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Completely irrelevant picture, but isn't Molly adorable? |
Lately I've found myself sharing my blog with more people in my life. It all started when an important visitor came to the hotel, and he went around the table asking people what they liked to do. Like I mentioned in my Motivated Monday post, I said that I have a blog. Since then, I've been sharing it randomly with people. In the morning at work, we have these things called "Huddles" where people from different departments share things about the hotel. Last week, we did a little get-to-know-you exercise, and we had to name some facts about ourselves. Again, I mentioned my blog.
It's not like I was ever embarrassed that I blog. I actually love my blog, and as it continues to grow, I become more and more proud of it. I've created relationships with people that I wouldn't have known otherwise, and I've connected with people that understand things I've gone or am going through. I've also been presented with a lot of opportunities that I couldn't have gotten otherwise. I feel like my blog is helping me grow in ways that I could have only imagined prior.
So why was I so hesitant to share my blog with people in my "real" life?
Blogs tend to have a lot of negative connotation attached to them. People who don't blog think that bloggers are people who just sit at home in front of their computers all day and write posts to get free stuff or ramble about things that no one cares to read. Yes, I do spend a lot of time in front of a computer, and yes, I know that not all of my posts will appeal to everyone, but I do have a life outside of my blog. I work full-time, I see my family frequently, I have a boyfriend and a social life. There's an actual person behind all of the words that are written on here. My entire life isn't centered around my blog (though certain parts of my life have changed thanks to blogging - in the best way).
A lot of people are obsessed with Pinterest, but what most people don't know is that about 90% of the pins on Pinterest are pulled from blogs all over the internet. Also, Buzzfeed, Thought Catalog and other articles from popular websites that have been circulating the internet and Facebook as of late are written by bloggers.
Now that I'm starting to become more confident about my blog and the words that I put out there, I'm starting to get excited about telling people about my blog and why I love it so much. It makes me so happy when someone I see in real life says that they read my blog and that they enjoyed reading my posts. I'm excited for the opportunities that I foresee this blog bringing, and I can't wait to bring all of you on the journey with me. Thanks so much for keeping up with and reading my blog. Every view, every comment, every share. It all means so much to me.
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Meet one of my April sponsors, Kylea!
I am so excited to have Kylea sponsoring me this month, because soon we will be rooming together for Blogcation! And by soon, I really mean in forever, because it's not until January. I wish it was now!
My name is Kylea (pronounced Ky-Lee). If you guessed it wrong the first time, no worries; like the Gecko being confused for Geico, it happens all the time. I am an Arizona native who loves heat and my fur monster Ghillie. On my blog you will find: sarcasm, my love for all things Despicable Me, the amazing fur creatures that sometimes take over my life, and just about anything topic you can think of. I also enjoy long walks on the beach, pina coladas, and Netflix binges.
What is your favorite thing about blogging?
My favorite thing about blogging, is the acceptance and support that you get from people that you've never met! It is strange to meet (virtually or in person) new people from across the country or world, and know that you have something in common with them. And when someone is having an off time or really bad day, I have never seen more support and kind words in my life than in a comment stream. Plus I can jut write my heart out and there is always someone who can relate in one form or another.
What motivates you?
I will be honest my motivation can be hard to muster up. But it’s the simple things like seeing a picture, or reading a comment that inspire me to come up with new ideas. Once I get an idea stuck, that’s when I am motivated to write about it.
If you could live a day in the life of anyone, dead or alive, who would you choose and why?
My first choice is my dog. I mean that boy lives the life of luxury, and just once I would love to live like him. Have people serve me food, take naps all day, and have a tolerable singing voice, it is such a rough life. But I think I would only want that for a day or two. A week tops!
What song are you currently obsessed with?
One thing everyone should know, is that I am MIXED with my genre’s. But my one true love is country, and right now I am obsessed with Hunter Hayes Storyline. It is pop country, but it is so catchy! And fantastic to dance to in your car, with the windows down.
What makes you awesome?
