Why I Write

When I first opened my practice, I made a commitment to publish a blog post once a week. Originally, the intent was to update my website in the hope that consistently generating new content would boost my SEO (search engine optimization). I thought this would help people on the internet find me and my office.  

I looked at other sites, watched too many Facebook videos about internet marketing, and started reading books about how to boost digital presence. There is a lot of information out there. One of the tidbits that I believe applies to all writing is knowing who the audience is. This seems to be an important aspect in honing what and how one writes.

After 7 months, I realized who I was writing for.

I write for myself. I consider this blog a meditation and I write as a way to record and distill the important observations and lessons I’m learning in life and in practice. It's a way to remind myself that I can be a better human, that I can continue to learn how, and that the often messy business of living is a practice and process. I don’t have it figured out, but I’m working to improve.

I see now that my intent for this blog is, and in a way always was, modelled after the writing of Marcus Aurelius. His famous work is called Meditations, but a closer translation of his title Ta eis heauton is “to himself.” Even though he was the emperor of Rome, he wasn't telling anyone what to do. His writing was for an audience of one. He was reminding himself what the important things to focus on were.    

I share my meditations for 2 reasons. There is a sense of accountability that is inherent in making them public. It encourages greater discipline to put into practice what I am learning, even though at times this is much easier said than done. Also, I believe that if these observations are valuable, they aren't valuable solely for me. If in sharing I can pass forward something of value, then it won’t do to keep it to myself. This is why I write.