photo by John hanna
i was a senior in highschool, spending the day shadowing my kindergarten teacher. when telling me what she remembered of the five-year-old version of me, she laughed and said: “Amanda, you would always ask why!” later that day, one of the toilets in the ladies room wouldn’t stop running, flushing, gushing… when reporting this to our nearly-retired custodian, i couldn’t help but ask her why the toilet wouldn’t stop. she shook her head and laughed, then told me that she remembered i always asked why. about everything. all the time.
they are right. i have a long list of “why’s” in my head. some answered, some without an answer.
i also ask MYSELF “why” a lot: why do i feel this? or why do i think that? or why do i like this?
today, i’m asking myself why i blog? why do i do this?
i started blogging for the sake of “doing”… i was bored. without a goal. no purpose. and a little depressed about it. i just needed something to do. something to get the “me” out of me.
now, i keep this little blog going for two reasons:
1) creativity
2) influence
creativity? oh my goodness yes! i’m a creative person in need of a creative outlet – musically, poetically, prosaically, and graphically. this little world of mandythompson.com keeps the creative juices flowing. challenges me. and inspires me.
influence? i have a burning desire to make a difference in this world. and i’ve discovered that the blogosphere is an endless web of connections, people, thoughts, and ideas. if somebody’s listening, i want to say something that mattters. some stuff is important enough to be said; and, if i can hold your attention long enough, i just might say it. so, there ya have it: influence.
now it’s your turn.
give me two words. TWO words. that explain why you blog.
why?
this post is a submission in the Blog Mission Tour, hosted by “Becoming Me“
Creativity (creative outlet for writing, photos, ideas; similar to what you said)
Devotion (writing about God, what I’m learning, hearing from others about life with God)
(eek, too many words maybe
)
reflection
connection
Keeps me digging in Gods Word (Sorry, didn’t know how to say that in one word
)
Friendship
Life preserver
longing
Jesus
Connection
everyoneelse does
[Brooks comment made me smile real big]
Ok Mrs. Thompson here is my two word essay of why I blog:
1. Connection
2. Expression
This was a fun post.
I hope you are smiling today.
BROOKE!!! you’re nuts!
@ng: i haven’t gotten used to “mrs.” yet! and i’ve been married 5 years. it still catches me off guard. i am smiling.
Michelle: does Jesus have a blog?
Heidi: the longing… that gets me.
godsgal: yes. i was TOTALLY surprised by the friendship! totally. i. had. no. idea.
tawny: good words. i think you are summing up why so many of us blog.
birgit: let’s be honest, bloggers are WORDY people… i wanted to just torment y’all with the two word limit to see if anyone actually kept with it!
1. Passages.
2. Defenestration.
Mandy asks…does Jesus have a blog?
Michelle contemplates…I think so…it’s called the Bible, isn’t it?
No, seriously. I didn’t know what a blog was but had been praying for a way to connect to people, I’m mostly homebound, and to share the truth of His word. I hope I’m doing that – it’s my purpose for having joined the blogosphere.
HAHA!! i was TOTALLY looking forward to your answer ~ but had no idea where you’d go with it!
you are sharing the truth michelle. totally. totally connected and totally sharing. thank you for sharing with ME too!
TheNor: haven’t you used that word around here before? and didn’t i tell you that i don’t know what it means? defenestration? ??
authentic leadership
explaining life (mine – to friends and family)
Sharpness – Keeps my language skills sharp.
Glorify – I write words in hope of glorifying His Name.
Entertainment Venue
Pete: you do an incredible job at the “authentic” part. and, i’m sure your leadership is astounding!
Merrie: that’s totally your blog!!!
Joe: you. just. rock.
Linda:
very entertaining!!!
remembrance
inspiration
Hi Mandy! Thanks for stopping by and commenting! And, like you, I’m surprised by the friendships that can (and do) get made on the blogosphere. I feel like I know people I’ve never met!
I blog because it’s one way of remembering the things which startle, intrigue, amaze, astound, and move me. I have a tendency to pass these moments by, and blogging about them helps give them their due. Set up a memorial stone. Remember the things God tells me in little whispers. Also, I love inspiring others with the same. My mind, like yours, has always probed ‘why’. My husband becomes exasperated sometimes because he says I’m always asking questions. ‘Why?’ is my favorite one. It leads me into arenas most people (I think) wonder about, but few will actually explore. I love it! I feel like a spelunker in a cave. Only a few will go down and actually explore, but what they find they can photograph, film, map out, and write about, so all the others on the surface can feel like they’ve been there too.
Plus, maybe I’ll get a couple of them to join me now and again.
Again, thanks for stopping by!
Wow, Annie. I love this:
Thanks for that thought.
yeah. i’m with michelle on this comment. that’s good stuff to think about.
I blog, because its my lifeline with my heart in line with God…it helps me keep focus on a particular concept that is happening at the moment. Its easier to hold onto when its in front of me, it has a healing power that God uses to minister to me, and others, but HIS purpose is to help me first:)
And also for the fellowship, I love my blog siestas, I mean you can make me smile on the worst of days.
And Creativity…I’m with you Mandy…I HEAR you on that!
I just have to add this, that I was asked in 10th grade to share a song that would describe me, and I remember going through every record, cd, tape that I owned, and my parents…and this was the only song I could come up with…
Reality
Dionne Farris
The reality of it all is that reality is what it is or what we think it is. Why are things the way they are? Who said
that the sky was in fact the sky and not the ground that we should walk upon. Makes you wonder? Hmm.
