what an opportunity she's given us with her assignment. We get to ask readers of our blogs the BIG QUESTION. Perfect! I've needed to know your answers to this question since last January when I started participating in Fun Mondays.)My question to you: "Why do you blog?"
This sculpture by the Ha'Penny Bridge on Liffey Street in Dublin is the perfect illustration
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for my answer to the question, "Why do you blog?" To quote a Dubliner, "the oul wans are havin' a chat" on a bench outside one of the city's landmark retail therapy spots, the Dublin Woollen Mills. The sculptor(unfortunately, couldn't identify the artist--can anyone help?) who created the piece called it "The Shoppers". However, like many other sculptures around the city, the irreverent Irish renamed it "the hags with the bags."
I found this sculpture by googling "good conversation". The main reason I blog is to have good conversations with longtime friends and new people from around the world who may want to share ideas, opinions and insights about everyday life. I have stories to tell and am also totally interested in your stories. I blog in hopes of having the good conversations that will help us learn about each other.
For a long time I've thought about conversations I have with friends and acquaintances. And, have been discontented, even sad at times, at the lack of depth and feeling in our communications. How do we get beyond the "So, what have you been up to lately?" I love knowing that about my friends, but after 20-30 years in each others' company, I want to know more about them and for them to know more about me. What are their childhood stories? What do they want out of life and are they getting there? What are their interests and passions? What troubles them? What makes them happy?
Look at the oul hags. Notice how relaxed and attentive they are, bodies turned toward each other so they can be totally present for that moment. Maybe they're speaking of family and friends, the latest Dublin political scandal, or the bargains they just got in the Woollen Mills. It doesn't matter. You just know that they're having a good conversation and that they'll be happy to meet up with their friend at the same time and place next week. That's why I blog--because I look forward to "havin' a chat" with you each week.
Now head over to Lisa's place and start answering those questions from Fun Monday inquiring minds. Hope I get there first before all the original answers are used up!
Faye,
ReplyDeleteLike you, I mostly blog for the camaraderie among the blogger/commenters. I too enjoy the conversation. Although my profile alludes to me being a writer, I really do not seek a writing career in earnest.
I don't know how I first stumbled upon a blog, but I was hooked immediately and soon after started my own. I didn't know I enjoyed writing until I started my blog. Now I have met people from all over the world and I feel like I have penpals that I share my life with and they share theirs with me.
ReplyDeleteI blog because I am being held prisoner on another planet by a race of Ricardo Montalban doubles. I'm forced to communicate in their language (mostly consisting of squeaks, belches and meaningful full body twitches), and it is my deepest fear that I will forget the English language. I hope blogging daily in English will help.
ReplyDeleteI was actually reading blogs a lot longer than I have been blogging myself. I stumbled across them while looking for information about homeschooling a few years ago. There was no support around here and I found some wonderful blogs and gained information and made friends.
ReplyDeleteWhy do I blog? This is something my family ask me all the time. It has sort of become my own little place I guess.I thought it would be good for distant family to read and to keep a journal of our homeschooling although I have tended to blog more about other things these days.
I have lots of new friends and enjoy reading their blogs as well. I guess I do like writing, although I don't claim to be very good at it and it has helped me get back into my poetry writing as well which I had abandoned for many years. The encouragement from other bloggers has been amazing and raised my confidence a lot.
And then of course there is Fun Monday, what would we do without Fun Monday?
It took me a few attempts at blogging before I hit my groove. I think I started it with no expectations, but quickly found out that it is a fun way to "meet" people and learn new things. I mean, really...wherer else can you converse with someone in England, The Phillipines, Australia, Ireland, Scotland, etc. all in the same day, and all within minutes of each other? It's FUN!
ReplyDeleteI blog because it clears my head. Sometimes I see/hear/experience something and by blogging it -putting it out there - it clears my head and hopefully brings exchange of comments.
