Blogging, Favorite Things, Friends, Writing

community

Kari

i wrote this post back in november. with everything going on, i forgot about it. then mark wrote about his blogging community and it made me think of this post.

i still didn’t publish this post. (it’s been a hard year)

it’s time.

i visited a friend’s blog after a few months of silence and found it in maintenance mode. as someone who’s been blogging for a while, i know what that usually means: it’s likely gone for good.

it’s sad because when someone stops blogging, a connection is typically lost. it’s also unfortunate because the world loses yet another brilliant writer.

Blogs That Are Getting Me Through the Pandemic – A Grace Full Life

that post was written in 2020, and since then, two of the blogs i mentioned are no longer active.

here i am with my roommates from the blogher conference in chicago in 2013. to my knowledge, i’m the only one who still maintains a blog.

i started this blog in 2010 because i was searching for a sense of community. at the time, my parents were three hours away, and my brother and his family were even farther—seven hours. my husband worked long hours, and amidst the busyness of raising young children, i often felt isolated. i craved deeper connections, and as much as i tried, facebook just wasn’t filling that gap.

building this community has taken time, as much of what i share here only touches the surface of my life. but through the comments and conversations we’ve shared, i’ve formed meaningful connections with so many of you. it’s those connections that inspire me and keep me blogging.

in 2013, I shared a full-size bed with a fellow female blogger while attending a blogging conference. I KNOW.

i also engage with other bloggers through their blogs and comment sections. i feel honored to be part of this give-and-take within such a wonderful community.

i read so many blogs daily and often think, “my god, this would make an excellent book or film.” there’s so much clutter on our screens and in bookstores, yet countless beautiful stories online may never be discovered.

at one point, i desperately wanted to be discovered. (i blame the pioneer woman and the bloggess for this. I KID) however, going through the humbling querying process after writing my menopause book changed my perspective. still, i believe many of my peers’ stories are worth reading. in fact, if you’re looking for something worthwhile, a blog is often a better choice than a book.

i’ll share some recommendations at the end of this post.

bloggers, blog, blogging
some of the amazing humans i’ve met via this space.

the coolest thing happened: the day i started writing about this, my friend suzanne published a beautiful post about bloggers and blogging. i encourage you to read it, as i believe both bloggers and non-bloggers will enjoy her insights and the comments. you might even discover some new blogs to follow.

she expressed gratitude for the blogging community and shared some thought-provoking questions for both bloggers and non-bloggers. i wanted to share those questions here with all of you.

2024 side note– my friend engie shared a post asking which blog we’ve read the longest, and that question really stumped me! i had to think long and hard, and here’s my answer:

320 sycamore

when i first started blogging, i followed a lot of decorating blogs because that was my main interest at the time. one of those bloggers, melissa, is now a weekly writer who shares deals every friday. i’ve been following her since 2010, the year i began blogging.

on to suzanne’s questions:

Questions for Bloggers

  1. Do you have a blog, and if so what is your blog url? 
  2. How long have you been blogging?
  3. Why did you start a blog? 
  4. Do people in your offline life read your blog?
  5. Do you tell people you have a blog?
  6. Have you ever met a blogger in the offline world?
  7. What do you like best about blogging?

Questions for Non Bloggers

  1. Approximately how many blogs do you read?
  2. Do you comment on all the blogs you read?
  3. Why do you seek out blogs (vs or in addition to other, more formal sources)?
  4. Have you ever met a blogger in the offline world?
  5. Would you ever consider writing your own blog?
  6. If you at one time had a blog (especially one I loved reading), what made you stop posting and how do I persuade you to start blogging again?

here are my answers:

1-Do you have a blog, and if so what is your blog url? 

yes! you’re already here, so i don’t need to give you the url.

2- How long have you been blogging?

i began in 2010. (14 years!)

