Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Everyday Black Matters

Home
Progressive Christian
Maybe Saying Goodbye to Blogging Forever? Sigh.

Maybe Saying Goodbye to Blogging Forever? Sigh.

Last updated on: May 21, 2013 at 11:33 pm by Grace Sandra

Maybe Saying Goodbye to Blogging Forever? Sigh. 2013-05-21T23:33:50-04:00 Grace Sandra

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

It was inevitable, y’all, that I’d declare a blogging break. If your a reader you’ve probably seen this coming for awhile now. And, at the end of the day, perhaps I’m nothing if not consistent; I also declared a break on May 26, 2011 & June 18, 2012. Senioritis anyone?

Only this time, I’m taking a FULL social media fast not limited to my blog. I am also *GASP* not checking Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Pinterest bit it for me, a long time ago.

Why Now?

1. I’ve been too focused on platform building. The sort of drive I was putting into guest posts & other sites I contribute to has been leaving me far too self-focused. This has caused me to lose my focus on how to serve others online and otherwise.

2. I’ve become too involved in behind-the-scenes blogging politics. This could very well be the top reason. I could leave blogging for all eternity because of this one. I shouldn’t say more, but it’s been deeply troubling. Deeply, deeply troubling. Far beyond what this little empathetic, sensitive soul can handle. I’m starting to hate people. This is not me. I’m not a hater. Yet, I’m starting to ooze angry, hot tears of hatred over junior-high like behavior amongst Christian bloggers. The disappointment is much too much right now. (Perhaps I could have handled this in other more normal, stable times of life)?

3. As a result of #2, I’ve become disgruntled. Angry. Not myself. How does one become a disgruntled blogger? Only me.

4. I feel lost and voiceless. Not that anyone has taken my voice, but that I’m not sure what my writing voice is anymore. Or, bluntly, I don’t know what to write that I want to keep writing about. Nothing feels right.

5. Even when I’m not blogging regularly, blogging takes up a lot of mental space & energy. For example, when I go a whole week without blogging, I’ll think about it, everyday, how guilty I feel not blogging for that week. When I tell myself to calm down (and that somehow manages to work) I’ll start stressing about what to post when I start posting again. People, this is not normal, nor healthy.

6. I feel that I’ve come to an unhealthy place in my relationship to other bloggers. Read: sometimes I have an insane and insatiable amount of jealousy towards others bloggers with a developed niche and loyal readership. Even though I know I’m not ready for that (see #4) I can’t stop berating myself to just. try. harder. But then #1. And then #2. Rinse. Repeat.

7. I believe I’ve put too much focus on blogging & platform building at the expense of learning other useful things. When I tend to go for something I go full-tilt, which, as you can surmise gets me burned out. Recently, I’ve read many, many books about blogging, platform building, twittering etc. at the expense of books about how to grow my marriage, how to parent my children or even -just for fun- how to take better care of my natural hair. Some people can hold all these things in tension, I’m just not one of those people. Not for now at least.

8. I’m very overwhelmed with life right now and have very little emotional reserves left. What little I have left is being used up by #2 and #3. Even if that weren’t the case: #4. I acknowledge that part of what I’m going through right now is the classic girl-is-down-girl-needs-to-reach-deep-within-her-soul-and-find-a-way-to-pull-herself-up-roaring-victoriously-to-success but I’m not there, y’all.

If I did fight that hard to dig deep within my fears to change aspects of my life for the better, I can’t afford to expend that costly precious energy on something that is (currently) the opposite of life giving: it’s draining me. Constantly. (See #5)

9. I’m in a stage of extreme uncertainty career-wise. Identity-wise! I’m in the midst of launching a Coaching company yet, I’m also trying to think long-term about my future. Do I want to go back to my Ministry with InterVarsity? (Yes, maybe) A different type of ministry like IJM or World Vision? Is it my dream to write full-time? I’m not so sure anymore. What could it be like to pursue a career in Corporate America after 13 yrs. in the non-profit sector? Of all my loves which should I pursue: speaking, training, education, writing, photography, college students? Should I keep moving with my recent ideas for The Black Sheep Magazine?

While I’ve worked all this out in the past on the blog, I have the feeling these decisions are too weighty for me to shake down in such a public forum.

I’ve had a few days where I nearly decided to shut down my blog, cancel and deactivate my FB & Twitter accounts…and like a ghost, disappear. Instead of being a crazy-rash-asshat, after some thought, decided to simply declare a 4-6 week break by doing the loving thing and letting y’all know I’m not dead, a drunk or checked into a mental facility.

If you’re of the praying variety, pray for me. I could use some discernment especially regarding #9. The only thing that’s for sure to continue -at this point- is work on my memoir. Nothing else is guaranteed which feels like a great place to be. I’m open to the Lord flipping my life upside down even more than it all ready is. Perhaps blogging will take more of a back seat in my life than it ever has in 7 years.

All I know is that I’m not willing to trade a life worth living for blogging, which sadly, insidiously, it seems I have been.

So. What’s Next?

As I mentioned in early May, I’m reading some great books right now & I’ve been LOVING the Beth Moore, King David character study with women from my Church. Besides that & all the extra family time that summer affords, I’m really looking forward to all this extra life-giving brain space and the (mostly) singular focus on these little gems…

{These two served their Grandma & me a lovely dessert on Mother’s day straight out of “Ransom & Rhysie’s Restaurant”}

Thanks for reading, your support and friendship. xoxo.

Encouragement to do what’s best for my soul needed, wanted, welcomed! (<<<——see how needy? LOL)

Previous Post

May 16, 2013

Here's Lookin' at You Kid

Next Post

July 2, 2013 Jesus, stripping, blow jobs and Gospel Music

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Abortion Abuse Survivor African Americans Black Campus Ministries Blogging Books Celebrities Depression Detroit Divorce Dreams entrepreneurialista Family Fashion Fashion & Hair Fashion Finds Fashion Tips Fitness & Body Love For You Girly-Girl Giveaways! Goal Setting Hair Adventures Home Human Trafficking Humor & Fun InterVarsity iphone Apps iphoneography Leadership Marriage Memoir Mentoring Movies Music My Faith My Life My Pregnant Life My Weight Watcher's Journey Netizen One Word Opinion Parenting Photography Policy Politics Pop Culture Product Reviews Race & Ethnicity Racism Ransom Rhys Second Marriage Self Leadership Social Justice Social Media Spiritual Disciplines T.V. Uncategorized Western Theological Seminary What I Wore What I Wore Wednesday Writing Writing Tips

Select a Month May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 December 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 April 2016 March 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 July 2015 June 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz