The Life of Bon: The pros and cons of blogging

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

The pros and cons of blogging



Everytime I head to my mom's house she has a stack of mail for me.  This is because Hubs and I move at least once a year and we have no permanent address. Usually the mail my mom has for me includes a notice from a bank I deserted months ago and a statement from my retirement company.  That's right, Bon Bon's got a retirement account, isn't she special?

Occasionally in the stack of mail will be a BYU Alum magazine.  They start sending you this magazine after you graduate.  My theory is they do it so that you will always remember your alma mater and one day feel so inclined to send them lots of money.  The magazine is called "BYU Magazine."  Clever title, isn't it?

I thumbed through the magazine at my mom's house on Sunday and came across an article entitled, "Family Focus: The benefits of Mommy Blogging: New moms find emotional support in online communities."  What a mouthful, eh?  The gist of the article was this: women, and specifically moms, who blog are happier.  The article stated that having an online support system helps to relieve all of the responsibilities and burdens of motherhood and childrearing.

The article states, "With a new mom's increased feelings of connectedness and social support often comes better marital satisfaction and less marital conflict, say the researchers.  Holmes believes that when a mom feels that many people care about her, her husband is relieved of being the sole emotional support."

So I guess my question here is, DO YOU AGREE?  While I have definitely seen the benefits of blogging in my life, I feel like there is a fine line that I try hard not to cross.  A line that takes blogging from a hobby, an enjoyment and a fulfillment to an obsession, a burden, and a suffocation.  While I love the interaction I have through blogs and the great women I have met through it, it is a constant battle to not compare myself to the other women.  I long ago accepted I'll never be crafty and I'll never be a gourmet cook.  I was not born with these gifts.  But reading blog after glaring blog of beautiful DIY projects and perfect homes and delicious meals can make even the most confident women start to feel insecure.  Sometimes I feel my daily life is so mundane compared to others, that I'm not rich enough, pretty enough, or stylish enough.  And I wonder, Would I feel this way if I didn't spend so much time reading blogs?  Or would I feel perfectly ok about myself and the place I am in, because honestly, I'm in a pretty good place.

I guess what it comes down to is my number one struggle with blogs.  I've said this before in this post, but I will reitereate it here- I feel like a lot of blogging is not honest.  Our culture does not appreciate people who talk about their troubles on social media.  Think about the last time you saw a facebook status that said, "I'm so lonely.  Why don't I have any friends?"  Most likely you think that person is a social freak and that they should keep that kind of information to themselves- or at least not on social media.  But when you see a fb status that says "Had so much fun at the lake.  I have the best friends ever!"  You think nothing of it.  Or else maybe you get a little jealous because you didn't go to the lake this weekend.  You cleaned the house.  Or watched TV.  Or got in an argument with a family member.  Meaning that obviously your life is not as awesome as the lives of others.

Because social media does not encourage us to talk about problems, it by default does not encourage us to be honest.  Sometimes I read a blog and I think, "Yah, that all looks great, but I don't know you.  Who are you?  What's really going on in your life?  Besides the Instagram pictures of the movie you went to and the food you ate, please be honest with me.  Let me really meet you."  I think until the blogging culture is more friendly to an occasional "complaining" post, it won't be an honest culture.  Just yesterday I posted my frustrations at being overcharged at a doctor's office.  One reader commented, "Please stick to happy posts!"  While I understand that people don't read blogs to be bogged down by others' problems, I was also hurt that this reader only wanted to hear from me if I was happy.  If I needed support or encouragement or if I was frustrated or upset, the reader didn't care to read along.

So... now I will turn the tables to you.  Do you agree with the study that says that blogging makes you happier?  Does it increase your "marital satisfaction", as the research claims?  Or does it leave you feeling inadequate and searching for something more?

Please, please... CHIME IN!

40 comments:

  1. Blogging definitely gives me something to do when I'm jobless all summer -ahem- and I can definitely understand the article - a friend's newborn has a syndrome and she found a blog of a woman who's child also has it andsay friend feels comfort reading her words.

    But I definitely agree with you. Bloggers seem to care more about image than depth. I was actually surprised when my "if you really knew me" post got sweet comments instead of "blog happier!" I think blogging is about self expression - not upholding a status.

