Upon writing the journal entry below, it has come to my awareness that it is important that we all find a way to express ourselves in a healthy manner.  I am not sure that I have done a good job in articulating this self-discovery, (it’s only my first attempt).

Journal Entry:

The company I work for (as a software developer) is encouraging me to enhance my skills in ways that are not directly related to my job.  I have wanted to write a blog for a long time.  Blog ideas come frequently into my mind, and wash away just as frequently.  I even have a list of ‘blog ideas’ in a google doc that has been accumulating ideas for years.  So I’ve decided to take on writing in a space where other people can read my words (Thank you Elephant Journal for providing such a space!).  Writing in my own journal, which I do frequently, doesn’t quite cut it.

I don’t know how, and I don’t know why I have the desire to start such a venture.  I find it difficult to start something so vulnerable as to write in a public arena without knowing why I am doing so.  Without knowing where else to start but right where I am, I am beginning  this journey of self-expression, by simply contemplating the question of “Why do I want to write a blog?” in writing.  I hope it is valuable for at least one person other than myself.

“Why do I want to write?” The voice in my head asks in a condescending manner. “To express myself” I say. But why express myself?  What is the point of that?  So many doubts come to my mind when I consider putting my words out into the world for anyone to read.  Perhaps the doubts are keeping me safe, in the quiet corner that I normally spend much of my time, a place where I can watch others express themselves, and remain invisible.

Now that I mention it, I can answer my own question of “Why?” By asking myself, what I get out of the content that I read from others who freely express themselves?  I get quite a lot actually.  I get new ideas, new ways of thinking about the world.  I get humor and tips and tools on how to be a better human. I get inspiration from all kinds of expressions that remind me we are all human.  And of course, last but not least, I get information from a variety of perspectives. The variety helps me see the world from a much broader point of view than if I only lived inside my own head.

So the new question is, can I offer such a valuable voice to the world?  And the answer is invariably, Yes!  I have a perspective, why not share it?  And on that note.  You have one too.  It’s equally valuable.  A vision has just come into my mind that each individual person is like a satellite viewing the planet from a slightly different perspective.  The more viewpoints there are, that are shared with the world, the more data points, the more pixels, the more depth there is to have a clear and broad picture.  So ‘why not?’ seems the better question.