I'm thinking this could be a good question both for my fellow bloggers and my friends who read this. I've been wondering why I blog....here's what I've come up with. Some of these have emerged over time.
1. To educate friends and family about the illness
2. To keep people updated on my life
3. To feel part of a larger community of people who suffer disabling chronic illness
4. To share ideas and learn things about research, treatment, and coping with M.E.
5. As an outlet for some of the struggles and successes (hopefully) of living with a misunderstood and often marginalized illness.
6. As a record for myself.
These are some of the reasons I blog.
But on the other hand, sometimes I wonder - what's the point? A lot of times I write about my struggles with crashes and relapses and my frustrations over always feeling ill. I don't need a public forum to "vent". Why not just keep a journal? I could still follow other people's blogs for a sense of community, information and solidarity.
Thoughts?
hi G, as a friend who knew virtually NOTHING of your illness (besides stereotypes of CFS), I can attest to you achieving the first goal you've listed, in educating others with your blog, especially on the level of how you are impacted on a day-to-day basis. I wouldn't know nearly as much if you just kept a journal. Plus, the other reasons all make good sense. Your blog is insightful to me (and I like your pictures :) Jan
ReplyDeleteThanks Jan, good to know that reading my blog has been useful. I like the fact that some of my friends past and present stop by to see what's up.
ReplyDeleteYour question is one that I have asked myself too. I do it for many of the same reasons you shared! I feel more connected with the world when I am able to write on my blog. In some ways I blog for reasons that I could call selfish but prefer to call nuturing. I need it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Renee, I'm curious why others blog. Nuturing has a nicer ring than selfish doens't it. However, when we have a place to vent, contemplate and share our stuggles we probably are better to our loved ones so in that way it is useful too (rather than selfish :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoy blogging most of the time but I am not thrilled with Blogger! Most of the blogs I follow do not show up in my dashboard and since there are so many that I follow, it is too difficult to open every single blog to see who has posted recently! There, got that vent out!
ReplyDeleteI like your reasons for blogging. Another is simply to feel like a published writer.
Judy
Good point about the published writer Judy (heehee), and you don't have to try to "sell" what you write to a publisher. I agree about the list of blogs too, sometimes it's a lot to read.
ReplyDelete