Why I blog

I woke up a little later than usual this morning. And as usual, I opened up my laptop to check my emails and this blog.

I have 11,949 visitors (since the day I installed this counter. Obviously, it was a date I had long since forgotten).

I blinked.

There has to be a mistake. I had 2700+ visitors yesterday.

So I closed my browser and reopened it again. It says 11,950 visitors.

Hm.. okay. Suddenly, I feel like I'm becoming a celebrity blogger. Haha.

Well, actually, not really. But I'm very surprised about the statistics.

Which brought me to thinking about a question I asked myself yesterday as I met up with a fellow blogger. She, of course has an enormously famous and delectable blog. We were just talking about blogging and suddenly I asked myself aloud. "Yeah, so why do I blog?"

I drove home thinking about that question. Indeed, why?

I know that people blog for different reasons.

Some blog as a form of release for their inner feelings. They write about philosophies of lives and their inner feelings.

Others, I feel, write as to showcase their talents. Talents in sewing, photography, cooking.

There are also academics whose blogs I have visited, who write about their topics of research, pyschoeconomics and so on.

There are also those who blog to bring home the bacon. I have friends and friends' friends who sell handmade jewellery and knick-knacks on their blogs.

Others blog about their lives, to share their experiences with others. I know of a few mothers who do that. And also a few gardeners as well.

A friend sent me a facebook message last night and said she gave up on blogging because her life is so boring, just work and then home.

But still, I have not answered my own question - So, why do I blog?

The thing is, I feel that I have a boring life too... I just blog about small little things I do and I feel. I don't "specialise" in a single topic such as gardening or cooking. Or even restaurant reviews. Oh no. I blog about all kinds of things that are simple things I do or come across.

After some thoughts, I think I blog for two reasons.

The first is to stay in touch with myself - somewhat like a log of what I do. This is sometimes the hardest question I have when I meet friends who ask, "Ok, so you've stopped working. What do you do nowadays?" Sometimes, to my own horror, I find I can't really remember! I meant, I am currently in the midst of starting something... but over the last 9 months since I came back.. what have I done...? Having a blog is kind of like a psuedo diary for myself. And also for friends who are far away, as a way to share what's going on in my life with them.

The other reason is a little more... well, let's just say it is just a more "lofty ambition", or some would call it wishful thinking. I mean, I've always assumed that people who follow my blog are my friends. But I hope that some how, in some way, some day, a stranger might chance upon this blog, and find something a little useful about it. Be it finding some resonance in my musings, or a useful recipe for dinner.. and in my own little way, I've made someone's life a little richer, a little more colourful and a tad bit better.

My blue pea plant.. flowering and flowering.

It really adds colour to my balcony