same thing will connect with you. Learn to be honest with yourself and overcome insecurities about looking foolish. We're all foolish, it can bring people together.