4.19.2013

At the Moment

At The Moment April192013 DadThis post is going to be a little different then my last few "At the Moment" posts.
Today I just wanted to share my thoughts and views on blogging currently.

It's been a few weeks since I was visiting my family and friends in Ohio. I have to say it was a bittersweet experience. You never feel like any amount of time you spend with your loved ones is enough. The above photo is of my dad. He doesn't even know that I took it. The picture was taken while my dad and I were shopping at one of my favorite thrift stores. It was really nice to spend the time with him. Moments like that are worth the 1,200 mile drive. The only things we bought were some old books and a vintage purse that my dad put on Ebay to sell.

Something shifted in me when I was in Ohio. Actually, it started before my trip do to a falling out with a friend. However, when I have something bad happen to me I try to immediately find good in the situation, learn from it and move on. That's exactly what I did. I realized a few months ago that I have such amazing friends back in Ohio. I learned to appreciate them more and hold on to them tight. Let them know that I am thinking of them often. Make a better effort to keep in touch. My trip to Ohio made me realize that I'm not alone. Even though I feel that way often living in a city that I hate, my friends and family are still there, just miles away.

Needless to say the goodbye is always so hard when the visit is over. The distance is really hard on my parents and I miss them a lot already. I'm tearing up just writing this. You might wonder what the heck does any of this have to do with blogging or why am I sharing this with you? Well my trip caused me to get behind on my posts and my reading of other blogs. The feeling was overwhelming. It hasn't left yet either. Some days I feel like a slave to my computer and my blog. I have started to ask myself, "Why am I doing this?" I know we all go threw this at some point. You don't even have to be a blogger to feel this way. It can just be the amount of time you spend on the internet.

There are so many things that I want to do. Learn to knit, exercise daily, clean my house, get organized, draw, talk to my friends, hang out with Cody, ride my bike, go to the park with my dogs, plant flowers, decorate, remodel my house and the list goes on. My schedule and typical daily routine does not allow time for most of these things. I find myself stuck in a rut. (Sorry for the cheesy rhyme.) I am on the blog too much. Designing and editing photos which takes hours sometimes. Even though I love it and it's fun, it's too often. Time and life is so valuable! Why am I devoting so much of it to my blog?

So that leaves me craving change in my life. I laid awake the other night thinking about how much simpler my life would be if I didn't blog. How much time I would have for new hobbies and just life in general. This is NOT me saying goodbye or that I am quitting my blog. This is me just stating what a lot of us go throw and feel from time to time. I have met some amazing people threw my blog and I hope I meet some of you someday in real life. It's really cool to be able to connect with people from all over the world and build friendships with my readers.

I put way too much pressure on myself to get 5 posts up weekly. I do however LOVE all my posts and that's why I do them. I write out all my post ideas ahead of time and always feel excited about all of them. My pictures aren't always perfect, my topics might not always be for everyone, my grammar is horrible and I'm not a great writer, but they are ME. I have been blogging for 6 years and I am always changing the direction of my blog. With that said I am going to attempt to force myself to blog less. It may only be one less post a week, I'm not really sure yet. I will still blog often of course, I'm not disappearing.

I started to realize that all my favorite blogs that I read don't usually post daily. Do I judge them for this? NO! (Good for them.) Will I still always follow them and read their blog? YES! I even talked about this in my last VLOG. I talked about how we all need to stop putting pressure on ourselves. So I am taking some of my own advise and making more time for real life. Because we all know that time passes us by way too fast not to! As I think about why I blog, I want to remember it's always going to be for me. A way for me to look back on my life and old posts. I do like to inspire others with my blog, but it's just not a popularity contest for me. It's become so hard to stand out in a world flooded with blogger's. I'm just going to be me and hope that some of you like me enough to stick around. :)

I never knew that a trip to Ohio would awaken so much emotion in me.
Change is good and so is "feeling".
Thank you always for stopping by, leaving comments and your on going support!