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  2. I agree with both sides presented here. I like blogging - sharing my thoughts, ideas (when I have them), and completed projects (when I get off my behind and do something) but I do struggle with that feeling of not being as crafty, stylish, creative, etc. as some of the blogs I read. Do I dwell on it obsessively? No. But I do sometimes push myself to go outside my comfort zone or consciously try something new because of the blogs I read. I think if I cross that line of putting myself down because of the "perfection" seen in the blogosphere I would have to distance myself.

    Great thoughts on this Tuesday night!

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  3. i agree with you!

    im really glad i've got to know the girls i have through blogging, and it hasn't gotten to the point where i feel like i HAVE to blog if i dont have anything to say, but then again i was JUST thinking about this...my posts are not anything like how they used to be. i used to write these rambling long posts about every mundane detail in my life, but then i realized no one wants to read that, they want to look at a picture and read a funny story and somewhere along the line thats what i started posting.

    i was ALSO thinking i am not crafty, trendy, fashionable, a cook, married, getting married, a mom or anything else that 99% of bloggers are, so who the heck would want to read what i want. i guess i just try to remind myself that i'm blogging for me and it will be really fun to look back in 5-10 years and have an online journal of everything that was going on in my life.

    also, if someone told me, "happy posts only" i wouldnt even bother responding. wtf!

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  4. Reallly liked Elises comment and would agree 100%.

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  5. I completely agree with you, Bonnie. I've been struggling with the same thoughts since I took up blogging again. I feel so out of place most of the time because I'm not a crafty person. I'm not a mother. I'm not even a wife. I'm a student and an artist. My posts aren't always happy, but they're real. I think if I start blogging for other people, I'll quit doing it. I'm blogging to remember special times in my life and even the not-so-special times. They are what makes us who we are.

    I think blogging is like everything else. People end up trying to impress people for no reason at all. We should be honest with ourselves and our readers. If they love everything you do? That's awesome. If they don't? Well that's okay too. Anyone who is happy 100% of the time with 100% of their life is either incredibly lucky, or they're putting on a facade.

    Stay strong, dear. <3

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  6. That's crazy someone told you to stick to happy posts. Your post made me laugh, but it was also nice to see some honesty as well. It's one of the reason your blog is one of my favorites.

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  7. So I kinda read the article different and see it saying I am a happier version of myself because I blog. like i'm not happier than other people, but the actual process of blogging produces happiness and satisfaction in me. and for me, i would say that is true. it's a great creative outlet, a constant therapy session as i'm forced to put feelings into words, etc. i'm def more attracted to the blogs that keep it real. i'm not crafty, i do cook but have no interest in making 5 grand meals a week, and i limit my DIY projects to like once a year bc i suck and i make everything uglier and more expensive than needs be. i think like with so many things in life, it's always finding the balance. we can find good or bad in anything, depending on what we're looking for ya know!

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  8. Only happy posts? Puh-lease! Thing is, not all of life is happy. On the flip side of the coin, not all life is crappy. I have one blog that I hate reading because all of her seemingly happy posts are laced with crabby complaints about, well, everything. That woman is never satisfied with anything in her life and is always in pursuit of green pasture. I thought you did an excellent job with the podiatrist story. You were able to convey a frustrating situation in a humorous way. No one likes to spend money at the doctor's so it is a relatable topic. I give you a solid bravo for approaching such a topic with tact and humor. The most important thing is, you need to be real with your blog and if not all your blog posts are happy go lucky, that reader can stop reading. You are who you are: good, bad, ugly hairdo. Not every day is prom some are no deodorant Saturdays and that's just fine.

    I love blogging because it gives me an outlet to get my thoughts out. I don't really care if anyone reads my blog because I do it for me. I wouldn't go so far as to say that blogging is a cure-all for all women but for some, it works. As in all aspects of life, you do need to be careful to not compare weaknesses to someone else's strengths. You are who you are and that is what makes you so awesome. Blogging isn't for everyone but it sure can be therapeutic.

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  9. That article bothered me a whole lot. I actually found it pretty insulting (not that I'm a mommy, but I am a blogger.) It's like saying that because I have friends my husband doesn't need to be there for my emotions. Blogging doesn't replace ANYTHING in my relationship with my husband.

    And I do have a problem when blogs portray seemingly perfect lives because it makes me feel like I'm not good enough and I eventually stop following them. I'm totally honest and tell the good and the bad, the silly tears and the horrible all-night sobbing. And thankfully my readers are okay with that and supportive. But my husband is most supportive of all. He even likes to get involved in my blogging and reads all my posts.

