For months, when talking to friends about events in my life I would say "Oh, I don't need to tell you all the details, just go to my blog -- it's all there." Whenever anything even slightly noteworthy happened I would think, "Must remember these details to get it on my blog." When nothing noteworthy happened I would think, "Must make dull life into interesting blog post."
Then there was the need to read all the blogs I was following and comments on all the blogs I was following and hope that the blogs I was following would be reading and commenting on my blogs. This meant constant checking of my blog to see who had read it, who had left a comment and who hadn't.
And then (and maybe this was a blessing) my web access at work wouldn't allow me to get to my blog. I could go to other blogs just not my own. This effectively shut me down, as when I got home from work the last thing I wanted to do was fire up the computer. I was starting to feel anxious and also weirdly paralyzed. I'd be letting people down if I didn't blog. I'd be missing my fellow bloggers if I didn't read their posts. There wasn't enough time to work full-time and blog. Arrgghhh!!!
March 8th my future became crystal clear -- in full blown HD no less. And if I didn't do something soon I would be in serious trouble. Sorry to be harping on House, but...
The episode was called "Private Lives" and the sickie was Frankie, an avid blogger. She blogged everything from everywhere. And I mean everything.
Did I want to end up like this?
Nope, not for me. So I turned off my WiFi, closed up my laptop and returned to the BlogFreeZone. I saw a dog sitting in a café sharing a latté with her owner. I didn't blog. My mother came for a visit for a week (I drank a lot of wine). I didn't blog. My best friend turned 40. I didn't blog. I made Lavender Creme Brlueé from scratch. And they were great. I didn't blog. I got new orthotics. I didn't blog.
It was great. It was freedom. It was sheer glorious laziness. It was kind of lonely. I realized I enjoyed the interaction with my fellow bloggers, and I cared about what they were up to. So I'm back but with some personal guidelines:
I will not obsess if I miss a day or two posting
I will not obsess if I miss reading all your wonderful blogs
I will not take it personally if people do not comment
I will try to comment on your blogs, but won't obsess if I don't
I will enjoy the process
I will enjoy the Lavender Creme Bruleé I'm making tonight (and may blog about tomorrow)
9 comments:
Welcome back to blogville. You were missed. I did see that episode of House. I love that show. Have a great. Jude
I missed the episode of "Private Lives"...Must admit I was like that when I first started! LOL!
I love your lists, I guess we both are no longer 'baby-bloggers'. Signs of maturity?! Must also say that simeter.com has helped me to 'settle down' more, knowing that people do come & visit my blog. I wonder if you have it installed yet? Continue to share & be creative dear!
xo*
You've just summed up what I'm starting to feel. Is there ever enough time to blog, work, and be creative? I'm not sure I'm balancing it just right. Thanks for the inspiration to put things right.
Welcome back!!!!
I relate to the blogger's dilemna. It does sometimes feel like this thing you have to keep feeding, no matter how busy you are. And getting away from it can feel really liberating. Then again, the people I've become friends with through this medium I would have never gotten to know otherwise.
Thank you, btw, for your advice on my post. I've been taking a break from the whole situation hoping I'll see things more clearly. One thing is for sure, I probably should contact her one more time just to end things on a note of mutual respect. (And because we live in the same small town) But for now can't help thinking she'll react negatively to whatever I say or write. oh well...
Again, welcome back!!!!
a) i am so glad you are alive
b) i am glad you have figured out blogging that works for YOU according to your terms
c) i am REALLY GLAD you are back, even if it is on a limited basis! i'll take what i can get. :)
hugs to you! :)
Beautiful, sensual & poetic, I love your blog! I'm soo glad you are back!!!
Thank you for nice comment on my blog!
Agneta, the swedish one ;)
Hip Hip Hooray!!!! You're back Lianne!
I did try comment the other day and my computer crashed ... agg another down of blogging.
We all totally understand how you feel and I for one am in awe that you actually took time out. I would love to close down for a while ... but withdrawal symptoms ... I'm a scardy cat.
I just thought that you and boyfriend had won the lottery and were holidaying in Bahamas and searching for your mansion house and lots and lots of dogs ...
I can't believe you made me wait this long to tell me about the dog sitting in the cafe having a latte with its owner!
Yes, yes yes, in real life (as opposed to Inge and Shaz life) I'm hoping to visit USA this year for a holiday but with the purpose of moving to live eventually. Illinois, is that anywhere near Vancouver?
Wayhey, we might meet yet!
Hope you find your blogging groove x
Oooh, I felt like that to begin with and it took AGES to get my sensible head on, as you have now, and it works for me.
I don't understand how people are able to blog every day. HOW???
I only just about manage to fit everything else into my day without trying to bore people to death by blogging about what the milkman said. Actually, I might need to cut down even more, because I AM so very good at boring people!
I am so with you on all of this!! I'm a first-time visitor, coming over from the Table in My Sunroom. I need to slow down, down, down. It isn't so much that I'm 'obsessed' with my blog, it's more that it's my mental/emotional/zen time closet at the end of the day. And I miss it when I don't have enough hours in the day to write at least a little bit of something. Its main concept when I started 5 years ago was to be an online journal for my grandsons to have someday. It's that and so, so much more to me. I love my blog. And I have come to the point where if no one else does, oh well. If they do and come back, I feel very blessed. But I took my counter off a long time ago and that was liberating in itself.
Post a Comment