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.
Kat
