Thursday, February 26, 2009

Where Does the Time Go?

With that title, you may think I am about to wax poetic on how quickly our children grow or how soon we come to an age we once thought of as OLD (not that I can relate to that or anything). No, I am actually referring to the time passed in blog world since my last post. As my friend Janelle mentioned in one of her recent posts, there used to be a time when I would not have let ONE day go by without posting on this little pink page. Now, I look at the date of my last post and I see almost a month has come and gone since my last entry. Seriously, in my first month of blogging, I wrote 48 posts! This past month of February? I have written one...this one. Yeah.

Today, though, I received a comment from a young lady named Rachael that spurred me to action. (Rachael, I'm sorry I don't have your blog address or I would link to you!) Her sweet comment as well as others on my last post have made me realize that I need to figure out how to make this work. I truly love blogging, but somewhere along the way it has become more like a duty than a pleasure and I've become a bit burned out.

I've shared before that one of my main struggles is finding the time to read and comment on others' blogs. Over time my list of blog friends has grown, however (and most unfortunately) the hours in the day available to me have not. In fact, the hours available have actually decreased significantly since November when I started my new job. This produces a dilemma to me because I truly care about many of you as if you were my real-life friends. I want to keep up with your lives and comment on each and every post that you write. I want to do that so much that I have become paralyzed by my bloglines and overwhelmed to the point that I have nearly quit reading and commenting altogether. I hate the aspect of my personality that causes me to do "all or nothing", so I am attempting some small steps toward reforming myself.

Starting today. I'm doing the unthinkable (for me anyway). I am going to click on "mark all as read" on my bloglines and start fresh. I can't promise that I will read every post and/or comment on every post in the future, but I will try to be truly present when I am able to take the time to read. I will also try to post on this blog more often even if I don't have time to write what I would consider a "proper" post. I'm going to do my best to take the pressure off of myself so that maybe, just maybe I can reclaim the love of blogging that I have been missing so much.

23 comments:

Kate said...

It's good to "hear" your voice. Been missing you here in the Land of Blog. Sounds like you are making wise decisions about how to make blogging fit with real life.

Kate

Colored With Memories said...

you go girl, you go! mark 'em as read and get a fresh start...march will be a good month for you.

miss hearing from ya and lookin' forward to reading you again soon!

Mozi Esme said...

Oh I can so relate. I've got some OCD tendencies that make me feel compelled not to skip anything and feel paralyzed when I can't keep up. But I can't "keep up" and keep a balance in my home life, too.

This last week I've set myself some limits - 30 minutes to blog, 30 minutes to check out comments, and 30 minutes to check out my Reader - then everything gets "Marked All as Read." So I'm forcing myself to prioritize.

Though I've cheated already! But I am going to try harder...

Jamie said...

It's great to have you back. Love ya girl.

life with the wisners said...

Oh this makes me so happy. Ease into it. Set boundaries. But know that we are happy to have you back. Yay!

Darlene R. said...

I am so with you on this whole thing. Like the comment above, set bounderies and stick to them!

I have always wanted blogging to be a fun extension to my life and I have finally figured out that it should not as high a priority as I once believed! ;)

Keep it fun, even if it means you only post once a month! We'll be glad to hear from you no matter how often!

Linda Z said...

Give yourself a break girl!!! :)

His Girl said...

Ah! the terror and peace that comes from that 'mark all as read' button... I know it too well. I have made a commitment to click it anytime mine goes over 100 unread posts. It hurt the first few times, but now I love it! It's this sweet release and it feels like getting in a freshly made bed!

Now, come back when you can, cause I love hearing you here... but don't worry about any pressure... blogging is supposed to be a joyful hobby, not a stress factor- and know we'll be happy with anything you're able to share with us :)


(oh, how fun! my word verification is insync!)

beckyjomama said...

Oh, I have missed you!!!

And I am so happy to learn that there is a mark all as read button ... I am gonna have to push it to and then pare down on the ones in my list. That is gonna be hard :(

Sing4joy said...

I think I see a trend here. It seems we love your words whether you post them every day or once a month. You're a blessing when you're here and I thank you for that. Keep holding to correct priorities! As the Bible tells us, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33

Melissa said...

I'm so glad to see you back! And, trust me, you haven't missed a thing by hitting "all read" on my blog!

Heather C said...

That sounds like what I do with Facebook... only I do it weekly! LOL. I get overwhelmed with those notification thingys and so I just ignore them all ;-)

Glad to have you back, and I'll be happy to read whatever you write. I love you!

Unknown said...

Glad to hear from you again. As I said I don't want to add to the pressure it's just such a blessing to catch up with your honest encouragement about real life! Sadly I don't have a blog so that is one you don't have to read,
Rachael

Jackie said...

Sister, I hear ya...this is by far my biggest struggle with the whole blogging thing. I have FINALLY come to terms with the fact that it's really alright if I don't comment on every single post of every single blog I follow (and there are A LOT). I've also trimmed my Google Reader as much as possible - which killed me to do, but it was a necessity. And so now I blog when I can, and it all works out. Miss you, though, and I'm glad to see you are doing ok!

Lynn said...

There are SOOOO many of us that could just copy and paste this post right onto our blogs. It seems there was a wave when many of us were posting and commenting like fiends...and now it sometimes feels more like a chore.

Anyway, glad you are back. I'm pregnant in case you didn't know. ;o) Looking forward to reading more.

Missed you.

Denise said...

i thought you were gone forever.
so glad you're back. i miss your wittiness. but i understand needing to find balance. i can so be an all or nothing girl.

Denise said...

i hope you get (from my comment) permission to not be here full swing. who can? only the pioneer woman :-)
i just missed you, that's what i was trying to say.

Unknown said...

GIRL! You are FREE! Don't let this hobby keep you bound! I'm proud of you!

I fully understand though!

Shelley said...

Did you do it?! Are you free?! :)

Good for you my friend! Love ya!

Tiffani said...

well, i concur with many of the commenters here...whenever you post, we'll read... ;)

girl, I don't even work outside the home and there are times when I can't figure out where to fit in all the things...even the ones I really like and want to do!!

So, I remember...I love a lot of things and enjoy doing a lot of things...therefore, because I neglect them doesn't mean i love those things any less (especially my kids...hahahaha i couldn't resist)...seriously, I scrap a little here, blog a little there...and know that for this season I'm a wife and mommy...and I'll gladly accept the hours it takes to do those two jobs well!

Big Hugs to you my friend!

Short Stop said...

This post is quintessential Alana -and I have MISSED your writing.

Mark all as read, girl. SO therapeutic.

Rochelle said...

Ahhhh... I so needed to read this right now. Oh, how time flies in blog land. I rarely seem to blog anymore but I think of "blog worthy" material all day long... but it never seems to make it to my blog!!! I need to start fresh too! :)

Unknown said...

Totally understand about the time thing. You don't have to explain a thing!