Perhaps I have a few vestiges of high school left in me — days when chain letters in my inbox were received with a smile and popularity was based on how many people invited you to their parties — but I enjoy the occasional meme. Like many bloggers, I get stuck sometimes and my creative juices dry up. Memes can also be good fun: I enjoy comparing my opinions/thoughts/answers with my friends’. Sometimes we get tagged and touch on topics we would never think to discuss, and so I think it’s a great way to learn even more about people.

Josh tagged me to discuss 5 reasons why I blog. That’s a tough one. First, because I’m not entirely sure I can give five reasons and second, because there are many more than five. I’m highly cryptic, I know. But seriously, as a personal blogger, many of my reasons for writing are intimate. It’s hard to put them to words, even when they are numerous. Though, as my mother always told me, it never hurts to try:

• It’s cathartic. When I was younger, in middle and high school, I hated to write. It was so boring, so dry. It had no emotion, and so I never learned how amazing writing can make you feel. But when I started blogging last year, I realized how therapeutic sitting down in front of a computer screen can be. Writing forces me to think. It makes me be more methodical and helps me to sort though my feelings and thoughts. It makes me feel better.
• It helps me remember my life. I’ve never been successful in my attempts to keep a journal or diary. Not for lack of desire; I have long thought that keeping a diary would be a great way to track my life. But I just can’t. I write somewhat obsessively for the first month, but within 45 days, I have all but stopped. Blogging, however, for whatever reason, is easier for me. Probably because I get to interact with people and bounce my ideas off you all. You’re much more interesting than a piece of paper.
• It’s good practice. I have dreams of writing a book one day. Maybe several. I need to hone my writing skills. I know I have a long way to go, but as they say, practice makes perfect. Writing a blog provides me with a medium and motivation to put words to my thoughts. You all, my readers, through your comments, help me determine what of my writing is funny, what is confusing, what is plain stupid. The feedback is invaluable.
• It’s easier than telling every individual what I’ve been up to. I am the first one to admit to my penchant for laziness. I grow bored telling the same stories to different people and I abhor having to recount problems or bad news multiple times. Having a blog is tantamount to being economical with my time: I waste less this way. Ostensibly, at least. Sometimes it takes a lot of effort to get my real-life, non-online friends to actually visit. Sigh.
• The people are awesome. I have met a bunch of awesome people through my blog, some of whom have become close friends in my real life. The ones whom I have not met and will probably never meet are also fantastic. It’s great to find common ground with people in the States, England, Spain, and many other places around the globe. Friendships have been built because I blog. And that, honestly, would be reason enough.

Tagged: Richard, Chris, Josue, Oscar (yes, you), Danny, and Joey.

p.s. I also tag Lisa. I didn’t realize she was into memes!