and again...

My blog continues to be an issue with some people. I honestly have searched my brain and my heart as to why people think it is so controversial. I don't get it. Recently I was asked the following question by someone in my life . What is it about writing something down and posting it that appeals to me? As I tried to explain it to them and others I have come to understand it better myself.

Everyone has a hobby...something they do to unwind, de-stress, and recharge. For me that is blogging. My mom's hobby is working in the yard. She loves it. She has to do it. She will go outside and water plants, weed flowerbeds, and trim bushes when none of that really needs to be done. Her yard is always immaculate. It is something that she needs to do on a daily basis for her own well-being. She can handle a day or two without it, but that is about it. She was out of town for 3 weeks this past month. I picked her up from the airport on a Saturday evening, and she said that she wasn't going to church on Sunday. What did she do instead? She worked in the yard. I left for church around 8:45am, had lunch with a friend after church, and arrived back home around 3pm. She was walking out the door to work in the yard when I left that morning, and she was still outside when I arrived home. Now I am sure she came in for a bite of lunch and to use the restroom, but other than that I can guarantee she spent all those hours outside. Unwinding, de-stressing, recharging. And I am so glad she can do that. The yard rarely needs all the work she puts into it, but she does need it. She needs it.

My sister-in-law does crafts. She has a craft room full of fun projects in all stages of completion. It is her hobby. If she couldn't do it she would go crazy. It is a way for her to give herself something. I am so glad she has something that is a therapeutic release for her. She has 20 month old and is pregnant with baby number 2 so having that time to unwind everyday is needed.

I know of people who knit, run, paint, scrapbook, watch tv, sew, take pictures, quilt, read, etc... How is my choice of hobby any different than theirs? The only thing I see differently is that I share my hobby with others. I allow others to read what I am writing. My blog is about my life...the life of an American family living in Turkey. Sometimes it has nothing to do with Turkey. Sometimes I share cultural things. Sometimes I mention friends. Sometimes I share funny stories. Always I try to be real. Always. If it makes you uncomfortable don't read it. If you don't get why I need to do it don't read it. Nobody is forcing anyone to read anything. If you don't like what I write about don't read it. What more can I say?