Does everything count as an answer? Haha! I think what makes me awesome, is that I love a little bit of everything. I love to see outside the box, and what is possible, rather than what I may already know. I am accepting of what I don’t know, and am always looking for new things to learn about.
For more from Kylea, check out her social media links below:
Blog | Bloglovin | Facebook | Twitter
I totally know what you mean... it is weird to talk about your blog in real life! Even though it's such a big part of my life now. I've had people ask me "So what's the point of blogging?" and it's so hard to put into words! Good for you for sharing it :)
ReplyDeleteThe only people that know about my blog IRL are my immediate family. All of a sudden one day, a couple of friends started following my account on IG. It was so weird for me. I'm just now starting to tell other people about my blog and I've been writing for nearly 2 years now. haha
ReplyDeleteI share my blog with some people in real life too, and it also makes me happy when people I know say they read my blog and say something nice about it.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I feel the exact same way! Congrats on beginning to open up...I'm not quite there yet. My closest friends know about it along with my family, but in general I don't bring it up. I never mention it on Twitter or Facebook (although I do Pin). I agree with Madison- I feel like I can't really share it until I have a more concrete answer to the question "Why?"
ReplyDeleteHave you found mostly positive reactions from those you've told? Thanks again for a good read!
No one in my real life knows about my blog, not even my parents. I'm not embarrassed by my blog, I guess I just feel self conscious about people I know reading it.
ReplyDeleteReally? ^^^^ I share my blog w my family as a way for them to keep up with us but it does make it hard because too many times I want to write a post but it has to do w them and I can't do it.. cause they may take it wrong.
ReplyDeleteI don't tell people about my blog upfront either, because like you said people have a negative connotation sometimes. I find that some people think bloggers just like to talk about themselves. My BF doesn't get it at all! He's like who cares what you ate, did, tweeted about, etc ect. He just doesn't get it lol. But I'm glad I have made blogger friends who do get it!
ReplyDeleteI had some anxiety at first with telling people. Then one time it slipped and they just kept asking questions and it lead to a good conversation where i felt excited about being a blogger. I am playing it by ear on the family. i want to make sure they are not reading before i talk about them. Ha!
ReplyDeleteI definitely am hesitant to mention to some "real life" people, but my family and friends know, and occasionally I share about it on social media accounts. What I always find is that I feel awkward when someone else brings it up and I just don't know how to respond. Good for you girl:)
ReplyDeleteI was really hesitant to share my blog with certain people in my real life at first, but I'm glad I have started talking about it more. I agree that people have a negative first impression of blogs, but they don't know that they're necessarily reading blogs all the time! I also found that everyone know someone who tried tried to be a blogger and fizzled out so that's what they assume all blogs are like.
ReplyDeleteyour blog has come so far from the beginning and i love it! truly! Also same with blogging and sharing the news about it. i let more people know because it really is who I am being that its a favorite hobby of mine. I tell people on first dates (oops) because i mean if they end up being the one (for a while, at least) they know what they are getting themselves into..! aka maybe end up on le blog
ReplyDeleteSo happy to read this. My friends love hearing about my blog.
ReplyDeleteI have just found the right one and the greatest spell caster on earth who has brought back my happiness and turned my world around by helping me get my ex partner and helped me get back my life cause i was totally frustrated after 6years of hardship and pain, a friend of mine buzz me on my email saying i should cheer up cause solution has come. At first i was like what are you saying, then she mentioned the name ‘EBOEHI’ and i must thank my savior Great DR EBOEHI who has play a very vital part of my life making me a great person and the most happiest person today you are a great man who is bless by powers with traditional healing spell caster, after Great DR EBOEHI has help me get my ex back he also help me recover what i have lost in past years i must thank him (Great DR EBOEHI) the life he has restored back for me and my happiness. Now i am doing well in my work and also with my partner, Great DR EBOEHI is a very great spell caster you need to know just meet him and with your problem and it will be over.. Email him via: (supernaturalspelltemple@gmail.com)
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way! Way to be brave :) I have only shared mine with a few so far!
