Dear Blogging Friends,
Yeah, this has been a long time coming. It’s been like an ice cube I’ve been trying to push to the bottom of the glass but it keeps popping up. I’m going to take a blogging vacation and I figured what better time to do it then the Summer.
While on my break I’m going to prayerfully consider a few things.
1. How long is my break going to be? Blogging just isn’t what it used to be. When I first started 5 years ago it was about community and people and finding and getting to know new people. It was fun because that’s all there was. People had time to stop by and say hello. Now with other distractions like twitter, facebook, Pinterest, etc. No one has the time any more.
The blogs that are surviving are the blogs that found their niche early on. Something I failed to do. They easily transformed and melded into this new way of blogging, while the rest of us struggled to keep readers and focus on the task at hand. I have to admit that is just isn’t fun without you.
With that said, whether or not to keep blogging is a decision that I will be making during this time.
2. If I do decide that I can’t live without blogging, I will be praying about the direction of my blog and how you and I can benefit from it. Do I get on the bandwagon of having sponsors or do I put myself out there a little more to gain exposure. Right now, I don’t know. Like I said, I’m going to be prayerfully considering all of this.
I’ll still be popping into my FB page each day and I’ll still be commenting on some of my favorite blogs but you won’t find me here for a little while.
OXOX,
Kim
Hi Kim...I TOTALLY, totally understand! I will be praying for you as you take a break...praying that the LOrd will give you clear direction as to where to go with your blog. He knows best! Love ya!
ReplyDeleteI hear ya. I enjoyed my break and I definitely feel the loss of comments, too, ESPECIALLY now coming back after a 4-month hiatus. I rarely ever had more than a dozen anyway, and though I keep reminding myself that it was never my purpose to blog for comments, they are definitely the biggest incentive to continue!
ReplyDeleteI think the only reason I returned to blogging was because I still needed an outlet. Sure, most communication these days is done via Twitter and FB, but some thoughts just require more development and explanation than really work on social media sites. Sharing funny stories works better on the blog, too! But I kinda feel like the blog has come full circle and is now basically just a personal journal again. I waffle between privatizing it and keeping it publicly accessible, or at least accessible for close friends and family. But even there, it's not like I share any day-to-day stuff or pictures regularly enough for any of THEM to care much about it either!!
I will miss you, but I completely understand. Enjoy your summer break!!
Oh gosh, this is so sad! But I understand. When it is no longer fun, it is time to step away and take a break. Blogging is something very personal - sharing one's life - and it also takes a significant time commitment. You just need to follow your heart!
ReplyDeleteI've seen a lot of folks drift away over the past couple of years. Participation in Facebook has been the biggest factor, I think. I won't be going to Facebook. My family is not close and only my 85 year old mom reads my blog. LOL, and she can't remember what I post!
I enjoy blogging and will continue with it. I credit blogging with pushing me to be a better photographer! It seems like I don't get as many comments as I used to, but that's OK. I've made a lot of great friends over the past 4-1/2 years. I hope that many of them stay in touch, but people come and go throughout one's life. Change is inevitable.
The ultimately question you have to answer to yourself is "why do you blog?" If you can't easily answer that, then you have to admit that it's just not your thing. It might have been at one time. But not now.
One thing is for sure. You'll always be my friend!!!
Blessings to you Kim, I really understand your feelings but girl I for one, will miss you! I also understand trying to figure out the direction you want to go-I don't care for all the advertising some folks have but know to there is a reason for that. I pray God's wisdom for you during your break; please find me on FB-Noreen Taylor.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Noreen
I just wanted to let you know that you are one of my top 5 favorite bloggers. Over the past year, I have had a major set back with my health. However, God is healing moi day by day. Praise the Lord!
ReplyDeleteThe funny quirky things you would blog about were a breath of fresh air through this time. Whatever you decide for de future, I wanted to say a HUMUNGOUS KUDOS to you for sharing a glimpse into your FLORIDA girl world! ( ; My kiddos also enjoy the "FUNny" things you post about your kiddos!!
BOO. But you know I completely understand! You've been amazing at keeping going without breaks! I've taken so many breaks over my 4 years - 2-week breaks, month breaks, a Summer break, and then the whole "quitting" for 4 months. All good though and all helpful (except for some lost connections with peeps). At least you'll still have FB for a social outlet. But I do think you'll miss blogging at some point. But I will pray for you friend and hope that you decide to come back soon!
ReplyDeleteBig you-know-that-you-just-pretty-much-guaranteed-that-something-totally-blog-worthy-will-happen-to-you-this-week size hugs to you!!! LOL! LOVE you friend!! HUGE BIG HUGS!!!!! :)
I have been subscribing to your blog for a while now. I haven't commented until now, but I have enjoyed everything you write! I'm a sporadic blogger and understand the time commitment it takes. Have a good break and may God make your next steps very clear!
ReplyDeleteOh sadness :( :( :(...but I understand...and I think it's super cool that you're taking the time to pray about this, too. I pray that your blogging break will be a good one :) :) Love and hugs from the ocean shores of CAlifornia, ,Heather :)
ReplyDeleteI know exactly how you feel.
ReplyDeleteSooo know how you feel..
