How and why I blog

I think different bloggers blog for different reasons. I always thought I knew why I blogged (I previously mentioned a sort of buildup of emotions if they weren’t shared).

As time as passed and I look at how I blog and the subject I like to approach (or the subjects I avoid) I feel I have a better idea of what need it fulfills for me.

I live far away from where you are at - more likely than not - on a big island on the south east coast of Africa. But I tend to avoid mentioning that or where I am because it doesn’t have to do with how or why I blog. As a matter of fact, it makes me anxious because it makes me feel more recognizable and I certainly would hate for strangers (or near strangers) to come and talk to me (I am slightly misanthropic - seriously: I dislike people more and more and do not want to be approachable). But when people can talk about intimate (kind of) thoughts and still not expect a tight bond, I’m there!

For that reason, I love blogging about what goes on in my mind, emotional issues, mental issues and such most of all. The everyday challenges of being at peace, ok with myself, and how I find (or figure out) ways of defining myself are what I enjoy sharing here.

Sometimes I get a kick out of being particularly silly, speaking/typing about absolutely non essential (and non vital) subjects, tripping on far out ideas, trains of thought etc.

Ok, maybe not just sometimes.

On the other hand, I am not interested in talking about local things that much, local politics, local events, etc. because it makes up 70% of most of my spoken conversations with people. At home, with friends, with new friends, it’s a near guarantee that we speak on the prez, the politics, the social and financial issues. The other 30% are made of foreign politics and events, with a dash of far out (or silly) subjects.

For that reason, never expect for any local subject to be treated here. I may occasionally do it, but it’s likely to be both rare and avoided. I see the benefits of political or journalistic blogging, but it’s neither what I want to do nor something I think I can do well (there are plenty of others that do it).

But why write about personal stuff here if I am such a private person... I’ve asked that to myself, particularly in those moments when I really wanted to delete the blog altogether (along with every profile I have online). I’m sure it’s partly due to narcissistic tendencies. But I enjoy reading about other people going through something I’m either currently going through or have gone through to see how they deal with it. I also like to see how there are countless people like me all over this planet, maybe because I always considered that the way I think, feel or such makes me an oddball! They remind me I’m not.

I hate receiving advice. Seriously hate it. But if I see someone dealing with something similar, and like how they deal with it - that is my ideal form of influence. Maybe because then it’s up to me, and because I’m a control freak. Maybe also because I think the best influence to change (positively) is through example. I don’t think that what others think I should change about myself might necessarily be something I want (or feel the need to) change. I don’t think what works for others may necessarily work for me. But if I do make an active commitment to change something, I think it needs to come from a decision made for me and by me, and not to please someone else. Why? I know I don’t keep efforts for that long for others.

And since that’s how I like others to communicate with me (this is my opinion, my choice, how I chose to live my life sans/without this is how you should think, chose, chose to live your life), it’s how I try and aim (not always a success but I’m a work in progress, as we all are) to communicate too.

In many ways, this blog is about anything and everything me I suppose. But most times it is likely to be around what is mentioned above.