We all go through flat times as we live out the blogging lifestyle. We feel like we are getting nowhere, we work so hard and it is like our wheels are spinning. We may even get little thoughts that it is just not worth it. We have a case of the blogging blues.
The Blogging Blues
Sorry, I don’t have all the answers it is just nice to recognise that we all go through this from time to time.
I thought this little article from my favorite freelance writer may help us get some perspective and inspiration going forward.
Transcending the Barriers to Speak to the Heart
Patrick Aherne
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu is an Australian aboriginal singer/musician. He is from the remote region of Elcho Island off the coast of Arnhem Land in Northern Australia, about 530 km from Darwin. It is a beautiful, yet harsh unforgiving land.
Gurrumul belongs to the Yolngu people group who inhabit the region. He was born completely blind.
As a small child, he was given an old guitar. There was no one to teach him how to hold it or how to play it. The guitar was a right handed guitar but he turned it around held it in a left handed position. This meant the strings of the instrument were upside down and that is how he learned to play it. He still plays the guitar in this unorthodox manner how he learned it. Later he learned to play the drums and keyboard. Gurrumul never learned Brail and does not use a cane or guide dog for guidance.
He speaks very little English and much of his singing is in his native tongue. His songs relate mostly to his land, his culture and his people.
Gurrumul has received some of the most outstanding awards for his music and has sung before dignitaries such as the Queen and the Pope. His music and voice have the ability to transcend culture and language and move the emotions, even when the words are not understood. That is a unique gift.
Please take a moment and listen to a little of this song and you will see and feel this gift.
I have researched and written several articles on outstanding disabled musicians. Turlough O’Carolan, Ludwig Von Beethoven, and Django Reinhardt to name a few. What has been consistently evident is that in spite of their disabilities and hardships, God seems to have given each one that extra measure of giftedness and grace to transcend mediocrity and soar to the heights of their field.
In all of that, it should be remembered that every one of them grasped the opportunity to cultivate their gifts and bring them to full fruition.
I am reminded of the Biblical parable of the talents. Three servants were given specific amounts of money by their master and told to put the money to work during his absence. After a lengthy period of time, the Master returned and questioned the servants.
The first two servants put the money to work and returned double the amount back to the master. They were duly rewarded for their diligence.
The third servant took the money and hid it in the ground because he feared the master. He returned what he had originally received to the master. The master was not impressed and gave his money to one of the other diligent servants who had put their money to work. He was condemned as being lazy and received no reward.
When it comes to blogging we all have varying degrees of giftedness and in a variety of areas. The blog offers a great place to find your gift, to exercise it, to get the help you need and to challenge and sharpen what you have.
Blogging brings you into contact with folk that can potentially broaden and enlarge your own world and offers the opportunity to bless others with what you have.
Our gifts may be somewhat different to those of Gurrumul Yunupingu, but the ground rules for making the very best of what we have been given remains the same, blogger, musician, artist or writer. (Patrick)
We all get the Blogging Blues from time to time, we help and support each other, regain our momentum and passion. We realise that all gifts need cultivation to come to their best. The answer to the blogging blues will be different for all of us. It could be we need to focus down a little and not be drawn into all those promising headlines, realising that they all have something to offer, but we can’t do them all. Concentrate on what you have, and as you outgrow them, move on a little at a time.
One thing I try to do is read, watch or listen to something new each day, but only for 15 to 20 minutes. My downfall is that I sometimes get more involved in it and end up wasting precious time.
How do you deal with the Blogging Blues?
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24 thoughts on “The Blogging Blues”
What a beautiful young man Kathleen and such an inspiration to us all. People think that blogging is easy i’ll just start writing and will have thousands of followers on a week! Blogging is hard work but when I have the blogging blues I walk away for a day or so and enjoy life. I’m also fortunate to have blogging friends who know what it is like and provide much needed support. Loving your new blog Kathleen and thanks for the opportunity to link up at Blogger’s pitstop.
I am glad that you enjoyed it Sue. Thanks for your kind words, it is such a joy for bloggers to be able to support and encourage each other.
More beautiful music, thank you! I have had much going on in my life the past few months, several surgeries and now I am dealing with my father’s cancer. It would be easy to quit blogging, since I don’t have the time and attention to give it that I would like. Yet it is the thing I WANT to do and realize that I miss when I am away from it for a few days. I agree that your blog is a great way to find and exercise your gift. The people you meet along the way make it especially wonderful. Those are reason enough to keep going.
