On the way to the train station a few weeks back the taxi driver asked me where I was going to.
"London"
"Anything nice?" he replied
"Yes, it's a conference"
He looked confused "A conference? Doesn't sound that nice. What's it for?"
"It's called CyberMummy. It's for parents who blog"
Cue a confused look on his face (it was only 5.20am though) "What's a blog?"
I tried to explain in my semi-conscious state.
"Why do you do that?" he looked puzzled.
It got me thinking.
A lot.
If you're not a blogger and you don't read blogs then blogging can be difficult to explain. Why would some people want to blog their innermost thoughts? Why would some people want to essentially have a diary online for anyone to see? Why would some people want to tell the world all about their life?
Some people blog for therapy, some blog to make their voice heard, some want to be writers, some want to do reviews, some want to get freebies, some blog anonymously, some are very much out there telling the world about anything and everything. Bloggers are diverse, we share stories and we support each other and that's why I love it so much. I was embraced so much by the world of blogging when I started at the beginning of the year and I'll be forever thankful for that. I've made some fantastic friends through blogging, many I got to meet personally at Blog Camp and Cybermummy. Of course, I've seen some 'disagreements' in the blogging world but you get that in real life, it's par for the course.
Over the past couple of months my blog has taken a downturn. This was due to my holiday in Italy (I still need to blog about that!) and then picking up some freelance marketing work - I've let things slide. I haven't been on Twitter much, I haven't been involved in conversations, I haven't been commenting on other peoples amazing posts (sorry I am lurking occasionally). Basically blogging has taken a total back seat but it doesn't phase me.
I haven't got a top blog and I'm not after being a top blog, in fact, as most of you know, I felt really uncomfortable when my blog made it into the top 100 of the Tots rank a few months back. I feel more comfortable being where I am now. Being a finalist in the MAD Awards was a total shock to me. I know I won't win it but it doesn't phase me at all as I know there are far more worthy blogs than mine and just to be a finalist is far from any expectations I ever had.
I guess what I'm trying to say in all this is that I just want to enjoy my life and my blog.
So why do I blog?
I blog to share past stories and photographs.
I blog because it's my personal space to do with what I want.
I blog as place to document my journey as a stay at home mum with Mini Cheddar.
I blog because it's somewhere I can look back on in years to come and laugh (or cry) at moments I've shared.
I blog so Mini Cheddar can be proud of her mummy.
I blog so she can enjoy her childhood in the written word when she's old enough to read it.
I blog as a release.
I blog to get my thoughts down.
I blog for fun.
I blog to build friendships.
I blog because I want to.
I blog because I like to.
I blog for my daughter.
I blog for me.
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33 comments:
Lovely. All the reasons why you blog - why I think most of us blog.
You're fabulous, hun!
Although, when MY kids are old enough, they better not feckin' read mine! lol
It's so true; we all blog for many different reasons. It's hard to explain that to someone who doesn't blog but I bet they would love it too, if they tried.
CJ xx
echo, the same as you and also I've struggled to maintain it all in the last few weeks, especially the twitter bit. I remind myself why I started, and I started for all the reasons you mention. Stats are great but this is part of my life not all of it, it should be a good place not a place to fret over.
Great post, and yes, I should try and call in on my next trip to NWales. X
I love this post because I feel the sa,e. My non blogging friends love reading my blog but don't understand what drives me to write my blog given that it does not pay and is not a job! It is about a space for each of us to share what we chose to share and to find our voice x
I think that blogging for yourself is more sustainable really: all that tweeting, bloghopping, scheduled posts etc looks like hard work to me and I blog as a hobby. I wouldn't have time to do more than I do now. And one thing I've noticed about Tots 100, if you stick around and people like what you write, you'll probably spend time in the top 100 anyway - there's a number of long term bloggers in there, who dont do a lot of the things that are supposed to the necessary xx
BTW I nearly didn't comment because you seemed to have Disqus yesterday which I don't like as I have to type in all my details and it often doesn't link back to my blog. Much prefer this :)
There seems to be a lot of bloggers in the same boat at the moment, blogging has got on top of them & made it more of a chore than enjoyment, probably a lot to do with stats - it's not nice to see your Klout score plummet just because you didn't tweet on your family holiday. I like to keep an eye on my scores but they don't bother me, I only write when I have something to write about, which isn't very often at the moment! Everyone does it for their own reasons but the main thing is that you enjoy it..