11 comments:

  1. As you know, you are not alone and I support you 100%. I have a somewhat similar post coming out on Monday. I had a complete breakdown this past week regarding blogging, life, etc. It's been a lot of reflecting on blogging and social networks. I've felt lost and lonely, though I don't much share that on the blog but Monday I will. I bet writing this made you feel so much better and I know when I share my current feelings on blogging and life it will make me feel better, even if just a little. I'm reading a book now that is humbling me very much and is one of the very things I needed right now, so I'll be sharing that too. I really enjoyed reading your thoughts. I'm a words kind of girl (though I do love to take photos) and it was a pleasure, such a pleasure to read all of your words just now.

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    1. I think we all need to reflect on EVERYTHING from time to time. It's the beauty of being human. :) I would like to share more of my thoughts on my blog, but usually I do my best writing when I am upset or stressed. hahaha Which is kinda of shitty but it's how I've always been. Thanks for your support and friendship always.

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    2. Jessie, I couldn't agree more. I will say, sometimes reflecting too often can be a bit exhausting- which I have trouble with. Though many call it, "overthinking" and you know what, they may be right. I used to say, I just don't believe in overthinking something but I think they have a point.

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  2. Good for you! I certainly don't find the time to blog everyday and although I love it, I love it in smaller doses. I also love riding my bike, planting flowers,exercising daily, and reading. Brava to you for being brave and following your heart! And I can guarantee you I will be sticking around <3 It's quality, not quantity that matters.

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    1. Thanks Michelle! :) I always appreciate your comments.

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  3. Hi Jessie! Thanks for this post. I actually read it this morning but wanted to process a little before commenting. I so feel what you are saying - although I'd like to correct some of your grammar - kidding :). You know what a snob I am :)

    Blogging, is like anything in life I guess - it has its ups and its downs. I often think of quitting blogging. I sometimes think what is the point? Who is reading? Does it really matter? (I especially feel this poignantly after tragedies like we had last week.) My cell phone has added to the chaos, as now I feel I must be accountable 24/7. Man, I get so freaking overwhelmed and I don't even have a smart phone. I'm already overwhelmed, so I shouldn't let my blog overwhelm me and should feel free to unplug without the need to apologize.

    Added to that I get jealous of some of the bloggers who have gotten so mega-popular. And I'm too damn lazy to learn HTML code so feel like I'm a techno-boob. But then a funny thing happens. I remember that I prefer simpler blogs, where I am treated to honesty and feel the human behind it. I grow bored with a blog if it is constantly about perfection. And even though I want to make money, I refuse to take on sponsors who don't meet my moral compass.

    Also, blogging is something I want to do. I have the control of my blog, I answer to no one. My blog is completely me. I don't have to blog. I want to. I blog so my unique voice can take its place out there. I blog for the self-expression. If someone notices, that's awesome. There is room for all us. Every now and then I connect with some one fabulous.

    Like the blog I've read for so long about a cute young girl who renovated an atomic ranch in Cincinnati and experienced hardship during the recession, then became a military wife who drove across the country by herself and gained strength and wisdom along the way and now does not eat animals. And oh yeah, she's a great designer too. I feel as if she is one of my best friends and I can tell her anything and she'd understand.

    Sorry for the novel, hope it's not all gibberish. Just getting over a frightful bug.

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    1. Your comment almost made me cry. So very sweet! I'm glad you saw this post. I laughed when you said you wanted to correct my grammar. You got me! hahaha

      Someday you and I need to meet. Sadly I didn't have any free time this trip since it was both Cody and I. (Two families to please!) I don't know to many blogger's that are actually close enough that I can meet them. Of course, I don't live close now but sometime during a visit to Ohio we need to make it happen! Spend our day thrifting and stop by TJ Maxx.

      I guess my problem with blogging is mainly time management. It can consume your life and that's exactly what was happening. I wanted to post often for my readers. Even though I do enjoy the posts and sharing daily, it's just leaving me drained. If I want to do a 100 mile bike ride this year I need to start exercising!!!!

      Thanks for your kind words, support and love Peggy!

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  4. With this new venture of blogging less, I SUPPORT you. Love you, your amazing life and blog girl! :]

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    1. Thank you. :) I always appreciate all your comments.

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  5. That's completely understandable. I go through the same thing at times trying to find inspiration for my posts. Keep up the good work! And in time hopefully we will stop putting so much pressure on ourselves.

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    1. Thanks Joy! I am always so happy when you stop by. You have been reading my blog for years. :)

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