by Elizabeth G

Created on: February 15, 2007   Last Updated: May 08, 2007

Yes, it is redundant. And yes, I am writing a blog about blogging.

I decided to keep a blog about two months ago when I was inspired by Jason Mraz's Myspace blog. I've always loved writing. As soon as I could formulate a sentence I was writing 10-page long journal entries and stories. I still have my first journal. It is a thick spiral bound book with a blue-green cover titled My Journal. Everyone in my second grade class had one. We were given various writing assignments, but I took it upon myself to add things that werent part of any particular assignment. My next journal was a dark red spiral bound notebook from a store. I still have that one, too. It was in that journal that I wrote my first short story as a forth grader. It was about a magic bug, of all things! From then on, I always kept a private diary and a school journal of various writing assignments and short stories that I created for the fun of it.

I've always enjoyed writing and its been a primary means of self-expression since a very young age. I've kept numerous diaries and journals throughout the years which could provide good fodder for writing a book someday. In my modern high-tech lifestyle, it simply makes sense that I keep a blog. Blogging helps me organize my thoughts in a way that a private journal wouldnt because I know other people are reading it.

My desire to be heard and understood by others is also a key motivator. Ive often felt unable to express my deep thoughts and feelings in a way that others could relate to. I know that with a blog, I am being heard on some level, and it brings me one step closer to feeling understood for my inner thoughts-not just known by the external image I present. Its easy to document my list of achievements and interests and have other people give me a pat on the back for it. It's much more challenging to express whats really going on inside my mind and my soul. I encourage people to subscribe to my blog because of this desire to be heard.

Another great thing about keeping a blog is that I am not forcing anyone to read or respond. Its not like an e-mail message or a conversation where the other person feels obligated to provide feedback or some sort of reaction. Those who wish to read my blog may do so, and they can choose to comment or not say anything at all. Therefore, the comments are more genuine, and aren't written out of the "she said something to me so I have to respond" mentality.

While I like to keep my blogs personal, there are certain things that would not be prudent to divulge to the general public. My litmus test for determining if something is appropriate is to ask myself how I would feel if my father or my boss read it. Yes, I think I'll keep everything rated PG-13.

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