What's Your Relationship With Your Blog?

Let's both grab a cup of tea, or if we're feeling fancy, a cappuccino and talk about our blogs.  I'm curious about why you post, how often you post, what do you like about your blog, what do you not like?  Do you feel a sense of obligation toward your blog?  Or enjoyment?  Or calm?

My own blog relationship has been all over the map since I started ten years ago.  At first, it was an online journal of sorts where I called out for attention in the most passive aggressive way.  Later, I was able to use it as a platform to share stories about teaching and living in Korea.  I loved the conversations those stories would stir, and the posts were very fun to write.  Upon returning to America, I decided to try a more generic approach to appeal to a greater audience.  I've always had a dream of being famous, and I thought maybe I could strike gold like so many other bloggers have.  While I always made sure to post about things that I genuinely found interesting, after a while, the content I was producing didn't seem that important.  Since then, I've had a shift in my goals and perspectives, which, as I look at it, seems rather complex.

Sarah Von Bargen of Yes and Yes said it best. 
"I wanted to read something that acknowledged that fact that all of us are multifaceted. [...]  So every day I try (with varying degrees of success) to create a space like that."

See, in the last year or two, I've found myself wanting to writ about highly charged topics like racism, acts of terrorism, and how I believe Christians (of which I am one) should react to these things.  These are heavy things to talk about, and I don't want the scope of my blog to limit me from speaking about them.  I also want to feel free to rave about all my beautiful indoor plants, delicious recipes I've come across, and other things I'm learning about.  I don't want to feel constrained to either side of the spectrum.  In fact, I've decided that it's okay to cover all of the spectrum!  I'm multifaceted, you're multifaceted, and this blog is going to remain multifaceted, too.

So, this is me claiming further ownership over my blog.  We've been through ups and downs, contention and joy, and all of that is okay.  It will morph as I morph, and I'm starting to think that's actually pretty cool.

What about you?  What motivates you to write?  Is there anything you would change or anything you wouldn't change at all?  I'd love to hear!

A Proclamation a Poor Puppy!

Lindsay Eryn is now on Facebook!!  I bit the bullet and created a fan page for the Lindsay Eryn blog, so now you can connect and see all new posts in your newsfeed as their published!

And finally, my goofy dog can't catch!  Scroll down to watch the video laugh at him with me.  Poor lamb.

The Intentional Blogging Challenge

Do you have a blog?  Do you enjoy it, want to improve it, or want to improve your writing?  Come join the Intentional Blogging Challenge with me!  Jeff Goins is hosting it and is giving us great stretching challenges like finessing your about page, setting up an email newsletter, and writing different kinds of posts that boost traffic.  Even if you're late, you can go back and look at the previous challenges and catch up.

What My Blog Is and Isn't

Guys, my blog has changed a lot.

A long time ago, it was like an online journal.  Even later, I would write out long, drawn out, heartfelt letters on my life.  In Korea, I would tell stories and share pictures of adventures.  Now, I don't know what I have going on here.

When I read old posts of mine like this, I'm reminded of what I really want this blog to be.  Genuine.  I tend to be genuine by nature, I want this blog to be a reflection of who I am, and I want to be able to share my heart and growing thoughts.  But then there are other things I want this blog to be, too.  I love to research and to share research.  My post on birth control is one that I'm very, very proud of.  I'm also proud of my recent Job Hunt Series.  Sharing helpful information is something I'm passionate about, and when I have an opportunity to do that in this medium, I just love it.  I like sharing about the few things I've made, too, even if I've done a crummy job...

Fill in the Blank Friday : One more post about blogging

My recent post in which I answered some questions from Felicia had me warmed up for today's writing.  Once again here's a fun Fill in the Blank Friday questionnaire from Lauren at The Little Things We Do.  Feel free to join over at her blog and play along.

---------------------------------------------

1.  I started my blog because   I wanted to have an easier way to journal.  I always liked looking back on what I'd written in my journal books, but I prefer typing.  Why not move my daily inner musings to the internet for anyone to peruse over?

2.   One thing I love seeing on other blogs is vulnerability.  The stories from Good Woman Project have been such an inspiration to be open with my story so others can be open with theirs.  I also like simple DIY tutorials, pretty pictures, and humor (Hyperbole and a Half, anyone?).

3.  Something I love about blogging is having an outlet to express myself and to practice writing.  As a verbal processor, speaking or writing helps me think through what's in my mind, and sometimes writing here just helps me unwind.  And, if I were to go back to school and get a masters, I think I'd like to study creative nonfiction or journalism.  I know that I'm just an amateur writer, and maybe this will always be just a hobby, but I would love to get better at crafting stories.

4. A favorite blog post of mine is probably the crazy story of how I met Mr. Gene and was convinced to write out his Vietnam War book for him.  It's one of my favorite stories of my life, and I'm really glad I got to share it with you all.

1. How we met
2. One of his stories, "Bart"
3. Another of his stories, "The Purple Heart?"
4. One of our sweet conversations
5. The victory at the end!

Honorable mentions to go one of my collection of stories from my students, an interaction with a customer at Office Depot, a short-lived relationship with an HP representative, and the story of God's movement at a D-Now weekend I helped with.

