Sunday, September 14, 2014

Why I Blog

Well hello, everyone. I have seen this theme float around and thought that I would give it a go.

I wish I had a simple answer to this question, but for me it's a rather loaded one.

I started this blog back in 2009.
Yep, that long ago.
I maybe blogged about three times a year until I moved to Chicago in 2011 when I felt like blogging more often with more of a content schedule. Until then I would basically write short and funny stories  like this and this that I didn't want to forget.

In a way, the blog was like a public diary, meant for me to document stories and to keep in touch with friends from home in Ohio.

Once I moved to Chicago I started to blog about 4-5 times per week. I had a blog consultation with {av} from long distance loving, she created my new header and buttons, and I felt like a "blogger." I even posted a few vlogs. ha. vlogs.

Then a funny thing happened: I got engaged and got CONSUMED. I absolutely loved wedding planning, dreaming about our perfect wedding, reading about all different types of weddings, and really anything wedding-related. 

Then I got busy.

So basically for the past year I have blogged mainly on a weekly basis, with a few intermittent posts about random funny things, like what Teddy thinks.

I have two scheduled posts left in my weekly wedding series
For some loyal readers, I am sure they feel relief. For nearly two years I have written consistently about weddings and not much else. 
For others, they will have to take the linkup elsewhere. It will live on, I just won't be part of it.

So now what?

After all of the different phases of my blog, what's next?

Recently I have realized some things about me and my blog:
1) I love weddings. I loved our wedding. I love to talk about our wedding. I love to write it all down so that I can remember the feelings and fun and love and silliness later in life.
2) I don't think many people aside from myself actually enjoy this public diary of mine.
3) I don't have much to offer readers. 
4) When I read other blogs, all I want to do is shop, lose weight, travel, get my dream job, have a cute little baby with cute little clothes and cute little room decor, redecorate every room and write about it to make the rest of you jealous, get out of debt, and cook and bake while still being a size 4. (I'm not sure if I was EVER a size 4. Maybe pre-puberty? I can't remember.)

Keeping these factors in mind, I'm not sure what to do with this space.
Basically, I'm not that interesting. 

For example, I am not and cannot be a "cool" blogger for the following reasons:

I can't afford to offer giveaways or do DIY projects or host parties. We have a beautiful and fun marriage, but I don't want to only write about that. I rarely go out to new bars or restaurants so you won't read many, if any, reviews from me. I may do a ton of workouts and eat healthy, but I also tend to gain and lose weight often because I also enjoy drinking and eating unhealthy things. I am too plump for anyone to care what my OOTD is, and nothing I wear is in season. I don't do anything special with my hair or makeup and my skin is far from flawless to share any sort of routine that I have. We have an awesome cat, but no cute puppy or child to showcase. Thanks to Georgetown, expensive Chicago living and a lot of medical-related payments, I will honestly be in debt my entire life. Shopping for me is what's on sale at the grocery store, and deleting my online shopping carts because even a $10 shirt stresses me out.

So why blog? 
Why on earth would anyone care what's going on in my head and in my life?
Was the wedding the only thing that was "worth" the space in the blog world?

Maybe other people feel the same: some bloggers seem too unrealistic.
Maybe I'm not the only ordinary gal blogger out there.
Maybe someone else might think some ho-hum story of mine is relatable, give them a chuckle or maybe even some inspiration.  

I'm not sure why I blog and what I have to offer anyone but my own memory down the road.

But it doesn't mean that I'm going to stop.

Thanks for reading, and I hope to keep you at least a little entertained for a long time to come.

7 comments:

Kaileigh said...

Why is it ok to blog about your super cute dog but if you blog about your cat you're a crazy cat lady? I sometimes just blog about my cat anyways...

Kristyn said...

I love talking about my cat on the blog. He even has a dedicated category. And he will be showing up more since we have had a flea infestation. I think cats are more fun than doggies.

And how cares if you aren't a size 4? I'm not either (I've gained lots of weight recently), but I don't care. I think it's good to blog about your weight with pictures. Lots of people can relate to that, trust me.

Anonymous said...

Just be you. You are wonderful!

Stephanie said...

MORE CAT PHOTOS. I love any and all posts pet related :)
I was actually thinking about making a new site, you might like the idea. I would need lots of writers. We should get drinks and chat!

Olivia said...

I love your blog and always have since the day I realized you have one. I get excited whenever there is a new post...wedding related, cat related, anything. I love them all because you are great writer, funny and entertaining! Keep it up because I love it!

Susan said...

I was relieved to read that last line "But that doesn't mean I'm going to stop." I found your blog via the wedding linkup but I really like your spunk and personality in the other posts as well! Keep writing! I agree with a lot of what you wrote in this post! More than you will know! I think it is so hard to find "real bloggers" out there these days. I look forward to reading more from you! (oh and I just watched your vlog... super fun. do another one!) Maybe we can team up and collaborate on some sort of "real blogger topics" in the future?? :)

The Jessa Olson Blog said...

I'm a new follower on your blog. I love this why I blog? I've been blogging for a while too.