3- Why did you start a blog?

at first, my blog was nothing more than a way to keep family and friends updated on my personal life. with most of our loved ones living far away and our children being young, i felt it was a good way to share what was happening with us. since the blog had only a few followers back then, i shared more personalized details and family pictures.

i’ve been thinking lately that maybe i started this blog as a third space for myself. you can read about that here. 

4- Do people in your offline life read your blog?

my husband and parents are the only people i know who read my blog regularly (love you guys). i know some of my friends read the blog pretty regularly, but i can’t monitor who reads my blog.

*seeing “parent(s)” broke my heart. my dad would read my blog every monday via linkedin, and i still share it there every monday because of him.

5- Do you tell people you have a blog?

i didn’t used to. there was a time when there was a lot of negativity toward bloggers online—there still might be. because of that, i used to call myself a writer instead. it wasn’t untrue, but i did it to shield myself from the judgment. for a long time, i felt ashamed of being a blogger, and i had to dig deep to understand why.

i realized that my shame came from others seeing it as something trivial or silly. but that was never how i perceived it—i’ve always loved blogging. so, i made the choice to distance myself from those negative views and embrace what brings me joy.

i truly love this blog and the community (that’s YOU) we’ve built together in this space. it has become such a significant part of who i am and how i’ve navigated life’s challenges. i’m incredibly proud of what we’ve created here, and it means so much to me.

that is A LOT of parties. 2023 (and 2024) kari could never.

6- Have you ever met a blogger in the offline world?

i’ve had the pleasure of meeting many bloggers in person, having attended two blogging conferences where i connected with wonderful people. one of them, melanie, is a dear friend i met through a blogging event many years ago. she lives just 15 minutes away, and we get together for lunch and shopping every few weeks. she’s also close to my mom, and over the years, she’s become a very close friend of mine.

you can read about the two conferences i attended here:

blogher chicago 2013

erma bombeck writer’s workshop 2014 (highly recommend)

7- What do you like best about blogging?

without a doubt, the best part of blogging is the community that we’ve built here. my favorite part of this and other blogs is the comment section.

i also answered two of the non-blogger questions:

Approximately how many blogs do you read?

35ish

Do you comment on all the blogs you read?

for the most part, yes. i try to interact with blog posts that i can relate to, whether it’s by liking their posts or leaving comments.

i’d love to hear your answers in the comments section.

here is my blog community:

being ron (ron)

bleuwater (elizabeth)

busy bee suz (suz)

bytes from the burbs (“bijoux”)

chris glass (chris)

comfy house (melanie)

debs despatches (deb)

existential ergonomics (erin)

from famine to feast (michelle)

gigi’s ramblings (gigi)

girl in a boy house (nicole)

going down the road feeling grand (shelly)

impart (matt)

life of a doctor’s wife (suzanne)

living in the gap (cheryl)

mark my words (mark)

maybe it’s just me (andrea)

mg doodle studio (michelle)

my heart in pen (judy)

mygenexerlife

no small feet (“ernie”)

open space practice: (aka: a thousand shades of gray) (jill)

river’s world (“river”)

rootsie (rita)

slices of life (joanne)

the something garden (lauren)

song of the day for today (steve)

the ren club (ren)

the spectacled bean (ally)

the time for change (engie)

the bus to sorry (“leenda dela luna”)

the widow badass blog (deb)

waking up on the wrong side of 50 (“LA”)

we are all in this together (donna)

writing from the heart with brian (brian)

love you guys 🖤

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65 thoughts on “community”

  2. You obviously know most of my answers to your questions (thanks for the link!). My WP blog turns 15 in Dec. and I’m thinking I should celebrate somehow, as another blogging friend just did for her 20th anniversary. But I started my first blog way back in 2001, when my daughter had just turned one. My married adult daughter, that is. Boy, do I feel old. It was a way to explore a creative outlet shortly after the turn of the century, and it remains one to this day. Thank you for sharing your story and blogging insights. I always love reading about others.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Yes, absolutely celebrate! Mine turns 15 next summer, and I could definitely use some inspiration. 🤣

      Aww, my oldest is the same age as yours—24, right? I’m assuming she was born in 2000.

