'Tis the season for me to return to the blogging world. I feel like (and this could be totally off) that I tend to turn introspective in the summer, particularly as we hit that midway point, where the return to school and slew of autumn busyness is within view. I've been off on a bit of an intentional hiatus, trying to decide if I really want to maintain a blog.
I love the idea of a blog, and there are so many that I love to read. I follow the blogs of strangers, of friends, of those who's views on life are so similar to my own, and of those who I frequently find myself saying, "No, no, no!" to their posts, yet still want to read more (that takes real skill, man). I think these are my magazines, with their stories and photos and occasional how-tos and clever DIYs. And I love the interaction. Because, a magazine does not necessarily allow you close and personal access to the journalist and editor, but a blog can incite conversation and potentially ignite a friendship or realize an unforeseen kinship.
However, if you're going to keep a blog (and not simply read and drool over all the pretties in other people's lives), there is a certain amount of work that's involved and there needs to be a point (this, of course, is just my opinion and my vision if I'm the one keeping the blog). For a long time, as I've kept this blog and others, I've written my posts, taken my pictures, and just generally gone along while thinking of other blogs I'd seen and liked.
Naturally, there's bound to be some sort of influence or inspiration, but it's very difficult to keep something so personal all the while thinking of another person's work. It's a bit like being married to one man, but imagining you're married to another - you go through the motions and it seems like a marriage, but in the end it's all just an act and you aren't being true to yourself or your partner. And while I wasn't being fully true to myself, I wasn't being entirely honest with the (very few) people who read this blog and I was still dissatisfied with what I wrote.
So, I'm going to come back to my blog, but I'm going to relax, I'm going to write about whatever I want, and though I will still admire the blogs I love, rather than taking away the "what" from their blogs, I will walk away with the "why". They blog to record the things, places, and people they love. I will, too.
