I have a friend who has no patience for blogging. She feels it's waste of time; self centered people rambling on about their own little lives. I don't completely disagree with her. There's a lot of that out there. But there's so much more.
Lately I've been pondering about why I blog. What roll does it play in my life? Is it something I should continue? How much of my blogging is about selfish pride? Let's face it, most of our posts are about ourselves. I tried to write a post once without referring to myself in any way, and I couldn't do it. It's also quite an ego boost when you get great comments and see your following increase --not that I have many followers, but watching it go from nothing to the 20's felt good. Impressive, huh? I'd be less than honest if I didn't admit that's part of why I do this. I don't necessarily have answers to all these questions, but I think they are worth asking.
There ARE drawbacks to this whole bloggy thing. The biggest negative for me? It's soooo easy to spend WAY to much time and neglect my home and the wonderful people who live here. (For example, I'm supposed to be balancing the checkbook right now, one of my hate jobs, but I enjoy blogging much more and so, here I am). There's always the temptation to click on one more link, and then one more, and life becomes unbalanced. (And even if I find the right balance today, it will still be a struggle to find it tomorrow.)
The benefits are just as real. I've met wonderful new friends. (Bloggy friends gave me the inspiration to wage my own mini anti-smut campaign in my neck of the woods.) I know exactly where to go for tutorials on everything from home decorating and crafts, to cooking, cleaning and organizing. (But to be completely honest I don't generally DO any of the tutorials myself, I just read them and think they're cool). Another benefit is simply the fun of it all. No guilt here about doing it just 'cuz I like it as long as I keep it from taking over my life.
My two favorite benefits? 1. I'm writing regularly! I've long known that to improve my writing skills, I need to simply put in the time and write, often. But knowing and doing are two very different things (remember Elder Bednar's Conference Talk?). Enter, blogging. Now I write at least weekly (even when I don't post) and my writing is improving! I'll never be a Hemingway (I confess I've never read anything by him), but improvement is always a beautiful thing and is met with palpable smiles from above. 2. With the exception of three years in my late teens, I've never kept a journal. I know I should, but I don't. And I feel guilt. My blog is a record of my thoughts and feelings and of some of the doings of my family; again, I feel heaven's approval and the burden of guilt on the journal front lifts! (I remember someone posting that her blog couldn't count as a journal and I vehemently disagree!!!)
So my question: Why do you blog? Have you considered calling it quits? Give me your thoughts.
I would agree with your two positives! I have given some thought to starting a blog without telling anyone and just journal and ramble about thoughts in my brain. For some reason it is easier to type instead of write. Either way I love hearing ( I guess reading) about the going ons in your world!
ReplyDeleteI started my blog for a class in college. we were supposed to write responses to our readings, reflections on our work, etc. I kept it after that as a journal of my academic progress, I guess. it still has a bit of that feel... slightly more professional than personal--but lots of random philosophizing gets in there too.
ReplyDeleteI love my blog, and I've never thought about letting it die. that would be sad...
but sometimes I wonder about changing its focus. so far it's just morphed on its own, but someday maybe it will have a more specific theme of some sort..
I started my blog as an assignment from the state library, through on-line classes. I admit I am not very regular, and find it hard to say much, but I love checking out all the blogs by my amazing family and friends. I so enjoy the witty way you put your thoughts together... perhaps someday I will find a way to do the same!
ReplyDeleteI blog because I want to be a writer. And I am completely in love with words. Is it narcissistic? Maybe sometimes, but I think we can try really hard to NOT let it become like that. Now, the next thing I say might come across as prideful. I don't mean for it too... But, the thing is, I'm happy doing what I'm doing... this whole mothering thing isn't always easy but it can be a wonderful, joyful, enriching experience. I feel like if I can share that feeling on my blog, then maybe others can benefit. Over the 2 and 1/2 years that I've been blogging, I've gotten several emails from people that I don't know thanking me for my perspective. If I can help one person feel better through my writing, then for me, it's worth it. I've also had old friends start investigating the church because of things written on my blog... also another positive. Many of my posts are pointless. Many others are probably much too much about me. But I TRY, and that's the keyword, to write things that make me feel good, and could quite possibly make others feel good too.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I've also met some AMAZING people through blogging... people that I will always consider friends.
But mostly... it's about the words. Even if my audience is small, writing for an audience has been a remarkable way to practice writing in general.
I've never considered shutting the blog down... I've taken breaks, stepped back for a few weeks at a time when I feel overwhelmed with other stuff, but it's too much of a record, too much of me to get rid of it all together.
As for finding balance, the "click all as read" button in my google reader is my favorite button. When there simply isn't time to read blogs, I don't...
