Blogging Declaration of Independence

I have to live my life before I can blog about it, so you end up with some unplanned blog silence every now and then.  What are you gonna do?

Apparently you are going to write about it.

We've been busy the last few weeks and I haven't even thought about writing.  I have hardly logged onto the computer at all other than to work in my eBay store and pay bills, though I have peaked in on my Google Reader every few days to see what my favorite bloggers are up to. 

Scanning the new posts from other writers over a couple of weeks' time, I was struck by how many "I've been too busy to blog" posts I was catching.  Even more interesting were the "I've been too busy to post on my own blog and even too busy to post comments on other people's blogs--  I'm so sorry!" posts. 

It's the apology that stops me.

Am I missing something because I don't feel like I should apologize or even check in if I don't write on my own blog or comment on other people's because I've been busy?  I find it hard to believe that other people genuinely feel the need to do so.  This is not a responsibility to be upheld.  Or is it?  Really, am I missing something? 

Once you have regular readers and regular commenters, do you owe them your attention?  Does anyone really care or do we all just get swept up in the blogosphere and lose a little perspective now and then?  I've seen the idea of having a "blog buddy" bounced around out there, which is a person with whom you check in if you are going to be offline for a little while.  What?  No, really, what?

A couple of weeks ago, I became virtually obsessed with my stat counters and all that techy visitor-tracking stuff available in so many formats.  As if I don't analyze things enough as it is, I became an analysis wiz there when it came to this blog, as well as quite a few others.  It was crazy.

Then I got busy.  I stopped checking anything.  Everything.  I stepped back and turned away, without another thought to it.  It's just a journal. 

Yet, I see that obsessive stats trend still continuing on without me out there, as though the importance of our "numbers" really is important.  It's not.  Not for non-pro bloggers like me.

As for the responsibility to our readers to post frequently regardless of content, well, forget that.  Same goes for commenting.  Seriously, wouldn't you rather not read drivel just for sake of having something to read?  Trust me, I'm still here, you just don't want to read about what I'm doing.  Or, you will really enjoy reading about what I'm doing once I'm done doing it.

Anyway, this topic has been covered before more eloquently than my little rant right there, and I'd like to sign up with one such better rant right now.  I present to you IzzyMom's A Blogging Declaration of Independence.  No, it's not news, I read it a long time ago, too, but it's relevant right now and it's a great reminder of why we are (supposedly) here, so enjoy.  Ooh, and share!--

... Share your thoughts, your comments, share the link.  When you write "I'm so sorry I've been too busy to blog" or "I'm so sorry I've been too busy to make my blog commenting rounds," why do you do that?  What compels you to write that?  Seriously.  I'm not judging.  I feel ya, sister; I'm genuinely interested.  Tell me, what's with the guilt?  Do you feel bad that you see people checking in on your blog over and over though you don't have new content?  I do.  Do you feel like you are missing out on something or will be a bit forgotten by not keeping "out there" through comments on other blogs?  Sooooo many bloggers write these "Sorry I've been busy" posts that now I'm intrigued.

Until then, here's IzzyMom's good stuff:

A Blogging Declaration of Independence

1. I will only write when I feel like writing. I will not allow myself to feel obligated to write a blog post or do any other blog-related activity if I don’t feel like it.

2. I will no longer stop to consider if a post will be boring to other people or use that as a deciding factor in what I write.

3. I will write from my heart and remember that my blog is about me and whatever I want to write about.

4. I will not compare myself to other bloggers.

5. I will not allow myself to feel bad if I notice that someone doesn’t come to my blog anymore.

6. I will not concern myself with comments or stat counters or other numeric devices that might have the ability to affect my mood or what I write.

7. I will not feel bad if something I care about doesn’t get a lot of feedback or comments.

8. I will always try to remember that blogging is a hobby first and foremost. When it stops being fun, I will step away and re-evaluate.

9. I will no longer feel guilty about not commenting “as much as I should” because my first responsibility is to myself and my kids. Though I love reading and connecting with other bloggers, real life needs to come first.

10. I will make an effort to not get lost in blogging. Just because I can while away an entire evening in the blogsophere with relative ease doesn’t mean I should.

11. I will not worry about losing readers if I change my focus from time to time.

12. I will be true to myself and my feelings. I will be cranky if that’s how I feel. Being a diplomat 24-7 is just exhausting and unnatural.

13. I will try really hard to fight that feeling that I am missing out on something if I’m not reading and commenting on blogs.

14. In committing myself to this declaration, I am setting myself free so that I can enjoy blogging more and stress about it less.

15. I will update and add to this declaration as necessary.