Well, hellllllllooooo there! It’s been well over a month since I last wrote a blog post, and I hope that my time away didn’t push this little site in to the bowels of the Internet graveyard. Because I imagine that place to be filled with old Youtube clips of Saved By The Bell and reviews of Milli Vanilli, and no one wants to be there.
I would like to say I spent this hiatus reevaluating and making goals for blogging. That I stepped away and had time to reassess things, come to some conclusions, and am returning to writing fresh and anew with a binder full of ideas and a game plan. Sounds pretty good, right?
But did I actually follow through with that lofty goal?
Well, not exactly.
Starting a new job, the holiday break, family visitors and a snow storm or two made that time I was supposed to be reflecting and coming to some sort of eureka moment difficult.
But I did have some time to think. To ponder some things not just about my writing and my attitude towards blogging, but about my personal life as well. And I’ve decided to work on two major aspects of myself this year.
Call it resolutions, revelations, habit-forming decisions. I had them. Or made them. Or whatever.
Sure, they’re pretty broad and general. I know the Dr. Phils of the world might say they’re not specific enough and that I should break them down in to smaller, more achievable goals.
But these two issues are at the foundation of what’s making me feel unmotivated. Blah. Stuck.
I’ve been slacking in taking care of myself and my connection to the world around me.
You know. Basic. Life. Skills.
So, first, I’m working to take better care of myself. And that goal changes from day to day in how it’s achieved, but the point is that every day I’m prioritizing doing something to take care of myself. Drink more water, move a bit, get more sleep. Floss. Be more present, maybe meditate. BREATHE, for God sakes.
Connecting to people is the second thing I’m trying to let rise to the surface of my daily life. I’m not talking about any kind of smarmy networking or something superficial. I’m talking about real-life connections. Bonding with my spouse. Playing hard with my children. Staying in contact with friends and family far and wide. Using Skype more.
It seems that I’ve lost the ability to feel connected lately. Perhaps some of it is taking my relationships for granted. I’ve realized that I often sit back and expect folks to reach out to me, and then get pissed when they don’t. What remains is a disconnect that leaves me feeling resentful, bitter, and wanting to hole up like a hermit.
So if I want to deepen my relationships, make them healthier and meatier, I have to put in some work to nurture them. I need to remember that relationships are more like roasting a turkey than microwaving a burrito, and they require a bit of basting so they don’t dry out.
Certainly, some of this spills over to blogging and my reasons for taking a break. If I want to feel connected, I’m going to have to put in some work. Like any relationship.
Because my experience with blogging has been similar to dating. It started off all exciting and new and I put my whole heart and energy in to it. Then eventually, I got comfortable. Started peeing with the door open, so to speak. Inevitably, the magic was lost. Now I’m trying to regain that spark back.
So, I’m changing my perspective about blogging. Looking at it through the lens of connection and communication, rather than marketing and self-promotion.
It feels like a very small, but very radical change in viewpoint for me.
That’s where I stand. I may post a lot. Or a little. I’m not sure. I do know that if I come back to blogging trying to put the pressure on myself to post so many times a week or concentrate on SEO and Pinterest-worthy images, I’ll be right back where I was in December, and I really don’t want that to happen.
Bare with me. I’m slowly stepping back in to the blogging pool. I may still hug the ladder for a while, but be patient. I’ll warm up, enter the water and saunter over to the swim up bar soon enough.
Glad you are back! Love the turkey vs. burrito analogy, and I think you are exactly right. Little things sometimes aren’t that little.
xo!
Thanks, Suzan. I really appreciate your support! Though, I make that turkey/burrito analogy knowing full well I’m better at pushing buttons than basting with patience.
Glad you’re back writing, too!
Aw, thanks Jean! Glad you’re here, too…
What does it say about me that the line comparing desperate blogging to peeing with the door open had me snort-laughing in hysterical recognition? Welcome back, my friend. We have missed you.
It says that there’s a reason why we’re friends! Thanks for the warm welcome, lady. I really appreciate it!
Connecting and forming real bonds – yes, that. In life and online.