ReplyDeleteI started blogging as a way of chronicling what was going on in our lives and telling stories about my past for my son. My in-laws are quite elderly now and one day I realized that they would probably die before he had any real memories of them. So I asked them to write down some stories from their growing up years, how they met - you know, regular stuff. They won't do it. They'd rather talk about what hurts today, what they ate for dinner, and ask why their computer keeps stopping (for the hundredth time, stop clicking on every little thing that appears on your screen!). And I became determined that my son and his family would have a record of us and this time - whatever that may entail. That's why I started, and why I continue - but honestly, it's become much bigger than that now. It's a conversation with the world.
ReplyDeleteI started blogging without knowing what a blog was ! I had to look it up in Wikipedia ! Now I know ! and for me it has become the window to the world. Nobody around me does it and most of them don't even know what it is. I gave up to explain, lol !
ReplyDeleteIt's probably an old cliché by now, but I love to blog because it's fun...it's an outlet for me to keep from being bored during the summer heat. I stay indoors with the AC now, and blogging is turning into a lifestyle of this retiree.
ReplyDeleteMy FM question is posted.
i love those hags. and i've posed for many a picture next to them...
ReplyDeletehey, i see on RC's blog that you're watching the impressionists. we just saw that, a couple of weeks ago!
i thought it was wonderful. have you read the book "the judgment of paris"? it's like that book, come to life.
ps i'm not answering your question because you already know why i blog.
ReplyDeletei blog as therapy. even if no one ever comments, i have an outlet. but i LOVE comments and answers to my questions, hint hint!
ReplyDeletemolly--glad I found your blog since we're almost neighbors. Never fear, if you get banished from bird ID corps, you'll always have writing.
ReplyDeletealison--"stumbled" on blogging is an apt description. I wanted to send congrats to a young CA climber who'd just summited Mt. Everest--she was receiving messages at her base camp--and the rest is history.
ari-1965--I'm concerned. Who will care for Buddha while you're being held hostage by Ricardo Montalban doubles? Let me know if you need help.
Karisma--I read a lot of blogs from home schooling moms when I first began--learned a lot.
swampangel165--blogging makes for a small, interesting world, doesn't it?
tea4two-two-4tea--I use Fun Monday assignments to write about events/experiences that I want to explore. No one cares and, after all, Swampy has secured blanket approval for all of us to break the rules!
sayre--agreed. Blogging brings out desire to write memoir--or something close to that.
gattina--none of my friends blog either, most don't understand the fascination.
hootin' anni--blogging keeps the retirees from being too needy with still working friends and family, right?
laurie--figured you'd met the hags. The Impressionists series is another Netflix winner. And thanks for the book recommendation, I'm ordering "Judgment of Paris" today. So much better when there's a book and movie.
lil mouse--comments are yummy foood for the blogger's soul!
Weird, isn't it, how our deepest conversations may be with someone a thousand miles away rather than nearby people we see regularly. The far off ones seem to care why I am who I am and the local ones don't know and don't ask.
ReplyDeleteI ask that question of myself a lot recently. I used to blog for the camaraderie and then for the creative outlet. I haven't been very creative recently.
ReplyDeleteI blog because I feel obligated to keep writing and I love the people I've met doing so.
ReplyDeletePeople can be so interesting, can't they?
Cool statue, wish there was something like that on every corner.
I blog to connect with the wide world from my little spot in Nowhere.
ReplyDeleteActually, it is because i am egocentric and i like to see my name published on the internet.
*smirk*
This is a wonderful sculpture.
ReplyDeleteI started blogging because of my health. I was lonely and felt disconnected. I didn't like the support groups because it seemed like there was more crying and dying going on than anything else. So, I started a blog and I love the interaction, and being able to go and read other peoples' blogs and having a peek into their lives. I feel less lonely now and that definitely helps with the health and just life in general.
