Monday 29 March 2010

Stroke Me Stroke Me

Why do we blog??.......OR more to the point WHY DO I BLOG?

I have given this question considerable thought and concluded it is because I love being stroked, complimented, flattered, hugged........am I being shallow?

Probably!

Blogging has enhanced my creative side and expanded my knowledge 100 fold. I actually feel I am a better person since I started blogging.

I blog to be part of a community of people whom I respect; I want to understand your thinking and I want you to understand mine.

I blog to be part of the conversation. I blog to remember. I blog to refine my thinking. I blog because I don't think I really understand something until I write about it.

Finally I blog because there are truly remarkable people in the world, who perhaps would not be recognized by the world. I blog to connect with persons who share some (if not all) of my values.

So I keep coming back to blogging because of YOU my friends, yes YOU, I keep coming back because of YOU. BLESS YOU.

"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked".
~~ Bernard Meltzer


BTW the dolphin encounter was mind blowing. Everyday I relive being graced by those amazing creatures.

This is a postcard of the spectacular Dusty Dolphins that Stoneweaver & I had the privilege of playing with in Kaikoura, New Zealand, March 2010.

38 comments:

Christine said...

welcome back Peggy! All good reasons for blogging

McMGrad89 said...

I blog so I can express my ideas. The byproduct of that is all of the many friends I have made along the way. However, I love the comments. They make me feel connected to the rest of the world.

Glad you are back. I will have to come back after school to see whatever pictures you have here as they are being blocked from server.

HappyOrganist said...

I thought this was going to be a post about dolphins =D Still appropriately titled, though.

You know what? you're "I blog to" list reminds me of the line from Hotel California "some [blog] to remember; some blog to forget."
And I'll just leave you with that.

=D

HappyOrganist said...

oops - you're=your


You know what else? The only down side to blogging (even if it's a frivolous or vain pastime of sorts) is all the burned pans I now have upstairs. Other than that, harmless pastime.
Can't tell you how many pans I've burned while checking my email. ;/

Anonymous said...

You beat me to the 'Stroke me' post!!! Gah! Blog on Peggy!!! If you hadn't of blogged I wouldn't have met you - and we wouldn't have swum with dolphins! (And we wouldn't have met Murray ;o) Imagine that!!)

McMGrad89 said...

I love that postcard. Glad you and Stoneweaver had a great time. Just think of all the fun we will have in just 3 months and 2 weeks!

Mike Smith said...

Long may you continue to blog, Peggy. You are a superb writer!

Unknown said...

I think your reasons for blogging aren't too far removed from most other bloggers. They are some of the reasons I blog, along with inspiring others to a)blog and b) be creative. I wish I did have more time to comment on every blog I read but alas my 'other' job sucks up that time cos they need my comments too ;)

Hybrid J said...

Welcome back, dear friend! You've been greatly missed. How wonderful to be able to play with the dolphins! They are magical creatures!

Nothing wrong about your blogging reasons. They're pretty much mine. So I'm also blogging because of YOU! :D

Chapter Forty said...

I totally agree with you, blogging has opened the door to a world filled with interesting, amazing creative people. Glad your home safe and sound.

miruspeg said...

Hi Hi Hi Christine, Annemarie, HO, Stoneweaver, Mike, Sharmaine, Hybrid, Chapter Forty.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment, welcoming me back and stroking me! YOU DID GOOD! LOL

I am still reliving the dolphin encounter every day. Picture this magical experience......swimming in the open ocean with a pod of 100dolphins. Words can hardly describe the joy I felt while snorkling with at times 4 dolphins within inches of me. One even leapt over the top of me!

I feel totally blessed and will never forget the eye contact and connection I felt to those amazing creatures.

Take care always and may you always be filled with many joyous moments every day of your life.

Big hugs and I hope you can feel the love and light beaming down on all of you now.
Peggy xxxxx

Anonymous said...

Kaikoura! That brings back happy memories (although, we didn't swim with dolphins!)
Also -I enjoyed your very honest admittance as to why you blog. How many of us would own up to the 'stroke me' bit! CJ

miruspeg said...

CJ - We had the best time in Kaikoura. It was a lovely scenic 3 hour drive from Christchurch and as well as the dolphin encounter we saw seal pups frolicking in a stream about 10kms from where we stayed the night.
Also we met an Irish guy who owned a pub where we had dinner. He kept us amused for a few hours. :)

Marja said...