I'm glad you blog, and hope you don't stop. You are good at it, and that whole happiness thing I was talking about earlier... you GET it. Again... a perspective that needs to be shared. :)
I don't blog. I guess I don't feel I have that much to say. But I DO read blogs and I really enjoy reading yours. So, since I LOVE to balance checkbooks, I'm offering to balance yours so you can blog so I can read:-) Deal?
ReplyDeleteIt's the writing thing for me, too. And also, I'm an attention hog. At least I know it, right?
ReplyDeleteBlogging also helps me to feel . . . connected to the rest of the world even when the only thing I seem to be plugged into is my children. It helps me still think like a human, and keeps my brain stimulated even when I'm only folding laundry or doing dishes. Before the blog, I was still constantly turning over phrases in my head, testing the feel of a particular combination of words as I rolled them around in my mouth . . . and now, I write them down, too.
A little self-centered? Maybe. A viable outlet, and one that, if used appropriately and in proper balance, can actually help me fulfill my roles as wife, mother and servant of the Lord? Definitely.
Love your blog!
I blog because... I like to rant, and writing what bugs makes me get over it better. But it is crazy that there are people I have grown to care about that I've never met. It's like pen palls, only for today. I feel good about it. I'm glad that you blog, because I totally miss you, and this is a way to keep up on your life. I love you Sis!
ReplyDeleteThank you soo much for sharing your thoughts, etc. I find joy in your words, its always fun to find out whats going on in your neck of the woods,and to smile every time I tune in. Hugs
ReplyDeleteEven though I know I can call you almost any day and see you about once a month, pulling up your blog is always a highlight and makes me feel like I am kind of keeping up on what's happening in your life. Does my blog count as a mission journal? For me it does even though I'm not very regular. Most of the big stuff gets at least mentioned and that's lots better than nothing.
ReplyDeleteLove the question. I've thought about it many times, and could write an entire post on it! Mostly though, it makes me happy. I feel connected to others, and it's a sort of a witness and validation to my existence. :) I love to write, and it works my brain in a way that laundry just doesn't. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's my family record AND a way to show pics to all the family and friends out there. It's a way to remember the details in my life that I know I'll forget otherwise. Also, happy anniversay!!!
ReplyDeleteI blog because it is my journal. I don't have time to put all our family happenings in two places, and writing with my hands takes a lot of time. I enjoy reading other's blogs, I keep updated on their lives when I don't always get to talk to them. I am going to try to get my blog made into a book that we can keep and read later on.
ReplyDeleteI blog for me. I think you are the only one who reads it! There are things on my blog that I would not have documented otherwise and I am glad I have written them down. Someday I will get back to scrapbooking, but for now this is how I am recording a few random things.
ReplyDeleteI too have never been able to keep a journal; so this is my way of jotting things down, reflecting, ranting ~ whatever my mood may be! And I love to look back at what I've written (which isn't much yet!) And I love to read other people's blogs and look at their pictures! I'm naturally a very quiet person (bet you would have never guessed) :)
ReplyDeleteso blogging helps me share myself with others and also helps me get to know others even better. Sometimes I worry about it taking me away from things more important and unfortunately it takes me FOREVER to write a simple thought ~ but I have to give it its rightful place on my list of important things to do. Thanks, Lisa for sharing your thoughts. I definitely enjoy the read! For me blogging=a quiet way to keep up with friends! Happy blogging!
Oh man! I wish you'd written this post and I'd read it a year ago when I was writing my master's thesis on mommy blogs (you can read it on my blog if you want). Maybe some day I will write my doctorate thesis on a similar theme and then I'll look up this post (if you still have your blog then). :D
ReplyDeleteI know it's been a while since you wrote this, but I just happened upon your blog, and it interested me. I have been wanted to create a place for me to start selling my scrap book pages that I create and I came across you page from another page I was on. I don't know why your page made me look into blogging but it did. I started looking at everything you had on here, and liking it more and more. I started looking at how you did all this? What you used to create it. I am not sure exactly how you do it all and what your using, but I found the Blogger.com and then created a blog. I have not blogged yet. I don't really know where to start. I am just going to take it one step at a time. I have spent the last 2 hours just going through everything it has to offer, and now I am trying to figure out how I want to display my work. However, I noticed that this blogging looks like it is more for expressing our thoughts maybe? Not really sure of all this techie stuff. I am good with computers and move around after playing with new things for a bit, however I think all these web page, blogger, type things are kind of confusing for me right now. I am not sure which one I am suppose to do etc. I guess I just need to keep researching before I really finish the blog I started. One of the Reasons I am responding to your you is that you had mentioned how you want to write more to get better at it. I too wish for that for me. I also liked how you talked about some think blogging is selfish. I am glad you wrote what you did, it helped me to realize that we are not being selfish, we just like to share with others (0= Well, thanks for sharing your thoughts, and I hope I can catch on to better do what you do. I also hope I can find the right place to sell my creations (0=
ReplyDeleteThanks