I blog to give myself a creative outlet I realise I need. I blog to share things, make friends and get to know people. I blog to write. :D
ReplyDeleteI don't really know why I blog. I just do!!
ReplyDeleteYou've summed up very succinctly, exactly why I blog!
ReplyDeleteIt makes a big world so much smaller and small lives so much bigger.
Love those hags:-)
The short answer is … because it’s FUN. If you really want to know ... I answered this question in greater detail a while back here when someone else asked: Why I Blog.
ReplyDeleteHugs and blessings,
I blog therefore there are dishes in my sink and dust on my furniture. But, I've made a lot of blogbuds along the way.
ReplyDeletekittyhawk--why do we find it so hard to be more revealing with long time friends? Afraid to upset the status quo?
ReplyDeletebeckie--like Fun Mondays because the assignment provides the writing prompt--less taxing on our creativity, especially in dry spells.
jeanna--agreed. I've had people say that blogging is too much like work, but I think of it as a writing free for all. And, it is intriguing how we can become so interested in the lives of strangers.
ipost--okay, confess now. You have googled yourself, haven't you? I have and was thrilled when "Summit Musings" popped up.
rayne--I get the health benefits of blogging. After retiring I was feeling out of the loop and a bit lonely. Knew my working friends didn't have time for long phone calls or e-mail chats. Blogging has filled that need for me as well.
jo beaufoix--and you're successful. Any reader of your blog could tell that there's a creative person behind it.
aoj and the lurchers--on track to achieve your blogging 365 goal, aren't you? Congrats.
lane--exactly right--small world, big lives. Who would have imagined that a year ago I'd be hoping that an English blogger friend would be having a good week of writing? Let alone hoping that Peggy Flobbins didn't have to get a bath this week!
storyteller--yes, there's a lot to love about blogging. Worth every minute of the effort we put in it.
Just to have a little fun - I can't spell, I'm not particular clever or witty, but I wanted to have a little fun. One of my friends blog and I just want to join the fun.
ReplyDeleteOOHh You have a beautiful post today!!!
ReplyDeleteI blogged to begin with for family...than they never commented so I didn't think they evan checked in on us!! made me pretty sad...so I branched out and met all these wonderful bloggers!! And your one of them!!
Well, I blog for bloganship, but I also sometimes blog for a therapy, if I'm having a bad day I feel I can share it and be understood, sometimes just works things through my mind by writing them all out.
ReplyDeleteI'm so pleased I discovered blogging (only a few months ago) and have 'met' so many interesting and fun people from such different places.
ReplyDeleteI started blogging as a hobby when I retired and it was really only with family and possibly friends in mind. However I quickly found a friendly little niche, and especially through FM have met lots of blog buddies and I love to read about their lives.
ReplyDeleteswampwitch--clean sink vs blogging? Duh!
ReplyDeleteiamwhoiam--I admire your straightforward(one word or two?)writing--you are who you are. Maybe one of our more tech savvy friends would tell us how to spell check comments. I need that badly.
jettie--you're right, forget family blogger enthusiasts. None of mine can remember their passwords!
lisaschaos--glad you blog for that wonderful photography you share with us.
debs--interesting how real it feels to "meet" people in the blogosphere. As mentioned to Lane, you really get caught up in their lives.
chrisb--ditto on your feelings about Fun Monday bloggers. Peter in Australia helped me get started with this group. I think of him and hope all is well since he decided to quit blogging for a bit.
I started doing it to get into the habit of writing daily because I'd like to write a book one day, and I needed to become more diligent about making time for writing. I love the friendship involved, though, and it's become a journey in self exploration.
ReplyDeleteI started blogging to keep in touch with my youngest sister in CO. And from there, it just grew into a habit (although lately I seem to read more than I post ... life gets in the way sometimes !)
ReplyDeleteI blog as a relaxation outlet. Also, to write.
ReplyDeleteIf you want good conversation, you should look into Plurk.
Dreaming what Ifs...