I don’t know exactly where I am going with this post or
if there is even a point. I think I am
just “talking” out loud on the blog.
Opening the door for communication.
So for the past 2 ½ years or so, blogging for me has been
low. Between work and having Henry and
random life stresses, things got in the way and my ability/desire/time/creativeness
to blog decreased tremendously.
Sometimes I have wanted to be away from the blogs, but more often than
not I just have been too wrapped up in myself and family and work and stresses to
even compile an understandable blog post to write down. Seriously, you should read some of the drafts
I have saved; they make zero sense and are nothing more than random ramblings!
(That should be my new blog!) :-)
I know for me the battle between finding time and finding
something interesting to post about are a constant struggle. (What, you are telling me you wouldn’t get
bored seeing daily pictures of my child or cats?!?!) I look back at some of my old blog posts and
I thoroughly enjoyed writing them and thought they totally reflected me at that
time in my life, and let’s be honest…..were pretty darn funny! Maybe it was because I knew there was an
audience who “got me” or perhaps I just had more time or perhaps blogging was
new and the only social media in my life and I just enjoyed it more. But, after 7 years of blogging (first post
July 25, 2006!!) I just feel a bit lost when it comes to blogging. Besides the time and energy it takes that I
am just not always as willing to give I have thoughts go through my head: “have
I written all this before, are you tired of hearing my rants, tired of seeing
my kid, is there anything new to talk about?!?!”
But it doesn’t seem like it is just me who has slowed
down (or even stopped) blogging. It
seems like the frequency to which many of us post or comment has become less
over the past couple years. Sometimes a
few days go by without a blog post, where as I recall in the past barely being
able to keep up with all the bloggers and their posts!!
I know sometimes I will read posts but may not comment at
the time or refuse to comment from my phone (loathe typing on my phone) and then just forget to comment. Or I see that many people are not commenting
so I don’t post anything new on my blog.
I think this is common for others.
I think when posts are low and comments received become less frequent,
the motivation to post more decreases because let’s be honest…..while we do
post some things for just ourselves, there are other posts we are writing to
share and receive feedback and acknowledgement.
And I can’t help but wonder….is it just our age and the
points we are at in our lives that has caused us to turn our attention away
from blogging?! For me personally, seven
years ago (at the young age of 26) I didn’t have a kid, wasn’t married yet,
didn’t have a house, wasn’t trying to balance a husband in school and work with
my work, there were fewer additional stresses…..really life was centered around only
myself. And that is OK! If I wanted to come home and nap after work I
did. If I wanted to blog I did. I was a few years out of college, had a great
job, new friends and was coming out of my shell. I had plenty to say about everything! Now, other things/people take up much of my
time. Even if a child wasn’t in the picture,
I know I would still be giving more in other areas of my life and the
motivation to blog would decrease.
So is it as simple as life just got busier for us when we
got into our 30’s and that is why blogging has decreased?! Or is it something else?
Many times I also wonder if people move on to other types
of social media. Blogging does require a
bit more time and now there are many more avenues out there to be a part of and
allow us to socialize with others. So
has the ease and quickness of things like twitter, facebook and instagram
provided us with that instant communication and gratification from social media
that we desire, without having to put the time into a long blog post. A “like”
or a “heart” on a status or picture still provides both parties with that curiousness,
sharing, and acknowledgement that we are looking for without asking others to
make too much of a fuss and without us having to spend too much time posting
it.
I know for me, I have started (reluctantly) moving to easier
outlets (damn you instagram), especially when things get busy or I am on the go.
But don’t get me wrong, I love blogging. I love having this “journal” to look back
on. I like to be wordy (obviously) and I
adore the relationships I have made through these blogs the past 7 years as
well as the relationships that have continued to grow through the blogs. I love not having status updates all the time, links to things I don't care about, pictures of things I am suppose to like if I care about others, people's political views (UGH).
But sometimes, you still want the relationship
and communication with those individuals without all the fuss. And now that relationships have been made,
communication outside of social media is happening and therefore maybe it isn’t
always necessary to seek advice on the blogs when I can just send an email or
get together. The thing is, you KNOW
these people now. You may see them
outside the internet in the real world!! You may even care for many of them and
have a vested interest in their lives and family. You have moved past the creepy stalker stage
and the courting stage and truly have formed friendships with these
people. So because of that, maybe your
only communication with them isn’t just on the blog now….like perhaps it was
before and therefore the desire to blog as frequently has declined.
Or maybe…..Yes, I have lots of "maybe's"....
Maybe sometimes we all just need to step away. Perhaps because we DO put ourselves out there
so much on blogs, instagram, twitter, facebook, LinkedIn, text messages, emails, and the
tons of other things we get involved with that maybe something has to
give. Maybe at some point we STOP
sharing so much and take pleasure in in our privacy. Sometimes I just have to STEP AWAY from
technology and social media. Between
sitting at a desk infront of a computer for 9 hours a day and then having a
stupid smart phone, both that gives me easy access to the internet, I just
constantly feel CONNECTED. Connected to
everyone and everything and what is going on with everyone that I “follow” every minute of
every day. And sometimes, I want to be
disconnected. I NEED to be disconnected. I think it is too much for my brain….my brain
actually feels like mush by the end of the week that by the time the weekend
comes around I just want to be disconnected from everything and everyone!! I feel a struggle between my urge to know what people are up to and
the need to ignore it and focus on just myself, even if it is just for a little
bit.
Or could it even possibly be as simple as the fact that I have grown and now my blog needs to grow and evolve and reflect who I am now and since it hasn't, that is why I feel a disconnect to it.
Perhaps the lack of blogging is a combination of everything.
Perhaps it is none of the above and nothing more than the
fact that blogging is a passing fad, and like all fads and many things in
today’s society, they fade away when something newer comes along.
Perhaps this entire post was me just rambling because my
brain has turned into mush from all the access I have to technology and people
and knowledge and random information that I just need to write it all down in an attempt to reboot and make room in the jumbled mess that is my mind!
Perhaps it means I miss this blog. That I miss blogging. That I miss the interaction I have with friends
and sharing my thoughts….as random as they may be. (I do miss blogging.)
Perhaps it is also the realization that I need to find a
balance between technology, social media, and life that I seem to be
lacking. Something has to give. I need to find the outlets that make me happy,
but I don’t need to do it all nor stay connected all the time.
Perhaps I should ask YOU what you think!!
Do you blog regularly? Comment regularly? Do you find you have more/less/same amount of
time to blog now than when you started?
Do you prefer other social media outlets over blogging?
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