Wednesday, August 15, 2012

From My Archives: The Challenge of Blogging

* What do you find most challenging about blogging?

Wouldn't it be easy for me to say everything? But that would so not be true.

I love blogging. I love writing. I love being me. I love revealing more of who I am to the world at large, or the 400 or so people who may choose to read me on any given day. Or something like that.

I love reading what other people have to say - about themselves, their family members, their friends, books, TV shows, their jobs, their wishes, hopes and dreams. And whatever else is on their minds.

I love connecting. I love putting myself out there and receiving even the tiniest bit of validation in return.

I love commenting. I love reminding people that their words are being read, even if it's just by me.

I HATE no-reply-at-blogger ... uhm, yeah. That's a pet peeve as if I can't get back to you or figure out where you blog or how to email you it's going to drive me somewhat crazy. And with so many people moving to WordPress, that is definitely difficult and showing up more often. I wish there were a way to adjust things so at least I'd know their URL info when they comment.

I'm not the hugest fan of captcha either, and think that people would fare better with comments when they remove that and moderate if they are that worried about spam. I was a late convert to that as I figured it would cause mayhem, but all is well in the GGGR world. Whew. It's all good. (Knock on wood 3x or something like that!)

And sometimes I would say the most challenging thing about blogging is ME.

That would be my answer. Because you know what? It's MY blog. MY space. I put the criteria up for myself. I set myself up to fail. I am the only one who can tell me that I'm too small, too fluffy, too easy, too whatever else I might categorize myself as on any given day.

I learned a lot of things this past weekend at the conference. My very first blogging conference experience. But I also learned that it's okay to just be me. I may not be as big a blogger as some, or as small as others, but the same way I convince myself to accept my size, my motivation or lack thereof, and who I am inside and out, I need to do the same with blogging.

I need to remind myself that I belonged at that conference in Asheville. I belong out here in the blogosphere. I belong wherever I deem myself as belonging. I am worthy. I'm special. I'm me. And I am not going to challenge that anymore.

Or at the very least, not as often as I have in the past. Because damnit, I'm good enough. I'm sweet enough. I'm cute enough. And people like me. So there!

*This work was originally posted here on 6/30/11 after I attended my first Type-A Parent Conference. Many of these sentiments remain the same for me now, so I have decided to pull from my own archives and share. Let me know what you think!


7 comments:

  1. So well said. I love all the main aspects of blogging. I think the hardest thing for me is struggling with how much of me to share. There are times when I want to write about how completely crazy my MIL is, but Im worried she would find it. So I think trying to censor myself and not share everything is the hardest part, for me.

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  2. I go through ups and downs when I feel like this just isn't for me and this job is exhausting sometimes!

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  3. I love a recycled post from archives! Isn't it funny that no-reply and captcha would still have to be my two least favorite things about blogging? It's good to see you! I haven't been over in a while. :)

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  4. Oh I still hate "noreply-blogger" and you are cute, sweet and I do like you!

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  5. Is Captcha the weird word thing at the bottom of comments on some blogs? I never knew the name! And yeah, I think sometimes I'M the biggest obstacle to my blog. I honestly could relate to this post. Thank you!

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  6. I hate that there is always something more that you could do.

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  7. I loved this post. I share many of your loves and some of your pet peeves. I love link backs on comments so I can easily find the people who take the time to comment on my blog. Like you. Thank for reading and commenting. It is good to know that others like me are out here.

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