TO WRITE OR NOT TO WRITE?
Over the last few months I've been questioning whether to keep blogging or to close things up and move on to something else. I tend to have my words dry up for a while and I wonder if I've said it all. On top of that I've had some wins and losses, and I just didn't know whether I wanted to continue.
THE BLOGGING JOURNEY
I've been blogging for 10+ years and it's brought me a lot of joy along the way. I've connected with some fantastic fellow bloggers and readers, and I feel like I'm part of a much bigger circle than my quiet little one here in semi-rural Western Australia. That being said, so many people have come and gone during that time - a lot of bloggers who started and then gave up, readers who found other things to do, and just changes in how I connect as a blogger.
HIGHS AND LOWS AND IN-BETWEENS
I've had some wonderful blessings from my blogging, I've been interviewed in podcasts, been a guest on other blogs, had my articles shared in magazines, I've had my story told in the newspaper, made some pocket money from collaborations with companies, and the biggest joy has been having somewhere to distil my thoughts and to meet like-minded people who've encouraged me along the way.
I've also had a couple of lows in amongst it all, the times when something breaks and my blog turns into hieroglyphics and my heart stops, times when someone has misunderstood what I've written, and even a recent time that ended up costing me a little bit to fix. Those upsets take a little of the gloss away, but are they enough to overshadow all the in-between times?
CHOOSE YOUR RESPONSE
I think it all comes back to choosing how I respond to change, learning how to handle disappointment, criticism, praise, and the ups and downs that blogging can bring into my world. The internet has changed a lot during the last 10 years, blogging has changed a lot too, and I need to figure out if I want to keep adapting to it, or whether it's time to "close up shop".
HAVING A SPRING CLEAN
All that to say, I've been spurred on to go back over 10 years of blog posts and to cull the ones that aren't worth keeping, to remove anything in the others that doesn't feel like a good fit, and to take it all back to basics. I'm talking about over 1,000 blog posts - so it's a bit of a project, but I like the idea of proactively moving forward.
I don't see myself still here on the blog in another 10 years, but I also don't want to just close it down on a knee jerk decision. I like the idea of having my corner of the internet, but paring it back and keeping what's "me" while I curate and remove the rest. It's taken a while to go through everything - but anything that's worth doing takes time. I've jumped into the background and done a major Spring clean of all that's gone before. So, if you look back at any of my older blog posts and notice any changes you'll know it's me tidying up my space.
ONWARD AND UPWARD
As I go forward from here with my blogging, I'm aiming at being true to myself and being true to what I write here, because that's important to me. Right now I'm just refining and figuring out what comes next. The older stuff will change, the current stuff will continue - at least for now...
In saying all that, thank you so much to every person who takes a moment to read my thoughts, and to those who take the time to leave a comment, or email me, or who subscribe for a weekly reminder in their email inbox, or those who follow my page on Facebook. Blogging really is, ultimately, about the connections and sharing the journey.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Are you still blogging away diligently? Are you reading blogs as much as you used to, or are podcasts and vlogs taking over your feed? Everything changes so quickly, but the good things are still there if we seek them out.
RELATED POSTS
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Maybe I'm being selfish, Leanne, but I hope you continue blogging. You've created a cozy, sane, much needed little corner on the internet, and I thank you for that!
