I remember that first blogs I read as a young teenager. The writers of these blogs shared from their heart, with almost all of their blog posts being about the current happenings in their life, the daily rhythms that made up their days and home life, recipes they'd recently tried, books they were enjoying, music that was filling the walls of their home, and loads and loads of photographs that held the beauty they'd captured. They'd also share beautifully written posts on living a life of faithful devotion to God and what that meant for them and their everyday. Reading these blogs was truly like sitting down on the front porch with a friend, sharing hearts, dreams, visions, and laughs. It was lifegiving, encouraging, uplifting and a wonderfully beautiful thing. I gained so much from those days.
Several years after I began reading blogs, I decided to start my own. My heart's desire and goal for my blog was to do the same as I'd seen the others doing, just as I mentioned above. Shortly after I began blogging, back in December of 2012, I began noticing a change and shift in the blogging community. When the purpose of blogging before had been to share from the heart and simply encourage one another, the purpose shifted to being that of advertising products, selling for this or that company, or writing posts with the goal of drawing an audience and growing your blog. Many bloggers make a full-time income through their websites, or at least, seek to make money any chance they can.
This shift in blogging has strengthened over the last five years. I can't tell you the number of blogs I've quit reading for those reasons. It is very evident from these blogs that their heart isn't in it, but rather only dollar signs. There are far too many bloggers looking for their next money-making endeavour, instead of simply writing from their heart and sharing encouragement with others. The purpose of blogging needs to be that of spreading beauty, goodness and inspiration with those reading. The writer should want those who choose to spend a few moments reading their words to leave feeling refreshed, renewed, with a lighter load than they arrived with, and as though they've sat with a friend who gets it, who understands, who is there. A true kindred spirit.
Please hear me out: I am in no way saying that it is wrong to make some extra money from your blog. There is, however, a way to do it that doesn't scream "I'm money hungry!" to your readers. And no, I am not a supporter of those who make a full-time living through blogging. Until, or unless, I see someone doing it without manipulating their readers, that is my stand on that issue.
This is a call to any blogger reading this...let's return to the heart of blogging. This way of blogging may not get us thousands of readers each week. It may not see us getting sponsors or making a paycheck, even though blogging does take a lot of work. We won't get the recognition that the big-time bloggers get. But, in all honesty, I'd rather have a smaller community of kindred spirits whose names I recognize each time they comment. I'd rather know a little about the "regulars" that stop by my little corner. I want a warm, close, friendly, inviting place...truly, it's a beautiful thing.
This world of blogging has way too many people who have all the answers. It needs more people simply journeying their way through life, seeking to encourage others as they travel. I'm not going to give an ounce of my time to the blogger who spends hours on Instagram answering the questions her readers submit to her because they care about her input so much. I'm not going to spend a minute reading a blog about motherhood, family, and being a godly woman that is written by a woman who admits to having to set her timer each day to make sure she spends an hour of what she calls "intentional time" with her young toddlers. I'm not going to support the endeavours of a blogger who doesn't follow through on her word when she promised you would receive specific items when you pre-ordered her book, participated in her launch team, and spent time promoting that book. I will, however, spend time settling down in the evening, by reading a blogger's sincere and real thoughts on the books she'd read the previous month. I will sit and enjoy looking through the photos of a blogger friend's recent long weekend away to the mountains. I will savour the words that a blogger has spent time weaving together to encourage other ladies in their pursuit of the good, right and true. I will happily admire the creative work of a dear blogging friend, and learn at her feet (through the computer screen), as I try my hand at the very project she has shared so beautifully about.
Blogging used to be a community...it's high time we got back to that. I like to think of blogging as a little neighborhood where everyone knows one another. The kind of place where you see a neighbor out on their front porch and walk on over. They pour a cup of tea in the wintertime or a tall glass of iced tea in the summer, and you sit and chat and laugh together. Soon, you realize that it's been hours since you arrived, but it feels like only awhile. You know you're being filled up with all the good things when time flies! It's inviting someone into your life and sharing with them in a way that says "You're not the only one."
Dear friend, that's what I want for my little place...my inglenook. Each time you come here, I am inviting you into my living room to sit awhile (ideally by the roaring fireplace if it's nice and chilly out) or to join me on the bench in the garden if it's not too hot. I want you to come here and be refreshed. Encouraged. Uplifted. Inspired. I want you to leave knowing that there is good in this world. There is beauty abounding. The Truth is still alive and there are still folks genuinely seeking after it. I want this to be a lifegiving corner. A beauty-filled corner. A gentle corner. A place where you are reminded that this life is so full of wonder, awe, magic, and loveliness.
And to you, dear fellow blogger, I invite you to answer this call of returning to the heart of blogging. I promise you, it is full of abundant blessing and beauty. Let's build a little neighborhood, shall we? What do you say?
From my heart to yours...
From my heart to yours...