Why a personal blog?

Today is the first day of a blessed four day weekend "stay-cation" where I get to be home, mostly by myself.  Plenty of time to be quiet and think and thus the ideal time to start the personal blog I have been considering for some time. 

The thought of starting a personal blog, what is essentially, a public diary, arose several months ago and last month I threw the thought out for opinions.  I received differing comments but they all fell into one of three categories.  Encouragement, "Why bother, I never read blogs" and "blogs are arrogant self aggrandizement".

So, I considered each opinion.  The encouragement is just that and warranted little contemplation.  For the second I thought about the blogs I read.  Most are informational, how to take better photographs or how to improve my riding.  That is a different thing.  I do follow a couple of personal blogs however, so why?   Because those people are on a journey similar to mine.  I find their journey helpful in contemplating my own.  I find encouragement, food for thought, differing paths and I have read things there that were very valuable to me.  This observation led to thinking about the final opinion.  Do I think my thoughts are so important or valuable that I can influence others through my words?  Who do I think I am to assume anyone would care?  Why do I want to do this? 

Well, the answer to the first two questions are no and nobody.  I am just another human being, I do not desire influence and make no assumptions.  So, why do I want to do this?  Because I want to encourage and help people, even if only a few and my nature simply does not allow me to do that well in a face to face scenario.  I am an extreme introvert.  I have taken several personality tests, one official one while going through my divorce and parenting evaluation.  I test between 89% to 95% introverted.  Yes, I have a few friends that I value beyond measure but there are many times I prefer being alone and will decline invitations for no other reason than that.   Yes, I can talk your ear off about something I am passionate about (or angry about) but I hate small talk and I can go for days without physically talking to another person.  I do not think I have ever experienced the feeling others describe as "loneliness".  I am an animal lover and find more comfort in the company of my horses and dog than I do most people but I do care about people.  I have found social media to be very freeing for me.  There I can, while physically being alone, encourage and uplift people.  This is something I stumble over in person because I can't, in the moment, think of the right thing to say.

So in the end, obviously, I decided to move forward.  A public diary for those few that might find value in what I have to say.  A fellow traveler for those on a similar road. I encourage comments, opinions and alternate views to what I share.  Respectful debates are welcome!

My rosemary is in bloom!  If you have a rosemary plant I highly recommend plucking the flowers and sprinkling them over fettuccini alfredo or spaghetti squash alfredo for those on a low carb diet.  They taste like rosemary but a little more delicate in flavor.  A delicious, once a year treat....YUM!