I’ve got to be honest. I’ve been struggling lately. Maybe every blogger comes to this point where you ask yourself, “Does anyone really care?” The posts, the writing, the pictures, the presence. I’ve felt the overwhelming influence of the internet lately, with its Pinterest, mom blogs, projects, pretty pictures of life, and the ever present question of, “Do I have anything to offer? And how does it compare?”
All of these questions like the most popular advent calendars circulating the web that make you question your own unexciting homemade calendar make me wonder if I was better off before the internet. You know, using my own mind and creativity and solutions for life. Back then when I had only books and people to gather information from. Now I know so many details about hundreds of people, books I’ve never read, ideas for parenting, ideas for creating and homeschooling, and even apps for making beautiful food.
I hate it and then I love it. I hate how I compare and discount my life and what good I do. And I love how it has expanded my mind and, in essence, my life. The bitterness lasts for a little while until I forgive the computer that I once cursed and make up by checking a favorite blog, but this time promising to only enjoy and not be brought down.
So if you don’t mind, I’ll keep blogging.
It fulfills me, pushes me, and actually forces me to become more confident in me since I share the web with millions of incredible people. And so I will love the internet again…
I completely understand. Several years ago I blogged on a regular basis, but I faced the same issue you are facing now- there was always someone else that seemed to have a “better” idea or way to do things. You have to come to the realization that your readers (myself included!) take bits from you and pieces from others and put these things together to make our lives more meaningful. The truth is, I have about 4 blogs that I love and would miss terribly if they were to disappear- and yours is one of them. So keep writing, sister!!!! You are loved:)
I agree–there is so much good that I’ve taken from the internet that I would miss not having. I’m grateful for your words.
amen! please don’t stop blogging (although i can relate to your words) but yours is the blog that keeps me coming back day after day. the others i’ve allowed to slip into rare visits and even oblivion because of worthier demands on my time, but yours… definitely worth it! keep it up! if you can teach even one heart, doesn’t that make it worth it? especially if you’re having fun!
i meant touch a heart, but i guess your words always teach hearts too! <3
I love your blog.
Keep on blogging! Please!!
I feel the exact same way! I especially feel this way when it seems I’m going to the computer for everything – but I’ve also been inspired towards more and different creativity.
I hear you! The internet in general (and blogging too, though I’m not nearly as good about it as you are) is a HUGE time sucker for me. And sometimes it’s time well-spent: catching up with people, finding cool new things and ideas and recipes. But most of the time it’s the opposite. I just sit here staring at the screen, feeling… dull.
But I really think that your presence and photos are motivating, and I really look forward to my email from The Sleepytime Gal every morning.
So I guess that’s my queue to stop admiring your adorable little trees and get back to my life!
I’ve thought this exact same thing, dozens of times. The internet can truly monopolize one’s every thought and yes, it makes you pause and re-evaluate everything. After reading others’ posts you feel either inspired or guilty. After hearing about a new book online, you either find it at your library or resent the fact you don’t have time to read it. Same thing with recipes. You either print them out & try making it or feel guilty when you don’t. Before the internet we didn’t know what people were doing in their own homes. We didn’t see a daily journal (complete with perfectly lit, sparklingly in focus photographs) from every other house on the block. We just lived our lives, enjoyed our lives.
There is so much activity out there, it’s breathtaking. I have to force myself to step away sometimes or it would drive me insane. I adore my own blog…so I could never stop writing. When I get one comment in a post (most of the time), it still gives me such joy to watch Benjamin page through it and remark about things *he* forgot we did on any given day.
What makes you feel you might have nothing to offer? I’ve never visited STG that you didn’t have at least five meaty comments per post…people are reading! Keep blogging. If it feels overwhelming, take a break. We’ll always be here when you come back! Promise!
Please continue writing! I speak both as a reader who scans through her google reader list to find your recent posts and a blogger who took time off from blogging during a difficult move to Madrid, Spain. It has been full of obstacles and I find it so hard to return to writing about life here…and yet, I miss it. I miss the outlet of writing and sharing seemingly unimportant facets of my life. Since leaving it has been so hard to return, but I hope I will. So please continue writing, I’m sure your love will return!
Yes I’ve been there. I actually discovered you because you once commented on my blog that I no longer write. I miss it, but when I contemplate it again, I am reminded of the work it involved and how I felt I was being taken away from my family to pursue it. I love your space. It reminds me that I am not alone in my simplicity. It reminds me that others strive for creativity and also enjoy being home as much as I do. You remind me that motherhood is a gift to be shared with other mothers and you are one of my sole connections to just that….and I don’t even know you. Remind yourself that you are not those other people on the internet; you are you, you have a different story, a different life, and different values. I look to pinterest and other blogs for inspiration and nothing more. It seems to work for me. …Just know that you are appreciated!
