Unassigned
Like most of middle America, a handful of celebrities and your mom, I have a blog.
And like all of the above people. I have the audacity to believe that there are humans out there that want to read what I write about my life.
Before 2008, I used to be quite the blog hater. I thought they were dorky, excessive and a tad bit narcissistic.
I still think that.
But when I left my job last year and began a series of short term temp assignments, I discovered that I had a lot of stories to tell. Most of which stemmed from some awkward situation I created, but still stories nonetheless.
And as it turned out, there were a lot of people going through similar situations who could relate to what I was writing.
In fact, had it not been for the old blogging world, I never would have stumbled upon the idea of becoming a writer.
Months later, when I officially abandoned my 9-5 job hunt and began a series of odd jobs to support my new found dream, one of which included waiting tables, I realized just how powerful the blogging community is.
On a day like many others, I had posted a story about the ridiculous training I was going through for the restaurant gig (I actually had to get “silverware roll” certified at one point), I received a comment from one of my subscribers that really rocked me:
I am enjoying your training stories. I too am in training, at the deli at Target. I was an interior designer for the last five years…but got let go. Last night I was all on my own! Crazy! I worked harder last night than I ever did at my office job.
I need you to keep going so I can have inspiration to keep on going!
-Maggie
It was in this moment that I realized a few things: One, there truly is no substitute for hard work. And Two, community can happen anywhere.
Through a silly blog about silly things, I made a connection with someone who, in a few short sentences, changed my entire perspective on my current situation.
I guess that’s why I still blog. And, as a matter of fact, why I write. Not because I think what I have to say is all that interesting or important, but because through sharing my life in stories, I feel a part of something bigger and I feel connected to people I otherwise would never even know.
So, Maggie, if you’re reading this, thank you for reminding me that we are made for community and that it often comes in unexpected forms from unexpected places.
And due to that fact alone, I guess you can officially consider me “pro-blog.”
So blog on, peeps, blog on.