    I blog for a million different reasons but I care more about being me and doing what I love than impressing my readers with my awesomely perfect life. Because no ones life is awesomely perfect.

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  10. That's crazy that someone said you need to stick to happy posts! The article you read sounds interesting, but I think those women would be a lot happier if they spent more time with real friends rather than online in the fake blogging world anyway. But I only blog for journal purposes and for family and friends to keep up on what we've been doing. I also only read blogs of people I know, because otherwise I feel like it's a complete waste of time. I'm so sorry about that comment, but remember that you don't know that person and you can't please everyone, just write whatever you want to! And I personally think you have a great balance of both uplifting and honest posts! Love you!

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  11. I love this post Bonnie! I actually saw the comment on your other post and did think it was a little rude. I didn't even feel like you were complaining that bad, because I know that I would have said a lot worse things!

    Blogging is its own little thing. You don't get paid to blog, and well, if you do I know that it isn't enough to support a family on. It isn't like being an actress or anything. We don't blog to perform or to impress people, we just blog to share something. And as bloggers we have the right to share whatever we want, even our complaints. So I don't feel like anyone has the right to tell you or anyone else to "stick to happy posts". If they don't like what you have to say, then they don't have to read it. I want to be a part of a community that is honest about all of their problems and struggles, as well as their happiness. And, I also want to be a part of a community that accepts each other for all of our flaws and encourages each other to just be ourselves.

    Thank you for always being honest. Above all of the hilarious things you have to say, I love the honest heartfelt posts the most!

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  12. I don't compare myself to other bloggers because I can tell our motivation behind blogging is totally different. I have a narrative to tell, a viewpoint to present, a story to share that, frankly, I haven't seen anywhere else on the Internet. So, yeah, sometimes I get bummed that I don't have more twitter followers or blog readers. But I have to remind myself that it's not about being popular--it's about writing and about being genuine.

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  13. I don't know about blogging making you happier in your marriage, but I can say it has made me happier in life. My blog is pretty darn honest. I try to focus on the posative more for myself than for my readers. I have gotten so much support from readers. At times they have offered more support than close friends. I love a good honest post from a fellow blogger because it reminds me that I am not alone. Sure, it's easy to feel underpar when reading blogs that make thier writer seem so perfect, but I try to let them inspire me instead of make me jealous. I like who I am- a lot, but I like to be inspired by the lives of others. It reminds me I can do anything I want to as long as I just get off my butt.

    Great post! Keep being honest.

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  14. I can totally relate to the closeness one feels with their readers and blogging. It can be a wonderful community and at times, also a burden when it comes to ones self esteem. I like you am not gifted when it comes to cooking/baking or any DIYer, and with that I fee less "blogworthy" as to what to post. It can be a double edge sword sometimes.

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  15. I agree 100%. The last few months for me have been downright sucky, and it's been a challenge to NOT pour all of my emotional distress into my writing and blogging (though I did here and there).

    In some ways, I think being honest on your blog is GREAT and it makes reading about someone else's life more personal and less like you're only seeing their SUPER EXCITING AWESOME PERFECT experiences and feeling like your own boring life sucks. However, I think that sometimes people give TMI (you know what I mean...like going into deep detail about a weird discovery at a doctor's appointment etc) I think you're treading that line between fun & honest writing quite well. So, don't you worry! Plenty of people love reading your blog, myself included!

    www.eatplaylovethattop.com

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  16. I totally know where you're coming from on sometimes comparing yourself to other bloggers even if you're confident in the life you lead. Some people do portray a very very happy life but we all know that life is not 100% happy 100% of the time. Honestly, I love reading your blog because you are honest. You portray the good and the bad and in a funny way!

    And I thought your post about being overcharged was funny!

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  17. I'm right there with you. Sometimes I get in a funk with blogging and I know it's because I don't ever feel as pretty, interesting, stylish (etc, etc) as all the women who write the blogs I read the most.

    So I agree with both sides. I love the community and friendship but I have trouble with the expectation of 'if I blog enough', if it's interesting enough and feeling completely unstylish.

