To Blog or Not to Blog...That is the Question

 

Facing the question of whether or not I should keep blogging and other thoughts in todays post (yep, the first post of 2021...).

I've blogged since 2009. That's 12 years of blogging (give or take a few months) and since taking a break for a lot of 2020 and now 6 months of 2021 I'm wondering...do I keep blogging? 

When I started blogging it was out of sheer enjoyment. I put down words on the page and talked about the things that mattered to me. My faith. Books. Music. Writing. You name it. Then, as the years went on, it transitioned to more of a "let's grow this blog" thought process and I hosted soooo many amazing authors (both traditionally and independently published) and realized that having a platform wasn't so much for myself as it was to help others be featured. 

Then, somewhere along the way (I can't really pin point it) I started to loose momentum. Life, as they say, got in the way and the blog suffered. It was harder to find things I was passionate about and wanted to share. It became more of a chore than a joy. 

Fast forward and, well, full stop. 

Here I sit now (totally procrastinating from what I should be doing) to write this introspective blog post to whoever actually reads this (yeah, hello Mom). 

There are pros and cons to keeping the blog. One pro is the fact that I have hosted SO many amazing authors and there are records of their posts here. I've also posted a lot of fun and informational things about writing and books. Things I'd hate to see disappear into the void of internet space. But there are cons as well, like the time it takes to keep up the blog and the thought of if it really makes a difference. 

It's almost an existential crisis thinking about whether I should keep blogging or not. But I think it comes down to one question: what is the blog supposed to be about? 

I think I started without direction. I mean, it was called Thinking Thoughts for a reason - it was literally JUST my thinking and thoughts. But as the years have passed and I better understand branding, the change to my brand name, Create Explore Read, was a good move could be a good framework for the future.

Perhaps the hardest thing when thinking about keeping the blog is: who will read it? I don't know if that should matter, but I feel like the answer to that question is "not many". 😂 And the next question that follows is: do I have anything good to say? 

How can someone who's blogged for 12 years feel like an imposter? 

It seems impossible, but I do. A blogging imposter. A writing imposter. A graphic design imposter. A photography imposter. I've done these things for over 8 years each and yet I still feel like I'm faking it, just hoping I'll make it. (What does "making it" even mean though?)

And perhaps that's where my underlying character tells me to forget all of that and follow my passions. I've always done that - from childhood I haven't let "reality" get in the way of what I'm passionate about and I don't want to do that now. 

So, perhaps the answer to my (current) age old question is this: yes, for now. 

When I sit back and think...I have things to say. Perhaps they aren't want people want to read? But does that mean I shouldn't still say them? If one person reads a post and is inspired/encouraged/uplifted I think it's worth it. 

Here's to throwing off the worries, pushing down the imposter feelings, and stepping out into a new chapter on this blog. I won't make fancy promises about post timing or content, but I will say that I desire to write with more transparency than I have in the past. 

For whoever's along for the ride, thanks for reading!