ReplyDeleteIt really is weird, especially when other people bring it up first. I agree, it is so hard to say what the point of blogging is. I'm also finding it hard to describe my niche, I feel like I just blog about whatever I want! I know I have so much to learn, but hopefully I can take some people in my real life along for the journey.
ReplyDeleteWow! Two years? I've just been blogging for a little over a year, but I didn't start seriously blogging until this past June. I had no idea how vast the blogging world was, and I'm learning so much. It's hard to describe to people why I love it so much, which is why I'm glad I have blog friends who understand!
ReplyDeleteIt just makes me so happy when people in my real life say nice things about my blog. It really is the best feeling!
ReplyDeleteGlad you can relate!
ReplyDeleteIt took me a long time to start sharing anything on Facebook or Twitter. I've only shared once on my personal Facebook, but I'm starting to tweet more about my posts. I don't know if I'll ever have a concrete answer to the "why?" question, because I'm still trying to figure it all out myself. I haven't had anyone say anything negative about my blog, but I have had people who just don't understand or aren't interested. A lot of people just don't get it, which is totally fine. Overall though, I've had a lot of positive feedback, especially sharing with people at work and my boyfriend supports me 100%. I actually feel like I learned a lot about the kind of people I have in my life after sharing my blog with them. The ones who ask questions and want to learn more about why I do it and support me, those are the people that I want to have and keep in my life. The ones who judge me or brush it off...not so much.
ReplyDeleteI was the same way at first. It took me months to tell anyone that I started blogging, even my boyfriend of several years and my other friends who had blogs themselves. I think now that that I'm starting to find my voice and starting to grow as a blogger, I'm starting to get more comfortable talking about it because I'm confident about the things that I'm putting out there. I still find myself being very self conscious about it though, and I wonder if people have read my blog and what they think about it. I don't often bring it up in every day conversation.
ReplyDeleteI've shared a few things on my blog that I hadn't talked to many people in my real life about, and those are the posts that made me hesitant to share my blog with the people in my life. I'm learning that I love using my blog as a place where I can just be honest and be 100% me.
ReplyDeleteThat's so true that so many people think that bloggers just talk about themselves. I'm lucky that my boyfriend is my biggest cheerleader, and he supported my blog from the first time that I told him about it. He even shares some of my posts on his personal Facebook page. I think the thing that's so special about the blogging community is that there is ALWAYS someone out there who has gone through what you've gone through and have felt the same way that you do. There's always someone to lean on. So until the people in your life start to understand why you blog and why you like doing it so much, you have so much virtual support from fellow bloggers!
ReplyDeleteThat's amazing that it sparked a good conversation after accidentally letting it slip. I've found that the people who are interested in learning more about my blog and why I do it are the people in my life that I want to keep around, because I can tell that they actually care. I told friends before I told family (with the exception of my sister), but now everyone knows. I try not to say anything embarrassing or share any stories that they wouldn't want online.
ReplyDeleteI can definitely relate to that awkwardness. I still feel it even after opening up more about it. It makes me excited that someone in my life has read it and supports me, but at the same time, it makes me bashful. I'm lucky to have so many supporters of my blog, not only in my real life, but also in the blogging community itself. When I started blogging, I had no idea where it would leave me, and even now, who knows what will happen?
ReplyDeleteIt's so true that people are reading blogs all the time without realizing it. I know several people who have started blogs and then quit. I'm actually surprised that I've stuck with it this long, but I'm so happy that I have. I was hesitant to share my blog with people too, but now that I have, it's given me more confidence, and it's made me want to start writing more posts and sharing them with everyone!
ReplyDeleteSo you're like the blogger version of Taylor Swift! But more awesome. Haha. You were one of the first bloggers that I truly connected with, and I absolutely LOVE reading your blogs. That's awesome that you've opened up to so many people about your blog. I'm slowly starting to get more comfortable talking about it.
ReplyDeleteYay! That's so awesome!
