Why?

The last few days I have resorted to my old journalism techniques of the where, when, how questions about this blog. Today I tackle the biggest question of all, at least it is for me, the why?

Why do you read this blog? Are you are a friend or family member? Are you the friend of a friend? Perhaps you live far away and don't even know me in the real world? It matters not to me, honestly, I am just happy you show up and read.

But why do I show up here everyday? That is the real question in my brain. I started this blog as a part writing experiment, part journal, part scrapbook of words to document my child's life. I have always wanted to write. As a young girl I was an avid reader. I went on many adventures with Pipi Longstockings and Nancy Drew and I learned all about life along with Laura Ingalls in her Little House on the Praire. During my high school years I became acquainted with the classics; Shakespeare, Hardy, Browning, all captured my imagination. I never quite knew how writing would fit into my life, but I always knew that I wanted to write. I remember meeting someone who was a wife and a mother, active in her community and yet still found the time to write a monthly article for a local magazine. In my eyes she had the best of all the worlds, the ability to mother and make a home, and the ability to share her perspective with the world. I found an old journal entry not too long ago where I had actually written out my desire to do just that in my own life.

I have not had a traditional "writing" career. I have written lots of memos and letters, bulletins and corporate newsletters, procedure manuals and employee handbooks. It seems every position I have held in the "corporate" world has somehow led to me being the writer on the team.

After becoming a stay at home mom, I needed that outlet once again in my life and that is when I discovered blogging. I was an avid reader of several blogs for about six months before I took the plunge and started one of my own. I think at first I just thought of it as a way for me to write, not really thinking about anyone actually reading my work. I kept writing just to see if I would do it, and then I wrote a post that was really personal. It was the first time I actually put my heart out on the line for the world to see, and people read it and responded. It became an addiction.

That very personal posting changed my world. It drew people back into my life, it connected me to friends I had yet to meet, it gave me a voice. It created in me a desire to write more often, to bare my soul on a regular basis and gave me a point of contact with all of you. It was my cornerstone. The cornerstone of what I hope will become my future writing career.

So, why do I write? Well, the answer is simple. I write because I have to. I need the outlet for the joys and the sorrows of my life. I need the space to write out my thoughts and come to conclusions for the situations and circumstances in my own life. I write from a purely selfish stance, it is therapy for me. That you might read something and find inspiration or connect with me in an emotion is just gravy on the side. I write because to not write would be to lose a part of myself. I write to record my daily life as a wife and a mother and friend. I write to immortalize those I love, to show them off to the world the way a photographer would show the world his photographs, or a painter would auction off his paintings. I am proud of my life, I am proud of those around me, I want you to know them too. I want you to share in my pride. I write because I can do nothing else.

Living Happily In the Moment!
Bev