When Blogging Trends Leave You Behind
Sunday, August 7, 2016
Yes, lately, it seems, that the most prominent blogging trend is travel. It's almost completely taken over my Bloglovin' feed and the Free People Blog might as well rebrand themselves as a travel blog with a dose of alternative health. Even Apartment Therapy, a design blog, is starting to incorporate travel posts. In fact, more and more large bloggers are doing "a day in [insert city here]" posts every day, and it's not that I take issue with them, but more that these types of posts are not relevant to me.
At all.
Yet everyone is doing them and now I feel like it's "the thing." I feel as if it is expected to hop on the train and at least have a few posts regarding traveling.
What can I say? I am a true homebody. Mostly, I am too exhausted after the daily toil to escape away to a city 3-6 (or more!) hours away on the weekends, every weekend. I would rather water my plants, crack open a fresh novel, and go for a walk in our beautiful neighborhood. Secondly, and more importantly, I don't have the money. I would rather save our (precious little) extra income and pay off a few pesky things hanging over us than spend my time and money somewhere else and constantly looking to see how I can blog about it. Which, by the way, is exactly what I would do: constantly have blogging on the mind.
Honestly, having now written that out, the whole thing sounds like pure stress. I prefer my blogging to happen naturally. When I am sitting at home drinking coffee at 7 am on a Sunday morning and happen to notice how the light is flickering just perfectly off the philodendrons, and I realize how blessed I am to be given that moment, here and now, to capture and create.... that is how I thrive. It is not hard work - it something that happens. And I love that about blogging.
Why would I exchange those glorious moments for a trend? Even when we do go to Louisville or Cincinnati for an event, I don't really want to lug my camera around looking for the perfect moments. I want to enjoy my trip.
It's not that I dislike travel. No, it's quite the contrary. I love travelling. I've been blessed enough to visit dozens of US cities and at least 5 different countries, but I am not interested in making these moments happen just so I can write about them. With all of these things in mind, I must make it clear that I do not think other bloggers are revolving their lives around trying to fit travel into their blog - I would never diminish another person's work simply because it does not resonate with me. That would be cruel.
All I mean to say, in so many more words that was necessary, is this:
I don't want to focus a single post on this blog on travel, and that's ok.
The travelers of the blogosphere deserve their time in the spotlight, but that does not mean that I have to become them. Instead, I will continue to do what I am passionate to do, whether it is on trend or not.*
Yes, I'm still right here, scribbling my poetry and painting with words, same as always. I will continue to do so until the sun closes on the hills and everlasting night overtakes humanity. I've spent too much of my life trying to find myself to write about subjects beyond my deepest passion. Sure, my number may not be as high because of it, but at the end of days, we will only have ourselves to reflect upon. Will we be happy with our choices?
Life is short. Don't spend it forcing yourself to do things you neither want nor have to do, and blogging trends are just that - an option.
Honestly, having now written that out, the whole thing sounds like pure stress. I prefer my blogging to happen naturally. When I am sitting at home drinking coffee at 7 am on a Sunday morning and happen to notice how the light is flickering just perfectly off the philodendrons, and I realize how blessed I am to be given that moment, here and now, to capture and create.... that is how I thrive. It is not hard work - it something that happens. And I love that about blogging.
Why would I exchange those glorious moments for a trend? Even when we do go to Louisville or Cincinnati for an event, I don't really want to lug my camera around looking for the perfect moments. I want to enjoy my trip.
It's not that I dislike travel. No, it's quite the contrary. I love travelling. I've been blessed enough to visit dozens of US cities and at least 5 different countries, but I am not interested in making these moments happen just so I can write about them. With all of these things in mind, I must make it clear that I do not think other bloggers are revolving their lives around trying to fit travel into their blog - I would never diminish another person's work simply because it does not resonate with me. That would be cruel.
All I mean to say, in so many more words that was necessary, is this:
I don't want to focus a single post on this blog on travel, and that's ok.
The travelers of the blogosphere deserve their time in the spotlight, but that does not mean that I have to become them. Instead, I will continue to do what I am passionate to do, whether it is on trend or not.*
Yes, I'm still right here, scribbling my poetry and painting with words, same as always. I will continue to do so until the sun closes on the hills and everlasting night overtakes humanity. I've spent too much of my life trying to find myself to write about subjects beyond my deepest passion. Sure, my number may not be as high because of it, but at the end of days, we will only have ourselves to reflect upon. Will we be happy with our choices?
Life is short. Don't spend it forcing yourself to do things you neither want nor have to do, and blogging trends are just that - an option.
How do you feel about travel blogging? Do you love it, or do you click away? Are you someone constantly on the go, or do you enjoy a good cup of tea in the evenings while the sun tucks itself into bed?
*I should note that damn, I would love a good trip out of the country minus the blogging about it. Broke girl problems, friends, broke girl problems.
Stay Beautiful,
Liz
