The Lost Art of Blogging

 Eric posted his annual blog last week about the top 10 books he read in 2025.  Interestingly, that's really the only post he's made on our blog (annually) in over 5 years...well, maybe this isn't interesting to anyone, especially if you look at our blog sidebar and note that none of our friends have posted in at least eight years.  But for me, I can see that we used to post a lot, even several times per week when we were preparing to go and then deployed in Kenya.  It was sometimes tedious to think of things to write, but more typically, it was a fun chance to reflect on some events that had happened, synthesize some thoughts, and share them with the world. 

It seems like the blog is mostly a medium that has come and gone.  Social media seems to be the most popular mode of communication, or video logs on youtube and elsewhere.  But recently I was reflecting with Eric that I miss being able to share stories with people.  Facebook just seems like an endless string of political rants and advertisements.  Instagram is only photos (probably I can share stories there but as I feel my age, I will admit that the medium remains rather a mystery to me).  I don't like videoing myself, preferring to write instead of talk.  In some ways, blogging used to be like my journals, and I miss that.  How do I share my accomplishments of reading over 6000 pages of Brandon Sanderson in 2025?  Or making an awesome new noodle recipe?  Or getting close to throwing the Ring into Mount Doom (on my epic walking app)?  They are small and basically insignificant moments...except for me.  And perhaps it's arrogance to think to share them with people, but maybe this helps me feel connected.

So for 2026, I'm setting a goal of trying to blog several times per month.  Maybe no one will read them (certainly no one is checking our blog regularly after 5+ years of inactivity!).  But I'm trying this little experiment for me, because I think it will be good for me to write again.

Happy new year, all.