My blog is going through a change.
(No, not that change!)
I started this blog for fun. As the number of readers climbed, it made me a little nervous. I became much more cautious about privacy; I stopped posting friends’ photos and shared much less of my own personal life as well. But I’m afraid this might’ve made my blog rather boring. Recipes are fun and all, but everyone and her brother has recipes to share. I want to put the personality back in my blog.
Hence the change. Obviously, this doesn’t mean I’m going to start listing all my personal info in posts like a naive idiot. Hello blogworld, here is my credit card number. Here is my social security number. But you won’t use them, right, because I trust you.
There’s another reason I’ve shied away from getting too personal: I’m overly worried about hurting others. I know full well that a large number of people who read my blog are girls (and boys) recovering from eating disorders. So I worry, hating to think that they might find something in my posts upsetting. They struggle enough as it is; I would feel awful if one of my photos or posts added to their suffering. But the fact is that no matter how careful I am, someone is going to be offended/upset at something I write at some point. I can’t always worry about posting certain words or photos because it might upset someone. That’s not fair to anyone.
I am healthy. So why should I feel like I have to hide my body? Yes, I have a responsibility, since I’ve chosen to publish information publicly (as I wrote in my first Hello from CCK post). But you, as a reader, also have a responsibility to take good care of yourself. Only you know what type of blog content upsets you or isn’t healthy for you to read. If you don’t take good care of yourself, who will?
What does all this mean? It means, from now on, my blog is going to be less fluff and more real. The recipes will still be there, but I’m also going to share much more of my day-to-day real life.
“Being real” means showing not-so-perfect photos: I’m talking “no-make-up” pics, monochromatic meals, foods on mismatched plates, and sweaty post-run photos. It means allowing you to see the true me: I’m not perfect and do not have all the answers. If you’re thinking, “Ugh, Katie, I have enough real-life issues of my own. I don’t want to hear about yours. I’m only here for the recipes,” then please feel free to skip my posts on the days I write more personal posts. As I said above, I promise to still share many more recipes. But I’m also excited to share more than just recipes.
Your blog just keeps getting better and better! 🙂
I’m already loving the more personal aspect of your blog 🙂 I would LOVE to know more about you, you’re such a sweetheart!
I think it’s OK to be guarded while posting your life in internet, I was too and even though I don’t have nearly as much readers as you do I’m a bit cautious too. I have no problem showing people pictures of my previous disaster hairstyles or sending some nice group pictures of me and my friends / family but I don’t want to give too much either. Especially information regarding my job will always be anonymous, I will never reveal the name of the company I’m working for even though most of my readersa foreign 🙂
In the beginning it was weird to tell everyone about my days and what I have been up to, I would never have imagined that anyone would be interested in my daily life 😀
oh katie-you’re so great!! I’m so excited you’re making this more personal-you shouldn’t worry about what other’s think and guard yourself just because you are afraid of them. Let you shine through! if someone doesn’t like it, they don’t have to read it! but i can’t wait to see these changes unfold-you’re wonderful!
happy first day of summer! here’s to another new start!
you do you…vegan and cool. If you’ve got it flaunt it!
I’m glad to hear you’re making this decision. While it’s one thing to be considerate, it’s another to change who you are, especially for strangers, and especially when you’re not doing anything wrong. Thanks for being brave–perhaps those who are offended by your photos and imperfect life will find inspiration to be themselves, and real, as well.
A+
!!! I am so excited for this 😀 I seriously can’t wait. I totally understand where you worries are coming from, but I’m glad that you realize that you should not be ashamed either. Part of life is realizing that we can’t make everyone happy. Then when you realize that, you just let go and live your life to the fullest! I always pass this quote on because I think it’s incredible true and just resonates with me, “Be who you are and say what you feel because those that mind don’t matter, and those that matter don’t mind” Wise words from Dr. Suess himself 😀
XOXO
http://www.ohonemorething.wordpress.com
I’m excited! Your blog was incredible as it was but it’ll be nice to have one out there talking about real issues we all need to be aware of. And to answer your question, I let people know the real me straight from the get go. Otherwise they could be friends with a fakey version of you. That being said, I don’t blurt out all my personal info the first time we say hello..but you know what I mean. 🙂
I’ve been a long-time reader of your blog (I used to have the Vivacious Vegan blog), perhaps since the inception (or darn close). You are such a sweet person, always looking out for other people’s feelings but if they don’t like what’s on your blog they can choose not to read it. I’m really looking forward to the new direction of your blog and “getting to know you better.”
I’ve really enjoyed reading your blog as it was, but I am very excited to see that you are going to be sharing a more personal side in addition to your recipes!
In response to your question, I’m not very guarded about my personal life – in person or in my blog. But at the same time, I don’t have nearly the readership you do (mostly just my family), so I don’t feel as guarded when I write as I might if I knew a lot more strangers were reading. It takes a lot of confidence to share more of yourself with so many readers, I think it’s awesome that you are changing up your blog a bit!
I’m loving the post– Def. true; I agree with a MAJORITY of the things you said. Yay, girl! I think a lot of people who have obessions with food do associate with eating disorders and it can def. be triggering, so it’s good to not add to that. But honestly, I don’t think you are. You’re posting normal, healthy, scrumptious recipes that aren’t triggering. Trust me 🙂
Check out my blog: http://namastegurl.blogspot.com/
Since your being honest, i think i will be too!
I used to check your blog daily, and then it turned to more so weekly. Because of the reasons you posted. It just got ‘boring’, the recipes are great, but i like blogs where i feel like i can connect and get insight to that persons life, ya know? So im very glad to hear of the new changes! =)
Sandi,
Hello fellow creamy-food lover! 🙂
I lived in Japan (and China and The Philippines and England) because my crazy dad is in the international insurance business, so he gets sent all over the world.
Japan is AMAZING! They are so kid-friendly there, always cooing over their children. We were pretty spoiled, not just by our parents, but by all the Japanese! My life was filled with chocolate-filled koala bears, trips to local shrines, and Hello Kitty EVERYthing.
amazing post katie! i love your blog so much..i can tell you are so genuine and healthy and although i am recovering from an ed i NEVER feel upset from your blog because you are such a great ideal for me to strive for… eating foods you enjoy the taste of, especially chocolate and veggies 😉 , and doing what makes you happy in life, caring for animals and designing cute cupcakes and charity cards and running, etc.
so glad to see more into your life! the topics sound very cool:)
healthyhelper,
It definitely took me way more than a few weeks to start to feel like I was part of a community, not just talking to air! I think the BIGGEST thing you can do is comment, comment, comment on other blogs. Don’t just comment once on a particular blog; keep on commenting. It might take a while, but soon the blogger (and other commenters) will keep seeing your name pop up and start to remember you.
I commented a lot on other blogs when I first started out. Nowadays, I don’t comment much anymore because it was just taking up too much time; there are SO many amazing blogs out there! But if you’re just starting out, that’s a good way to get your name out there. Otherwise, no one will know your blog exists.
Good luck!! 🙂
hey katie! I love your blog and about three months ago I started a blog of my own. I would love to have a following as huge as yours and i am wondering how you acquired such a large following? i think it is great!
thanks! 🙂
Kaila (healthyhelper.wordpress.com)
Sarah,
Thanks for your honesty :).