Welcome back!
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Thanks, Alison. I’m still feeling like I’m dipping my toes in, but it’s nice to be back.
So nice to meet you! I am Rachel & I am in your SITS tribe. Looking forward to getting to know you better!
Nice to meet you too, Rachel! Thanks for stopping by.
I find that with blogging you have to do what works and flows for you. I want so badly to build a brand, but I’m afraid I’ll get caught up in it and forget why I started this whole thing to begin with. Looking forward to getting to know you through our SITS Tribe.
Hi Allie, and thanks for stopping in. I do think that it will take some time to find what works for me. But at least now I know what DOESN’T work for me!
The Turkey vs the burrito metaphor is so true, I sometimes need to remind myself of that. It’s one of the reasons I signed up for the SITS Tribe so that I can build some community. Looking forward to getting to know you as part of your SITS Tribe.
Julia recently posted…Dancing
Exactly. Here’s to making connections! Thanks for stopping in.
It’s a great time to jump back in since this is the SITS Girls tribe challenge. Welcome back!
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I know, the timing seems like fate, right?
I look forward to connecting with you!
Saying hello from your SITS tribe
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Hi Jeanae, thanks for stopping by!
Welcome back! Looking forward to making some of those connections with you through the SITS tribe.
Thanks!
Hi Gina! Stopping by from SITS Tribe. So glad you are stepping back in. We bloggers need to reflect and regroup often. I have been reading so many posts about that. I changed my daily posting to 2-3 days a week a couple of months ago. It was a must! I needed to post daily to gain a following as a newbie. Now one year in, I’m concentrating on quality over quantity. It allows me more time to network and write better posts. Looking forward to growing our connection.
Kimberly H. Smith recently posted…Who Could Forget These?
I think I’m adopting more of a once-a-week approach until I get my footing again. And I’ve take some time to get some drafts up and running so I don’t feel like I’m scrambling to find something to write about. Certainly, quality over quantity! Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Gina! Stopping by from SITS Tribe! Very happy to hear you are back to sharing and blogging. Its a crazy time at the holidays and a break is sometimes what we all need. I have been working on posting daily simply because I now see my blogging as a way to have some down time and reconnect. I am also working on networking so I can write better, thought provoking posts.
I really look forward to expanding our connection.
Hi Sierra! That’s exactly why I took the break when I did – I just didn’t think I could keep up with everything else that was going on. I do agree that the more you write, the easier it becomes.
Welcome back! I loved ” I need to remember that relationships are more like roasting a turkey than microwaving a burrito, and they require a bit of basting so they don’t dry out.” That’s a great way to think of it haha.
Stopping by to say hi from our new SITS Tribe! I look forward to following you and getting to know you better
Michelle @ The MaMade Diaries recently posted…Guest Post: Top 10 Hospital Bag Must Haves
Thanks for stopping by, Michelle! I think as bloggers, we often hit publish and expect things to just take off quickly, but I really do feel like I’m more of a slow simmer type of writer. And I’m fine with that.
I loved every minute of this. Thank you for coming back after your hiatus… otherwise I wouldn’t have read these words that I needed to hear.
I have found myself putting too much pressure on “where” I am in the blogging world. Only recently have I had a revelation like you — it’s time to just back up, don’t worry about where I’m getting the most traffic, don’t worry about how many comments I have — just do me.
I can’t wait to journey with you on this road… I know it will be so fun. To being honest, to being ourselves, to not worrying about numbers or pinterest-worthy images — cheers
~Jenna (fellow SITS triber)
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Aw, thanks for your kind words, Jenna. It’s ridiculous, when I think about it. It’s not like I have an editor or a publisher, or a BOSS even, that’s breathing down my neck forcing me to write and market and all that stuff. So, in the end, the only one I really have to take pressure from is myself. I’ve recently taken my stats off of my dashboard. At first it was terrifying, but now it’s almost freeing. I can still find them if I need them, but it’s not the first thing I see. Thanks so much for stopping by, it’s been great getting to know you this week! Cheers!
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