Why I love blogging

There are many reasons why I love blogging: the act of documenting what I'm doing or thinking, the enhanced perception of things I get from always thinking "is that blogging material?", the developing diary I've never had which can be fun to go back through, and more.

However, by far, what touches me most are the personal connections that are created through all this. I met some very cool people in Tokyo through blogging and blogging meet-ups. I still keep in touch through reading their blogs and occasional personal emails. There are also people I feel connected with since they have left many comments on my site even though I've never met them. These online relations really are meaningful...at least for me. It's an exciting and whole new way to interact with my fellow human beings.

And just recently, I received the most touching email from Anne, a person living in Australia, who had been reading my scribblings, unbeknownst to me, for quite some time. She had stumbled across Tokyo Tidbits when she was thinking of moving there. I instantly felt Anne's warm reach and responded. Hopefully she'll get a blog up soon and we can both get to know each other. Kind of like a new version of pen pals. Anyway, allow me to share some of Anne's words.

"Dear Mie,

Well this feels kind of weird but I've been reading your weblog for a

while now...I can't even remember how long...I think it was a little

while after you moved from Tokyo Tidbits to Kokochi. Anyway, I really feel

like I should introduce myself to you since I have been getting to know

you through your blog. It feels somehow...unfair or rude that I should

get to know you and not introduce myself! It's interesting how blogs

can foster new forms of social interaction, where it's hard to know the

etiquette."

Thank you, Anne. I'm not sure if there is any set etiquette, but I totally appreciate your words. It's true that a big part of my life is "out there in public" but it doesn't feel that way, precisely because of interactions such as ours. There's something very meaningful and powerful going on.