      I also love reading about others’ blogging insights. Now, get to planning that celebration!

      Liked by 2 people

  3. Kari, this post TOTALLY made me smile because it reminded me of when I first started blogging and how exciting it was. I started my very first blog in 2006. I have three blogs – my personal blog and two other specific topic blogs (which I no longer post on).

    What I like most about blogging is that it’s “quality social media”. Yes, I’m on Instagram, but it’s not the same as the community you build through blogging. Like you, many of the people I’ve blog with have stopped. Some of them left a final post and let their readers know. Others just vanished. I’ve also known some blogger who have passed away.

    I’ve met SO MANY of my blogging friends throughout the years. I even met a blogger who lived in France.

    My longest blogging friend is Bijoux @ Bytes from the Burbs. And as you know, we are still blogging with each other. In fact, that’s how you and I met!

    One of these days, I hope to meet you and Bijoux for some food, drink, and some loooooooong conversations!

    FABULOUS post, my friend! And I’m so grateful to have met you!

    X

    P.S. And yes, I absolutely comment on other blogs and always respond to comments on my own blog. A blog is a “two-way conversation”.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I absolutely love that!

      Oh my gosh, how exciting that you met an international blogger—that’s so cool!

      It’s wonderful that you’ve known Bijoux the longest. I’m so glad we connected through her! I HOPE FOR THAT, TOO! Let’s make it happen!

      The comment section is definitely my favorite part of this experience; it’s where the blog truly comes to life.

      ❤️😘

      Like

  5. Pingback: Something Good | Open Space Practice, (AKA: A Thousand Shades of Gray)

  6. Sadly soon to be on that list of “no longer”. I the community the most but there are a lot of negatives that outweigh that one positive to make me want to stay beyond this December (after 13 years)

    Liked by 1 person

  8. It is CRAZY to me that there are a LOT of blogs on that list that I’ve never even heard of. I honestly thought I was already reading most of the existing blogs out there. Whew. Dare I click on the links and start to follow NEW blogs. It might get out of control!

    1. Do you have a blog, and if so what is your blog url? https://ngradstudent.blogspot.com/
    2. How long have you been blogging? 20 years
    3. Why did you start a blog? It seemed like everyone had a blog at the time. LOL. I just liked to have a little record of my life and kept writing, even though no one visited my blog for many, many years.
    4. Do people in your offline life read your blog? Not many.
    5. Do you tell people you have a blog? It’s not a secret, but I don’t advertise it widely. I’ve sent links to it to people who I know IRL, but I can tell they think it’s boring. Ha ha ha ha.
    6. Have you ever met a blogger in the offline world? In the last year or so I’ve met five bloggers! And it’s been great!
    7. What do you like best about blogging? The community is so great – so many friends who you know so much about. I also like having an archive of decades of my life. If I didn’t blog it, it didn’t happen!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I get so excited when I discover new blogs, so I completely understand the thrill of facing a fresh batch to read! ❤️🤣

      Yay to 20 years!!

      It’s fantastic that you’ve met five bloggers in the last year—I love that for you!

      And having an archive is such a treasure; it really helps to keep our memories alive.

      Like

  9. I never went to BlogHer but I did go to the Canadian equivalent, Blissdom. One of my very best friends is Allison who I met through blogging. She’s the blog I have been reading the longest, well, her and Swistle. All the other blogs I “knew” back then – I’m thinking around 2010 – they are no longer around.

