Why I blog

I have not published a blog post in a while, and this one will be short as well.

I specifically used the word published because I have written blogs posts in the last few months, but I never published them.

I'm not going to get into the specifics of why not, but broadly speaking, it's because I don't write these posts primarily to put it out into the world. I use my blogs posts as a way to ruminate on ideas and work through things occupying my mind.

It's almost like talking to a therapist, but I'm not actually talking to a person, I'm just putting my words down on the page.

How does this help?

• It forces me to put what I'm feeling into words
• Often when you re-read your words you realise it's not that bad and/or you think about it in a different way.
• Writing something that may be read by other people, forces you to write it and re-write it and check if sentences make sense. Wrestling with a piece you've written, forces you to really understand what you are trying to say.
• Another benefit of knowing other people may read it, is the way it makes you feel. If you are comfortable sharing it, then often it means that you have come to terms with it and you are ready to share. Also if something makes you uncomfortable, it might be a sign that you are worried about what people might think (which is something I strive not to feel, but nobody is perfect and I don't believe, anymore, that you can or should just say what you think - sometimes it's kinder to not say something.)

How this can help you..

I would like to encourage everyone reading this, the next time you have a difficult situation in your life:

1. Write it down on a piece of paper (just put it down, don't edit it at all - rough draft)
2. After you've gotten everything off your heart, re-read it and start editing the piece to prepare it for sharing.
3. If you feel you can share it, give it to someone you trust to read. (They don't need to give you any feedback, they just need to read it, it feels cathartic to do this, trust me.)

Cathartic: providing psychological relief through the open expression of strong emotions; causing catharsis. For example: "crying is a cathartic release"

And that's it. Remember, you don't need a fancy blog or a website to start writing. Just use Word on your computer or the notes app on your phone. It might feel like a waste of time, but take it from me, it's worth investing in yourself every now and again.