When Private Thoughts Became Public Connections
Rea,
We’ve been working on setting up a travel blog for our upcoming adventures together. That got me thinking about how writing down our experiences has changed over time, from private diaries locked with tiny keys to stories shared with the whole world.
In 1997, a computer programmer started something he called a “weblog” – simply a log of interesting things he found on the web. The name got shortened to “blog,” and a new form of sharing was born. Today, there are hundreds of millions of blogs worldwide.
One of the most powerful examples of blogging’s impact comes from Malala Yousafzai. At just 11 years old, she wrote an anonymous blog for the BBC about life under Taliban rule in Pakistan. Through simple, honest posts about her daily experiences – going to school despite threats, hearing explosions in her neighborhood, and dreaming of a better future – she helped people around the world understand complex events through a child’s eyes. Those blog posts were the beginning of her journey to becoming a global advocate for girls’ education and the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner in history.
In the early days of blogging back in 2001, I had a blog for many years where I shared interesting things I found online. Then I stopped for a while, thinking I was too busy. Two years ago, I started again – this time writing more long-form content about AI – and rediscovered how writing helps me notice the world more carefully.
For our travels, a blog could be like dropping breadcrumbs through time – marking the path so we can find our way back to those moments years later. When you’re traveling, asking yourself “What surprised me today?” can reveal the most interesting observations. It’s often these unexpected moments that make the best stories and sharpen your ability to notice what others might miss.
Writing regularly is like exercising a muscle – it gets stronger with practice. Studies show that people who write about their experiences for just 15 minutes a day show improved memory and communication skills after just two months. This fundamental skill of communicating what you see and experience clearly is valuable no matter what path you choose in life – whether you become an engineer, doctor, or anything else.
The real power of blogging isn’t about gaining an audience – it’s about developing your ability to observe carefully and express yourself clearly. Malala’s blog changed the world not because she used fancy words, but because she could communicate her reality in a way others could understand. That’s a skill worth developing, and our travel blog could be the perfect place to start.
Love, Abba