    1. Do you have a blog, and if so what is your blog url? Yes, and I’m on your list xoxoxo
    2. How long have you been blogging? Since 2008!
    3. Why did you start a blog? I wanted to share my writing.
    4. Do people in your offline life read your blog? Yes, basically everyone I know!
    5. Do you tell people you have a blog? I do, usually it comes up through social media. I don’t mention it first thing after meeting someone but pretty much everyone I know knows about it.
    6. Have you ever met a blogger in the offline world? Yes, at the Blissdom conferences. Also I used to write for YMC and so I met all the writers there too.
    7. What do you like best about blogging? I love writing, so that’s my number one. It’s a great creative outlet. But a very close second is definitely the community. It’s so supportive and beautiful, isn’t it? All these pen pals of ours. xo

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Aw, so honored to have made the list! Weirdly, I don’t think we have any other blog reading in common. I too get so sad when I see the maintenance mode sign or the “no longer available” type message I get when I try to find REALLY old blogs I used to read and have lost touch with (then I remember that’s probably why I lost touch with them!). I too love this blogging community I’ve created around myself and enjoy interacting with other bloggers.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. It was nice to read about your blogging journey. Also, to think about all those blogs that no longer exist. I can only think of two bloggers that I’ve followed in all these years who said an official goodbye. The rest just up and left. Sadly, my longest follower passed away a few years ago from leukemia, which threw me for a loop because he and I were the same age. His wife deleted his blog, which made me sort of mad, because I would have liked to have gone back and read it again. I only found out he was gone by googling his name, after not hearing from him for a few months.

    Boy, you’d think I was a wordy person, but in person, I’m usually the quietest one in a group! Anyhoo, here are my responses:

    1. Do you have a blog, and if so what is your blog url? Yes: http://www.musingsfromtheburbs.blogspot.com
    2. How long have you been blogging? Since March 2008
    3. Why did you start a blog? I had been on a message board for 4 years, but I was upset when someone with Munchausen Syndrome faked her own (online only) death and it sent our community into a tailspin. Two of my fellow posters started blogs and I followed suit. Neither of them blogs anymore.
    4. Do people in your offline life read your blog? No
    5. Do you tell people you have a blog? Nobody IRL knows I have a blog. I’m sure you read my response on Mark’s blog about this topic.
    6. Have you ever met a blogger in the offline world? I met one blogger about 18 months ago when she was in town visiting her family. They practically live in my backyard, so it was easy to meet up for coffee.
    7. What do you like best about blogging? I love the friendships formed and having an online diary of my life.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m so sorry to hear about your friend with leukemia—that’s incredibly sad. I imagine his wife might not have realized just how much that space meant to him and his friends. It’s heartbreaking.

      I also feel a sense of loss when people stop blogging and then vanish from the community entirely. It’s almost like a breakup, and that’s a grief we don’t really talk about much, but it’s so real.

      I absolutely love that you describe yourself as quiet in person but so expressive here! It’s wonderful that your extroverted side shines through in this space.

      And oh my gosh, have you ever written about this fake death story on your blog? I’m so curious to hear more details (I know that sounds awful, but I can’t help it—I’m fascinated!).

      I read about it on Mark’s blog the other night and was surprised to learn no one in your real life knows about it! What was it like meeting the blogger in person?

      I totally get what you mean about the online diary. I do the same thing—I’m always going back to reference things. It’s such a great way to keep track of our lives.

      Like

      1. I very briefly talked about it here: Emotional Havoc Via Message Boards (musingsfromtheburbs.blogspot.com)

        It was one of the craziest things that’s ever happened to me. This person had been leading so many of on. After the fake death, I think that one of the board administrators was able to see that the same IP address was being used for the 3 (or more?) people she was claiming to be. They somehow contacted the husband via email and he was the one that told them his wife had Munchausen Syndrome. She was banned from the board, but I was so upset by a number of things that took place (including other posters who I had communicated privately about the situation) that I stopped participating for a while and started blogging. I would periodically go back to the board, but it was never the same and I think that all my friends who had been on it back then (2004-2008) have left.