x
I think the reasons you blog are the reasons I blog- I of course like to keep an eye on my scores and stats just because I am that kind of person in general, and if I get a freebie or too thrown in then that is great, but I started blogging to use my brain on maternity leave and I love it so much now, I will never stop! x
Amen sister - a blog is a voice, not a competitive activity, and your voice shines through so wonderfully. Keep up the great work :)
I blog for me too :)
We all need to be sure of our motives and remember why we started blogging in the first place. If the balance isn't right we can find ourselves consumed by the virtual world, obsessed with stats and buried in review products we don't need or want. Enjoy it Heather!!
Yay to that. I think we all go through these phases and I for one think it's healthy. You need perspective sometimes. I left cybermummy wondering whether or not I wanted to be a blogger at all! But once the dust settled I realised that I needed to be blogging because I enjoyed it, simple as that. You do what you want to do, I for one will still be reading x
Until I read this post (which is a great one btw) I honestly thought the saying was "part of" the course rather than "par for" My husband is laughing his ass off!
Well said! Struck many chords with me. I hope I blog for 'me' too. I see it as way of exercising the creativity that lurks in my brain after years of office work. I used to be clever once ...!!
So many of us are taking a step back and blogging less at the moment. I think a few of us realised it had got too much.
I have spent a few events with @MultipleMummy:disqus lately and we are both blogging less.
Life is as important - more so- than our blogs.
Great post xxx
P.S> I hope to be live blogging at the MADs and I hope to see you there x
Lovely post Heather. Finding a balance is so hard, i think lots of people including myself are struggling a bit lately. I'm glad you have found a happy place for you and your blog. :-)
Best thing I did was let mine slide a bit. Helped me realise where I had got lost along the way.
Sounds like a fab list, hold on tight and enjoy it, enjoy life and the freelance work sounds great - congrats!
Thanks Penny. I think letting mine slide a bit has made me realise where I'm going - you're right x
Thanks for your comment Emma. It is so difficult trying to get the balance right sometimes x
Yeah I think a lot of people are feeling it at the moment, lets hope we all find our happy place :) x
p.s. Yes, hope to see you at the MADs although not sure I'll be making it or not yet.
Well, I never used to be clever haha but I could use the old grey matter a bit. I find it really good to have a focus other than child care. Thanks for the comment :) x
Hahahaha! Well, they do say that you learn something every day so there's yours :) x
Thanks Caroline. I'm glad you are continuing with your blog as you know I love it x
That's what I love about blogging, everyone is different. The diversity of bloggers never ceases to amaze me. Thanks Wendy. Let's organise that next meet up :) x
Thanks Rachel. Oh no! Not a tag ;) Will head over there now. Sorry I didn't see the second part of this comment on my email the other day x
Hurrah :)
I'll hold you to that ;) I hope you don't stop as your blog is fab! x
Thanks Helen. Yes there are a lot of people feeling a bit unsettled and things lately for various reasons. I think Cybermummy was quite overwhelming for most of us but I think it does us all good to reflect on things. My Klout score plummeted from 59 to 50 because of my inactivity on Twitter. When I first saw it go down I got nervous but now I'm not bothered x
Yes, very true. I was so regimented with my blogging before my holiday. I would prep posts well in advance and schedule them etc. but I can't be bothered now. I just blog when I can, when I have some downtime and I have something to say. I don't want it to become a chore, I want it to remain fun x
p.s. Disqus mustn't have been working when you commented because it is installed. I have it so I can reply to people when I need to. If you sign up to disqus it should remember your details so you won't have to put them in each time :)
Thanks, I'm glad you feel the same. That's really lovely to know. I think when blogging becomes a chore, that's the time to stop or take time out x
Thanks Gemma. I think it should be fun and when it stops becoming fun that's when we need to take time out x
Thanks CJ :) I think they probably would. I didn't think I would love it so much but I do. I wish more of my friends blogged....or maybe they do but they haven't told me! x
Hahaha...yeah, keep those kiddos away from the computers when they get older as you don't want them stumbling across THAT ;) x
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