Honestly, I never thought I would still do it almost three years later.
I started it on a whim.
Here is my first post ever.
Eek.
I don’t even remember hearing the term “blogger” before I started blogging, even though I must have known that “bloggers” existed because how else would I think to start a blog, to begin with?
In fact, I don’t even remember what possessed me to blog. I mean, I know I started it as a stress reliever, but what in heaven’s name possessed me to say, “you know what? Today I am going to write a blog. Telling the world my problems, fears, and under-five dollar craft ideas!”
I read a blog post recently about someone trying to get into a particular blogging network and in order to do so you had to follow a certain blog on five different social media sites (there are five different social media sites?), donate blood, and sacrifice your firstborn son in order to get in.
Kidding.
It was a daughter.
I had a moment of “why am I even here” after reading it. Not “why am I here” in the human sense, but “why am I here” in the blogging sense.
What are we bloggers doing here? What is our primary goal? To have a tweet that goes viral? To get a million Facebook followers for your page? To have your blog featured on the Huffington Post? To get a book deal? To have your craft room shown in a magazine article? To make so much money that you never, ever have to work or struggle again? To reach a gazillion page views?
I love to write. I love it more than any other hobby I have.
But I also love to be rewarded.
So getting my little paycheck from BlogHer every three months is very rewarding.
When I started this blog, it was for me.
But I have grown, not in leaps and bounds like a lot of bloggers do, but I have grown in what I consider being very prosperous ways.
I have met so many engaging and affirming human beings since starting blogging as readers, other bloggers, and friends who read my blog and I became closer to because of the blog.
This blog has created such an amazing outlet for me.
I am a better mom because of it, not despite it, because I get to vent in healthy ways about things I love to do.
Like cook, decorate, paint, write, and be sarcastic.
Yes, that can be a hobby too.
But I don’t know how to do many things as it pertains to blogging.
I am not great at networking.
I see a lot of bloggers who self-promote, and I am not confident enough in myself to do that.
I put my blog out there on link parties, Facebook and Twitter and that is all I am brave enough to do.
So yes, I don’t have 10000000’s followers on the three social media tools I use.
But I am okay with that.
Because I am on a first-name basis with all of my 200 + Facebook fans.
And I have time to email them back and talk to them like we are old friends.
Because, well…. because we are.
And I like them an awful lot.
I even have a board on Pinterest about all things that pertain to blogging.
I almost want to turn it into a secret board because if more experienced bloggers saw what I was pinning, they might laugh at me.
And my followers might be a little confused why I know so little as it pertains to blogging.
As evidenced by what I am pinning to that board.
For example, clip art.
I pinned a great resource for clip art.
For my blog.
I did not know you could use clip art on a blog!
SEO?
I didn’t know what that was until last fall.
I thought it was a retirement savings plan.
Media Kit?
I was told to get one by some amazing bloggers I met in Chicago back in December.
They all had one, and I did not.
Apparently, I should have one?
How to attach a document to a blog post?
Why would I ever need to do this?
So I don’t think you need to worry about me hitting the big time soon.
And that is just fine with me.
Love this post. I don't know what the hell I'm doing either… but I LOVE doing it and meeting so many fun people! =)
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You ROCK!!! I can say it over and over again because I think you do so THERE!!I love your blog. You make me laugh. Somtimes just chuckle and sometimes I have to re-read things cause im laughing so much I dont wanna miss anything. And sometimes you put a lump in my throat. Either way. I love you and your blog!! You are truly an inspiration in so many ways.
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I don't know what I'm doing either, but it takes the pressure off that I do "owe" anyone anything. It helps me keep it real. Your captions under the photos had me rolling!