        I met Betsy last year and oddly, we had only been following each other for a short period of time. She lives in southern California, but went to a neighboring high school of mine, so we had that connection, growing up in the same area. We didn’t get into anything deep when we met because her mother and sister tagged along. Her sister actually did most of the talking. I would have preferred it be one on one.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Have you heard about the blogger Scamanda faking cancer? They’re actually turning it into a documentary. I had to jot this down before my brain fog kicked into high gear.

        Did you ever figure out what her motivation was for doing that? I’m so sorry you went through all of that, but I’m really glad it led you to start blogging.

        Oh yeah, that meetup sounds a little awkward. When you, Ron, and I finally meet up, it’ll be WAY more fun!😊

        Liked by 1 person

  13. I’m so glad to be on your list! Even though I’m such a sporadic blogger/whatever it is I am. I clicked through to the post from Suzanne, and it was really interesting to read about someone else’s writing story. And I agree with her, you can have “real” friendships with people you’ve never met in “real” life. No one ever shows all of themselves to anyone, and I’ve shared more on my blogs than I’ve shared with a lot of people I’ve shared physical space with. I have one friend in Iowa that I regularly chat with; we have many things in common, and sometimes I think it’s easier for me to be open with her because we don’t know each other IRL. I think there are all kinds of ways to be in relationship with people and they all count. I’ve found it hard to find “my people” around me, and I’m so grateful to be able to find and connect with those I’d never have gotten to meet in the days before the internet. And for whatever it’s worth, I’ll take you over the Pioneer Woman ANY DAY.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I feel the same way about online friends—you’ve been such a big part of my life, and you know things about me that some of my extended family members don’t even know. It’s amazing how close we’ve become through this space, but sometimes I really wish we all lived a bit closer to each other.🤣

      Like

  14. You should see the smile that hit my face when I saw my blog was listed! Thank you. Love you too!

    Do you have a blog, and if so what is your blog url? https://cheryloreglia.blog/
    How long have you been blogging? 9 years
    Why did you start a blog? I started because my sister challenged me to publish a few of my essays on life. I promised myself I would write for 30 days, then Krista Tippett tweeted my blog, said she loved it, and that changed everything. I stayed.
    Do people in your offline life read your blog? Yes, lots of family and friends
    Do you tell people you have a blog? Yes, if they ask what I do, I share.
    Have you ever met a blogger in the offline world? Yes, LA in New York. I have a few more that live close and we’re working on a meet up.
    What do you like best about blogging? I love diving into life and figuring out the deeper meaning. What is life teaching me today? How can I apply this lesson to the future? I also love this community, how encouraging and supportive we are to each other, it’s heart-warming.

    Thanks for including me. Hugs, C

    Liked by 1 person

  15. i have a love-hate relationship with blogging. i’m currently blogging again– but i’m not sure why? it’s only been about a month and already i’m tired. i think i want to like it– i want to learn from it and embrace the challenge, but then i get bored with the task of trying to say something blog worthy.

    i follow maybe 20 blogs, and i do interact in the comment sections with most.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much for letting me know you’re blogging again—I had no idea! I’m adding you to this post right away.

      I totally get the love/hate relationship with blogging. For me, I think it’s connected to the shame I’ve mentioned above. I also find myself censoring a lot. I have at least 20 posts just sitting in my drafts because I skip over them to write what I think others want to hear instead, and it’s frustrating. Why do I keep doing this? Probably out of fear of what others might think. So I absolutely understand the whole ‘blog-worthy’ thing. 😘

      Liked by 1 person

      1. thank you!!! i’m trying to stick mainly to poetry this time around (and leaving out the personal stuff). but who knows– never say never. xx

        Liked by 1 person

  16. This is such a “meaty” post. I love it. I’ve read it a couple of times including the comments and will go back again to check out a few links/sites you mention.

    Thank you so much for including my site!

    I’m impressed that you read about 35 posts a day. Honestly, I get a little overwhelmed and only read a couple a day. I have followed multiple sites over the years but really only get about a handful of new posts from those I follow each day. If I go back and check I wonder if some I followed closed down shop like you say many do.