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We love your posts Michele, so if you have to slow down for awhile, we will wait 🙂 So sorry that you have been going through a rough time I hope and pray that you are making good progress, it all takes time after surgeries and sometimes I think that recovering from the effects of an anaesthetic can be as challenging as the surgery.
Rarely do I ever get the blogging blues. I might get a little “tired” at times, but that’s VERY RARE – and typically it’s because of something ELSE going on in my life, not my blog. Without my blog, I don’t know WHAT I would do! ha ha!
Keep being awesome GIGI, we need you.
It’s such a dilemma isn’t Kathleen – you know what you want and where you want to head, but those wheels keep spinning. I think recognizing it as an opportunity to decide what’s important and to refocus can make it less annoying. Bouncing ideas around is great too.
You are exactly right Leanne. Also, blogging is such a learning process as we hone skills etc. If we did not spin our wheels now and then we would never look deeper to see where we can improve and be more helpful and value the friends we are making along the way.
What a great post! I always hear about people going through this, and your tips are exactly what is needed! Thank you for sharing with us at the #HomeMattersParty
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That video. This post. I have tears in my eyes. I’ve been thinking lately that I need to add more posts with depth to my blog. I like humor and making people smile, but it takes a better writer to dig deep and make people think. Anyway…you’ve inspired me with this post. Sharing on Facebook. Thank you and hope you have a great weekend.
Thanks for your helpful comments Lori. I am glad that the post was meaningful for you. Please don’t underestimate the power and talent that it takes to make people laugh. We need you.
What an inspirational post! I don’t know which I like more, that amazing musician, or that fabulous quote at the end! Thanks for linking up with us at #FridayFrivolity and hope you join us again this week!
Hi Lisa, I am so glad that you enjoyed the post.
Fantastic post and I can relate. Blogging is no easy feat, I have my ups and downs but I am still here! The best thing is the friends we make from all walks of life and all around the world, we are never alone. Thanks for sharing on #overthemoon.
Thanks for your good comments Jen. I am so glad that you are still there and that you keep on keeping on. You’re right about the awesome friends that we make along the way.
Keep it going gal.
I like that phrase, “Blogging Blues” – fits perfectly to how I have been feeling. With a recent marked drop in viewership, I’m starting to ask myself those blogging blues questions. Is it worth it? Am I wasting my time? Maybe I should just call it quits…
This week I heard someone speaking about a book she was reading which spoke about art. Art comes in all forms and even blogging is considered art. He said that if what we produce we were sure would be a great success, then we are “creating” from a position of safety. The author went on to say that it is good when we doubt the product we have produced, wondering whether people will even like it, because it means we are working outside of our safe area, where true creativity can flourish. I found great encouragement in that. Success is not numbers, it is touching just one person.
Thanks for spurring me on to continue blogging and to keep my perspective grounded.
Thanks for your helpful comments Karen. I am glad that you feel encouraged and I am honored to have a small part in that. Keep creating, learning and moving forward.
Kathleen
Hi Kathleen,
I remember reading you changed blog names. Thanks for reminding me that everyone has troubles. A great way to keep things in perspective.
How do I deal with the blogging blues? The same way I deal with any blues–I talk to my support system, my husband.
Thanks for bringing your post to Pit Stop.
Janice, Pit Stop Crew
Thanks Janice, what a blessing to have your husband’s support. So good to have someone close and offline to talk to.
Lovely post, Kathleen.
Indeed, in blogging and in life, each one of us has strengths and weaknesses and that’s why we need to work together.
I was talking to some girls at CrossFit about it. We focus too much on what we can’t do when we, in fact, can do A LOT!
You’re absolutely right: it happens to all of us. We just need to keep things in perspective and keep moving forward.
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This post resonated with me. Thanks so much. By the way, I found your blog by visiting Janice’s Meet & Greet.
So, yeah…this is exactly what I needed, Kathleen! Somehow you always manage to share exactly what I need to read. It seems every time I “get on a roll” blogging, something comes up that totally throws me off, and frankly, it gets discouraging. Bloggy Blues, indeed! Thank you for this encouragement!
I love the writing part of blogging. The marketing stuff can certainly lead to feeling blue, especially when your best efforts barely move the needle of your stats! It is always great to see a bigger perspective where others are faced with so many more challenges and yet they can achieve so much more. Thanks for the boost!
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