Blogging is great isn't it. Thanks to blogging I met you Through blogging I started to write, I wrote my first poem in a blog post. Thanks to blogging I started to enjoy making photo's and now I am getting into scrapbooking, which is great fun. I am going to use that for a community course as well at work.
Have a great easter holiday Peggie. Arohanui Marja

Silver said...

Hey..what happened to my comment??

miruspeg said...

Marja - Yes blogging is GREAT....time comsuming but GREAT.
How wonderful that our paths crossed through blogging. Hope you have a peaceful, relaxed Easter as well. :)

Silver - You are a silly billy....you commented on the post below....LOL. :D

Debra said...

Peggy, I am so glad that we blog because if you didn't and I didn't then how would we have ever been able to "meet" one another? I blog to tell my story. I blog because I want to leave some history for my children. I blog to meet fantastic people like YOU!

I thought about you swimming with the dolphins, last week. I am so grateful that you got to swim with such a large pod! I am sure that they recognized you as an angel, Peggy. It is always in the eyes.

Love and hugs,
Debbie

Who you callin' housewife? said...

Hi! Just came across your blog after doing a google search for "crabby woman blog." Go figure.

I blog because I speak slowly (and hopefully thoughtfully) and am easily interrupted. I blog because I can complete a thought.

miruspeg said...

Debbie - You know the feeling is mutual. Your posts always touch my heart AND my soul.
Another amazing thing happened while I was swimming with the dolphins. I was returning to the boat and as I was quite a way out I was feeling very tired and a bit anxious and was thinking about putting my hand up and asking for help.
A dolphin then appeared, came very close, looked me in the eye as if to say he/she would help me if I needed it. He then swam slowly with me right to the boat.
I will never forget that connection I felt to that dolphin.

miruspeg said...

Hello "Who you calling housewife"!
I often find people arriving at my blog by searching "crabby woman". It was a blog post I did last year. Anyway thats my story and I am sticking to it....LOL.

Thanks for leaving a comment and I thought your line:
"I blog because I can complete a thought" a very interesting reason to blog. :)

MrsPeel said...

you are one huge key element in my life, you were even before you started blogging in writing, as I met you online through the Scrapblogs (photo blogs for the ones who don't know) which lead to us speaking on the phone, later meeting in person....and what a person you are!!!!!
I know I don't always leave comments, but always read, which is why I am SO grateful you blog.
You not only blog, but blog in thought provoking way, inteligent and wonderful blog....
I do understand tghe *stroke me* side of blogging...

Though I started in Vox mainly to make a record of what was going on in our lives for Sarita to have in the future...I saw myself liking the attention of those who came to comment in my posts...
There is one great thing about blogging for me too: is more than therapy, is where I can vent or be happy, and is my space but with a purpose...

The kind of blogging one can do here is different to Vox, so I'm kind of just catching up plus the faxt that I m working as Creative Team for some designers takes away a lot of the original blogging...that's why people like you CAN"T stop... :)
my mind is wandering again (medication) so I ll leave it here before this becomes un- understandable LOL

I ll call you this weekend , maybe I find you, wanna hear everything about the dolphin in real time listeing lol
Huge hugggzzzz

Debra said...

Peggy, that is another miracle of a story that will definitely stick with me. I now have a huge lump in my throat.

Thank you for sharing such an intimate experience, dear friend.

Love,
Debbie

miruspeg said...

Cynthia (MrsPeel) - You are such a wonderful stroker....bless you!
You are so vibrant even through your suffering. I feel so blessed to have met you and know that we will be lifelong friends.
Look forward to chatting on the phone....always a treat!

Debbie - Words can hardly explain the connection I felt to that dolphin. Our unspoken thoughts were transferred through the water. I was overwhelmed by love and protection from that marvelous creature.

Ces Adorio said...

Hello Peggy,

I ask myself the same question several times. I have been blogging for over 4 years. I have deleted my blog twice and I came back. The past year has been incredible. I lost a friend to cancer but I also found a best friend.

I hope all is well with you. Your header is fantastic. That driftwood is so beautiful.

Take care.

miruspeg said...

Hi Ces thanks for dropping by again, sorry I have been slack in visiting your blog.
I have only been blogging for 1 1/2 years and it has become a huge part of my life. Sometimes I feel it overwhelms me and is like a chain around my neck that weighs me down, other times I am so inspired by my friends blogs I feel totalled justified in spending so much time blogging.
Just recently I feel I have finally struck a happy medium.

That photo on my header of the driftwood was taken in Christchurch, New Zealand on my recent visit. I saw it as we were cycling and had to stop and admire it more closely.

