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Thursday, January 26, 2012

An Open Letter to Beth

GBE2 Week #36 prompt - Time


Dear Beth,

     As a blogger who has only been blogging for 6 months, I am still learning the ins and outs and proper etiquette of the blogging world.   Thanks to wonderful people like you I have met with nothing but positive and encouraging feedback.    You have been a friend, a mentor and an inspiration.    You could never be a failure even if you tried.

      You always made keeping up with it all look so easy that I often marveled at how you managed your time.  For you to admit that you aren't super-human and that you struggle with finding time to keep up with not only yours but everyone else's blogs only makes you even more loveable.   

      In response to your blog, Blog Fail, at Word Nerd Speaks, I would like to share with you some of my thoughts and observations.

1.  Blogging is fun, but extremely time consuming.   If we spent all the time we would like to on 
     blogging we could easily spend 24 hours a day on the computer.  That is not realistic.  
     We all have families, friends, jobs, etc., and we can't let the computer take over our lives.

2.  There are hundreds of great writers out there worthy of our time spent reading their blogs.  
     Trying to read every  single one every time they post can be overwhelming.  You could 
     soon spend so much time reading blogs  that your real life will suffer.   You have to stop 
     and put things in perspective, prioritizing the really important things in your life.

3.  Even though you are a wonderful friend and mentor to many people you cannot be 
     personally responsible for keeping up with everyone.  Do the best you can and don't 
     beat yourself up when you can't get around to every blog on the list.  The writers will 
     understand you do have other responsibilities besides reading their blogs.  That 
     doesn't make you a failure...it makes you human.

4.  As far as responding to every comment - I try to if I know someone has commented, 
     but sometimes I miss comments if they are on an older post.  I truly value each comment 
     and love to read them.  I don't get upset when someone doesn't respond to my comments.  
     Some comments don't really call for a response.

5.  I don't have a set number of blogs I read on a weekly basis.  I read as many as time permits.  I
     leave a comment if I have something to say and sometimes just to let the person know I 
     enjoyed their post.  I do sometimes read without commenting.

6.  I don't have a set number of blogs to write in a week.  I started out thinking I had to post every 
    day and  soon found out that was not doable for me.  Now I strive to post at least 3 a 
    week, but sometimes I don't make it and if I don't, that's okay.  Last week while on vacation 
     I never thought once about blogging and you know what, time didn't stop.

7.  And finally, how do I do it all?   I DON'T!  Lots of things I would like to accomplish every 
     day go  undone and guess what...they are still there tomorrow.  I learned a long time ago that 
     I stink at time  management.    I can waste it faster than you can say Jimminy Cricket!  I used 
     to beat myself up over it  but one of the good things that has come with age is acceptance.  
     I have accepted my faults and shortcomings as part of who I am and I no longer stress over 
     them.  Give yourself a break.  Don't expect more of yourself than you are realistically able to 
     give.

     In closing, dear Beth, just let me repeat, you could never be a failure.  You are one of the kindest, most sincere people I have ever met with a bubbling personality that is contagious.  Please remove the weight of the world from your shoulders.  We all love you and don't expect near as much of you as you expect of yourself.  Blogging should be fun and when it gets to the point that it stresses you out it is no longer fun.  When you become that overwhelmed it is time to take a step back and take a look at what is really important in your life.  You have our support.

Until next time...that's my view.

Kat

22 comments:

  1. Kat, thank you. Truly. You have no idea how much it means to me that you took the time to write this. Your thoughtful words have touched my heart.

    What a sweet woman you are! How did I get so lucky as to find you in this big, blogging world? ♥

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    1. I meant every word and wish I could say more. I am the one who is lucky to have found you. Your encouragement and inspiration has meant so much to me since I started blogging and I never want to see you sad or stressed over something that you do so well. We all love you for you, not for how many blogs you read each week.

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  2. Absolutely exactly positively on point! Great job Kat. I hope she takes time to read this and I also hope she knows you are speaking for many, many if not all, of us. Very proud of you!

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    1. Thank you Jo, that means a lot coming from you. Both you and Beth have been very supportive and I appreciate you both very much. In case I haven't told you already, you rock and I am very lucky to have you as a friend.

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  3. This is a wonderful letter, respect from my side.

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    1. Thank you Claudia, I appreciate your kind words.

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  4. You are so sweet! Beth is one of my favorites too!

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    1. Thank you so much. I appreciate your nice comment and your visit.

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  5. Replies
    1. Thank you Maren. I just put into words what most of us were thinking.

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  6. A lovely way to reach out to Beth. Nicely done.

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    1. Thank you so much. I appreciate everyone's support on this.

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  7. I agree. Beth has been a true gem to us all.

    Joyce
    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com

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  8. i like elizabeth too, just as i like you kat. great post, from a genuine person to another genuine person. :D

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    1. Thank you Daphne. You are just as important to me. You, Beth and Jo were some of the first Bloggers to accept me into your circle and to encourage my writing. You all will always have a special place in my heart.

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  9. A beautiful letter Kat, with a great deal of heart.

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    1. Thank you k. I just wanted Beth to know she isn't alone in feeling overwhelmed with all this sometimes.

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  10. Very sweet blog post. Yes, Beth is amazing. And no matter how we stretch, bend and shape 'em, there are only so many hours in the day.

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    1. Thank you Beverly, yes, and we can only do so much with those hours.

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