I’ve been cruising the blogosphere in search of some inspiration and perhaps a few kindred spirits. In my wanderings, I’m amazed by all the questions, opinions and ideas. I’m struck by all those voices. Skilled wordsmiths are telling their stories or calling out for truth. Some bloggers seek to encourage and others to entertain. There’s treasure out there, folks. Hidden treasures. (And some not-so-hidden treasures, if you consider the highly visible blogs with heavy traffic.)
Something’s happening. On Friday, January 5th, I was setting up a WordPress blog for a friend who didn’t know how. I noticed how many more new blogs were added since I set up my own WordPress blog about a week earlier. So because I wanted to see how fast the numbers were climbing, I jotted down the number at 6:00 p.m. that Friday evening: 573, 113 blogs. Today, as I write this, there are 606,816 blogs on WordPress. That’s 33,703 new blogs in less than two weeks. And that’s just WordPress!
That’s a lot of words.
What compels us to sit here and type?
Is it simply that we want to be heard?
Or are we searching for something? Are we searching for meaning by chronicling our lives; or searching for our selves, utilizing blogging as a tool for self-discovery?
Are we longing for connection and communication? Are we hoping to build friendships and vibrant discussions?
I’ve mostly followed threads and links on blogrolls of people I enjoy reading. I figure if I enjoy reading one person’s blog, I might be drawn to the same people she’s reading.
That act in itself is fascinating, to follow the links and see almost literally how the World Wide Web really is a web. We’re interconnected, only a few links from each other, and perhaps only two degrees from Kevin Bacon, which is such a luscious thought. Remember “Footloose”? I danced in the loft of my parents’ barn to that soundtrack. A shaft of afternoon light angled through the window, as if the director ordered it for the movie itself. Sigh.
I digress.
Ah, yes, the blogosphere. Specifically, the mamasphere of the blogosphere (would that be the mamablogosphere?).
There is, occasionally, a cross-fertilization of ideas, as we read each other’s posts and find inspiration for our own.
The whole thing fascinates me. It is surely affecting our society in ways we can’t yet predict (well, I’m sure somebody is, somewhere, on a blog), in both good ways and bad.
At any rate, I was checking something as I was writing this very entry, and simultaneous to my composing these thoughts, I discovered that Jules over at Everyday Mommy is launching a contest to discover hidden treasures in the blogosphere.
See? Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about.
Those are amazing numbers. It is all so fascinating. I wish I had time to soak it all in!
Ann, thanks for the link. I see you have a journalism background like I do.
Yes. Yes. And yes. Those are all reasons I blog.
I have a spiritual journal I write in, which I use to write out prayers and work through spiritual issues. But that’s just between God and I. I love journaling and spending time with God that way!
In my blog, I feel more like I am able to share my life with other moms. I’m able to share my experiences with them. As I read other blogs, I can learn from the experiences of still more moms. It IS a web, a wonderful community. In many ways, it’s a God-send!
The Lazy Organizer–So here we are in the middle of the web/blog activity, contributing to the numbers and voices, words and ideas. I guess there’s no need to actually analyze; perhaps just note that we’re part of *something*.
Monica–Yes, my parents were journalists and I was a freelance feature writer for a few years. Words, ink, books…all lifelong friends. Is it any wonder that I love the name of your blog?
Karen–How interesting to hear someone actually offer her reasons for blogging! Also, you know (from my book) that I’m partial to journaling…And while the virtual experience makes relationships via this worldwide web a little odd at times, mostly it’s a refreshing way to meet like-minded people. I think you’re right about it being in many ways a God-send. It’s a lifeline for women who are stuck at home feeling isolated (perhaps SAHMs with young kids in particular). We get to interact with other adults. We discover, “I am not an island.” We’re more like threads…criss-crossing and weaving all over the world.
Hey Ann, I soooo wanna spend some time in your “spot”, I can already see you’ve “got what it takes” to capture my attention (and you just began blogging in December?). I’ve Bloglined you, so I’ll be back.
AND, I noticed the sidebar lovin’ and honestly, I’m always touched by the generous gesture. If I ever totally figure out TypePad (wait, make that “when” I figure it out), I can’t wait to spread the “love”. Thank you for the “nod”.
Robin: Wow, thank you for your comment. I’m humbled, to tell the truth. I found your blog to be written with skill and humor that sucked me in. So to hear that you’re enjoying what you see is a huge compliment.
The only reason I didn’t start commenting at Pensieve was because I happened to find you right about the time your father passed away, and I didn’t know what to say. But to see you here is such a delight. Now I want to say how sorry I am. Thank you for sharing the experience with your readers.
I’m delighted to point people to you via the sidebar link! You’re a great read and worth a long visit. It’s good stuff. Fun, thoughtful, surprising…I like stopping by, because I never know what I’m going to find.
Finally, if you do happen to read more, you’ll discover that I’ve just switched to WordPress after several years as a Blogger blogger. Prior to that, I was posting blogs by publishing to my old website at The Contemplative Mom (see the Blog Archives sidebar listing links to “Ye Old Blogs” and “Ye Older Blogs”).
So very nice to “meet” you and see you here.