I just love the way you talk cause I agree, but more so then just that but I will say something on FB then a family member will read it, take it WAY out of content relay it to another family member and then they will call my husband and get mad at me. So I agree it is a love hate. See you look at it as ” what do I have to offer others” but in all honestly it has to be about YOU. blogging for me is not only to share some of life’s precious moments then to also reflect back and see how we have grown or experience’s I may have forgotten or have got lost in the rush of life. So its a time to slow down reflect, and enjoy life and your accomplishments and share them! You have so much to offer daily, ways to save, things to make, etc etc you ALWAYS have stuff to share so stop getting down on your self and know that you are such a amazing woman and you have so much love for others, I mean look at what you do for JAPAN, I have NEVER EVER seen anyone else do that for people so you should feel good about yourself.!!! you are so amazing!!!!!!!!!! I wish there was more like you! You also home-school. So You are helping your children to not be exposed to the crap there is out there, you are doing good by your family!!! EVERYONE appropriate’s you on here and yes.. KEEP BLOGGING! I don’t get on here to see if you ever write back to these or not but you can always email me to… and know that there is people that want so bad to be more like YOU!!!!! I hope all is well for you and the family!!!!
P.S I used some of these words and made my own post similar cause it inspired ME AND MADE ME THINK. I just loved it so much! Maybe you can visit my blog too. thanks Nicole you are truly amazing!!!
Oh, I feel the very same sometimes, but have never managed to put it into words like you have. There are certainly drawbacks to being as “plugged-in” as we are to other women and other families. It certainly doesn’t help that most of us tend to show mostly the beautiful and positive bits, which can make it feel a bit like we’re the only ones struggling sometimes. But then there is inspiration, the heartfelt support, the wisdom, and it keeps me coming back to this screen.
For what it’s worth, I appreciate what you share here, and find myself inspired by you on a regular basis. I’m glad you’d like to keep blogging!
This is such a candid, honest, post and it’s so refreshing. I totally get what you mean about the internet bringing you down. Sometimes when I read certain blogs, I can get into the “why isn’t my life like that” mentality. I have to remind myself no one’s life is all unicorns and rainbows, no matter how perfect it may appear.
I really enjoy your blog. Do what feels right for you. But I enjoy stopping by daily and getting inspired by what you’re up to!
I can completely relate with you. Over the years I have had blogs and then proceed to delete them.
My blogs that I read is ever changing just for the fact I can tell when I am getting down on myself.
I feel that I have nothing “exciting” going on, worth while etc.
Even though in reality I know that isn’t the case. I sometimes feel that way after reading online.
It takes my hubby to remind me that people only post what they want you to see. The clean house, the perfectly matches outfits, hair and face always on, endless perfect crafts, everything peachy keen, etc.
As he says you will never know the whole story of their life. If they are late on bills, have piles of dirty clothes and so on.
[...] have been overwhelmed by yesterday’s response to the love/hate relationship of the internet. How remarkable it is to me that so many people [...]
Well said. I actually have been having the exact same feelings. But then I recognize that it is for me and my family I am recording these things! Your girls will LOVE to look back one day and see the amazing things you made and created with them by your side. You are such an amazing mama! Seriously I am not sure I will ever fully know how you do what you do… but however it is you do it amazingly! I love reading your blog!
I truly find inspiration in you everyday.
[...] Farmama, who in October decided to share with us all that she was leaving the blogoshpere, and the SleepyTime Gal as they grappled with the question of blogging and whether it is time well spent for [...]
same thoughts here very often … well it is kind of devily, this internet. like the deepest ocean in the world and so quick you are going to sink … sometimes I try to limit my internet time or do a “virtual feierabend” or even offline days. but then I like it so much reading and checking on my favorite blogs. laughing and crying and hoping with the amazing people I read for years.
it´s the challenge every day new. come on, you have a right to party, right?
and I really like your blog so please keep on! by the way we have this new christmas tradition, after decorating the christmas tree, my husband, my now nearly for year old and me (the baby is to young) lying under the tree, dark room only the lights on the tree twinkle. and we do this since we watch a piece of greys anatomie – please don´t laugh at me!
I really love christmas traditions and this year I struggle hard because of my two little girls and don´t getting along with my traditions … they have a terrible flue all the week and there is not enough time anyway to bake my stuff, craft the christmas cards, blogging, decorating and so on and so on … but I hope I´m relieved now, I let it all go and gonna LIVE right now the sweet time of advent and thats it. have a beautiful day my dear! german greetings *mirjam
I completely understand this struggle. Sometimes it feels like a competition but then other times it is so fulfilling. I’ll keep blogging as well. I’m happy to have found your blog today. So many fun projects!
Kindness is the best accessory,
Rebecca