Why is green green? What if it’s really blue? And is what we think we think really true? It is said that I think,
therefore I am. Are we really thinking?
Chorus:
There’s something going on and I don’t know what it is. There’s a change taking place in my mind and I don’t
know how I lived before the doors were opened to the house of wisdom.
What do you know about the chosen man? And where in fact is the promised land? It is said that I think, therefore
I am. Are we really thinking?
Chorus (2x)
If we are here, then where is there? And if in fact we’re here, then why aren’t we there. It is said I think, therefore
I am. Are we really thinking?
Chorus
La la la la la la la la la la (6x)
The reality of it all is that reality is what it is or what we think it is. Why are things the way they are? Who has
taught us all that we know now? And is it for real? Makes you wonder, makes me wonder, makes us wonder,
yeah.
I blog for:
writing, releasing
Mandy,
You have a surprise in email:)
growth. sharing.
Journal (wanted to watch the growth in me and my family)
Sanity (I am a SAHM and some days blogs are the only place I “see” other adults lol)
Connections (for the same reason Candace does it for sanity) (I have made some of the most special friendships through blogging. It’s a wierd connection)
Fun (I never knew how much fun it could be!)
Mandy:
Hey, you’re the one who gave me a two-word limit!
Wow. I came over here on my usual rounds and found this. Awesome post. Your writing is so beautiful as is your heart and spirit. I really related to your reasons. Thanks for participating and please stop by to sign Mr. Linky. Blessings. Angela
Ang: got the email – wow can’t wait to read it.
Lori: yes. i can see the release in some of your writing, too.
Amber: growth. i like that ~ how has blogging impacted your growth.
Candace: one of the side reasons i started blogging was to keep a record/memory of my life. strange idea, but i think a good one.
Brandy: what’s the weirdest connection you’ve made??
TheNor: good point. i’ve gotta go look that up.
Angela: THANK YOU! i knew i was forgetting something with this.
I like the new, or I think it is new, bold font thing you are doing.
encourage and reflect
1) release
2) growth
it’s great stress relief for me to just get out what’s in my head…or some of what’s in my head anyways…
also i find it a great tool for growth as i read other blogs…or read the comments left by readers…it causes me to look at things from a different angle…
1.) connection (home with two boys….adult conversation needed)
2.) character…I wanted to say growth but, Jon did…didn’t want to copy. I want to take on the character of God more and more. I learn so much from other blogs about God..seeing Him in a new light. I also love blogging what I learn so that others might learn a little something.
I too am participating on the Blog Missions Tour.
Why I blog:
1. Passion (my passion for the truth)
2. Relationship (my relationship with Papa God desires to overflow)
It’s nice to meet you.
discipline
connection
ministry
i know. i cheated. kick me off.
Hey Tam cheated!!!
growth? since beginning to blog, I find that I am clearer of thought, more aware of my surroundings, less selfish, and tend to look at things through His eyes more often… (on a good day)
Hey, I’m new here. I’ll be back to read more, but for now, only two words??
If I only get two, I would choose:
Legacy- leaving this gift for my kids so that they can remember…the good and the bad.
Autheticity- being real, transparent, genuine. Every day.
most of the reasons anyone blogs are listed above! so i chose 2 people who i totally agreed with – candace (#26) & shanda (#40). yeah, ok, 2+2=4…but at least i’m not as rebellious as tammy
yeah! my avatar finally decided to show up! what took you so long, avvie?
sanity and hindsight
at what point did you switch from being called “amanda” to “mandy”?
I was named Amanda Carrie Thompson. But my family immediately called me Mandy. When starting Kindergarten, they asked me if I wanted to be Amanda or Mandy. I chose Amanda because it sounded smarter (yes, the overachieving performance-driven perfectionist was coming out at age 5)… Even all of my highschool friends call me Amanda. When I started college, I started telling everyone outside of school that my name was Mandy… Then, after graduation, after the class roll calls and professors and teachers were out of my life, Mandy was all that was left.
But, there’s still – to this day – the lingering Amanda. She is the overachieving perfectionist that just won’t die.
thanks for the full explanation. my next question was definitely going to be “why?”. i liked hearing that even at 5, you wanted to come across as smart. i’m my own amanda.
wierdest connection? Hmmm…..
I HAVE to say all of them. For this reason: My sister in law is involved in an online community at Ovusoft.com and for years she has talked about her online “sisters” that walked her through infertility. I always thought she was nuts. Completely insane. “Why would you pour your heart out to strangers? How can you trust them? How do you know they aren’t some psycho stalking you?” I was so skeptical. I thought it was a ridiculous waste of time. I told her here a few weeks ago that I felt bad for thinking she was crazy. She said “that’s okay, I thought you were crazy for NOT wanting online friends” haha!!
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would make such wonderful friends online. Or find such a great community. I love it. I wouldn’t be the same without it.
Buuuut, if I had to pick, I’d say Love. B/c I didn’t like him at first. Took me MONTHS to warm up to him and he really annoyed me at first. I even told Tam I wasn’t so sure about him. HAHA!! And now, I just love him to pieces and miss him when I don’t get to chat with him.
And I have already told him I wasn’t so sure about him at first.
heehee
no ones sure about Love at first!
HAHA!!!
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