Why?

Why do I blog?

This is a question that was making the blog circuit a while ago. A lot of bloggers had a lot of interesting things to say. However, at that time, I really didn't give much thought as to why I blog.

Recently the question has crept forward in my mind slowly making it's presence known. The less I blogged, the more I've thought about it. Now, my mind is reeling!

I started this blog when I decided to join a Secret Pal swap. Having a blog was a requirement. I had been reading just a few blogs already and was pretty fascinated with the idea of them. I had contemplated starting one and joining the swap was the last little 'push' I needed.

I knew that I didn't want to make my blog topic specific. I wanted it to be an online journal of sorts. Little slices of my life. (It's a good thing too - I would make for a pretty boring knit blogger! I haven't knit a stitch since mid-Feb.) I was blogging for me.

Something happened along the way. People found me and started commenting. It was very exciting! I discovered so many more blogs to read, too. It was great - I've 'met' some great people and made some good friends. There has been a real sharing of ideas and I've been so inspired.

With all this growth and change, however, I think that my little blog started to suffer. I started looking at blogging in a different way. Suddenly there was some sort of unspoken criteria that I had to live up to. I stopped blogging about those little things that go on that I wanted to preserve because the picture wasn't quite right, or my words didn't flow just so, or I was wondering who might be reading. I was no longer blogging for me, instead I was (not) blogging for those that may be reading.

Don't get me wrong, I love having, as Chris calls you, a "fan club". It means so much to me that you are interested in what is going on in my life and I especially appreciate the concern when I am missing for awhile. It helps me to know that I am not alone. I am never going to have a blog that wins awards. I will never have 100 (or even 20!) comments on any given post and I will never be the blog that everyone is talking about. That is ok with me. I don't need the pressure.

I'm going back to blogging about my life, for me - with or without perfect pictures and eloquent prose. You are still welcome to come by and peek through my windows. When you do, leave a comment - they still thrill me!