August 1, 2012

"The Only Thing Constant in Life is Change"


When I started blogging, about four and a half years ago, I didn't have the slightest clue as to what I was doing. If you've ever wondered why my blog URL says "Serene Designs" it is because I had originally intended this to be an artsy blog. As it says in my little profile spiel, I studied visual arts and have always enjoyed creating things with my hands.

So, my friend Michelle helped me figure out how to set this blog up and THIS was the first blog post I ever wrote.

I laugh at it now because it seems strange to remember how much I hated writing back then. I never could keep up a dang journal and even though my college professors would comment on how well written my papers were, or even those blastedly annoying "journal entries" that some teachers required, I had always chalked it up to the fact that I would have my dad review my papers who would then offer advise for tweaking or grammar.

I still don't think I'm much of a "writer" but I confess that I have come to enjoy it very much.

Back at the beginning, after I had written a couple posts showing some of my art projects, I spent a lot of time talking with Michelle who offered the advise that people like to read personal stories, stuff about you and/or your family. So I wrote a couple of those, but it wasn't until I wrote my first kid mess story called, "Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk", that I realized how fun it was to write something that made people laugh. Reading it now I don't think it's particularly well-written, but I enjoyed reading the comments so much that I couldn't stop writing the stories.

Not long after that, I wrote my first reflective post called... well, "Reflections", (I always was one to be original) expressing some of those overwhelming motherhood thoughts and feelings that often accompany this parenthood gig. Again, the comments were inspiring to me because it seemed as though there was this invisible support group out there just waiting to cheer you on.... all six of them.

For years blogging has been a passion of mine. Once I started branching out and "guest posting" people actually started reading! I found it supremely fulfilling and vastly entertaining. I made several grand "blogging buddies" many of whom no longer blog, but a few have continued on to become what I consider rather famous bloggers. But for a while I was on a huge high, blogging about anything and everything, feeling inspired to write about all the craziness motherhood tends to bring, in ways that would make people laugh and relate. I would literally stay up all night editing photos or catching up on blogging to ensure I would have a post out almost every day.

During this time I would often read about how people experience what they call "blog burnout" but I couldn't see how such a thing was possible.

But after a strong three-year blogging streak and having five kids in six-and-a-half years, I could finally appreciate what they meant by that term.

I don't really feel super inspired or driven anymore, in fact, I often feel as though my blog is no good and should give it up. But then one of you super amazing readers has to go and be all nice to me and say how much you enjoy my blog, so I push on, hoping that one of these days I will snap out of this blogging funk and make it decent once again.

It's true that I rarely read blogs anymore, with all the kids home the time just isn't there. Nor do I respond to comments very often. But I do read every single one, even look up your blogs and profiles from time to time. I feel bad that I can't give a more personal response to the few people who still comment, but I do read them, sometimes I laugh or smile, sometimes I realize something I had written was misunderstood and go back to re-write a piece of my post.

The worst is when, after publishing a post, even though I had proof read it 68 times before publishing, re-reading it again a couple hours or days later only to stumble upon 28,734,569 typos!

It's down-right mortifying! How do you stand me?

But as I've confessed to you before, I'm only perfect every other Wednesday, so my blog doesn't offer much hope in that arena.

I sometimes wonder how some bloggers out there find the time to keep up with it ever so diligently. I used to think I always would.

Pish, amateur.

I don't mean to imply that I am any busier than anyone else. After all, we all have the same amount of hours in a day whether we have one child or five, whether you work or are a stay-at-home mom. But I think prioritizes have shifted a bit for me, all while I've been fighting a temporary burn-out.

In truth I don't really know what has spurred the creation of this post, only that for the first time in a while, I really just wanted... to write.

There is a famous quote by François de la Rochefoucauld that says, "The only thing constant in life is change". 

I imagine once school starts again I'll have more time to blog, but not nearly as much interesting material. I am not one of those moms who can't wait for school to start again so my kids will leave, I rather enjoy having them all home. But I think they are ready for some structure and a change in pace.

Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you to all you readers out there for inspiring me with your comments, your emails, your questions, and your honesty. So far, it's been a grand ride.

11 super cool people speak:

Actingbalanced said...

Hugs! I've been going through a summer of 'going through the motions' on my blog... I've been posting but only because I've felt I had to... not because I have anything great to say...
Hoping that you continue to be inspired!

Mama Smith said...

I love you blog...cause it gives me a chance to see what you and the children are doing...even ol' Luke (smile) I must confess...since "summer" actually happened here in Montana...I have slid on all kinds of things...I DRINK as much outdoors as I can possibly get...(garden and flowers are looking quite good...) (smile) I believe I am your BIGGEST FAN! After all...how else am I going to keep up with your ever growing family and life? (smile) LOVE YOU DEARLY...darling daughter!

jaacs said...

I totally relate and my blog is private. lol. I have three kiddos, one being a very VERY active 17month old who is my first son and totally throwing everything I though I knew with my girls under the bus. lol. I just don't have the energy to take pictures and then upload, edit and write out a post. I find myself doing a lot of "happenings" and giving a general overview of life. I feel guilty about this when I recall a talk from Pres. Eyring a while back(can't remember if it was in GC or when he came during a Stake Conference) and he said he wrote in a journal for each of his kids every night and how treasured that is by them as adults. Ugh! Failure! LOL. I love your blog and your writing style and am convinced we'd be hanging if we lived closer. Take breaks, days or weeks long, but don't quit! :)

Susan Anderson said...

I know what you mean about blogging. It used to feel like breathing to me, but these days I am a lot more casual about the whole thing.

I'm still having fun with it, though, and I'm glad you are, too.

=)

Michelle {Fun On A Dime} said...

