why do i blog?

i expect i've answered this question on occasions past, but times change and we do too. i attempt to answer it again, so i may offer a more up-to-date response (indeed, for you and myself). here's what i had to say when my dear friend d, a veritable believer of the socratic method as i know him (have you also noticed the prevalence of 'veritable' in my writing of late?), asked me why i blogged:

1. the written medium works best for me. it allows me to cogitate better. in that time and space that words find their way out of my head, through my fingertips, and onto the keyboard, crystallization happens.
2. my blog transitioned from a monolog into a dialog somewhere along the way. the most meaningful moments for me and my blog have been in the comments section, and i'm so very grateful for these exchanges. they speed up my growth by a factor of 7.
3. every thought that inspires me finds its way here. that's not quite true, or humanly possible for sure, but most do. for me then, this blog serves as a handy reference to be accessed, whereby i can read and cogitate over these thoughts iteratively. indeed, i have read some posts about 72 times over to have them settle down in the deepest parts of me.
4. across time, this blog serves as a tool to track personal growth as well. if i read over some of my posts from years ago, i find a different person altogether. even in posts from the past 6 months, the evolution has been immense (as i see it).

these were the reasons i'd offered d extemporaneously. later that day, after i'd had more time to think, i realized there were more. these i offered a and they were far more critical.

1. i wish to hone my writing so that it is no longer a conscious exercise. my goal is to reach a stage where the words will pass through - from the inner self to my fingertips without needing a filter at all. i want writing to be so spontaneous that i will no longer have need to ask, ever, "is it true/kind/necessary?" so that it is always true and kind (and mostly necessary).
2. related to the point above, though subtly different (and perhaps further penetrating) - i wish to lead a life that has no qualms with being opened to the world. this is really a need to be honest, so honest that there is never a fear of too much (or overly open) expression. to be clear, this need not require my life to be an open book, but should it be an open book, may it not highlight anything i am embarrassed to highlight. no anger, no greed, no jealousy, only love.
   
3. and here i save the best for last: i have lived through the extreme joys of finding that a reading sets off a spark of a thought process within that unveils a precious understanding. these sparks are those that veritably lead to growth. these sparks, i would argue in fact, are perhaps the only facilitators for growth. and so i wish to share - share as many sources of sparks with you, gentle reader, so that you too may serendipitously experience that joy of understanding. if there is one thought i could offer to you, that would bring joy, love, clarity, or understanding to your life, then believe me, the hundreds of hours i've spent on this blog will have been indubitably worth it.