I have formed many close relationships with my blogging friends, some I feel much closer to than my 'real life' friends. And then they become my 'real life' friends which is a real blessing. :)

Cozyflier said...

Welcome back Dear Friend. I'm so glad you are back. I've missed you. I knew you would love the dolphins.

And yes, I blog for the same reasons! I love your writing, you make me think and often touch my heart. I wish we could swim with dolphins together, as much as we both love them we would have a blast.

Hugs,
Carrie

xxx said...

I blog to share and I share to learn... and yes I enjoy the strokes too ;)

I just read about your dophin fun over at stoneweaver's blog and remembered to visit with you...

Very lovely to read of your fun loving adventure. I have visited there too, but not to swim.

best wishes and stroke from me to you ;)

Ribbon ~ Robyn

miruspeg said...

Carrie - Always lovely to hear from you. I believe you are going to be swimming with dolphins in June.....2010 must be the "Year of the Dolphin"...LOL. I know you are going to have a wonderful experience, I would do it again at the drop of a hat.
Anyway I will be catching up with you in 'real life' soon and we can exchange stories. :)

Robyn - Thanks for the strokes and from a fellow Aussie too which warms my heart.
Isn't New Zealand such a beautiful country. I was in absolute awe as we drove from Christchurch to Kaikoura...the scenery was so breathtaking. I kept saying to Stoneweaver over and over how awe inspiring the countryside was.
Take care mate. :)

Nina said...

I have been away from blogging for a while chasing another dream I didn't even realize I had... (trying to be published). Of course blogging is publishing, sharing, dreaming, daring.... I too sometimes ask myself why, then I realize how much I miss everyone... all of you beautiful souls that meet here, on these cyber pages, connecting with the otherwise unconnected (OK that didn't come out right but you know what I'm getting at) I would never have had the opportunity to meet you and call you dear friend if it hadn't been for you blogging.... So I for one say, blog on!! We can sip tea (or wine if it's time) relax and share a little bit of ourselves... cheers to you Peggy for being you and blogging with us/me.
I am so glad you and Stoneweaver had such a wonderful time and swimming with dolphins is up there on my list too. Blessings to you and yours. Love and Light, Nina P.

miruspeg said...

Hello lovely Nina!
We are beautiful souls us bloggers aren't we. We meet in this wonderful cyberspace world and share so much of ourselves as we send our light and love around the globe and beyond.
I have a very strong feeling that your book will be a huge success but just in case I will help it on its way by sending my powerful light to ensure it is.

Chasing dreams and then living those dreams is a magical experience.

Big hugs for you dear friend. :)

Stefunkc said...

When I started my blog it was for my dad to keep up with my girls lives. It has moved on to be exactly what you described. And I have 'met' the most amazing people because of it. Like you! Can't wait to meet you in person this summer!

miruspeg said...

Hi dear friend
Isn't it exciting when we start something new and it leads us into a whole new world, one we couldn't imagine in our wildest dreams.

I give thanks everyday that I was enticed to blog.
Steph I feel so close to my internet friends and love following their journey through the good times and the bad.
And July is only a blink of an eye away, so get ready for a BIG hug.
Peg 0;^)

Laura said...

:)

miruspeg said...

Thanks for stopping by Laura. Hope your tendonitis is improving. :)

June said...

You are so open & honest Peggy. Here's a stroke from me, I love this post.

miruspeg said...

June the feeling is mutual. I KNOW you are an open and honest person that is why I love you so much. Kindred spirits walking along to same path and soon to be not a virtual path but a real life dirt/grass path!

Lilly said...

Oh what a wonderful Beranard Meltzar quote. I shall have to remember that one.

As you know I have been up and down with my blogging and I would say I have not been as committed to it for at least the last eight months. However, I will never give it up. Even though I dont comment on blogs as much I still read blogs.

Peggy you are a positive light in the blogging world. And am very proud you are an Aussie too. Happy, positive and I only have to see your picture and your gorgeous smile to start smiling too.

And that postcard is amazing. Soon you will be off for another trip to see some more bloggers. It opens a whole new world hey?

miruspeg said...

Lilly - It is a great quote isn't it, because we are ALL slightly cracked and some of us more than others!

I find I am doing the same these days regarding commenting on all the blogs I visit. I feel less pressured that way but still part of what is going on in the community.

I feel we Aussies have a special sense of humour that we enjoy sharing. We can laugh at ourselves and even in our depth of despair find a little light to battle on.

Your comments ALWAYS brighten my day/night whether they are frequent or infrequent....AND very soon I will be venturing to Canberra to say hello to my sweet Aussie friend. :-)