There’s the sound of the railroad horn in the distance. The laughter of a girl. Cherry Garcia FroYo. And there is blogging.

Call it a hobby. Call it a career. Call it a passion.  Here are some of the reasons why I am thankful for freelance blogging.

– Blogging Reignited My Passion to Write. Early this century my journalism degree was gathering dust. Caught up in a world where I was trying to establish a “career” for myself, I found little reason to write. But blogging opened up a door to a world of writing…without an editor. Freedom! My grammar might not be perfect, and spelling errors, well, yeah, they happen. But removing the hurdle of having someone change what I want to say…a huge score!

– Blogging Builds Relationships. They may not be part of my inner circle, but I have formed some valuable and fulfilling relationships thanks to blogging. I hear from people all around the world.  Some are insightful, others are opinionated, but all are engaged. This feeling of connectedness is important to me in a somewhat disconnected world. 

– Blogging Is a FREE Hobby. With no equipment necessary, no entry fees, and no expensive “collectibles,” blogging is an economical hobby, one that fills time in a positive way — without draining your bank account. The coolest part is that blogs are like “manly” diaries, with your thoughts archived for life.  For virtually no cost, I can look back on this post in 20 years and laugh or cry about it. That’s priceless!

– Blogging Puts Me on the Path to Self-Employment. It won’t happen overnight, and it might never come to fruition, but blogging puts everyone on the path to potential self-employment. The greatest part is that you can transition as slowly (or as quickly) as you like. Whether or not this is a goal for you, it at least lets you cast a hook into the self-employment pond. Hey, you gotta be in it to win it, right?

– Blogging Lets Me Tap Into My Creativity. I live for creative vision; it keeps me young, happy, and feeling alive. From layout to imagery to making money, a good blogger must be a quick thinker – someone who is willing to let their creative juices slop all over the floor. Somebody get me a mop!

– Blogging is Therapeutic. And it costs less than therapy. As a blogger, you get to air your grievances publicly and have the world comment. This dialogue can help you blow off some serious steam. And for the days when blogging isn’t enough, I always have the heavy bag to hit in my basement.

I am grateful for so many things, and this year, blogging makes the list. If you’re reading this, I’m grateful to you too.

Except that’s not true. At least, that’s what I tell myself. 

As the father of a newborn, I realize more than ever how important it is to squeeze precious seconds out of every minute that I get.  Here are a few places you might find me honing my blogging skills.

RED LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS
Before you lecture me on distracted driving, read on! Every time I am idle in the car, I use the opportunity to focus on my breath, inhaling deeply and exhaling smoothly. My Zen hero Thich Nhat Hanh taught me that the best way to clear my mind, focus on the present, and relax myself to be receptive to creative ideas, is to simply breathe. A traffic stop is the perfect place to do this. In fact, some of my best blog ideas have come using this technique.

WAITING ROOMS
When you go to see a doctor or dentist, there’s a good chance you’ll be waiting. Rather than reading a three-month old sports magazine you could care less about, take out your smartphone or pad and start on your next blog post.

STANDING ON LINE
The person in front of you is pulling out their coupon pouch, so you know it’s going to be awhile! Might as well get your thumbs cracking and text message yourself a few notes for future blog entries.

HOLDING
Whether it’s your buddy picking up the other line or some hideous customer service rep subjecting you to Kenny G., it’s rare to have a phone conversation these days without getting put on hold. Use the time to pull up your latest Web stats, research SEO or unsubscribe from annoying spam. Oh, and if you’re put on hold for more than 90 seconds – hang up.

WATCHING ADS
If you are still resisting DVR and watching live TV, you are wasting your time! After you grab a snack and empty your bladder, start blogging before your show comes back. By the time you add up all of the ads, you could write a post during a 30-minute sitcom.

SLEEPING
I don’t view sleep as a “time suck,” but hitting the snooze button is! Get your butt out of bed and face the day head on!

GOSSIP
Engaging in gossip is a no-no. Not only does it waste your time, but you are aiding and abetting the spread of information that has the potential to hurt other people. Don’t engage, use the time to blog instead.

So if you’re sitting there waiting for your PC to boot up, you are wasting time! Fill the gaps with blogging tasks and you will never lose another second!