ReplyDeleteOh Laura thank you so much. I hit a bit of a hiccup a few weeks ago and it starts to play around in my head. I love doing this so much, but I don't want it to be something it's not - I love sharing my thoughts and having others say "me too". Thanks for being one of them xx
DeleteThank you for your posts. I have only found your blog recently. It resonates with me at this time of my life and I find some guidance that I would not have found otherwise. Thank you. I hope you continue for as long as it serves you.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your kind words and I'm so glad you've found me and that what I write is helpful to you. I think sometimes I just need that reassurance that it's not just floating off into the ether and that nobody else is pondering the things that I ponder. I'm feeling more positive today than I was a few weeks ago - so that's a big tick for me. :)
DeleteI have loved reading your thoughts for the last 12 months since I discovered your blog. Has saved my sanity many times. If you do stop have you thought of compiling some/all of your blogs into a book? I’d certainly buy it.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes with your decision and do what is right for you. 💜
I can't even imagine writing a book! - I feel like my blog has been through so many different iterations as I've processed the last decade. I'm so glad you've been enjoying my posts though. I feel like I'm slowly becoming the person I was meant to be, it just took me 50+ years to figure out who she was and to let her speak. I'm so grateful when people like yourself take a moment to tell me that you "get me" and what I try to share here. Thank you so much. x
DeleteThanks for blogging Leanne. I always find a little inspiration from your words and experiences. I say blog as long as it still brings you joy.
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to add your wise words. This really is just a hobby when it comes down to the crunch - and hobbies need to be fun and engaging. I'm so glad that there's a little inspiration thrown into the mix too. And yes, joy is absolutely the key. :)
DeleteHi Leanne. Though we've never met in person, I feel like we became friends because of the content of your blog. I would be sad if you stopped doing ypur blog, but I know we'd still be friends. Do what's right for you, but know that you have made a positive difference in people's lives. ♥️
ReplyDeleteYou're so right Christina. You and several others have become people I feel like I know and care about - more than a lot of people in my 'real world'. Blogging connects me to people who are figuring out the same things I am, and I love the encouragement it brings. If it means taking a hit now and then, I have the feeling that the warmth and the goodness far outweigh the hiccups - and that's what keeps bringing me back. xx
DeleteHi Leanne, this is only my second time commenting! I have been reading your blog for years. It is one of my favorites and one that I often read a couple of times. I especially enjoy some of the quotes you share. I really appreciate all that you have put into this blog!
ReplyDeleteOhhhhh that makes me feel a little by teary :) I'm never sure who reads what I write and whether it makes any sort of connection. I'm so grateful to hear that you've hung in with me through the years of ups and downs and in-betweens, that really makes my day. When I wrote this I didn't expect the lovely comments that have popped up - it reminds me that there are a lot of wonderful women out there walking a similar path to me and that we've got each other's backs. Thanks you again for your second time of commenting - it was very appreciated. <3
DeleteOnward and upward. I like that. Yes, writing anything is a journey and we take life step-by-step. But I value your thoughts as they often mirror my own or have me contemplate things differently. You must do what feels right to you though. I now see why a long-passed friend of mine started writing her pet detective mystery books in her 60s. That was her creative outlet that needed a tangible voice. I am of the mindset that that will be mine as well. Currently I am writing poetry. Who knows what I will write in the future! Ditto for you as you choose your own path forward! Best wishes for a bright future in whatever you choose to do!
