I have been writing this blog for a little over two years. In that time I have spent a part of every day thinking of a post, writing a post or wishing I was writing a post. There are days when I wish I could stop my life, ditch my family and all responsibilities, so I could sit with my blog.
When I first began to blog I had no idea what lay ahead. I thought it was all about writing, ‘finding my voice’, and learning how to write better. How little I knew!
In the past two years I have discovered blogging is not about what I write, but about sharing myself. I have spent a large amount of time reading other blogs, commenting on blogs and replying to those who comment on my posts. I have come to ‘know’ many bloggers from all over the world. I read their blogs regularly, comment and engage with them, and over time I’ve begun to care about them.
There are days when I find myself looking at a lovely view, and I’ll remember some of my ‘friends’ who I know would love to look at the sights I’m looking at. I hear conversations which remind me of posts they have written, I know anniversaries, both happy and sad, which will matter to them, and I wonder where they are and if they are alright when I don’t see their posts when I should.
I have been reminded of this sharing recently in two different ways.
Firstly a blogging buddy of mine is about to undergo major surgery. She lives in the US and I’ve never met her, nor am I ever likely to, yet today even though I was tearing around, I have found myself wondering if she is nervous, and hoping all goes well for her. If you’d like to check her out she blogs at Wasted Days and Wasted Nights. 
My second reason is more personal. Since last week I have been busy with very little time on my hands. It’s competition season, so I have lots of swim galas, including one this weekend with forty five novice swimmers aged six to twelve. I also have a family event this Monday which means my mom, sister and brother will be visiting… yes you guessed it, there is so much cleaning to be done! Also I seem to have forgotten it is only a few days away so tomorrow and Friday are my only hope of getting anything to wear. Due to my lack of time, I have been unable to go on my laptop to read the blogs of those I follow, and I am suffering seriously from withdrawal symptoms, irritability being the biggest one.
But, you may say, you are still writing. Yes I am penning a couple of posts but that is only to stop me exploding completely, there is no fun in writing and not reading other blogs or commenting. Blogging is a two way street.
So if you are new to blogging my advice to you is to go read other blogs, and take the time to comment. You will be richly rewarded in getting to know some very interesting new people, and your writing will be all the better for it.
For those of you who I have not called to in the past while, I miss you, and I apologise for my absence but all is well. I will hopefully be back to ‘normal’ after next Tuesday. If I’ve missed anything major or you have written a post you think I’d have enjoyed please add the link in the comments, it’ll help me catch up.
Until then happy blogging.
photo credit: Annie Mole via photopin cc
My thoughts on a page. 
Blogging takes a lot of effort.. You give a lot more than you get back sometimes though. 😮
Don’t get too many withdrawal symptoms now. 😛
Blogging is definitely a two way street. It’s about writing, but even more than that it’s about community and the people we meet here. There are so many wonderful people out there and it’s fascinating to get to know them.
Thank you for the pointers! I have been blogging for 5 months now and that is so true that this is like getting to know people, learning from them, and being friends in the end. You feel each others’ support when you read, hear what they say, and you engage, you communicate. One has to invest time on this. : )
Tric, I think I am doing the opposite of you. I am spending a lot more of my time reading others blogs and ignoring mine. I think about something that I should write about but by the time I get time to write I have forgotten it. I love reading your posts so look forward to the next one.
I think this post was very timely. I have been thinking about all this myself this week. I just had an unpleasant incident with someone I thought was a friend, after blogging for two years and had to reassess my commitment and willingness to be treated poorly. In any case, I enjoy reading other blogs and getting to know people, just as you said. We are a community and that is reason enough to continue: to build connections all over the world through our ideas. Great post.
It surely is a two way street. Great post and reminder!
Have fun with swimmers and family. I’ll be waiting patiently for your next post:-)
Your blog is fun – whenever you post. I wish I had more free time to just write and read; I have all this other work that must be done. 🙂 I don’t think I’ve missed any of your posts, have I?
I’m very much in the same boat. While I’m only really starting to blog recently, through activity on Twitter and Instagram over the last 4 years I have found a number of close friends who are worldwide and who’s lives I’m very much a part of. Social media has such positive abilities of you allow it too. Love the tips! Thanks for sharing.
I am ashamed, as I fall far behind in reading other’s blogs. Those who support me time after time deserve more. Trying to do better, but life and family sweep me away. I too, wish to sit here and blog or read the whole day. Take your time, supporters will not forget you. Blessings.
I know exactly what you mean. I have never just blogged without checking out others blogs and I really miss reading their posts this week.
I am sure there are some who follow me and feel I’m a right cow for not reading but I do try to read most of those who comment.
We can but try I suppose. I’ll have to get over to you now soon too! 🙂
Please don’t worry about it! I am soooo far behind that it’s embarrassing! 😞
Thank you for thinking of me. Blogging has been my salvation for many years but especially now. I read a lot of blogs and try to comment or at least like a blog. Like you, I’ve met so many people around the world and all the care and wishes and prayers the past couple of weeks have been humbling. I didn’t know so many people cared. Again, thank you!
Hopefully you are in recovery as I write this. xxx
Until I started blogging, I didn’t realize, the best part is the friendships made out in the blogosphere.
I agree it’s a rich reward indeed.
Enjoy Tric! I thought, initially, that blogging was about writing. Five years, oh geez, SIX years later, its more writing in the comments most days than the blog! 😀
I am so looking forward to next week to spend time commenting and reading. Miss you all!
😀 You are missed. And hopefully we will be preparing for someone to be winning something………..
Don’t hold your breath, but I love your confidence. I’ll be back come Tuesday and I can’t wait. I’m itching.
😀 By the way…..my aunt and uncle may be traveling to Ireland this fall and to make me jealous they told me they were going to meet you for dinner. 🙂
Haha. Never say never!
I won’t !!!! If they go I’m hoping they DO meet you for dinner. Then we will meet vicariously! BEFORE we meet. 🙂
this is so true, tric. and there are times when the rest of life interferes with our secret mistress we call blogworld and it’s okay, we know you’re around and see you when you get back. good luck with the competition and enjoy the family. and i’m sure you’ll get some good blogs out of it, so consider it an exercise for your readers.
I got a good kick out of your comment telling me it’s an exercise for my readers. 🙂 I seriously can’t wait to get back to normal. I often catch your posts on FB so I’m not too far behind.
You can’t be more than one place at time Tric 😉
Enjoy your family, while you still can, we wait for you 😀
Thank you Irene I appreciate your wisdom. Looking forward to normality next week.
Take good care of yourself Tric.
So very true. You get what you give! I find myself lost in blogs some nights and soon it’s past midnight, like tonight…
It’s stressful when there’s no time to read! Totally agree with you. But this will pass and you’ll have time again. It’s all good. Speaking of which, time to stop reading and go to bed 🙂
Thanks. I’m nearly there, just a few more days of family mayhem but I’ve missed the routine of reading and writing. Yes bed would seem like a good idea, thanks for staying up to read and comment…
Wow! Finally I got a blog from where I be capable of actually take helpful information regarding my study and knowledge.