I had this idea for a blog entry for a while now, but held onto it for various reasons. George Orwell and a host of others have commented on what it is that gives them cause to write. A quick google search revealed that many bloggers have given thought to this as well, so I thought I'd try my hand at it. It's a good idea to play with since it's a good form of self-reflection and it's something that you can repeat with different results over time. Expect this to be a recurring blog entry.
My initial intention for keeping a blog was admittedly somewhat introspective and narcissistic. I never had the diligence or tidyness growing up to keep a journal, mostly just scrapbooks and a notebook or two that I scribbled fiction or thoughts into. A blog seemed to be just novel and accessible enough for me to try my hand at keeping a somewhat daily journal of my life on.
Over a relatively short period of time, I discovered that I didn't really want to make public everything I was feeling and going through. I re-drafted a bunch of my more personal or self-deprecating entries and put more thought about which ones to make public. The last thing I wanted to do was make this a wailing wall of personal woe or a shrine unto myself.
So why do I blog?
Well, I have no agenda for it. There's no one in jail I know personally that I think should be freed. I'm not the kind of guy who believes he can write bulletproof policies that can help resolve political discord, or help some kid not be afraid of the dark by selling it(the darkness, that is) on Ebay.
I think I blog today because through my seemingly random choice of topics to discuss, a pattern or method will soon develop. As I add more and more entries, the pattern and/or method grows. Quite possibly, the blog could assume some sort of life like Sherlock Holmes did for Doyle. I think I blog today so that I see where each new entry goes in terms of developing the blog as a whole.
But that can all change, and I think that is what is interesting about right now.