Let’s have an honest chat today if that is ok with you all? Ok, good. You may or may not have noticed that in the last month or so things have seemed a bit “off” here on LiveRunLoveYoga. My posts have been lacking spark. I’ve not been posting as much as normal and have been just skipping days altogether. Truthfully, I feel bad about it but there are reasons for it and I think it’s time to share.
A few months ago I had an experience that reminded me that blogging is a business. Unfortunately there are people who are just looking to cash in on bloggers, and brands. This happens not only in blogging but in all areas of life. In my experience there was a lack of communication and the level of professionalism exhibited that did not rest well with me. I don’t regret my decisions or the way in which I handled the situation but it definitely left me angry, frustrated and discouraged. As a result I haven’t been in the mood to write, post and share. In fact, it left me wondering why I even spent so much time blogging and sharing my experiences as at all.
Since that negative experience I’ve been thinking about blogging and why I blog and want to share a few thoughts…
I don’t blog with the intention of having thousands of followers or big brand endorsements or to make blogging my job. I can understand why some blog for those things but it’s just not for me. I blog to share my experiences and talk about what I’ve learned from running and yoga. I blog because I enjoy writing and like to relate to those who share similar passions to me. I blog in hopes of inspiring people to run or practice yoga in order to experience the benefits I have.
I blog with honesty. I don’t share reviews of products I don’t believe in. I worked with Gatorade because I believe in their brand. I’ve used Gatorade to fuel me since I was in high school sports. I’ve reviewed yoga gear because I practice 4 times a week and it fits in with LiveRunLoveYoga. While some of my reviews have been done in return for a giveaway or product others are done just because I truly believe in a product and want to share with you its value. I can assure you I’ll continue to only review and work with brands that I believe in and already use as part of my everyday life.
I’ve cut back on the numbers of days I post. I used to have a self-imposed “rule” to blog Monday through Friday but I’ve since let that rule go. It’s more important to me to blog when I am inspired and have good content. If that means 5 days a week for a while and then 3 days a week for a month than that is ok with me. Our lives are continually changing and so is what inspires us. Currently I’m more focused on packing, moving and creating a life with Michael. It doesn’t mean I don’t still love running, it just means it’s not something I’m talking about all the time. When August rolls around and I start yoga teacher training I’m sure you’ll see a whole new type of post inspired by an entirely new experience. To me, that’s what keeps blogs interesting. Some once told me something and I’ll never forget it, they told me that sometimes we have a lot to talk about and share and others times we are meant to talk less and listen more. I suppose blogging is the same.
I’m not going anywhere but I’ve realized I just need to approach blogging a little differently than I did before. It’s a hobby for me and as a result it needs to be fun and something I enjoy. I can’t worry about numbers, and products, and how often I post. For me it needs to be about sharing my experiences and passions and connecting with readers who enjoy those passions as well. I promise to have honest posts with good content inspired by my passions. I may not post everyday but I will post when I think I have something valuable to share and can take the time to write a quality post. In my opinion this is better for me and for you.
Posts that Inspire
I hope that you’ll keep coming back and reading LiveRunLoveYoga. I’m truly flattered that all of you find my writing interesting and engaging enough to keep coming back. I’m even more flattered that some of you take the time to comment and share your thoughts and opinions with me. To me, connecting with readers and even making a few blogging turned “real-life” friends is what makes this worth while.
Thanks for listening to me today. I hope in some way you can all relate and perhaps understand why things have seemed a bit “off” around here.