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Joules- me too…so its all good. 🙂 Antonia- you always, always know what to say. Thank you dear friend. You are one of the people to which I refer in the above post. Hugs. 🙂 Andrea- I am glad I am not alone. 🙂
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Kari, this is so weird. How I ended up at the exact post I needed to read today. Which was this one! I was just moaning to the hubby about how I never feel like I'm doing the things I need to do to grow my blog like all those uber efficient, successful bloggers out there. I do link up now to parties. But I'm pathetic about using social media. I still get confused about FB. (My 18 year old son kindly reminded me there's a Facebook for Dummies that exists) And tweets? I'm sorry but even pronouncing that word feels awkward. The wonderful thing is, I am finally getting comments, amazing ones. And making friends, although slowly. So why do I care about stats and followers? Luckily now, everything I write feels like ME. And the post titles reflect what's going on in my life, not what I think will get me followers. But sigh, it's tough to keep one's perspective balanced. A blogger friend whom I admire (with several hundred followers) recently told me she often wishes for the days when her settings were private and the only ones who knew about her were her family. I think she was expressing the "work" part of a blog. So I guess we should be careful of what we wish for…Right now, I also can respond to everyone who visits me. And that's a blessing. BTW I loved your photos. And I'm so glad I followed my Pinterest email today telling me you pinned something of mine. I'm your newest follower. And I'm so glad to meet you. Leslie (aka Gwen Moss)
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I like your current profile pic. I have been blogging since 2005 (running/triathlons, not crafts)- before blogging morphed with social media and sponsors and giveaways and having to thank each person for every comment. There can be a lot of pressure to keep up and grow numbers. I tend to teeter-totter wanting to grown and then reining it in and just allowing my blog to do what it will do and continue to provide me a space for my creativity.
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Ohh Leslie, I am heading over to your blog right now. Thanks for the comment. It makes me feel so good to know I am not the only one who feels this way. Carrie- thanks so much for the sweet comment. And I am totally jealous that you do triathalons!
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Leslie- btw I loooove your blog. 🙂
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Haha Kari! I have to give props to you for this one. I wish I had the time and energy to devote to my blog these days! Instead I've just let it sit, for going on 8 months now. I keep intending to return an post once a week or so, but nothing has happened so far. Keep up the great work, and keep being you!
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Hey, Kari! Serena here, from Thrift Diving. I like your current profile pic, too :)As for blogging, I've been a blogging ninja lately, only because I have come to the realization that my "9-to-5" office job is NOT the career that I want to be doing when I'm freakin' 50. I'm 35 right now, by the way, and I've come to learn that my purpose and passion in life is to: CREATE, INSPIRE, and TEACH. That right there is Thrift Diving (and my new blog I just started, Get Your Life Straight). I am fulfilling my passion every day by blogging, and creating, and it's amazing and addicting.But I'm also trying to make it a business, because after all, we need to earn incomes, and by not make my income at something I am passionate about?I'm not really early much income right now (just from AdSense and a sponsored post here and there). But I am marketing and networking and pushing and excelling, and this WILL become my dream job. That's how much I love it and think about it.But anyhow, I love your blog and style of writing. Keep up the good work!
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I just live your blg and your honesty! Great post… Really got me thinking about my own blogging goals and dreams for my little space on the web!
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Hello Kari, I'm not on facebook, but I hope I'm one of your special friends, 'cause you're one of mine. I agree that being small means having more time for people AND I love all those cute pics of you!Warmly, Michelle
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I know I'm new here, but this is my favorite post so far! I laughed aloud over the inability to flip a picture and I would totally use cookies as my profile pic. You have such a great sense of humor and warmth to your blog….it's always a joy to visit. And don't forget the flask at BlogHer. We are going to have F-U-N!
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Hey, you're famous now! I just saw your post come up on my Blogehr sidebar thingie and thought I'd pop over, because I'm having one of those "why the heck do I blog days". Loved your post and loved your old photos. I still have the very same profile pic that I started with in 2010. so that means I haven't taken another good photo in almost three years.
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SEO as a retirement account? That's funny! I love this post and can so relate to what you are saying. I love to write, and comments and validation are golden.
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You are ALL my special friends! Love you guys!
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