A Valentine’s Ode: The State of My Love Affair with Blogging
This Valentine’s Day, the @GreenMoms of the Green Moms Carnival will be blogging about ….affairs of the heart and blogging. Why do we blog? Karen asked us, “Where does all this voice and passion come from? Why do we do it?”
I wish that like Karen I could simply blog about my love for blogging, about how OrganicMania opened new doors, introducing me to a wonderful community whom I never would have met otherwise. Like a starry eyed lover, I could dwell on my blog’s good points: creative release, fun, self-expression, and service to others.
But that would be only half the story. We’re no longer in the throes of first love, as on Valentine’s Day 2008, when this archive shows I blogged nearly every day.
The desire is still there, the bloggy thoughts come, but now other loves beckon. I can tweet my thoughts more quickly, and without an empty page staring back at me as I write. 140 characters: so easy! I can post a Facebook update in a second and soon see the friendly faces of old friends as they respond. After three years, my bloggy friends are real friends, and like all friends, we call, visit and email – all without visiting each other’s blogs.
The demands of everyday life can be overwhelming at times, making a personal cause-related blog seem like a luxury I can ill afford.
I’ve thought about quitting, leaving my blog behind. But everytime I’ve thought about it, the blog nearly instantaneously – magically – delivers an incredible gift that makes it impossible to leave.
Increasingly, I look at OrganicMania as an old friend rather than a new love, one that will always be happy to see me when I find the time to visit. And one that’s not jealous of my new companion – my second blog.
Or so I hope.
Check out the other bloggy love lorn posts over at Best of Mother Earth on Monday – Valentine’s Day!
— Lynn
Copyright OrganicMania 2011
9 Responses to “A Valentine’s Ode: The State of My Love Affair with Blogging”
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I too have a love hate relationship with my blog. Sometimes I think we are co-dependent. I can’t venture out of my safe confines of Green Talk but my blog wouldn’t have it any other way. *Sign*
PS update your comment luv plug-in. My blog want notoriety. See what I am dealing with?
I love that you still think in bloggy thoughts Lynn. it never occurred to me that tweeting could be easier, because to me tweeting isn’t. Yet social media does really have all kinds of ways that it works and you example that beautifully! Best part? Organic Mania is a true friend. There when you need it. Love that.
Yes, and first true social media love! Thanks, Karen, and thanks especially for hosting!
Thanks Lynn…love is complicated, even on Valentines Day. Taking on and utilizing evolving media modes and outlets to get your word out seems to be an extension of what you do..if where you began was where you ended life would be boring..where would the excitement and challenge be..embrace it all..thanks for sharing..
Being fairly new to the blogging world and in the throws of first love, thank you for your honest take on blogging. I have joined in the Green Moms Carnival a few times and have been so impressed by the quality group of women you have gathered. We all need breaks from time to time and question what the hell we are doing. I hope you continue to blog-you seem to have a strong voice with so much to give.
I think my blog has a sort of dual identity. On the one hand, it’s very much like a dear friend, who I can say almost anything to. On the other hand, it’s an expression of me. And as an expression of me, it grows and changes and evolves with me. One day, I may even outgrow it.
I think it’s understandable that your blogging would by cyclical, or possibly even disappear for a time, or require a different space. And I don’t think you owe anyone else any explanation if you find yourself in a new place.
I’ve always had mixed feelings about blogging. I think I wrote my first post in 2007, then had second thoughts, and didn’t post again until 2010. It’s nice to read the perspective of a long-time blogger. As a mom of 2 little ones, blogging does often feel like a luxury/ distraction that I don’t have time for. I struggle with that balance.
I am a newbie, I just started my blog, but I think I am addicted.
Oh my, Anna, Betsy, Elena, Amber and Harriet! I can’t believe I missed all your comments. Life has just not been the same since Big Boy was hospitalized in January. I LOVED reading your thoughtful comments today – kind of like a belated Valentines present (hey, I am wearing a red fleece coat as I type this. I don’t quite do the Freeze Yer Buns Challenge, but we do keep the house chilly in winter!)