#217-WHY DO I BLOG?

                                                            

I have been gone for a while in order to reprogram myself after attending to my father's needs for several
years.  I found it difficult to write anything after his passing.  However, I am going to make an attempt to get back into the mood as I need to find a jumping off place to reboot my life, so to speak.  I examined the reasons behind my need to blog in the first place and I believe that this will be a good place to start.
Some of the up coming posts will be ones that I wrote earlier.  Others will be new attempts.  You should be able to spot the difference between the two as I am finding it difficult to be humorous (which has always been one of my goals).  So, WHY DO I BLOG?

I am a story teller.  Have been forever and probably will be for a long time to come.  My daughter has been telling me to write down my stories for years.  She said she thought they were funny and always seemed to laugh even though it was the umpteenth time she heard them (what a gal!).  Then, sometime in June of 2010 she, her mother-in-law (Cathy) and a friend of theirs (George, who also has a blog) got me started on his blog.  At first I posted on George's site and then in July 2010 Patty started me off on my own.   And, as they say, the rest is history.

However, that does not answer my question, WHY BLOG?

Everyone probably has different reasons for blogging.  Their are probably numerous reasons of a very diverse nature but for me I guess the first  reason is because I was told I should (and being a good girl I always do what I am told....yeah, right!).  After I started writing I found that a void in my life was filled.  I was unable to get out and socialize due to taking care of my elderly father, so,  I used my writing as a way to communicate with others.  At first my target audience was my family; a way of documenting my stories for my children and grandchildren.  I didn't even expect them to read my blog very often as they, all, are so very busy.  (This still remains a major reason for me to blog).

The second reason is probably because I was bored.  I had recently retired and I didn't know what to do with myself.  Because of my father I couldn't take on a part time job.  I cleaned and swept and dusted and sanded and painted and washed just about everything in the house.  I dug and planted, and raked and cut and mowed just about everything else outside.  This reason has changed a little because I am now able to get out and am no longer tied to the house.  However, I am finding it difficult to make myself get out.  (Hopefully, this reason will disappear as I venture out more and more and find my place in this community to be useful.  Having already signed up for the "Pink Lady"program at the hospital I hope to also pick up some substituting jobs and maybe some babysitting.)

My third reason is that I found that something really weird happened.  People I didn't even know clicked on that little "follow" button and started making comments.  That really gave me a rush!  Wow, someone actually liked what I wrote and they weren't even related or obligated to read what I had written.  Suddenly, my reason for blogging changed.  I can't explain it but, my blog began to be very important to me.   So, I guess the third reason is to gain positive attention (oh heck, to gain ANY attention). ( I don't see this reason going away either.  We all crave positive attention and I really need it right now.)

The fourth reason came shortly after  I reached 30 or so followers.  My reasons for blogging changed, again. (or at least took on a new dimension).  I was making new friends.  Some like George, Nicki, Clenna, Julie, Carrol and April have been there almost from the beginning.  That is when I became greedy and wanted more and more followers.  My terrific daughter suggested I have a contest and she would provide the prize (since she is a crafter of jewelry).  I did two contests and gained a lot of followers.  But, then I decided that this wasn't the way I wanted to get followers.  I wanted followers who were following me because they wanted to; not because they were trying to win a prize.  I wanted followers like those 27 who commented on the post  about my father's demise.  Those 26 are ALL very dear to me and those comments helped me to want to get back to posting again.

I have learned more and more about some of my followers and I find that I really like most of them.  Ok, I wrote most.  Yes, there was one critic that chose to rain on my parade.  I went into such a funk that I almost didn't write another word.  But, then something amazing happened.  OTHER BLOGGERS STARTED SUPPORTING ME AND IN SO MANY WAYS.  (SOME EVEN TOLD ME IT WAS OK TO WRITE IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS IF I WANTED TO!)

So, my major and final reason reasons for blogging are (in no particular order):
George, and Patty, and Clenna, and Julie, and Nicki, and Madeline, and Desiree, and April, and Fran, and Elizabeth, and Gail, and Irene, and Lilly,  and Michele,  and Melynda, and Darlene, and Nick, and Baiba, and Carol, and Nezzy, and Eliza, and Carrie, and Lazaus, and Laila, and Ann, and Deb, and Donna, and Tray, and The Desert Rocks, and Oklahoma Girl, and Clipped Wings. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND COMMENTS DURING MY HIATUS.  

So, hopefully, my  break from blogging is over and maybe I can find something to blog about.  I hope to get you all back....Karen