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  18. Oh and forget the hater who said go back to the happy posts! Write about what you dang want! I have written posts that aren't too happy about my struggle with infertility and hardly anyone comments, like it's too awkward or depressing but you reminded how my blog is about me and being true to how I feel and what i'm going through... so I say go for it, and I will too! :)

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  19. I'm on the fence. I think blogging does give us an amazing community to branch out and "meet" people like us. Or people we would aspire to be more like. And I have connected with people that I KNOW I would be bffs with if we lived in the same state.

    But at the same time, there are days (like today), where I DIDN'T have positive things to say. I was a ball of stress yesterday. And why should I feel guilty putting something like that on my blog?

    If my readers like me when I'm happy, shouldn't they provide support for me if I'm not having a perfect day with perfect hair and a perfect outfit? I'm not looking for pity, just sometimes, a nice word from a friend.

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  20. Great post! I definitely agree with you. Many bloggers seem to care more about image than any sort of depth. And some blogs become too focused on getting followers, sponsors and giveaways that they lose what made their blog unique/special. They seem to write about what they think people want to hear instead of just writing from the heart. Also think those blogs that only write about their perfect happy relationships, jobs, lives, houses, kids, etc., can make some people feel inadequate.

    I mainly choose to follow blogs based on peoples honesty, genuineness, and realness. Love people who write about the good, bad and all that other stuff in between they tend to be my favorite blogs!

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  21. As a mom and as a blogger, I have to say that I much prefer my real group of mom friends to any blogs I've seen out there (save one or two.)

    I started blogging because I wanted to recapture my MIA creative mojo. Along the way, I have been honest about how it went away, which frankly, is not always a happy story. Being open and honest and writing about my journey has helped me deal with it. I haven't put anything on my blog I wouldn't share with people in person.

    Through my blog, I've met some cool people, I've gotten to know others better and I've had some fantastic opportunities land in my lap, things I only dreamed about previously. Two years and a few months into this blogging thing, I'm on a whole new career path in no small part due to my blog.

    I do keep in mind who reads my blog when I put things out there though, so I do tend to hold back on some of the juicier details of certain events, if only to protect the innocent. Or my own self.

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  22. I try really hard for my social media to be an honest representation of myself. I don't walk around whining all the time, so I try not to whine on facebook and twitter. I also don't walk around shouting happy things, so I try not to be all bubbles and rainbows either. If I'm going to say something with a negative conotation (lately about my horrible morning sickness) I try to put a funny spin on it, just to let people know "my life kind of sucks, but I'm not going to get down about it." and then other people can make jokes and we all have a good laugh, which makes us all feel better. I hope to do the same thing on my blog, but I haven't blogged in several weeks because I've been so sick. But my first post is about my husband making me go see a dr about my mental health, so I'd say I'm keeping it real there. That post was the inspiration for my blog title "I'm Probably Crazy".

    I'm not really sure I answered the question, but that's what I wanted to say! :)

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  23. Anonymous7:42 AM

    I have to constantly remind myself that I am blogging for me and if I make connections along the way that is a bonus. But it is really difficult some days when I get caught up in the "should I post this thought" mode or even the "is anyone even reading" rut.

    As great as the blogging community has been at times, I have also been very disappointed as well when people pigeon hole you and don't allow you to grow beyond your initial blog idea. When I check myself and realize that I am "disappointed" over people who I have never even met I am reminded that again blogging is for me. And it is cathartic in many ways- has it improved my life? I don't know. I have always been open and honest about it all, good or bad.

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  24. I agree with you about blogging bringing out insecurities and overall being a bit dishonest. There are so many blogs out there but so many of them are the same. I want to read about daily "life", and ups and downs, not comparing the same outfit to 10 other bloggers. It's really easy to get caught up into, so I really like this reminder post :)

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  25. please stick to happy posts! ;)

    i kid, i kid, obv that was sarcastic!

    seriously, thank you thank you thank you for posting this. i feel the ex.act. same. way. i even had to take a break from blogs for a while because sometimes i'm just like, 'what am i even doing in my spare time? WHY don't i have stories to tell, pictures to show?'...oh idk, maybe because i sit and read blogs and compare my life to theirs all the time.

    this post has inspired me to be MORE honest. MORE real. and i kinda want to go for a few days NOT reading what others are writing. i think that'd help me get back to ME!

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  26. I prefer blogs that are more honest about things. The perfect bloggers that have life too easy are impressive and inspiring, yes, but also a little boring and out-of-reach. I like bloggers that reflect more how I feel about life - that it's not always perfect and rosy.

