{enter, positive thoughts} however, from a strengths perspective, blogging has a time and a place. let's make a list of a few good reasons to create a blog...
1. discussion for REAL social and green issues!!
2. family blogs definitely have a special purpose, as so many families live away from one another. families often share photos, words, video, etc.
3. blogging, like journaling, can be self-healing and therapeutic. what a great way to create a support group (or cheerleading squad) to help through a difficult circumstance or situation. this reason really impresses me.
4. blogging can be a way of gaining much needed confidence about self and others. some TRULY talented and unique individuals have taken time to contribute and share their knowledge, in the form of a blog. some individuals receive a great deal of feedback from their readers, which has got to brighten the day and encourage self value - right?
5. blogs are a great opportunity to WRITE -- sharpen the writing skills and learn how to better construct written narrative. a good, creative release of energy.
6. blogs can be used to share powerful messages that are meant to bring enlightenment and happiness, as encouraged by Elder M. Russell Ballard :
"Now, to you who are graduating today...may I ask that you join the conversation by participating on the Internet, particularly the New Media, to share the gospel and to explain in simple and clear terms the message of the Restoration. Most of you already know that if you have access to the Internet you can start a blog in minutes and begin sharing what you know to be true. You can download videos from Church and other appropriate sites, including Newsroom at LDS.org, and send them to your friends. You can write to media sites on the Internet that report on the Church, and voice your views as to the accuracy of the reports. This, of course, requires that you understand the basic principles of the gospel."
starting a blog was somewhat of a "dare"...but it is also giving me something i did not expect: REFLECTION. no, really. for example, i miss my family every single day that i am away from them. telephone calls are a very-frequent occurrence, but being able to share some deeper ideas/thoughts feels like a good thing right now. i am PATIENTLY waiting for a few KEY individuals to begin a similar medium so that we can share more, more, and more. i am certainly able to share on a different level by writing/typing, than i am when i am trying to desperately get through a phone call without so-so and ellie needing something immediately. so, i am using reasons #1, #2, #5, and #6. i read a few blogs that offer reason #4 and some of my blog entries may fall into #3. that covers it.
The capacity to be puzzled is … the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.--Eric Fromm ("The Creative Attitude" in Creativity and It Cultivation ed. by Anderson)
Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way.--Edward de Bono
over the holidays we worked on this most unusual and difficult puzzle! a great masterpiece!
o 
