Today a good friend of mine mentioned that he’s thinking of starting a blog. My immediate response was to clasp my hands together with joy and tell him how awesome of an idea I found it. Immediately I envisioned adding him to my rss reader and happily anticipating updates.
It’s interesting I think because at one point I looked at blogs, particularly the random quirky ones written for what would probably be a small audience, as just more unnecessary intraweb clutter.
Not so anymore. With the proliferation of handy tools like RSS and it’s integration with google, I find that I often keep better track of, and feel closer to my friends that blog than anyone else. In fact, there are a good handful of people that I might not still speak to at all were it not for their lively presence on the blogosphere. It does take a little more effort than facebook, and it doesn’t have the lovely instant gratification that one can find with 255698 instant “friends”, but the sense of satisfaction when you know someone reads and enjoys what you write is impossible to describe.
I write because I love to write and also because there is something beautiful about sharing thoughts and ideas. Reciprocation is the finest part of this process though, so the act of reading a blog becomes cathartic, and nourishing and more wonderful with each entry.
Sometimes, blogs that I’ve enjoyed for many years become popular for one reason or another. The author gets a lucky shout or a link somewhere well trafficked and before I know it I have friends suggesting the blog, the quirky little random blog, to me. Like it’s the best new thing. Which, if you look at it, in many ways it is.
And then a bigger chunk of our ever growing yet always shrinking world is suddenly connected. And its all possible through this proliferating love of thought sharing and a wonderful little outlet for that sharing.
So yes, I was elated to hear my friend is starting a blog. Because now the world gets a chance to maybe get to know him a little bit like I do, and I get a chance to know him a whole lot more. And the world benefits from the sharing of ideas.
You can now queue Kumbaya and continue with your day.
But tell me you don’t know me just a little better now.
So there.
