This weekend I spent the better part of Saturday night running through my list of blogging favorites and newbies. I too often neglect this list, so I made my way around commenting and being generally inspired by their words, stories, and lives.
But I noticed a few had gone silent.
One was taken over by another entity in a different language and I instantly missed her rainbow socks. Our blogs are an extension of who we are and I always thought — whenever I saw those vibrant, candy-colored socks — that we would have a fun time together. Mainly because I have been known to wear a pair with a personality all their own which, by in large says: yo! I have on big socks, take me seriously.
And the exact opposite happens.
I began to wonder: did blogging start to take up too much time, did the words stop because they were muffled by struggle, an illness, or by something awesome happening like they hit the lottery? If I had a winning ticket, I would be throwing hundos in your face and you would be all: UMBRELLA EL-LA-EL-LA, EH-EH-EH and we’d be shining together until I was broke as fuck just like I am now.
Maybe I did hit the lottery.
And you’re probably all: forget SHINING TOGETHER, where is my HUNDO?!
You must have just got here. Bummer.
Blogging is an epic marathon where you publish into the abyss hoping that in all of that darkness a few people show up with a flashlight and shine that light on your words, your story, and find a little bit of themselves in you. And together you can find the sun.
Stay with me here. I know this is grandiose.
Anne Lamott, in Bird by Bird, wrote that all you need to begin and continue is to see as far as the headlights allow.
That’s not only an amazing metaphor for writing and blogging, it’s also good for our lives. I wish those bloggers stuck with it through the storm or the fabulous party. Their words mattered. So did their stories.
Stick with it, folks. Turn on the high beams and let’s have at it. El-la, eh-la, eh.
I stopped blogging about three years ago, and just started back last October. After I started back, I struggled to remember why I quit.
I think it had something to do with being pregnant and epic morning sickness and maybe feeling like no one was listening.
I wish now that I hadn’t stopped, but now I’m glad that I know that shouldn’t stop again.
Love your blog!
Thank you thank you for the inspiration. I ahve been a real estate blogger for years-it is INTENSELY boring-yawn, another market update, yawn another park opening. Then I went to a blogging class (actually dragged to..) by Hollis Gillespie-she of the Bleachy Haired Honky Bitch fame-and regained my mojo. Turning 50 helped too. Like real estate-you have to keep learning, networking, drinking and wearing goofy socks. If I stop at all, it’s only for a coupla days, like going to the beach and taking pics of my fat ugly toes and posting that on twitter….
Mary Anne recently posted..Taxidermy, Fur Coats, and Doll Heads-Welcome to My Sunday
You got it, Mary Anne!
Hahaha, fat ugly toes. I have a pair of those. I don’t have the Fallopian tubes to post them to twitter, though.
Whether blogging for real estate or fugly toe tweeting, keep at it!
My good friend Sara (@tomthegirl) stopped blogging. I went to her site and encountered porn from Denmark. That was interesting.
I have been an off again, on again blogger. I’m always happier when I’m on.
Glad you’re on too, and dig the socks. I only wear big socks. Even if they are tiny, the color is big.
Angel (@themommytsunami)
Angel recently posted..When working on working out and other things that are hard
Porn from Denmark? Is it people having sex with their health care cards held high? Or them just being nice like “please, that put that here. Thank you.”
Go big or go colorfully home.
Thank you for the inspiration. I have been on an unscheduled break, too and you really got my behind in gear this morning. Thanks for reminding me.
Jessi recently posted..Ya’ll Should Revoke My License
No problem, Jessi. I think the longest I have gone is 2 weeks. Maybe. Don’t quote me on that. I also have a crappy memory. But the important part is sometimes you have to stop for a bit to remember how much you miss it.
It IS sad when people just quit blogging. I don’t know which is worse when they just one day disappear or make a big fanfare that they are leaving their blog behind. Either way, I feel like we’re losing out. I guess they are too. I started blogging 2 years ago yesterday and I’ve only done 26 posts. I can barely call myself a blogger. Mostly it’s a time factor. Also it helps if you know others care what you’re up to or enjoy reading you.
There’s so many good blogs out there and I always wonder how many I haven’t even found yet! I just found yours yesterday and I’ve got a lot of reading to do on it (time permitting)!
Chrisor recently posted..Mom’s The Word
I have too many moments where I think “Ahh fuck this. It’s not paying off (financially or otherwise). I feel like no one cares about me or my writing. But just as I am about to click off for good someone tells me my story inspires them.
And then there are bloggers (you included) whom I adore and keep reading (but like a total asshat don’t always comment). Oh, there’s also the fact I threw a good chunk of change into my re-design. How dumb would I be to go through all of that and then just shut it down? Ultimate idiot move.
I can’t stop blogging. Even in the shittiest of moments and thoughts of shutting it down I keep in mind it’s the one thing that keeps me at least marginally sane. And if I didn’t keep writing, well, I’d be really messed up. So, my only option is to keep blogging and hope like hell someday it’ll payoff somehow.
Kim @ Coffee Pot Chronicles recently posted..Stepping Off the Scale