ReplyDeleteIt started with a handful of people (mostly just inviting them to like my blog's FB page), and it's grown immensely since then. I get so happy when people in my real life say that they read my blog, and it makes me even happier when they have positive things to say about it. :)
ReplyDeleteHaving a blog and sharing it definitely takes some getting used to! At first I wanted a bunch of people to follow me, but at the same time I didn't want certain people to see it for some reason. The more time progressed, I realized that most people in my life were already used to the idea of me blogging, and so it became commonplace for me. Time has really made it easier to open up to strangers about blogging. I still get the "You BLOG?" or "Really?" once in a while, but I'm so used to it by now it doesn't really phase me.
ReplyDeleteI loved what you said about why you were hesitant to share because it's so true, especially because of those comments. A lot of people outside the blogging world don't really understand what goes on when we're in front of our computer screens. Blogging has so many more sides to it these days that people who are outside don't really understand.
I have loved seeing your blog grow! You really don't have anything to be ashamed of with what you put out there, and I'm glad you can see that too. I can't wait to see what the future brings for you and it! :)
I'm not saying sander them, but it is kind of like having family vacations with the Griswolds.
ReplyDeleteWho wants to be the grandpa the blew up the cat on the world wide web Bwhahahaha!
You're brave! After sharing my old blog with RL friends/people, I decided to not share my current blog. And the funny thing is that my old blog had tons more personal thoughts and pictures than my current one.
ReplyDeleteI've let it out that I blog on Instagram/Twitter if you're keen enough to catch the keyword blogger but I haven't personally told anyone that I'm a blogger. There are times when I would love to tell them I have a blog, or that I need to do something because of my blog (eg. photos, photos, photos, haha), but never got the cuts to. Instant cold feed and I run away from ever mentioning my blog.
Great to know you shared your blog. I used to think the same that people might think I am narcissist but when I shared my blog, everyone seemed to love . Blogging has enabled me to know and do many things I could never imagined of.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean about wanting people to follow you but then trying to hide it from other people. I was the same way. I kind of am still for certain people. But for the most part, I like to just talk about it and share it with anyone now, even though I know there are some people who don't, not necessarily disapprove of it, but they just don't understand. You were one of the first blog connections I made, and I'm so happy that you've been with me on the journey!
ReplyDeleteDid your friends disapprove of content you were putting out there? What made you not want to share your new blog with them? It took me a long time to open up to anyone about my blog, but now that I've been doing it for awhile, I find that I want to share it with everyone. There are still a few people in my life that I don't mention it around though. For the most part, the people I'm close to that know about it support me.
ReplyDeleteI agree! I feel like blogging has opened so many doors, and I've gotten amazing opportunities that I wouldn't have otherwise.
ReplyDeleteIt was hard to share my first blog when I first started. Not because I was afraid of sharing I was a blogger, but more on my topic (not everyone likes KPop or understands why I would Love it). It's still hard for me to share it sometimes. I always hesitate when I bring it up, but I'm getting better at admitting I'm doing something I actually enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI find myself hesitating too, but I'm definitely more open about it now than I ever was and even share it on all of my personal social media sites as well. I figure if they support me, that's awesome, and if they don't, then that's their problem, not mine. Being happy is so important, and my blog isn't for everyone else; it's for me. So it's awesome that you've found passion doing something you love. Just keep at it!
ReplyDeleteOmg! I just found your blog via HerCampus. I'm about to graduate from Louisiana Tech this quarter (22 days!). I definitely haven't shared my blog with anyone and don't plan on it just yet, I kind of like it being my own thing. It's a fun hobby that I get to enjoy on my own. Plus I don't really like the idea of my friends reading my content for some reason. I keep telling myself "ok once i meet this goal I'll tell them." but i havent yet. oh well. Great to see another bulldog blogger! :)
ReplyDeleteI feel that most often too! Most people might think like what you said but blogging is more than just that. :) My Mom accidentally read my blog and I think that's cool. SOmeday, Im sure Im gonna bring my blog out there:)
ReplyDeleteWhaaaaat?! That's so crazy! Go dawgs! Woohoo! I don't know any local bloggers, besides one, so I'm so happy to find someone close by. I kept my blog to myself for awhile because, like you, I wanted it to be my own thing. Some of the things I write about, I'm still hesitant to put out there to the people in my real life, for fear of judgment. It's so strange because I'm willing to share certain things with strangers online, but I'm hesitant to share them with people in my real life. Now though, I just put whatever I want out there, and if people judge me, then that's fine with me. I'm sure that will happen with you one day. What are your plans after graduation? We should definitely meet up one day for a blate (blogger date)!