ReplyDeleteWill miss you but enjoy your bloggy vaca...
Kim,
ReplyDeletewhile this saddens me, I can totally relate!
I, too, have been praying that God would take my blog in a new direction because I honestly don't know who I'm reaching.
I pray you'll have an enlightening vacation and come back with a vision.
I will see you on FB!
Praying with you, my sister. And I will anticipate and rejoice with you in all He will do and show you during this time.
ReplyDeleteI understand too!! I am not a great blogger and rarely get more than 1 or 2 comments so I know what you mean! Comments do kind of encourage you to keep blogging! Sometimes I wonder if anyone even reads mine! hahaha But I do enjoy it...but I think about quitting sometimes too. I will miss your blog I have you on my list. But I too understand!!!
ReplyDeleteI completely understand my friend! A friend mentioned the other day that she read my blog & I was surprised. Some days it feels like no one reads it at all. I do agree that blogging has changed since we started. I'm still trying to figure out what to do w/my own.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy your summer!
Big (((hugs)))
Just back to say I love you and your blog my friend. That is all. :) HUGS!
ReplyDeleteWAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
ReplyDeleteI get it. I hope you will continue blogging. I am one of those followers who has fallen into the "distracted" category. I want to do better. So please come back so that I can! I will make sure I am following you on Facebook. Praying the Lord gives you clear direction during your blog break.
ReplyDeleteKim, I love you. I cherish our friendship, whether it's here in blog land or FB.
ReplyDeleteI can so totally relate! The "nicheless" people need to rise up, lol!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I fit a mom niche, or humor or homemaking niche, because I just don't want to settle on any one in particular.
That may be hurting my blog but it certainly makes it easier to blog, haha. Lots of "choices."
Comments have been down for quite awhile, at least that's what I've heard from several people.
I agree because I'm not commenting like I used to either.
I have taken time off and may even again. I stick kick around the idea of quitting my blog. In fact, earlier today I was thinking of taking the summer off and see what happens. I still may, lol!
I feel blessed because at least I get to see you on facebook! Love ya!
Hi, friend. I only just now saw this, because I had been on a FB break for a couple weeks. I popped on today and was checking in on some of my friends.
ReplyDeleteI definitely hear ya on this. My "Fill My Cup with Beauty" blog is sitting idle, and I have zero intention of going back to it. In fact, I'm deleting posts and/or moving them to my Word files. The only reason I'm not deleting the blog entirely is because it was custom-made by Edie as a gift. I think it's beautiful, so I like to pop by and look at it every now and then.
I have kept my classic movie blog, but almost zero of my old blog "friends" even visit there. I used to visit people anyhow, regardless of whether they visited me, but I've come to the place of not doing that anymore. I look at blogging somewhat like visiting the home of a friend. If I'm always visiting them, but they fail to return the visit, it's rather a 1-sided friendship. And, for whatever reason, blog visiting is down. I can't imagine it's Pinterst or FB; after all, they are completely different from blogging and really don't satisfy in a way that blogging does. But, it is what it is...and it's kind of sad!!
Hope you're enjoying a lovely summer.
Love,
Patti
Kim,
ReplyDeleteOh, how I am going to miss you. You are one of my favorite blogs I love to read. I don't do facebook, twitter or any of the others, but I love "my blogs".
I hope you decide to come back. Blog World will not be the same without you.
Jennie
rmc18mom@gmail.com
Hey, it takes one to know one, lol! I know that YOU have had a chocolate mole too, I mean, how could you not in that Florida heat, lol! Love ya!
ReplyDeleteI have noticed that blog land was much quieter recently and wondered why. It think you are right with you list. Will pop over to you Facebook and say hi:)
ReplyDeleteI think Facebook has killed us. And I hate it. I hate the way that it seems to force me to spend hours every day looking through posts of people I'm "friends" with just because I hope to see a new picture of one of my grand-babies. Ugh. I WANT to return to blogs and old fashioned email. And I don't know about you, but few of my friends post original thoughts...mostly they "share" something they saw on someone else's FB page.
ReplyDeleteI'm guilty of hit or miss blogging and several factors play into it, but I think FB is one of the biggest and baddest.
I am one of those bloggers who has no specialty. About the time I think I'm developing one, something happens to derail my life and...well, I think you all understand. I take a lot of breaks from blogging but none are really intentional. I just run out of stuff to say, but then I look at FB and I've been saying plenty, just in one-liners. :(
Day before yesterday I posted on my blog and it started out about how I've struggled with pulling the plug on the whole mess. But then, as my thoughts began to unfold (or unravel) it ended up being about redemption.
I'd love for you all to rush over there and read it...:) (naturally) not so that I can have more followers (you know we all love that) but so that you might find some encouragement. I think we have to ask ourselves why we started blogging in the first place, and who we blog for. Please take a minute or two to go read. http://writeforhim.blogspot.com/2012/06/redeemed.html
I don't always leave comments on blogs, but I don't always say a lot at family reunions either. But you all have reminded me to do unto others as I would like done unto me. :)
Blessings to you all, and please, don't give up on your blogs. I'm sure someone somewhere is receiving a blessing from each one of you whether you know it or not.