5. Something my friends in real life know about me that I've never before mentioned on my blog is I'm about 5'6", I smile a lot, and I tend to walk quickly.  I know those are pretty boring pieces of information, but I was having a hard time thinking of things I haven't mentioned here before.

6.  My new favorite blogs to read are Korea: Matt-Chu Teacher - I met Matt in Korean class, and we hit it off and became buds.  I knew this guy was pretty cool in real life, but when I found his blog, I was introduced to a completely new side of him.  Just this morning I was lol-ing out loud at his most recent post.  You should check it out.  I promise you won't be disappointed.  Aaand, Moon to Moon is a recent photo blog find that gives me my hippie fix.

7.  Some things I tend to avoid doing on my blog are slander and hippos.  Ha!

Blogging is fun!

I started blogging in 2006 when I got to college and wanted to have an outlet for my thoughts and ramblings.  My goals have changed many times since I began my 17-year-old filter-less ramblings  While I've axed a good bit (including a lot of vanity when I learned that followers is not to be equated with value), I've gained a lot that I wouldn't have ever gotten to experience otherwise.

Blog friends are a blast!

I love getting to check up on Millie's life through her lovely writing.  I think it's so cool that I've gotten to know more about Danae and Kelly only after we're not at school together anymore.  And, one of my favorites, I got to meet Felicia!  We met through one of Lauren Hartman's "Fill in the Blank Friday" posts.  I remember noticing pretty quickly that she was Christian, she loved reading, she was an awesome nerd, and we'd probably get along great in real life.  Now, we semi-regularly send snail mail letters and talk about all kinds of things.  And, it all started on the internet!  (How's that for online safety?  Don't worry, if we ever do meet in person, I'll be sure to take some pepper spray in my purse just in case she turns out to be a killer.)  (Ha!)

Felicia recently posted an award to her blog for a couple of her friends, and she's asked them to respond by answering some fun questions.  So, this one's for you, Fee!

1. If you could invite any 10 people in the world to a dinner party; fictional or real, dead or alive, famous or not, who would you invite?

Whoever else comes, I'd want Caleb, Millie, and Sweeny there with me.  They are my best friends and my favorite sounding boards, and I know that they'd have a good time asking questions of the other people at the table.  (In fact, if I were only allowed one dinner party in my life, it would have to include my conversation friends from college plus Caleb.  Those were the best lunch times ever.)

I'm hoping that time is unlimited, because I know I could spend days with just one of these people, but I'd really like to get to talk with Malcolm Gladwell, my grandmother (Nazi Germany survivor), my great-great grandfather on my father's side who came from Scotland, Clark Lee a reporter on the US forces in the Pacific during WW II (though I've already read his book) or Mr. Gene my Vietnam War veteran friend, Rosa Parks, Francis Chan, and King David.  Or Moses.  Or Mary the mother of Jesus.  Gah, there's so many!

2. What is something that you have always wanted to do but have never had the chance to?

At the risk of sounding girly and superficial, but also understanding that this is a completely valid desire, I have to say that I've always wanted to get married.

3.What skill do you wish you had and why?

I wish I could play piano like a beast.  I can already play well enough to satisfy myself, but I wish I could do more.  It's just so stinkin' fun, and I know there's more out there!

4. What's your most favorite dessert that you can never resist?

Is this a trick question?  Dessert = irresistible.

But really, ice cream, cheese cake, dump cake, pineapple upside down cake, and warm and chocolately mud pie.  Those are my favorites.

5. You're stranded on a deserted island - what 3 books do you take with you?

I would possibly take Shantaram.  I'm reading it now, and I absolutely love it.  It's about a convict who escapes to India and the life he lives there.  Absolutely riveting and very well-written.  I know that I would bring my Bible as well, but I don't know what would be my third book.  Maybe something light and engaging?  Is it cheating to say the Harry Potter series?

6. You're at Subway - what do you get on your sandwich? 

Chicken bacon ranch with cheese, all the veggies, and Sun Chips.  On the sandwich.

7. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? What do you do now?

I wanted to be an artist.  I remember dressing up as one for career day.  My mom is an artist, and she helped make my simple costume.  She painted a painter's pallet for me to carry around. Thanks, Mom.

Now, I teach Korean preschool, elementary, and middle school students.  My preschoolers get a lot of opportunity to test out their artistic creativity, but it makes me sad to see how much they feel the need to copy something or risk doing poorly.

8. What is your nervous habit?

I still pick at my cuticles sometimes, but I've come very far from the nail biter I used to be.

9. If a blog were having a giveaway, what would really entice you to enter?

I would enter if I saw that there was a good chance I'd win, if international shipping was available, or if it was something too sweet to miss out on.

10. If you were a colour, which colour would you be? (See that Canadian spelling there?  Felicia's my first real friend from Canada!  :D )

I think I'd either be a fresh orange or a vibrant green.

11. What is your favourite quote and/or verse?

Ah, tough one.  I'd have to go either with Zepheniah 3:17

"The LORD your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior.  He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy." (NASB)

or Hoseah 6:3

"So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD.  His going forth is as certain as the dawn, and He will come to us like the rain.  Like the spring rain watering the earth." (NASB)

BONUS: What is your favorite thing about snail mail? :D

My favorite thing about snail mail is receiving it and remembering that people from home love me and care about me.  It's always super thoughtful and super appreciated.