    I wrote my first post 8 years ago almost to the day. I started my site when I was closing my psychotherapy practice in Seattle so that former clients would have a way of getting in touch with me. I never saw myself as a writer but would post a few things I was learning or was thinking about and it morphed into other things over the years. I’m not sure when it was that I started checking out other sites and began to appreciate the community aspect. I think that was in the last five years.

    I have a couple of off line friends in Seattle who say they read every post but they almost never comment. I have a couple of friends nearby who do too. I sometimes feel kinda hurt that more of my friends and family don’t read my stuff so it was kinda nice to read that others don’t necessarily have all their offline friends reading theirs either.

    I think I often tell people I blog although I don’t go out of my way to do so.

    I’ve never met anybody whom I follow but would love to if the opportunity presented itself. I would love to meet you, Kari! I always appreciate your posts and I really appreciate that you read what I write and that you comment. It’s nice to feel seen and heard. xo

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I should admit I don’t read 35 blogs a day—my ADD just won’t let me! 🤣 I have to spread them out over the week, and while I don’t always comment on every post, I do try to like the ones that resonate with me.

      I love hearing your backstory! That’s so cool!

      I’ve noticed that I don’t go out of my way to tell people about my blog, but I don’t avoid mentioning it either. I used to gloss over it, but I’ve changed that.

      I would love to meet you too! I truly appreciate your comments, Donna, and I have a feeling we’d hit it off in person. (It is so nice to feel seen and heard. Thank you for making me feel that way as well.)

      😘❤️

      Liked by 1 person

  17. I am so delighted to be on your list of blogs, Kari! ❤️You’re on my list as well. I always look forward to your posts.

    1. Do you have a blog, and if so what is your blog url? 
      Yes, https://www.mgdoodlestudio.com
    2. How long have you been blogging?
      I started my blog/website in 2018. I didn’t do much with it until 2022, when I added a comments section.
    3. Why did you start a blog? 
      It was an assignment for an on-line art class. The teacher said every artist needed to have a website and blog. The blog was supposed to help with SEO…I never understood all that business stuff!
    4. Do people in your offline life read your blog?
      They know about it, but I don’t think they read it very often. Sometimes they tell me in person that they enjoyed a post, but they don’t usually leave a comment.
    5. Do you tell people you have a blog?
      I don’t announce it, but I don’t hide it either.
    6. Have you ever met a blogger in the offline world?
      I have not.
    7. What do you like best about blogging?
      I love writing about the stuff I make, and the community has been so lovely to me. I love reading about all the cool things bloggers do, the huge variety of interests and outlooks.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Aww, thank you so much, Michelle! I always look forward to your posts too! 😘

      #3: I love that your blog started as an assignment—that’s such a cool beginning!

      #4: I think the comment section can be a bit intimidating for those who don’t blog. I wish WordPress made it easier for people to comment without needing an account, while still keeping us safe.

      #5: I love reading, too! Even if I ever stopped writing, I’d definitely keep reading and commenting.❤️

      Like

  18. I am humbled to be part of your list! Hmmm..maybe my answers would be a good blog post..lol. Stay tuned! I love reading blogs and thank you for listing the ones you read. I will definitely be checking them out. I think it’s cool that every writer has their niche and love the fact that I feel connected to other bloggers. We are different, yet the same. Peace and love to my fellow writers!

    Judy, Author of My Heart In Pen

    Liked by 1 person

  19. I’m happy to be part of your blogging community, and of course – happy you attended my wedding BEFORE all of this (sweeps arms around the blog-o-sphere). Still one of the wildest blogger meet up stories ever, am I right?

    I started blogging in ’13. I had to go to my own blog to check the year.

    While a few do, not many of my offline friends read my blog. I like the way Suzanne described feeling more free to be myself and not think about who IRL might be reading. That hits home.

