So, yesterday was Monday and many of you expected to stop by for the weekly Mingle Monday link-up. Except when you stopped by, you noticed no link-up was live...
...and there was a reason for it.
This weekend I was so focused on trying to be present that I simply let not posting roll for the first time in years. And at first, I felt a little guilty or that I had failed my lovely readers, but the truth was that I simply needed a little break.
As bloggers we spend a lot of time investing our creativity and time into our work. We dedicate hours to crafting genuine blog posts, taking photos, editing, and finally publishing. We answer our bloggers comments, encourage our fellow bloggers, and utilize social media.
It's a lot of hard work, and sometimes it feels a little exhausting.
Have you been there before?
Many of us all have full time jobs on top of blogging, so after we've been working all day, we choose to carve out even more time to dedicate to our favorite hobby. And more time means less time for other things. Important things. Things that sometimes need to be a priority.
But the truth of it all?
Sometimes I get so caught up in an obligation to blog that I forget to be present and soak in the little moments. I get lost in the pressure.
Do you know what I did on Sunday night instead of working on my blog post?
- I spent quality time with my husband just talking a reading books curled up with each other.
- I relaxed.
- I played with our puppy.
- I went to bed early.
It was heaven and absolutely needed.
.:::.:::.:::.:::.:::.
So after thinking about the unrealistic expectations we as bloggers put on ourselves, I wanted to share a few truths that encourage me, and hopefully inspire you too...
1) Be present.
We spend a lot of time making sure we have photos to document our weekend, that we forget to enjoy the moment we are actually photographing. It' great to have beautifully visual blog posts that tell great stories, but what is a blog post compared to making memories. Isn't that the point, to document memories? There is definitely a fine balance, and I confess that it's tough to find, but is very necessary.
2) You don't have to keep up with the Joneses.
It's hard for me as a blogger to see perfectly crafted posts 5 days a week from my fellow blog friends, and not feel obligated or pressured to do the same. The truth of the matter? These bloggers are fantastic. They should be proud of their work and readership, but what I need to remember is that some of them do this for a living. This is their full time job, and they have been doing this a lot longer than I have.
I've also come to the realization that I can only do what I can do. After all, I am my own boss, right? I want to blog inspired. To share what I care about when I feel like blogging. I don't want to simply throw things together to say that I posted something that Thursday.
I want to focus on quality over quantity. To set my own goals and stop comparing myself to others. To strive toward posting not only great things and gorgeous photos I worked hard to capture, but to also strive to be transparent with the fact that I am not perfect. So set your own rules and goals and let that pressure go.
3) You are good enough.
The beautiful thing about blogging is that your blog is your baby. Your creative space. Your getaway. It's so easy to get lost in the hub bub of seeing bigger blogs with thousands and thousands of followers and feeling like an amateur in comparison. But you know what? It truly doesn't matter. This is my blog, and it's good enough for me. As long as I am creating, sharing, and growing, I have accomplished my goal. And if people choose to experience my adventures with me, well that is a very sweet and flattering bonus.
But remember, you are good enough. I mean, do you know that many people brave enough to bare their hearts and share about their life for all to see? It takes courage and dedication to do what you do. So take heart and be proud of the confidence you have to share.
You keep doing you!
So there you have it... sometimes it's okay to be a "bad blogger".
I think we all could use a little reminder to keep living life and doing what you're doing.
Just be the best YOU that you can be.
