Saturday, October 15, 2005

Why I Blog

Last night while getting ready for work I took a look at my hit counter and I was pleasantly surprised. From the End of January to last night I've had almost 12,000 hits. That's not even a full year, just shy of ten months. Pretty impressive. I know businesses who wish they had that kind of hitrate on their website.

But it really got me thinking. Why do I do it? Well, I'm not going to get into specifics, but the beginning of this years wasn't the best in my life. In fact, it was worse that the previous January when my wife left me. I'm not going to get into it because they're far to personal and still hurt quite a bit so I'll leave it at that.

I found blogspot by accident. Just was surfing around and found a blog and started reading. The one fantastic thing about the internet and blogging in particular is that anyone with access to a computer now has a voice.

I used to feel for so long I was just an insignificant little spot on earth and no one gave a shit about what I had to say, no matter how inane and stupid I sounded.

Blogging changed all that.

I was no longer a faceless number. I had an outlet for all my little bitches in life. I really didn't care one way or another if I had any readership. I wasn't, and I'm still not searching for fame. I did it for a release, a vent to relieve some pain in my life and as usual, I did it with my off the wall humor and I had an outlet so I wouldn't get sucked down into a bottomless pit of dispair. Or worse, crawl into the bottle like some other friends and family of mine, never to see the light of day again.

I've had some pretty fucked up things happen to me in my life, but I get through them now by laughing at myself and pointing out the absurdities in my life. I'm glad most of you get that. Some still don't though, and that's alright too. I do look at the positive things too, but not too often because, to be honest, they're not as fucking funny.

And if there's one thing in the world I like to do is I like to laugh.

I do sometimes talk about serious things, and I'm not asking anyone to agree with me on any one of them. The only thing I ask is for you to at least try to see my side of it. I'll most definitely listen to your point of view, but I'm not asking anyone to always see eye to eye with me. We can agree to disagree on a lot of things. Because if we all agreed on everything, wouldn't the world be a really boring place? And I'll also give you a clue, I'm a registered "R" but I'm nowhere near as far right as some people think...

What I write here is just my opinion. Opinions are like assholes, every one has one and sometimes I can be one gigantic asshole myself. All of my readers understand that I hope and although we don't agree on everything we can have a shitload of fun doing it.

It started out slow, Becky in Roanoke, Divine Ms. N and her Fiance Kev in New Jersey, Kat... And it sort of snowballed from there. I have readers in Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, Germany, Holland, Canada... Here in the states, from Georgia, New York ,Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado, Alabama, Mississippi and Ohio. I really want to thank each and every one of you for helping me get through some really dark days and now, because of all of you, I have a better outlook on life. Some of you comment, some just send me emails, but all of you help to contribute a little something every day. In helping me realize I wasn't just a faceless, insignificant number in the world, I've also learned to let go of some of my apathy and cynicism towards mankind. Not all mind you... I'm a work in progress!

What started out as a vent and self-therapy has turned into something I'm not sure what it is or where it's heading, but I can promise you this, you won't ever be bored! I'm not perfect either. Far from it, and it shows here. I'm about as flawed as the next guy, but what I think separates me from the rest is the fact that I know I'm not perfect. So cut me some slack, ok?

So my little blog has turned into something, I'm not sure yet... But I know I couldn't do it every day without you guys, my readers! We don't always agree, but we do have some fun disagreeing, don't we? So that's why I do it. For me to save my sanity in this nutty world, and for you guys to make you laugh. And if I can just make one person laugh a day, I think the world is a better place for it.

You guys will never know how much you all mean to me!

Thanks!

Copyright 2005 Thomas J Wolfenden

12 comments:

Lindsey said...

Tom...Ditto! I think everyone winds up blogging for some reason or another that is beyond 'just being bored.' It's a wonderful feeling to be able to vent and to make friends that vent with you. My blog is one of the best things to happen to me. I'm glad you feel the same.

Susan said...

Blogging is much like having a personal journal that you would write in daily but the only people that see that is YOU! Writing is good therapy as you get to say what you really wished you had said or done. Now, doing your personal journaling on line gets some feedbacks from people and it gives you some esteem to know that hey, some people do care and some of the comments make sense and it is helping me with what ever it is that you need help in.

Cheryl said...

I've often had very similar thoughts about my fellow bloggers. We're here for ya, and you're here for us. It's really quite cool :)

Thomas J Wolfenden said...

Randy: Thanks bud. We'll have a few weeks in December to talk about stuff.

Linny: Feel the same way. It's just so much fun!

Dreamz: Yep, I needed the help with the self-esteem there for a while and this has helped so much

Cheryl: It is cool... I just imagince sometimes where I'd be if we could have done this ten years ago...

Lora said...

I am a very recent reader of your blog; like just this week, in fact. I had never clicked on the "Next Blog" button at the top of my blog before. I'm glad I did. I find your writing very intelligent, witty, and honest. I laughed til I cried reading All in A Name, A Tale of Two Pigs, and Methane. Very entertaining. More importantly, I commend you and thank you for expressing your thoughts and beliefs in Over Where? As the daughter of a Marine who fought in Korea, the first "unpopular" war, I can confirm that you are right on. Thank you. I look forward to more.

Thomas J Wolfenden said...

Lora: Well welcome aboard the bi-polar express! Thanks for the really kind words, they are appriciated.

Thomas J Wolfenden said...

Kat, We'll get it figured out...

bevy said...

I think I blog 'cause I want to make people laugh also. I don't take myself too seriously, so neither should anyone else.

DivineMsN said...

I read your blog daily it's like a ritual for me!

BTW: Mr. K got a kick out of being called my "fiance". (He's just my super-awesome, super-cute boyfriend). Thanks though!

Thomas J Wolfenden said...

Ms.N: My mistake... But you guys do make such a cute couple!

I read yours daily too, and I can't thank you enough for turning my on to Foamy, my little cartoon squirrel who says it just like I do!

Kev said...

Yeah, Tom ... ix-nay on the iance-fay!

Thomas J Wolfenden said...

Ok, Kev... Shit! I didn't think I'd get assaulted over it... LOL

But you guys are sooooooo fucking cute together!