The blog world is odd. First of all, the fact that “the blog world” is a thing is odd. I’ve been blogging since 2009 and my blog and my vision for my blog have shifted time and time again. It all started as a place for me to just dump my thoughts, photos and memories not just as a place to look back on later, but to enjoy reflecting as I wrote those posts.
However, I also read blogs regularly. I’ve had to stop reading them as often than I once did due to lack of time as well as just plain trying to stay away from reading blogs too much. Here’s the problem I have and I know I’m not the only one. I feel like the more I read other blogs the more competitive I feel with these bloggers who I don’t even know! “Oh my gosh, how does she have 800 followers? She just started blogging a couple of months ago!” etc. Once in a while I still get those thoughts like, “Why isn’t my blog (read: life) interesting enough to have a bazillion followers?” and then I’ll sponsor a blog or two in hopes of getting more traffic. And then I’ll stop when I realize how crazy I’m being.
There is nothing wrong with wanting readers or for creating a blog in hopes of it being a source of income. I think that’s why a lot of new blogs are created and I am not bashing that. But that’s not why I started blogging. Now, I’ve shifted my focus just a bit because my Design site is connected to my blog, so in a way it is a part of my business. Now. And I’m still trying to figure out what that means for this little blog of mine. Or if it really has to mean anything.
I know what you mean. Sometimes I find myself feeling competitive or even envious while reading other blogs, and then I have to remind myself that we’re all different and our journeys are different as well. 🙂
Glad I’m not the only one! So, so true. 🙂