Blogito ergo sum (with apologies to Descartes)

The 40,000th view of my blog happened yesterday afternoon. Somebody, somewhere, perhaps one of you reading this, was sipping on a cuppa joe and clicked on “Ranger Kathryn’s Arches;” the ticker moved to 40K.

I look at my early posts from 2009 and shake my head. Somewhere in the past two years I have found my voice and lost much of my tentativeness. I don’t compose multiple drafts and agonize over each word choice. I just write. Mainly, I spend hours at my laptop to preserve memories and to share life with my family, friends, and strangers.

It’s an outlet for my enthusiasm and passion and wonder. It gives me a forum for sharing the landscape of the Colorado Plateau in all its exquisiteness.

It motivates me to pay attention to details.

It lets me picture my readers, which is important in isolated wilderness places.

It helps me practice writing.

I think of odd things like: what if I have grandchildren some day, and I die before they get to know me? Would my blog be a gift to them?

Blogging helps me be transparent, which is something I deeply believe in. My readers can see my heart, or at least what I reveal of it. I wonder if my motives are selfish, that I’m seeking affirmation or admiration. How shallow.

I blog so I know what I think. I’m an external processor, and often I have to hear or see words in order to make sense of my world. Understanding comes with the process of ordering my thoughts into phrases, sentences, paragraphs.

With blogging, my thoughts (fears, dreams, etc) are shared and I can receive affirmation that I’m not alone in any of them.

Blogging beats dating sites, hands down.

Lastly: I blog because I can’t help myself. “The artist in his calling of interpreter creates because he must. He is so much of a voice that, for him, silence is like death.”  (Joseph Conrad)

Knowing that I have an audience pushes me to be more disciplined and regular. Thanks so much for your interest, curiosity, comments, and questions. I am richer for having each of you along. Here’s to the next 40,000 views!