Sunday, April 17, 2011

What's My Purpose?

Years ago, when blogs first started popping up, I thought, "What's the purpose?"  Why would anyone want to put all their thoughts & feelings out there for the whole world to read.

I stayed away.

But then I found myself emailing photos to family with updates on what the kiddos were doing.

weekly.

it was a lot.

So, I thought what a great way to share what's going on in the lives of the Darlings in Texas with family.  Ah ha - there's my purpose!

and the first edition of The Texas Darlings was born.

I posted strictly family stuff for almost 2 years.  I was working full time and not blogging very often.  It was only read by my family (or so I hoped it got read :)) ).  Looking back on it now, I am so thankful that I did it - I have so many great family moments that I captured that I might have missed or forgotten otherwise.  Ah - what a great purpose!

When I got laid off in early 2009, before the baby was born, I found myself with a lot of free time on my hands and got sucked into the blogging community.  I started joining into weekly memes and had a lot of fun reading about other moms' adventures.  I found great ideas and inspiration out there.  I joined a blogging Bible study.  I took an online photography class.  And I had so much fun getting to know people online.

I found my focus shifting a bit - I'd post about my family still, but I found other things to post about too - my favorite things, favorite pictures.......but my purpose remained focused on my family.

Blogging became a way to disconnect from the real world, chronicle my adventures in raising a baby after 8 years of not having one, and record all those memories that I was soon to be forgetting.

I made friends ~ how can you not when you are reading what is going on in each others lives & minds.  When you blog, you tend to know what is going on with someone in California & Florida better than your next door neighbor.  And the relationships were healthy.  I have received notes of encouragement and random gifts in the mail from my blogging friends.  We are friends on The Facebook and The Twitter and Hey Tell and we text each other.  And we have never met in person.

But.  Don't tell anyone this. I didn't discuss my blogging community of friends with many of my IRL friends.  I didn't think anyone who is not involved in blogging would understand it or could relate to it. Especially my family - I thought they would make fun of me.  (I know, I'm a crappy friend....don't be mad)

And then I lost my blog.

Oh how upset I was - I swear I developed 3 ulcers over that 3 day period. The thought of losing all those years of journaling my families' life.  The thought of starting over. The thought of losing touch of my friends.  It was very upsetting.

And I got it back.

And my purpose is renewed.

I am creating a work of art.  Yeah, it's not a masterpiece for the general public.  And I am probably the only person who can appreciate it.  But I know that I will be so very happy that I am chronicling not only what is going on in Sissy, Brody, Bubba, Matt, and my life.....but I am blogging about what is relevant in 2011.  And when I read it 20 years from now, I am going to appreciate that I blogged about what a fun birthday Sis had.  How lucky we were to go to Disney World at Christmas.  How blessed we are to live in Texas and are a strong & happy family.

And I don't care what anyone thinks about what I write about.  Because I am not blogging for them anymore.  I'm blogging for me.

And my wonderful friends who I have made?  Matt put it nicely the other night - he said that we have made personal connections with each other.  Who cares if we live down the block or 15 hours away from each other?  God puts people in each others lives for a reason.  And I know that he brought my blogging friends into my life for a purpose.  And I can not be ashamed or want to hide that.

So My Purpose?

I don't have one - I want to blog about any & everything.  Have fun.  Meet people. And ensure that I publish this so that if it does disappear one day, I have an incredible record of the wonderful experience blogging has brought me.

Thank you all for being a part of my purpose.


13 comments:

Macey said...

What a beautiful post!
I started blogging for the same reason you did...then I started talking about myself and favorites and stuff...and I just couldn't SHUT UP! :)
ps: not many people in real life know about my blog either. :)

Vivienne @ the V Spot said...

Love it, love it, LOVE IT!
I started blogging b/c a friend said it was a good online scrap-book. There are posts that I look back on and think "OH MY GOSH I totally FORGOT about the time he did did that!!!"

Then I started adding my personal observations about whatever.
Then I "met" you all.
Then I just started writing up the things I would be doing anyway.
But through it all, I kept my blog pretty separate from my Real Life. Then a few months ago I said "screw it!" and exported my blog to my personal FB account. I've gotten nothing but support. And new readers who are old friends.

Blogging has done nothing but enrich my life, and it's because of meeting wonderful friends like you.
xoxo

Miller Racing Family said...

Did I write this post,lol. I feel the same way about blogging, and all the changes throughout the years. But I love how blogging can change along with us.
One of the best parts about blogging for us is our blog book. Though it is a little pricey, we each find ourselves picking up the blogs books thoughout the year.
Thanks for always being a blessings!

♥ Drazil ♥ said...

Loved this post....

Impulsive Addict said...

Is Drazil a friend? Just being nosey.

I love that you wrote this post {mostly about me} and you know I adore you {even if you forgot to mention Oklahoma up there} and I can't wait to meet you in a few weeks in AUSTIN! Hope you had a fab weekend!

Angel said...

Oh, girl! I am right there with you. I have been stressing lately over how many comments and views I have. Then I get frustrated with myself for even caring. Then I look at the stats page again--it's a vicious cycle. I'm with you, though. As much as I want others to think I'm funny, it's more important for me to leave memories for my kids that I'm too lazy to hand-write in a journal. Thanks for posting this!

Myya said...

I love this post, like LOOVE it!!! I started mine for a scrapbook of sorts because for me physically writing in a book the everyday things with 3 little ones just wasn't happening, this way it is. I too have "met" such amazing awesome people & you are so right, how can you not feel like you know someone when we aer so involved in the every day of thier lives. heck, sometimes I think I know more about my bloggy friends then i do my real life ones. It really is such a cool thing!
Now that I have decided it isn't just a scrapbook of my girls I' trying to figure out what exactly to post though. LOL.

Mamarazzi said...

it is so true, only bloggers know what this kind of friendship really means.

when y'all surprised me with 40 presents on my 40th birthday, i think my IRL friends and even someone my family was perplexed.

my brother asked, "these are just random fans of your blog?"

i said, "no they are my friends"

he asked, "but you have never met them face to face?"

i replied, "nope i have met them heart to heart, much better than face to face."

he looked at me like i was a little nuts but i think he also started to understand. AND he has been reading my blog.

i love this post, i say AMEN to all of your words and i am glad to know you heart to heart.

what a blessing my blog friends are in my life. truly.

Darling's said...

Great post!

Misty said...

EXACTLY! I loved this post! you hit the nail on the head. It doesn't matter. Connection is connection. We are so blessed to live in an era where we get the opportunity to connect with so many people!

Alli said...

So well put!! I remember the first time I read your blog when we were BOTH still at Pfizer. So long ago! And I think it was through a different site. But I loved it and you are the one that got me into blogging! Maybe one of these days I'll get back into it. :)

Connie said...

Love this so much!

I love that you're my friend. You inspire me and motivate me and I know some day....we'll meet. Maybe not next month but someday.

jennykate77 said...

Love this post, Becca! I think most long-time bloggers could agree with everything you just said. I think we all started out for various purposes...but along the way, we evolve as bloggers. When we get to the point where we're blogging for US and not someone else, it's golden. I'm so glad you here and that I met you through the wonderful land of blogging...and that in a few weeks I'll finally get to say I know you IRL!!! It's going to be epic!

Hope you're having a great week so far!♥

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