    I started blogging because I liked to tell stories, and I had lots of stories to tell. Coach’s office manager was always telling me that she wanted a live feed, or that we should have a reality show. I wasn’t working outside the home yet, and I thought blogging might be a side hustle sort of thing. That thought now makes me laugh as I’ve not made a cent from blogging.

    I’ve met a few blog friends IRL. You. Suz, and Jenny in WV, a reader from believe it or not WV, who was in town over the summer for a conference. I’m open to meeting more.

    I don’t shout it from the rooftops, “I HAVE A BLOG”, but if it comes up in conversation that’s fine. It can be awkward, because people might want to read my blog and then I have to say, I can tell you (my blog), but then I’d have to kill you.

    My favorite thing about blogging is the connection. I wasn’t anticipating that – in fact the first few years, I just wrote posts without commenting anywhere. I wanted to sort of test myself to see if I could carve out the time, as if I might get this huge following overnight and then what if I was too busy to post for a while? Would the blog police show up? Anyway, now I look forward to engaging with readers and other bloggers. I also enjoy making a record of memories. It’s fun to look back and see what I was up to way back when.

    Also, parent(s) . . . my heart broke for you. Thanks for asking these questions. I appreciate your interest and this lovely community.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I love that we have a past! 😘❤️

      I completely agree about the freedom that comes from not knowing who’s reading. It really helps us connect on a deeper level with our online friends.

      Your blog IS like a reality show of your life!

      You’re so lucky to have met Suz. I hope I get the chance to meet her someday, too!

      “I CAN, BUT THEN I HAVE TO KILL YOU.” OMG, that’s definitely what I’m going to say next time!

      It’s so much fun, isn’t it? There have been so many days this past year when I felt so sad and thought I could never write again. Then I go into the comment section of a blog—mine or someone else’s—and I’m laughing one minute and crying the next. This place really is the good place.

      I appreciate it, too! ❤️

      Like

    1. Do you have a blog, and if so what is your blog url? 
    2. How long have you been blogging?
    3. Why did you start a blog? 
    4. Do people in your offline life read your blog?
    5. Do you tell people you have a blog?
    6. Have you ever met a blogger in the offline world?
    7. What do you like best about blogging?

    I started my blog in 2008, although I had one earlier than that, it was only for a year and I changed direction to what it is today.

    I started my current blog as kind of a journal and for my mom to be able to keep up with us since she lived in another state. (Do you remember having to pay for long-distance calls? How crazy to think of that now!)

    My kids say that my blog is their bible. They love it. Coach also reads it, but we don’t usually discuss what I write about; I’ve heard him brag to other people about my blog though and that is very sweet.

    I’ve met lots of bloggers over the years and not a one of them has been a disappointment; people online in the blog world (at least my blog world) are WHO they ARE.

    My fave part of blogging is just like yours: Community.

    Great post my friend and I had no idea about the linkediin part, where your dad read your posts. How sweet. XO

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I definitely remember long-distance calls—well, at least my parents do! I had a long-distance boyfriend for TWO YEARS when I first moved from Ohio to Illinois.

      Oh, my friend, it warms my heart to hear that your girls feel that way about your blog. Anna has said she’s so grateful my blog exists, so they’ll have my writing when I’m gone someday. As morbid as that sounds, it really touches me, and I understand it more than ever now. I also love that Coach brags about your blog! ❤️

      Anna mentioned that my dad would comment on posts from his former coworkers, celebrating them and sharing good news. He was such a ray of light, and I miss that so much.

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Hey Kari, what a treat that you found this post and decided to share it. It’s a wonderful thing to be in community and I am grateful to be in community with you, friend (and honoured to be on your list!). A blogging conference would be super cool as an opportunity to meet the people we converse with!