ReplyDeleteHi Allison - I love that your friend started writing and that you're creating poetry. I've always felt like this little corner of the internet was my safe space and somewhere to think things through. I've come such a long way since I first started trying to figure out what middle age looked like, and blogging and the people who visit here have been such a key part of that process. I feel like I'm braver for having put my thoughts and journey out into the ether - and I have to accept that it can come with a few hiccups along the way. My knee jerk is to run and hide, but I'd be sad to go, so I think I just roll with it and see what happens in the weeks ahead. Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful words - every encouragement is a virtual hug right now. :)
DeleteThat is a great way to go in my opinion Leanne. I am glad you are sorting and working out what to keep and what no longer serves you. I remain very pleased to have closed my blog as I literally had to or move to a new platform with another provider. I am so grateful for the online friendships blogging has gifted me…and you of course are one of those people! But…I still need to connect and share my words, and over a year now with Substack - and no fees - it’s working well for me. Take care, and thanks for sharing! Denyse x
ReplyDeleteHi Denyse - I like Substack, but don't want to migrate over there like you have. It felt like a breath of fresh air when I first visited, but there's still a lot of the "how to be bigger and better" vibe that I steer clear of with my blogging these days. I don't want to be the biggest or the best, I just want a small, calm, genuine place of my own. I love that Blogger is still a free platform, and curating my old stuff to make things more secure has been a reminder that all good things come with a little cost - in time, or money, or emotion. I'm just figuring out what's worth saving and what to let go. x
DeleteHello Leanne, I have probably been reading your blog about a year or a bit longer. I have thought about commenting so many times on here or an email to you, but there is so much in my head and heart that I want to say when I read your thoughts, ideas, and emotions that’s hard to summarize all of it so I have put it off. I feel so much as you do on the subjects you write about as I am in the same age group and situation as you with kids, grandkids and a life that sometimes seems so different, changing and evolving from younger years. I will turn 64 at the end of this month. It’s so hard to believe I am that age and that so much time has gone by. I so appreciate you sharing yourself with us and in my heart I feel that you are a dear friend and kindred soul. I will definitely make that connection and write again now that I have taken that first step ❤️
ReplyDeleteHi Christina - let me first of all say that it is lovely to "meet" you and that your kind words really touched my heart. I've had such unexpected joy today from the thoughtfulness of what people have written in the comments. I'm never sure who's reading my blog and whether it's a revolving door of people who don't get me and move on. To hear that others are on the same path, dealing with the same ups and downs, putting their best foot forward as they navigate Midlife - that all just means so much to me. Thank you again for stepping out of your comfort zone and commenting - I'd love you to do so again (or to email if it's less confronting) because the connections and the "I get it"s make this blogging thing so worthwhile - and they help offset the messier moments! x
DeleteHi Leanne, I’m a UK reader and discovered your blog as I moved into my own retirement journey last year. I always enjoy your Monday posts which have given me much food for thought. Perhaps you could move to monthly or quarterly blogs as you work out how your blogging future will look. Meanwhile I shall continue to enjoy your content.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes
Vanessa
Hi Vanessa - it's such a joy to find out that there are women like you who are reading what I write and who are on a similar path. Figuring out retirement, finding ourselves outside a job title, discovering what makes our heart happy at this stage of life - it's all so real and so worth digging down into. Today as I read the comments here I feel so heartened - it balances out the not-so-great stuff from a couple of weeks ago. I think I needed to regain my perspective and comments like yours and the others really helped - so thank you so much. x
DeleteHi Leanne. I discovered your blog when I was at a crossroads, wondering whether I could retire at 55, seeking confidence as I headed into the next phase of my life . The blog helped me know I wasn't alone. I enjoy it popping into my inbox every Monday and it's the only blog I read consistently. I hope you continue as long as it brings you joy but whatever you decide thank you for being there at the right time for me.
ReplyDeleteHi Rebecca - early retirement really is a head spinner isn't it? We're so conditioned to think that we're not "allowed" to - or we don't know what we'd do with those extra years that we're suddenly granted. So often on a Monday morning I'll pause for a moment just to relish the fact that I'm not driving into a job any more, that the day and week ahead are all mine to do with as I like. And (after reading all these kind comments) I'm thinking that blogging may still be one of those things. So, I'm still planning on popping up in your inbox each Monday - the clean up of my old posts is done, and my heart has been uplifted today. So thank you. :)
DeleteI'm glad you're not closing down. To me, your posts always a breath of fresh air and reminders about what's important in life, and I've always admired you for your consistency, no-nonsense and always writing something insightful and inspiring. I don't always comment because my head has been so full lately and I want to write something thoughtful if I do comment, but I read your posts most weeks. Curating and archiving is the thing to do but wow - 1000-something posts!
ReplyDeleteAs you know I have a complicated relationship with blogging, but something makes me always come back to it. Especially these days when social media is being torn to pieces and is anything but social, I feel that having my own blog is THE thing to do. Lately I've been struggling with writing, and thinking about "what do I really want with my blog and how do I want to use it and why?" which triggered a lot of reflection and finally some clarity. Like always, I've come back to the wish to share my story (within all my interests), that some of it can inspire someone else, or just for myself. But I always struggle with the actual writing (it's the old nemesis overthinking/perfectionism or maybe comparison) which is something I need to overcome.
