WordPress has a special photo challenge this week, in which they pose the question:

What inspires you to blog?

Earlier this year, I wrote a blog post here in which I explored the reasons why I blog.  But what is it that inspires me to keep blogging and photographing?

Capturing Beauty

I find beauty everywhere I look, whether downtown during my lunchtime walks or when I take a field trip to seek out photographs.  Not only am I enthused about recording the beauty that I see, but my readers have been enthused about it as well.

Because of the comments I’ve gotten about how pretty my pictures are, the joy they’ve brought for a few minutes, and how much ya’all love them, I’ve been switching my blog over to more photos.  I’m still writing commentary, but keeping it shorter.

Bringing Laughter

Along with capturing beauty, I also find laughter worth sharing.  Much of it involves the dogs and my favorite boy toy, but then again, that’s where my life is lived outside the workplace.

The great thing about laughter is that it relaxes me to edit my photos for sharing and my readers get a smile for starting their day.  Finding something we can all laugh at inspires my blogging.

To understand this picture better, click here to see the sequence of playing ball that leads to the beagle howling at the other dog.

Staying In Touch

My photographs and blog are a place where I can stay in touch with family and friends.  My Mother enjoys seeing my posts and what’s happening in my life, particularly since she lives so far away and neither of us travel by air anymore.

My blog also helps me stay in touch with old friends and make new ones.  It’s like a penpal letter, but written more frequently.  Like my Mother, my friends enjoy seeing my news and hearing what’s going on in my life.  It’s a way for me to maintain that connection with important people whom I no longer see due to distance.

Recording My Life

A year ago in August, I was lamenting how fast the year was going.  In it, I wrote:

My diaries and photos give me some control over time passing so swifly.  I reread the events that happened, look at the photos, and savor it again.  Being able to remember helps slow the time down for me.  My diaries also help me prioritize my time, solve problems, and make lists of what needs to be done, remembered, or appreciated.  They help me focus on living in the present of what happened today or happened this week.

My blog has replaced much of my personal journals and I use it for the same things mentioned above.  It’s not particularly sexy to write about decluttering the house, but recording it up helps me remember that yes, I am accomplishing things that need to be done.

Outlet for My Creativity

Editing and processing my photographs and writing up a blog post are all outlets for my creativity.  They take my mind off work, relax me (most days!), get me outside, and encourage me to notice more than the latest tax law changes that I need for my job.

I’ve enjoyed my day trips to take photos and then sharing it with everyone.  It gives me satisfaction and encourages me to keep on blogging.

What reasons are important change from day to day, but at the end of it, I have plenty of inspiration to blog and share my life.  Thanks to all of you who have subscribed, left comments, and created friendships through our blogs.  I appreciate you all!

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