Why I blog

I've noticed a recent rumbling in the blogsphere about "Why People Blog." Some are trying to network, or get famous, or get a book deal, or get laid.

I guess I started blogging to talk to my friends about cancer. I had all these unprocessed feelings, and I was too raw to pick up a phone. We (the Fies fam) were starting to be contacted by other caregivers and suvivors, and they quickly became friends, too.

When I was getting my first masters at New School, I took this amazing class on the friendship potential of Virtual Communities. To me, that's what blogging is all about. In a way this site is an extension of a newsletter I used to put together to try to keep my friends in touch. As we get older it gets harder and harder to maintain friendships in our busy lives. Some of us are having kids, losing parents, battling our own illnesses...all while struggling to make a living in an increasingly difficult economy. I wanted a safe place to update people on my life and to ask the questions we used to ask each other at 4 am in the dorm. Like "Is this what you wanted out of life?" and "How do you deal with *fill in the blank*.

I'm honored to have met so many lovely people online, and to have a safe space to keep my old friends a part of my current life.

A new reader left beautiful comment here today that has really inspired me, and I'd just like to say thank you. Andrea, if you're out there, please drop me an email or your blogaddress so that I can personally respond.