ReplyDeleteI think people who don't blog just don't really understand the blogging world, and they judge it because they just aren't educated about it. That's awesome that your mom has read your blog! I think being willing to share your blog with the people in your life is a process. Good luck to you for when you do decide to share it!
ReplyDeleteBlogging, I believe it's one step ahead of our comfort zone - to let people from all over the world hear you voice without much prejudice. Maybe one of the reasons why bloggers are cool people. Lol Thank you Tiffany! :)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! I'm moving to Dallas in June for a job but we definitely should :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats! That's so awesome! Will you be in Ruston till you move? I work 8:30-5 during the week and I'm going out of town the last weekend in May. We could either meet up for dinner and drinks one day during the week after 6 or the only free weekend I have this month is Memorial Day weekend - 24-25.
ReplyDeleteI'm the same way. I used to be hesitant to share my blog on my social media sites. And it honestly still makes me feel weird when my friends tell me they read my blog. Maybe one day I'll finally get over that.
ReplyDeleteI think not feeling weird about it just comes with time. It makes me happy when someone mentions it, and they actually ask me questions so I can talk about why I blog and why I love it so much. I used to be awkward about it, and to be honest, I still am sometimes, but overall, I'm much more comfortable than I used to be.
ReplyDeleteI've been blogging for 2 years and I'm still hesitant to talk about it in "real" life!
ReplyDeleteIt took me awhile to warm up to the idea too! Sometimes, I still get bashful, but I love when people ask me questions and ask what my blog's about. It's a big part of my life, and I want to share it!
ReplyDeleteOh my God, I'm so glad to tell everyone the real thing that happen to me...My name is EMILIANO BABARAH. If i refuse to share this testimony it means i am selfish to my self and to people i love so much whom might have similar problems, March 16th about something 7:23pm after taken our dinner my husband got crazy started calling a lady name Melisa I love you, i was so mad and started crying like a baby...then my husband left home for the idiot called Melisa, and never return back home then i believed when he uthen nderstand his self he will surly come back to apology, but instead he left me So i complained to my friend she told me she was having such problems in her marriage until she was introduce to DR ORIOMON who specializes in bringing back broken homes and broken marriages DR ORIOMON cast a spell for me in May 4th surprisingly my husband came home May 6th apologizing that i should forgive him that it will never happen again, i was so glad and gave the thanks to DR ORIOMON who save my marriage, if you are having similar problem you can contact him and His email address is (oriomonspiritualtemple@yahoo.com) you can still save your marriage if u really love your husband.
ReplyDeleteThanks EMILIANO BABARAH_USA
Oh my God, I'm so glad to tell everyone the real thing that happen to me...My name is EMILIANO BABARAH. If i refuse to share this testimony it means i am selfish to my self and to people i love so much whom might have similar problems, March 16th about something 7:23pm after taken our dinner my husband got crazy started calling a lady name Melisa I love you, i was so mad and started crying like a baby...then my husband left home for the idiot called Melisa, and never return back home then i believed when he uthen nderstand his self he will surly come back to apology, but instead he left me So i complained to my friend she told me she was having such problems in her marriage until she was introduce to DR ORIOMON who specializes in bringing back broken homes and broken marriages DR ORIOMON cast a spell for me in May 4th surprisingly my husband came home May 6th apologizing that i should forgive him that it will never happen again, i was so glad and gave the thanks to DR ORIOMON who save my marriage, if you are having similar problem you can contact him and His email address is (oriomonspiritualtemple@yahoo.com) you can still save your marriage if u really love your husband.
ReplyDeleteThanks EMILIANO BABARAH_USA.////