Solitude, You and Me

My "about me" is a little misleading. It sounds a bit like I'm creating this blog for myself. Learning about blogging as a communication tool - and adding it to my toolbox - is part of the "why I do it". But I got a friendly kick in the tail today. Really, this blog is about you, dear reader and blogger in community. Just like I depend on others blogging - as I like to comment - some of you may visit for the same reason. Though with 50 million or so blogs, you'd think there would be more commenting going on :) So I resolve to think first of others in these posts. No guarantee of value but you will always have an opportunity to comment!

The inspiration for this post comes from over at ProBlogger. I saw it a couple days ago and it's been rattling around ever since. Be sure to view the video posted - its less than a minute long. And the thoughts at Presentation Zen are worthwhile - but a little long <------judgment call (like I should pass judgment - HA!). Three years ago, I began working toward becoming more healthy. It was a lifestyle change and resulted in significant weight loss. In addition to making better choices in what I ingest there was an increase in movement and exercise. I walk. I walk a lot. Most days I walk twice for a total 5-10 miles. I love to walk. (somebody help me with kilometers?) Here's where the solitude comes in. For the first year of my walking, I was alone. Over 1500 miles of being alone in thought. Gets downright personal. Its easy to center on the activity of walking. It also gives a chance to work on an idea to the point of making it a reality. This is a critical point in blogging. Its not a post until its written :) About 18 months ago, I started walking with a friend during my lunchtime. I really enjoy her company and the conversation. Still had my morning walk....until a year ago. It was then I gained a morning walking partner. Wouldn't trade any of the times with him either. Some of my happiest moments are with them. We talk, we laugh, we cry, we discover our humanity. Until today, I wouldn't have given lost solitude a second thought. But today - at lunch - I walked alone. It was nice. The snow crunched beneath my boots - ever notice how loud snow is? - the 14 degree weather iced my mustache. And I came up with the idea of this post. I came to the realization that blogging is for others. Solitude will do that - won't you try it? Be good to yourself. I've had many new visitors to One Reader this past week. Thank you Robyn for leaving a comment. Thank you Gavin for the encouragement. My gut feeling is with fresh posts visitors will help build community - one at a time.