    1. My blog is at https://songoftheday.ca
    2. I have been blogging since January 2020. I had the idea earlier but didn’t start at the time due to some family illnesses and deaths. I started it as a daily blog, but have had periods where I strayed from that; for a while I posted three times a week, then I took a break to volunteer hard on a political campaign (we lost). I take time off for things like family visits. I like the habit of writing daily as it is something I’ve always loved and was fortunate to make a living at; it gives me joy.
    3. Music has such power. It can evoke feelings and memories of where we were the first time we heard a song. I love music and had the idea that I wanted to share memories about songs in my library, including childhood memories. Since then I’ve branched out to sharing new-to-me music to draw attention to what’s there. I try to share music from different genres, and reserve Sundays for classical music pieces. Sometimes as I’m writing a post thinking of what the music brought up in me, I discover something about myself in the process.
    4. Some offline people do, and some don’t. I’m honestly surprised that some of the closest people in my life don’t read it, as they all know about it. If they blogged, I’d read them! LOL
    5. It depends. While it’s out there for people to discover, I don’t tell everyone. I think I also have a fear of it getting too big and taking more time than it already does.
    6. Yes, one of my friends has a blog. I am not sure if she had it when I met her… does that count?
    7. Similar to what others have said, I like the community. In my work life I frequently had to be with people were not good for my soul. Here, people are supportive, kind, and appreciative, like true friends.
    (8.) I got up to maybe 40 blogs, but found that there wasn’t much engagement with some, or their content was too repetitive or not original, or didn’t interest me in the end. I narrowed down to about 30 be able to spend time with the ones that truly matter. Some of those don’t publish frequently and one is by a friend who died suddenly in January. I have gone back and read his posts sometimes. I have active and reciprocal engagement with about 15-20. Even at that, it’s hard to keep up so that I’m not in front of the computer all day and night!
    (9.) I give “likes” on almost all posts, and comment on most. I enjoy the conversations that come from commenting… it’s one of the best parts of this platform. Your blog fits in so well as I feel mutual give and gain and enjoy the variety of soul things you post.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. #2- I’m really sorry for the losses you went through in 2020.
      #3- You’re so right about music. I actually shared your blog with my dad toward the end of his life. He read it for a bit, not for long though. I know he would’ve loved having a conversation with you—and I’m sure you would’ve enjoyed talking with him, too.
      #4- I totally get how you feel about the people in your life not reading your blog. It’s something I struggle with as well. ❤️
      #6- It definitely counts!
      #7- I feel like you all are my true friends. This past year has really shown me that.
      #8- I’m so sorry about your friend who passed in January.
      #9- Thank you so much. I feel the same way about you and your blog.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks for your lovely responses to mine!

        Oh, my, Kari, I have tears thinking that your dad read some of my blog. What an honour. And yes, I’d have loved to have met and talked with him. Feel like I already knew him some, through your shares.

        It’s wonderful to have this community and you’ve given it a huge nurturing through this post and all the love it contains and has brought back to you from your community. ❤️

        Liked by 1 person

      2. I’m so touched that you feel like you got to know him through my blog. Many people have shared that with me since he passed, and it brings me a lot of comfort.

        I’m incredibly grateful for you and this entire community. The support and connection here have meant so much to me, especially this year. I can’t imagine how much harder it would have been without it. ❤️

        Liked by 1 person

  22. Thanks for including me on your list. I appreciate it. I’ve met one blogger in real life, she didn’t know who I was but I recognized her. She was not behaving in a friendly way to those around her so I didn’t introduce myself & walked away. And that’s as close as I’ve come to a blogger meet-up… so far.

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Aw Kari, thanks for including me in your lovely list <3 I’ve not met a blogger in real life, although I do know a small handful of people in real life who read/comment on my blog from time-to-time. I will reach my 10th anniversary of blogging next year, although it was on a (now deleted) blog. That blog was anonymous, but since 2022 I’m openly blogging under my real name. I noticed that most of the people in my life didn’t seem to be that interested in blogging, and not just my blog, so I focus on the community which we’ve all found online.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Happy 10th blogging anniversary! I’m so glad we connected through blogging. Most people in my life aren’t into it either, so I’m especially grateful for this amazing online community. ❤️

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