AMEN!!! You always express your thoughts so well in writing. Sometimes...most of the time...when I read your posts I'm thinking the exact same thing. Wish I could copy/paste it all and claim it as my own! lol

Life is full of seasons, some allow for more "hobby time" than others. I've been pretty much off the radar this summer and I know a lot of other bloggers are to. I simply can't justify the time on the computer when my kiddos are awake and when they are sleeping, I want to sleep!

Keep on doing what you are doing. Don't feel obligated to post every day. Take it down to 1, 2, 3 days a week and get ahead...weeks ahead. It will feel so much easier. I know there was a big push, I don't know if you felt this, from the blogging world that you had to post daily if you are going to make it anywhere. Nonesense! My site actually does better when I post less. That makes me fell so much better! And I enjoy reading blogs that I don't feel like I have missed a ton on if I don't read in a week or 2. I don't read many anymore, either, but I like to see that I missed a few posts in my reading absence than 20 over a week or 2.

Okay, enough of my super long comment! Just remember YOU ROCK and Your Kiddos Love You!!! That's all that matters!

Valerie said...

I love my kids home all summer too--way more than they do. :)

I used to looooove having a little blog where I could write random thoughts and fun happenings with my family. After I started school full-time again after my divorce, there was almost no time to keep up with the blog or reading others. Then I became unable to write posts about and include photos of my kids due to someone's privacy concers, and it sucked most of the fun out of it. I don't have more than a couple of readers anymore and have thought of quitting, but it is my journal of what I can include and my cookbook of favorite recipes. So it's just for me and I post when I can. I do hope it gets better again someday.

Kristen | Ello Poppet Blog said...

I love your blog, I love that your very real and dont cover up how your feeling on things. We all go through blog burnout, I find that setting a time frame to post actually helps, say like 1 time a week post tid-bits from your week instead of doing a daily post. Hopefully you will continue to share wonderful stories and facts of life with us all in blog land. I hope you have a wonderful rest of the week, enjoy your blessings and the end of summer!

Sarah said...

Once upon a time, my hubster started our blog. He started it right after we returned home with our first child to keep the in-laws in Colorado and anywhere else informed on our lives with a baby. I didn't want anything to do with it. However, he made me read all his updates and the comments that came with it and I started to get hooked. People loved him. They thought he was funny and clever. People I haven't seen or talked to since high school where tracking us down and telling us how awesome we were. I was hooked. Then hubby went back to work and didn't have time to blog any more. People were demanding updates and I thought to myself, "I'm just as clever, if not funnier, than the Randster. I can do this." How very, very naive I was. I single-handedly turned most of our friends and family away. We went from 15-10 comments on one post to 0-1. Nobody really stops by, especially since I had to go to private after a certain matter that kinda scared the poopers out of me. Since then I've been wondering what the point is. I don't blog like I use to, which certainly doesn't help with the one or two that drop by every now and then. Why am I going off and off on this to you? Basically to let you know that I understand about not being inspired or driven. That I'm very sure my blog is no good and I should give up on it. Every time I try and blog something, I feel this way. For the last 4 years. The only reason why I don't is because I like the idea of having a "journal" of sorts to some day share with the future generation. (Even is they're not that interested, at least it's there.) Like jaacs said, I heard once that I need to keep a journal. That we got the Book of Mormon/Bible/Pearl of Great Price/D&C by people that kept a journal. You never know who is going to stumble across your random ramblings and feel inspired, lifted, encouraged. Which is EXACTLY how I felt when I happened to be lucky enough to find your blog. Your blog is creative, inspiring, insightful and REAL. That's why I love you the bestest. Because your so real. I know how you feel about not having enough time. I try and limit my time on the computer to an hour a day spaced between 15 minutes each so I can try and build some memories with the kiddos and I usually spend that time reading friends blogs or staring at the screen trying to decide if there is a story in my life worth sharing. Seems like such a waste of time. I know all about wanting to give up. I think you should do what ever makes you happiest, but I do want to let you know that I've enjoyed your blog more than I could ever tell you. So let me take this moment to Thank You for blogging thus far. I've completely enjoyed every minute.
And now that I've written a complete novel, I'll sign off. Thanks again!

Brandy Lynn said...

I love reading your blog Serene!! It helps me remember that I'm not the only mom out there that has crazy kids and loves them none-the-less!!! Please don't stop blogging!!!

Plus, I think it's really cool that I'm related to someone pretty famous!!

Serene is my name, not my life! said...

I have so enjoyed each and every one of your comments!

Heather: Summers are just hard. I hope you can begin to enjoy it once again!

Mom: LOL! You HAVE to like it... you're my mom! You don't have a choice. :D

jaacs: Hey, at least you're doing it and someday the kids are going to LOVE it! And thanks... If I really think about it, I don't know if I'd ever be able to really just quit. It's like my third arm... that can't change diapers. Dang.

Sue: I'm right there with ya!

Michelle: Hey girl! As always I appreciate your thoughts and insight, and of course, your help!! You're always so awesome to me. :D

Valerie: I know you've had a rough go of it, and I'm truly sorry about that. I will miss seeing pics of your kids. But your recipes are always awesome and tasty!!

Kris: Awwww, thank you so much! I appreciate your wonderful comment!

Sarah: LOL! I doubt you single-handedly drove away all your readers. You're so funny. I super-duper appreciate your comment! I've always wanted to be liked the bestest! :D

Brandy: LOLOL! Hardly famous, but thanks! You totally made me laugh!

The Thompson Crew said...

Oh I love your writing style and your blog. I wonder too all the time how some people seem to blog amazing things EVERY day, and I wonder how I missed the time management course in life to be able to even come close! :) thanks for sharing!

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