Tuesday, June 22, 2010

The Evolution of Blogging! Why and How

Lights in Kowloon ChinaMy husband took this picture in Kowloon, PRC

     Blogging has turned out to be a wonderful thing for me.  I began several years ago on a whim while my husband and I were visiting China.  I wanted to share my experiences with children/grandchildren...it was slicker and a lot faster than a postcard or letter.  The results have been an ongoing journal that included interests, stories, and letters.... and the list goes on.  I am not sure whether the original aim lines up with the outcome but, for me, the effort is very rewarding.
     The simplicity of starting this process has become easier with the passing years and the learning curve is not a steep climb.  It simply requires a little (or a lot) of your attention every few days.  Your posts don't need to be long or complicated...all they need to be is a reflection of your personality.  When we retire and the years pass, we become more aware of the legacy we will want to pass on to our family.  I personally would love my family to visit to my old blogs (there are three of them now) and read about what I loved, hated, and found interesting enough to write about.  I want them to read the fiction and savor the stores about themselves.  It is important to me for them to understand what I was all about.
     In the beginning,  one blog was more than enough.  Then my life style changed and I added a second and then a third:
  • It Crossed My Mind  (originally Barbara's Travels) is a personal blog that contained stories, poems, and diary like entries. It was my first blog and the description at that time was a quote from Confucius...A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
  • Retire in Style Blog is a later blog that I began writing as a way to share those things that effect the life of a retiree.  Originally intended as a place to vent about life in a condo and neighborhood associations, the blog has evolved into a retirement lifestyle dialogue. Travel, restaurants, recreation, products I like, home maintenance, photographs and things to do in Portland, Oregon + Tucson, Arizona fill the pages.
  • Just Give Me the Facts is a blog I began during the Obama/McCain race for the presidency of the United States.  Once in a while a big rant is good for the soul.  It is not all political.  I want this blog to remain in place and I add to it occasionally.  I want my children to reflect on my opinions...good or bad in their view. 
    
     In the end though, the pleasure I get from going back and reading what I have written will be enough.  I never realized how compelling a journal could become.  I would recommend it for anyone...just go to blogspot.com and follow the steps.  Really is not that hard.



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1 comment:

  1. I love your blog, I follow it religiously, please keep it up! =] My dream is to retire early, and of course in style =]

    Retiring at 40 would be nice =] http://hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Retire-At-40

    ReplyDelete

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