Sometimes blogging can be pretty lonely. You have to be there for the highs and lows of blogging. As much as it’s been able to connect me with some wonderful people and introduced me to some amazing opportunities over the years it feels that if you take a moment to blink, the whole scene changes and leaves you behind. I fell in and out of blogging at times over the past 6 years.
Or, more honest than that, life caught up on me and work or relationship issues meant I put my love of writing and social media on the back burner in order to focus on what I felt was most important at the time. I feel like I’ve spent most of my adult life running around putting out one fire, catching my breath and having to deal with the next. Anything that wasn’t urgent got pushed to the wayside.
The problem with that is I really do enjoy blogging. I want this to be what I focus on. It can be such a cathartic experience to write down how I’m feeling or what I’m thinking. There’s this instant sense of release when you share something that’s been on your mind. It could be a post about becoming newly single or about sending your daughter to the other side of the world without you. Writing your feelings down can help put order to them and make the situation make sense. The thoughts of others, when they share their own comments can be so uplifting and feel as good as a real life hug.
But it can be so lonely when you feel nobody cares. Because putting yourself out there makes you vulnerable. It can make you feel somewhat naked. When it feels like nobody is listening to you or even worse, reading your thoughts, checking out your images but not finding it worthy. Below par. You have to develop a thick skin. Because you are putting yourself out there and it won’t always be positive. There are people out there who get pleasure out of putting others down. One of the lows of blogging are the trolls it invites into your life. I’ve not had it too badly in the past few years, but I know of others who’ve received such dreadful, hurtful and abusive comments that it makes you wonder about humanity as a whole.
But if writing, photography, having your own slice of the web means enough to you then it’s worth it.
That’s what I tell myself anyway! I love being online. Social media is ace. Instagram Stories are giving me life right now. Having somewhere to put some of my favourite baby spam is a gift. At the moment, I have so many ideas for blog posts but having a ten week old baby is making me time poor. I think back to how much free time I expected to have when I was still working and laugh at my pre-newborn self. Seriously I should have known better – this isn’t my first time at this here parenting rodeo! As I said, there are highs and lows to blogging. I believe the highs make it all worth while.
My blogging friends
Broadening my thoughts by introducing me to other opinions and lifestyles
Providing me with somewhere to be creative
Providing exciting experiences for my child(ren)
Making myself accountable when I publicly set myself goals
Teaching myself new transferable skills
See, loads of positives. We may moan about the amount of spammy emails that make our way through to our inboxes….but those gems between the hundreds of spam are worth their weight in gold!
You know what I can totally relate. I have been blogging since 2008, but I have stopped and started due to family commitments and work. Kinda kicking myself because if I continued my blog would have grown a lot more! But there came a point that I felt so overwhelmed in juggling all! So I gave up for a while. But Ive always loved blogging so this past year, I’ve decided to get back to it for good. I hope to see you around!
Ah we really are in the same boat! Trying to put my all into it during my maternity leave though it’s been more challenging than I thought, getting back into it. I wish you loads of luck! Going to subscribe to your blog now xx
I hear you. I feel like that at least once per month. Sometimes I feel opportunities pass be me, not for lack of trying but because my stats are not attractive enough or whatever. I almost lost my mind last year when I didn’t get invited to a Moana screening, It was not cute. I had chest pain, headache worrying myself up on the ledge of anxiety. The film was such a perfect fit. Darling Hubby had to give me a stern talking to, then I realised I could see the film with my family and review it in my way will my usual honesty and no pressure. Now, I remind myself what is for me will not pass me. So, I do my do, they way that’s authentic to me and my family.
I can’t imagine life without blogging because its who I am naturally. I like to share what I’ve learnt, as I move I like my people to move with me. No point getting somewhere and you’re alone. Life is fun when you share.
What’s interesting is I look at your instagram feed and your blog and see all these cool events you’re invited to and all these amazing products that are sent to you and it never occurred to me that you could feel the same way! I’m normally a little envious to be honest Maria! xxxxxx Your blog is awesome and I think you’ve done an amazing job over the years