April 12, 2010

I'll tell you why I blog

A while ago, when I first started blogging I was very conscious about what I wanted to write and how I write it. I only had one reader back then but whenever I blogged, I felt like I was talking to the entire world. Having been so used to feeling the power of the red pen, I couldn't imagine myself being in my students' shoes - writing instead of marking. Because of that, I had a lot of anxieties and dilemmas. What if I sound pathetic? What if they criticize my grammar? What if I sound silly? What if my boss reads this? What if  I get negative feedbacks? There were so many what ifs.

After some time, it dawned to me that nobody gives a hoot what I talk about in my site. I mean, it's not like I'm a celebrity or a politician. So I stopped being perasan, and just let myself go with every post, subtly at first. After a series of self-indulgent entries, I felt really good and I slowly became addicted to the feeling. I wanted to feel good over and over again. I can't explain why, but  there's a sense of accomplishment whenever I click the PUBLISH POST button. To me, it's extremely satisfying and almost as good as s.. No, that's not right. Let me think of something else. It's almost as good as...shopping! That's right. 

Come to think of it, shopping and blogging have a lot in common. Like shopping,  blogging is done when  I'm feeling happy, excited, bored or frustrated. Sometimes it is a spur-of-the-moment kind of thing and sometimes it is deliberated. Point is, blogging is fun. I'm sure most of you can relate to this right?

Well, for those who can't, I'd like to tell you the reasons why I blog. 

Blogging is bonding
Blogging is not always about monologing aimlessly. It is also about bonding and socializing. The activity allows the kind of dialogue that might otherwise be inappropriate to initiate in normal situations. I don't go to the office talking about my frustration with eye bags or my challenges in gym class. I talk about those petty stuff here, in the blogsphere, where any kind of topic is good topic. Because of the freedom in blogging, a variety of posts on a common topic (like undereye wrinkle?) across multiple blogs can be connected into a common thread. Bloggers can then comment on each other's posts, share experiences and give advice. Isn't this a wonderful way of socializing?

Blogging is therapeutic
After a crappy day, I get to let go of all my personal frustrations and anxieties by putting them on paper. I mean, spreadsheet. I get to start afresh with every new entry and  this provides me  with a very therapeutic session. It certainly clears the brain and is a much cheaper alternative to seeing a shrink. Well, not that I need one btw!

Blogging chronicles life
I used to have a diary when I was younger and I loved writing about my thoughts on paper. But like Chelsea Handler said, we shouldn't be stuck in the 90s. Blogging equals a diary in the new millenium. So, instead of having a physical diary, I have this blog to chronicle my life and archive my thoughts. I love rereading my old posts just to laugh at myself. Sometimes, I also cringe and say "Ewww!!! why the heck did I say that?" But I guess, that realization means that I have matured and evolved right?  
 
I am not asking everyone to start blogging. I'm simply making a point. A friend of mine who found out about this blog annoyed me when she remarked that I have nothing else better to do than blog. She said she'd rather concentrate on her research than write aimlessly. She also said "wah ko ada masa lagi for all this nitty gritty stuff?". The last comment irritated me the most. 

So, my message to that friend is, there's more to life than just research. I'm sure you know this cos you seem to be spending a lot of time on Facebook; making comments, checking updates, uploading photos etc. If you have time for Facebook, why can't I have time for blogging? Like they say, one man's junk is another man's treasure.


 

18 comments:

debrajill said...

totally agree! yeah we do have time to blog! my office mate use to say that to me too.like I have nothing else to do.hehe..blogging makes you have this satisfied feeling.mm.hard to describe.I even blog inside my head before I decided on what to write~ ahaks! FB, mm, the differences between the two is blog, you can see the up and down of the person, but FB, only the good one..and sometimes create this "unavoidable envy"..ahaks!

Unknown said...

i have to agree to every words in this entry.. ehe. I can really relate to that. it's therapeutic, true.

RuYanda said...

Love reading this post! My reasons are the same with yours.. especially that "therapeutic" part. Blogging has helped me cope with life in many ways. Sometimes I found myself expressing my opinions better to others after I had put it down in my blog. While there are some rules & ethics to keep in mind while blogging, being honest & sincere in your posts are like the general rule to blogging.

Don't let others comments bring you down... If you love blogging and you get good things out of it, keep on blogging!

gbeejipp said...

Love this post. I used to think that I was blogging because there was just too much time to kill but after quite some time I'd come to realize that blogging is much more than just to kill my time away. I am damn busy now and i still blog. i think blogging completes my every week. LOL! But then, i think blogging is a good culture. It's a way of socializing in a different unique way. Keep blogging Liz. :-)

charmie said...

i love this post.. we have the same feeling when i started blogging as well. and its true, through blogging we can express of what we feel..good luck and god bless:)

Lizeewong said...

Debra - Yes..it's satisfying ba kan? :)

Dee Loner - Thanks! *High 5*

Ruyanda - Yup...Just be sincere in every post...Thanks for the encouragement! Cheers :)

Jipp - Well said! Blogging completes us right? Thanks mate!

Issa - Thanks! God Bless you too :)

carolchs said...

Spot on!!

When I first started blogging, some people said the same thing to me too although not as direct as the one given to you la...they were more like, siok lah kau, banyak masa mau blogging... at first, i didnt argue cos that time memang i had lots of time to spend since i was on sick leave for 6 months.

but even after i resume working, blogging is still the one thing i keep looking whenever i go online. it's therapeutic indeed!

and i love feedbacks on my blog. that's part of the reasons i am still a blogger :)

Anonymous said...

i like this post...thou i don't blog everyday, but i still love blogging...i love how i managed to make my sister cried after reading 1 of my previous post...chewahh...it helps me to express my feelings etc...

Lizeewong said...

Kay - Yes, I love feed backs too :) It's fun to know what people think of what we've written.

Erin - At least you still blog...when I was pregnant, I seldom blogged...MALASSS ;)

Yeah, there was one time my sister got so sentimental when she read my post (about her juga), she cried and called me right away. That was sweet :)

Anonymous said...

If you blog for the purpose of blogging for yourself, people can actually tell from the way you blog that you enjoy it. Paduli la kwn ko tu, jeles mangkali. Belum lagi ada urang berani cakap gitu sama sia, sebab biasanya sia bilang blog sia generate duit untuk sana -- situ la durang tediam kijap :)

LaViaP said...

yeah, its therapeutic to me too. it's not about having people to read it of comment on it. i just need to let it out.

Lizeewong said...

Lorna - Thanks :) Memang sa nda paduli juga apa dia ckp...Malass sia dgr ba tu :)

Paival - TRUE. The pleasure is in the expression kan :)

Enniebelle said...

Lizee,
totally true! it echoes my 'why i blog' too. Once in a while, I'd read back my old entries and they made me somewhat feeling 'relieved' (and silly too) - that I have, along those passing years, something to remember me by.

Verna Luga said...

hmmmm, you're too right, you have written it all ... hahahah! same idea here!

Dropping by.. All the best!

Paula said...

My post is up for the BC Bloggers' Party now it's your turn. Warning: it's about me, me, and me. Read at your own risk!hihi

Paula

Lizeewong said...

mandak and vernz - Thanks girls! I guess we all share a common goal/ interest in blogging :)

Amanda Christine Wong said...

can i show this to any parents who complain about me? :/

Lizeewong said...

Amanda - By all means dear! hehehe