    (That being said, bloggers that are continually negative and crabby are quite obnoxious.)

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  27. I love the fact that there are at least two bloggers an entire ocean away that I feel like, "wow...I'm not the only one!" when I read their posts. They also comment a lot on my blog posts and that makes me feel like when I'm venting (about good or bad things) that I'm being HEARD, which in my opinion, is what most women NEED the most.

    However, these two particular blogs I read ARE honest. One of them is so honest I've broken down in tears at least a few times while reading her blog and thought, "I am SO glad I'm not the only one who feels this way about parenting sometimes!" and I wish so much that I had the courage and strength to write those same things down on my own blog (however, my mother and mother-in-law would take things WAY too seriously, which is one of the reasons I myself tend to stick to blogging about the happier things), and I really do try and write when I'm having a crappy day so that when people read my blog they'll know it's not all rainbows and sunshine.

    BUT...I have been sucked in to reading super-happy-trendy-cooky-perfect family blogs where the mama is gorgeous and stylish and wears high-healed shoes ALL the time while hanging out with her photographer friends...and after nearly a year of thinking, "Why is my life so SUCKY in comparison?" I finally stopped following them. A LOT of them. Because to be honest, I LIKE YOUR blog. BECAUSE you're honest. And it's not all rainbows and sunshine, and hearing about others having a bad day makes me feel better about the bad days I have.

    Because after all, I think in this blogging community we all just want to feel like we're like everyone else - just like in highschool, when you're desperate to fit in - we're all just wanting to fit in, and write what we know, and feel appreciated and accepted for who we are.

    Sunshine or not.

    x

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  28. I agree with you 100%. I've also had a problem with social media only being "positive." Of course, no one wants to read whiny tweets/status/posts all day long, but it's ok to show some emotion! My favorite bloggers are not the ones who post only happy things. My favorites are the ones who are brave enough to share struggles and thoughts and the trials of their lives. They are the people I draw strength and encouragement from. They are the people I want to build relationships with.

    As for the article, I completely disagree with it. Blogging has incredible benefits, but there are also downfalls. I've also struggled with comparing myself to other women. And that comment about blogging taking some of the emotional burden off the husband? Yeah, I have issues with that.

    Regardless, I agree that when I read blogs, I want to get to know the person. I don't want to know what they wore everyday and all that jazz. I love some honesty to balance it all out.

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  29. i love this post! i have the same thoughts about blogging {and actually blogged about blogging this week too}.
    i love to connect with others. however, i have felt overwhelmed by blog-land many times. is my post good enough? are my buttons cute enough? why don't i have as many followers? their design is so much better.. you name it, i've thought it. it's hard when you see blogs where everything is peachy keen. i try to avoid those, because they don't seem real to me. right now i'm struggling with whether to dive in whole-heartedly and go with facebook page, sponsors, advertising, etc. i'd like to get my blog out there and meet more people, but at the same time, i don't want it to become another 'job' of mine. ok. enough rambling. thanks for writing!

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  30. I agree. People don't really want to hear the truth. They want a sugar coated happier version. Blogging can also lead to obsession or blog envy. I do think that there is a fine line you have to walk.

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  31. This is really well written. Thanks for posting this. I have a hate/love relationship with blogging. I want to do it but at the same time I wonder why? Am I doing if for me or for others? I struggled with this when I first started blogging and I've slowly started to come into my own. I don't know if it makes me happy but at times I feel compelled to post so I do. I think blogging would make me happy if I had my husbands support- which I don't. He doesn't understand why I want to share things, especially photos of myself. He is very private- doesn't even like that I have a Facebook account. He is afraid I am asking for trouble. It's been hard to make him understand the blogging culture which makes me ultimately feel like when I do blog I am going behind his back because I can't share it with him or even talk about it. It's a sore subject. I keep on blogging because there is a part of me that just has to.

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  32. Although I love blogging and I feel like I find people with whom I can relate... I also struggle with comparison/feeling inadequate. My house never looks that clean. I'm crafty, but not as crafty as her. I have an amazing love story, but I don't blog with my husband... so I understand both sides to this story. Thanks for sharing. Great post!

