A blog is an interesting thing. Kind of a mix between a journal and show and tell. For me, my blog was a way to get my sister off my back. She kept telling me to start one, and I finally gave in. Thank goodness for sisters... she must have known what I needed.
I quickly found the other blogs for families in our ward and began to visit them faithfully. I felt a little like I was in a special club. I especially loved it when those wonderful ladies actually responded to one of my posts. Score. I was feeling so cool!
After only a short time, I had fully discovered the thrill of positive feedback and the agony of negative comments.
So, I did what any comment crazed person does and began to get listed in blog directories. My blog stats went up. Comments jumped from 3 to 6 - I know... Crazy! I started getting followers. Ego boost. People I didn't even know told me some really nice things. Things that I loved. But those I actually know pretty much stopped making comments altogether. And that is ok... I just have to remember that blogging is not real life.
I keep telling myself that I want to keep my blog real. Tell it like it is. I imagined a more sarcastic self. A more witty author. Someone who brings a laugh to the table everytime. But I have learned something about myself... This is who I am. And I am pretty reflective. Sentimental. Only with occasional humor. If you were to read my journal or have a conversation with me... I would be pretty much the same. My journal might contain more references to odd bodily functions... But who really wants to know that anyway.
I fight the daily need for comment reinforcement and trying not to get caught up in the blogosphere. I love blogging for the emotional release... But would I keep it up if no one commented? Probably not. And even though I tell myself this is just for me... I get sad if someone feels negatively about a post or interprets something I said wrongly.
But, I have decided I am good where I am bloggy wise. I like sharing what I share. Even if it only gets one comment. I have decided I like what it is showing me about myself. (But if I happen to get a whopping 6 or 7 comments, I think I am pretty dang cool -- Nevermind that some of you really know how to work a blog -- getting upwards of 30, 50, even 100 comments EASY! ;-))
So, who knows how long it will last. But here I am. And I rather like it.
9 comments:
Im with you on that. I post what I feel....good or bad, funny or sad. I try to remember that it is for me.....and Im just lucky enough that a few people read. But I do love comments, I think we all do. Your blog is great the way it is, keep up the good work:-)
I, too, post what I want...the real me... most of the time lol.. sometimes I get carried away. I like your blog.. I know how you can get 100 or more comments..giveaway something...oy vay... although I like and do enter some of them I don't see those as real comments... Anyway..stay who you are...You are a cool mom! and an awesome blogger!
AND WE LIKE YOU BLOG FRIEND.
HOPE YOUR AROUND FOR A LONG TIME
HUGS FROM MAINE
I love this post! Did I mention how pretty you look today!
I'M glad you're here.
And I could've written this post word for word.
You sure you don't have a little recorder in my brain?!
Hey, blogging brought us together. How else would I have met you? I think you're great, and I totally agree. I have to say, though, that I would still blog even if I didn't get any comments; I would just turn the comments off. If you read my earliest post, you'll find no comments, even though some of these are my most heart-felt posts. And now I do get my feelings hurt if no one comments. I need the positive reinforcement from time to time.
I love reading your blog. I love your honesty and wit. Even though I don't always have a comment, I'm still listening.
I completely agree! I began blogging as a way to honor my commitment to myself to write something each day. I didn't even know people could comment on a blog! I learned quickly when someone "ANON" emailed me and told me if I wasn't going to comment on a blog that I shouldn't visit because it was rude! lol!
I blog for my self, my family and friends. I enjoy the creative outlet. And like you, what you see on my blog is who I am.
Props to you, sister for staying authentic to who you are!
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