As I'm relatively new to the Blog world, and as a non blogger, I'd be interested to know:

- what started you blogging, and why you keep doing it
- if the type of blog you have reflects the sort of person you are

Emma,

I've kept a few things about myself quiet. I first came to GSTF because of the Blog Idol contest, but have found something much more richer and rewarding which is why I am now going to reveal something....

From October 2007 until I started blogging a little over a month ago.... I had crawled inside a bottle of whiskey and screwed the top on behind me. "Stress" was my middle name. I was trying to deal with success from my haunted house. Success is something that has eluded me only because I allowed it to, but not last year. All the attention sent me packing -- running for the nearest relief. I tried a green haired guy and even cigarettes, but settled on the booze. Drank I did and depressed I was without realizing the drink was worsening my already existing problem.

It wasn't until a person I had considered an adversary told me about blogging -- not for health reasons or to free my soul. He read a post I had left on a thread inquiring on how I could make my haunted house website appear on the front page of the google search engine.

Blogging? I'd heard about it, but never paid it any mind.

On the day I started my first blog, a new world opened up to me. I was able to spill my feelings in writing on the screen and not in a short clear glass. I'm happy to say that thanks to blogging, I haven't had nor desire the whiskey of old. Blogging has empowered me and I owe it all to someone I considered an emeny.

I currently have four blogs and ALL of them reflect four different parts of me.
One is on Autism and living with my son, as you know. The second is about what it's like to be me in my 40's and ornery. The third is a blog on all things haunted including my ghostly experiences and such. The last I just began two days ago. It's called The Flintstones Chronicles and it's just that. I'm a HUGE Flintstones fan and thought I'd share my views on the cartoon with others.

I blog for purely selfish marketing reasons, which by the way aren't doing so well!

That's an amazing story Empress. They say you should keep your friends close, but your enemies closer...which seemed to work out for your haunting website and the world of blogging!

A great question Emma F...

Jim here..heres a bit of history for you first...

We blog, therefore, we are.

The trigger for me (with Em supporting) were the endless hours spent email website content changes to a design based agency on our then static website - GO! Smell the flowers. We were being charged for minor changes and the second it was changed it was out of date.

I went on a bloggers course in Reading in Oct 2006 (I need to get out more) all based on blogger software, rather than Wordpress and returned to Dubai posting once a day to an audience of zero.

We realised that the blog was a great way of refreshing content daily whilst posting updates on GO! Smell the flowers the book. We also went about finding a Floral partner - 3 months later Flora2000 tied up with us just as we switched to the Wordpress software as we hosted GSTF all on Wordpress and the concept of flowers founders were born.

Content in comments from other people from various cultures brought the posts to life and it was a case of dialogue not monologue and the big plus with this was as we started to feature other blogs and then invite others onto post - GSTF Founders were born....

Bottom line - Blogging is a powerful form of self expression that can form part of a legacy.
The words are typed and there they remain....

Put 20 founders together with a emotive concept and watch it blossom....

Group hug anyone?

Yes, please. I'd love a group hug! :-)

I blog because I love conversing with others without having to go through the awkward moments when in person.

Simple Zack is my blog and I would say I'm pretty simple and Zack is my name. So it reflects me fairly well.

I'll get in on that group hug...

Cool...

We'll prepare the incense and candles then!

It could get messy...

Wow - thanks for replying. Empress - I'm glad blogging pulled you up. Stand tall with your head held high.

Sooooo - it looks like there is a bit of you in your blogs. I'm not sure I'd be able to do it. It would feel like standing naked in front of lots of strangers who were all commenting on my saggy bits.

I think that's what I like about Flowers - its the community standing naked for people to explore and find a place to sit. A joint effort.

I started blogging about a month ago as part of my healing journey from abuse and trauma. It has turned into a significant part of the whole process. And, I needed to tell about my life in an anonymous form other than just to my therapist. It has ended up being like a drop in group therapy. Everyone comes and goes at different times, gives positive, enouraging, supportive and constructive comments and people understand on a deeper level what each one on us has been through and is going through. I've connected to a group. Flowers is a place to get away from the depression group...take a break.