Hi Susanne - I keep my eye out for your posts on Substack but haven't seen any for a while. Your photography ones are always my favourites because you just have such a clarity in what you capture. I know what you mean about reading and commenting, but I'm also grateful that you've said you find my writing insightful - that really helps me believe that I can keep going here.
DeleteI have so much that swims around in my head and I'm never sure if it goes through other people's minds, or if I'm just heading off on a tangent. Despite that, if it sticks with me long enough, I'll usually write about it. :)
I've been so touched by the kindness in the comments here - so unexpected and so reassuring - it certainly adds weight to the "keep going" side of the scale. I hope you'll keep sharing your thoughts and posts too - don't let perfectionism kill your mojo. x
Hi Leanne,
ReplyDeleteAlthough we only connected a short time ago, I must say how grateful I am that we did. I always enjoy your posts—reading them feels like having a chat with a wonderful and wise friend. Your thoughtful insights are comforting and have been so helpful to me, as I move into retirement and starting to write online. What you write about is, to me, so relatable and it makes me feel less alone with my own thoughts. Thank you for sharing all that you do.
Well done on cleaning up your old posts (over 1000 - wow!!!). While I do hope you continue, I love that you are considering what’s best for you in the process. Your kind and thoughtful approach (towards yourself and your readers) sets a fine example for anyone writing online. Sue x
ps I’m so glad you decided to keep your blog rather than migrate entirely over to Substack—your blog has such a warm, calm, and personal feel to it, something that cannot be found on any type of social media platform these days, including substack.
Such wise words from you Sue - and I'm so glad you understand my thoughts about Substack. It's a great platform, but it's not the same as blogging for me...maybe because I've already lived through a lot of the "how to be famous" stuff that a lot of writers are trying to generate on Substack - it was huge in the blogging world earlier on (until we all figured out that we would never be famous and we could enjoy our small part of the blogosphere or give up and try something else - many gave up.)
DeleteI immediately felt the connection you mentioned too - maybe because we're from a similar part of the world, a similar stage of life, and are trying to figure out a lot of the same stuff? I'm hoping to keep on writing, to find my sweet spot again and to let the niggly stuff go through to the keeper. There's so much positivity and support here and I'm so grateful for it. I love that we can be women who cheer each other on and who don't feel the need to push our way to the front. After the big clean-up process of all those many, many old posts, I feel a lot lighter and more positive. We'll see how things go in the weeks ahead. x
I Hi Leanne, I have been enjoying your blog for many years. It's the only one that I read consistently. In the past there were several blogs that I loved but the bloggers decided to close their blogs and I miss them to this day. Your blog is so authentic and I can relate to practically everything even though I am experiencing a lot of turbulence in my life at the moment. Your encouraging words means a lot to me and your posts offer a different perspective. What I love is your down to earth personality and your simplicity. You're my ray of sunshine. I hope that you will continue blogging for a long time as you do it so well. Your writing certainly impacts my world. Bravo to you!!! 🧡
ReplyDeleteHi Yvonne - I'm so happy to hear from you and thank you for your encouraging words. I find it so hard to believe that people like yourself would be reading my words each week and continuing to do so for years - it's such a reassurance that I'm not wasting my time writing about all the thoughts that float through my head!
DeleteSometimes I feel like I'm a bit all over the place and I don't expect every post to resonate every time, but if I overthink things then it all just gets too hard - which might be part of the problem with my current blogging dilemma - it's so easy to let the negative stuff dominate and overshadow all the good that is here. Thank you for caring and for sharing some of your world with me - I always love hearing your thoughts and I hope I keep bringing a little sunshine into your Mondays. xx