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  33. Geez. Lots of comments already! I loved this post because this is something Nate and I talk about all the time. Nate is convinced that blogging is going to cause damage someday because of all the "perfect life" bloggers. Women (definitely within our church, from what I've seen) are hard enough on ourselves without having blogs of other people's perfect lives making them feel worse about what they can't do or what they don't have or whatever. On the other hand, I don't think blogs should be big sob stories or overly personal either. I think you do a great job - you share good and bad, but never make people feel uncomfortable with the bad. Another blog I read called Pear Shaped Thoughts is the same way - real, but funny too (and 5 different people!). Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it!

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  34. I'm Amy. I'm reading your blog for the first time & felt the instant urge to join this conversation! Kudo's to you for bringing this topic up!!
    First. It's normal for us to compare ourselves, after all it's what society teaches us through ads, music videos and reality tv. Our personal diversitys either bring out enouragement to try something new or weigh us down. It's the fine line between positive vs negative thinkers. (MO)
    2. I am a VERY honest blogger! I through my dirty laundry and air it for the world! If someone else is struggling with relationship woes & finds someone else they can relate too.. you MIGHT be able to find the strenth & encouragement to do something. Plus hearing another persons point of view sometimes shines light on our own situation ..
    3. If we were all happy go luckies our world would be dull. Honest. It's our daily struggles & accomplishments that make us stronger. At the end of the day sharing a low point vs a high point may be 'social suicide' but then again it might be "doing laudry this weekend instead of a beach bum is very norm".

    I believe our society teaches us to hide our lows. I was a victim of verbal and physical abuse in my ex marriage. I didn't talk about, but everyone knew my 'happy' comments were fake. I had real issues and scared to talk about it. I learned that by talking openly about what I went through it's helped others get out of that kind of relationship & understand that "you didn't fail". We all walk different paths.. we all encounter different things. My weakness' might be your strengths and because of our 'blog' life shares - it creates a bond.

    I hope I didn't miss the punch line to this post but I highly encouraged the honestly & openness of this post! keep going. Let the comments to keep to "happy posts" roll off, nobody has a 100% happy life...

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  35. Blogging makes me happy. I tend to want to bottle things up and not talk about it...and I've found that I can blog about it and it helps me to turn what I am feeling into words..and in turn helps me to vocalize what I want to say =)

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  36. I think it makes me happier in some ways, but then again I find myself comparing my life or blogging skills to others and it brings me down. I love blogging but my personality is always going to be that I'm never good enough.

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  37. Love your thoughts on this. I recently wrote a post about how I feel like social media and blogging can really bring out insecurity and lonliness if we aren't careful. Yes, I think it is a great outlet and as long as we don't get too serious with it it isn't stressful or suffocating. BUT, I do think that like you said, it sometimes only shows the perfect parts of our lives and isn't so honest all the time.

    Love your blog, and its honesty!

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  38. Oh girllll. Good post. And NEVER feel "bad" about your lack of DIYing, or not "rich enough" as you said, or not pretty enough. I live in the basement of Jewish couples' house and I'm 25, my last DIY was bedazzling my phone in 7th grade, and it didn't turn out well. And I don't blog about outfits because most days I don't get out of my pjs. And I spend roughly 12 hours of my day talking to a dog. Compared to some bloggers, my life is probably a nightmare lol. But for me, I think it's pretty dang fun. And now I'm going to stop writing bc according to your post today I spend too much time on the internet. So I'll switch to TV until bed.

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  39. Bonnie,
    My dear friend Madison got me on this blog after you posted about her. I really love it and have to refrain from reading comments, so that I will not feel the need to defend your honor (I know, silly).
    I recently started a blog and I did not do it to receive others approval (in fact I'm pretty sure no one but my grandmother reads it). My mother has a blog and at the beginning of my senior year she published it. I now can read that short chronicle of our lives in a cute little book. So I started my blog to chronicle my life here in college, with the intent to have it printed and serve as journal.
    Basically, what I think is that you ought to continue to post what YOU feel is important. Those who are displeased will go away, but you did not need them anyway. Blog for you. Let us see every side of you if you so desire. But do not cater to the desires of others. They need to work on their own lives before they can fix yours.
    Happy Blogging!! I can't wait to read more from you.
    Becca

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  40. I am not crafty and I don't cook much either! I think blogging does have me comparing myself to others. I constantly have to remind myself why I started blogging and that I'm ok. That being said I love blogging and it makes me happy more then anything else.

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