Friday, September 26, 2008

Tagged - Blogging Meme

The lovely and funny genius at Lulu's Petals has tagged me with this Blogging Meme. There's some rules about linking that I'm supposed to post here, but I have people to do and places.. wait. That came out wrong.

I don't always do what I'm supposed to do. (Smile.) I will say that I'm supposed to write about 5 specific ways blogging has affected me, either positively or negatively. I suspect most bloggers will say the same things..
  1. I started blogging as a way to express myself.. as a creative outlet. I used to have a traditional website on Tripod and although it was fun (and time-consuming!) it didn't get much exposure. I heard about blogging on a late night TV show and decided to check it out. I Googled places that host blogs and found Blogspot.
  2. I found myself drawn in to the Blogosphere more and more. Blogging pretty much took over my life. I cared more about page rank, hit counters, etc. more than I did about real life for a very long time. There were whole days pass where I did almost nothing more than refresh my blog and email. Pitiful, huh?
  3. I got pretty big-headed over all the attention. There was a time when my blog was darn near "famous." Misty told me once after I'd visited her blog that she felt like she had been visited by royalty. (Misty is silly like that.)
  4. Eventually I was able to adjust my thinking and correctly prioritize blogging in my life. (In large part thanks to emails back and forth with Hootin' Anni.) I set limits to my blogging time. I removed tons of fluff from my sidebars. I stopped caring about the hit counters and such.
  5. Blogging has provided me with the creative outlet I mention in #1. It has also connected me with the world. When I started my original blog back in August of 2006, I was agoraphobic and hardly ever left my house for fear of having panic attacks. Blogging was my way of connecting with others. I have discussed a wide variety of topics here including posting from time to time about painful memories of child abuse, struggling with mental and physical health issues. I was very surprised to find out so many shared my stories and thoughts and that I wasn't looked on as being a failure for not being perfect. I believe it was that support that helped me deal with and overcome some of those issues.
And that is (part of) what blogging has meant to me. What has it meant to you?

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This post was brought to you by: adult diaper. Something I fear I may be needing before too much longer. (Laugh.)

9 comments:

Hootin Anni said...

Oh my....Skittles, I love how you wrote up your five specific ways bloggin' has affected your life. And may I say how your bloggin' has affected OUR lives! You certainly deserve all the grand attention on your blog...it's a-number one blog, and blogging style. Yep, I too, as you know have set limits with my daily blogging also...after one evening Bud said to our daughter over the phone [which I happened to hear him]---he told her he was a bloogin' widower. So, I made some adjustments and even shut the computer completely off for the night around 5PM...just to keep the temptations in control more.

I will have to do this someday. It's a great question.

Lucy said...

great honest job Skit!
I ALSO felt you were like royalty!!
I was so honored that you dedicated bobby sherman to me! hahaha
I think I am at the place you used to be, I too need to start setting a limit to my computer time and go do some fall cleaning!
thanks Skittles!

Forgetfulone said...

I have to completely agree with all of the above. Sometimes, it's such an obsession, and sometimes I just think it's a great creative outlet. I love all my bloggy friends and feel so blessed by them, and you.

ShannonW said...

I love your honesty Barb!!!

I blog to meet new people that otherwise I would not be brave enough to talk to.

Mom Knows Everything said...

I've met so many wonderful people through blogging. I don't know what I would do without Misty, she's the best friend I've ever had.

Shan said...

Blogging has been a way for me to get everything out...silly things, angry things, ranting things. Plus, it is a way to "meet" new people. (By the way, hello! Long time, no see!)

Misty DawnS said...

I'll ALWAYS consider you royalty ;-)

LA Nickers said...

So glad you are blogging.

So how are you? (Saw your note atop the HOTS post.)

Blessings,
Linda

Nickers and Ink

The Curmudgeon said...

Off topic -- I saw your note on HoT and I hope you're doing alright....