The other day, someone told me I needed to post on my blog. I was actually beginning to wonder if people cared to read it anymore (it was nice to hear someone did), and sometimes life just causes me to rethink and wonder if I am using our blog in the best way.... as in, do I post for me, or do I post because I want someone else to read it? And why? To impress people? As a creative outlet? To share with friends what we are doing in our lives (minus the boring or hard things that people don't want to hear)? Sometimes I think that many blogs tend to paint an ultra rosy picture of what is happening in peoples lives, when what I actually want to hear is the truth. But then I wonder if others really want to hear the truth too, or just the exciting things. And maybe some of the truths that we don't post are just too personal for a blog, but much better for a real conversation. Sometimes it seems like because of all of the media in our lives, it is harder to have those real conversations. There are some people that I keep up with almost exclusively through their blogs. But I don't feel like blogs usually (with a few wonderful exceptions) really represent what is really going on and allow you to connect at the heart, and sometimes they can even make you wonder if you are living up to all the rosy pictures being painted. I feel confused sometimes on who my audience really is; is it for me, or is it for you, the reader? And when you, the reader, reads said blog, what do you think? "oh, that's nice, now I can read the next blog", or "Man, I really need to get some stuff done, why am I still reading blogs?" "or, "I haven't talked to this person in years, why am I still reading their blog?" Or how about, "wow, I really miss that girl, I should call her!" And what do I even want you to gain from it? Does it matter? I don't really want to encourage everyone else to waste time on the computer as much as I have at times. But with blogs, where is the line between wasting time, and actually doing something of value because you are making a record for your family, bearing your testimony and sharing wisdom you have gained, and sort of "staying connected" with friends and learning from them (without actually talking to them, of course)?
I have spent a lot of time thinking about how I use my time, as it is one of the things I really struggle with. Sometimes with blogs and Pinterest and Facebook, etc, it is hard for me to know when I am doing the right thing by "keeping up" with friends (because I really am genuinely interested) and good information or doing the wrong thing by wasting time that could be better spent on other more important things, like real life actions and conversations and friendships and being a better wife and mom. So in my struggle to not waste time, I don't want to waste other people's time and make them feel like the have to read my blog, review and pin my Pins, and see what I post on Facebook to remain my friend. I also don't want them to feel like I don't care if I don't read about them--because really, I do! It's hard for me to understand when the powerful, incredible tool of technology turns into a time-wasting trap that actually alienates us more from others when we meant to be reaching out. It's hard for me to know when my words will add value to someone's life, or just make them feel like there's one more thing they ought to read. I love to read about others (usually) and see what they are up to, and be inspired by who they are and what they share, and I don't like to feel like I am missing out on something important because I didn't check Facebook. I guess I am just struggling with how to balance it all and adjust to this media-infused life as we know it today, without losing sight of what really matters, or encouraging others to lose sight too. And I feel like what we do with our time matters a great deal, and it is a great tool of the adversary to get us to be complacent and always busy doing nothing, never noticing that there is so much that is so very important to be done. Or to get stuck ever learning how to do what needs to be done the "right" way without ever actually acting and learning as you go (oh, Pinterest).
Who can relate? What have you done to be more balanced and teach your family to be balanced and experience REAL life? I'm not so sure that abandoning all media is the answer, but what is? I have struggled with posting because of all of these thoughts and questions lately. And why DO you read this blog? You can be completely honest about any of this, and I will like it. And if you still read this blog and want to continue, can you please let me know? I guess I am just trying to figure out how to use it (or not use it) the "right" way.
