I love eating delicious food. And I love creating new recipes. But I don’t think I would consider myself a foodie: what I like about blogging and about making up recipes is the creativity involved. I don’t watch cooking shows, don’t read cookbooks in my spare time, don’t spend hours upon hours thinking about food, and…
I feel so mean for what I am about to admit, but I don’t enjoy spending the day feeling like I have to read every single food blog out there. I really don’t want anyone’s feelings to get hurt, and I don’t want anyone to feel like I’m ignoring him or her, so I feel compelled to try and visit as many blogs of people who leave comments on mine as I can. Lately, I’ve felt overwhelmed at the sheer number of blogs I feel the need to visit and comment on each day. I try to be fair;
I’m definitely not one of those people who only leaves comments on the popular blogs. I hate to open up this can of worms, but it makes me sad to see the little blogs ignored. Just because a certain blogger doesn’t get 50 comments per day does NOT mean her blog isn’t good and she doesn’t deserve comments. In fact, I try to comment more on these blogs than the popular blogs because each comment means more to the bloggers. I remember when I was first starting out and got only 5 comments per day. Those 5 comments might as well have been 500 for how happy they made me. Not that I don’t still get excited when someone leaves a comment on my blog: I really do!
Even the comments that just say simple things like “yum” or “cool idea” mean a lot to me. So I feel like a hypocrite if I don’t try my hardest to visit your blogs and try and repay that happiness. You all do such a good job of keeping up with my posts that it’s only fair I should do the same. And everyone has such interesting, well-thought-out posts that I really wish there were time to thoroughly read them all. I love you all, and your blogs are amazing: creative, funny, delightful… Each of you offers something special and unique to the blogging world. But feeling like I have to visit so many blogs as quickly as possible (so I can fit all the other things I want to do into my life), I find myself skimming over your cute stories, creative ideas, and other ways that your personalities shine.
Yes, I know I’m over-estimating my importance in peoples’ lives. Logically, I can see you all probably don’t spend even a minute feeling slighted over such dumb things as whether or not CCK commented more on your blog than someone else’s. But not-so-logically, I have a fault of being way too sensitive and worrying about hurting others. I will still try to comment every now and then. I am going to have to step back even further in the amount I comment, though. It does not mean that I love you guys any less!
Blogging should be fun. Lately, to me, parts of it have become a chore. I want to bring the fun back… And I promise not to abandon you. I’m still reading blogs, even if I don’t always comment!
Question of the Day:
Do any of you feel like this; like parts of blogging—be it trying to comment on tons of others’ sites or the pressures to blog about certain things or to not offend anyone—can sometimes get you down? I’m sure many of you do! Please know that I will NEVER hold it against you if you don’t have time to comment on my site. Yes, I’ll miss hearing your thoughts, your cute stories, and your kind words. But it won’t make me stop loving you.
Katie, I honestly don’t even see how you can manage to blog on top of all the other great things you do, let alone read and comment on other blogs. (This isn’t meant as a criticism…I think you’re some kind of chocolate-covered-vegan running, blogging, cooking, etc. wonderwoman.)
I think you’ve responded to basically every comment/question I have left and you’re a total sweetheart. People who get upset at you are jealous that you can be so healthy, smart, and kind. Not that I’m not jealous. I am VERY jealous! But not upset!
I’ve been reading your blog by subscription for months now, so I’m not some mysterious creepy person who randomly stumbled on your blog and is saying this.
<3 Caroline
I figured this would be a perfect post to de-lurk. Hi! Just wanted to say I’m a new reader, and I’m very (very!!) excited to start making some of your recipes! My hubby and I are in a crappy living situation and don’t have enough access to the kitchen, but as of next Saturday, we’re outta here! I am truly excited to go through your recipes and start cooking/baking. Have a great rest of your weekend, and don’t feel guilty for not commenting on every blog you follow. I used to feel guilty, until I realized I follow over 250, so it’s just not possible on a daily basis. Be well…
As anybody who visits my blog, I update pretty infrequently–I have loads of stories but always seem to run out of time to post them and tend to get sidetracked. I post when I want to! I mostly do it for my family to check out things that I’ve been doing while away at college! I read a ton of other blogs simply because I enjoy it, not because I feel compelled to do so. Sometimes I comment, sometimes I don’t…blogging is mostly about my love of stories and food 🙂 I DO especially love reading your blog, because I have a lot of similar interests as you, just so you know. But you just gotta do what you love! Your blog is just the proverbial icing on the (vegan) cake of life…if that makes any sense?!
–Monica
Aw, Katie, you’re adorable but this post made me sad! I completely understand, though. You are a very sweet person and you don’t deserve to be brought down by these lousy thoughts! But now you’re gotten it all out there so I hope you feel that catharsis. I personally would never expect a reply to begin with, and I would read your blog whether or not I ever received one. You’re sunshine-y to read, and that’s probably what I love the most – don’t let these thoughts cloud you over =D!
I’ve stopped commenting as much as well, and even have had a few people call me out on it, leaving comments like, “I haven’t heard from you in awhile…” etc. It really infuriated me. I would NEVER do that to anyone else.
True friendship isn’t about keeping track of “what have you done for me lately,” and some of my closest blog friends NEVER leave me comments and vice versa.
I enjoy the social side of blogging just as much as the next person, but when I quit writing my blog for ME and just for comments, that’s when I quit blogging.
Love you Katie, and I’m always reading, even when I don’t comment… 🙂
katie, i only recently discovered your blog (from a mention on cammy’s tippytoediet) but you seem like such a sweet, sensitive person. and i’m thankful that you share your view of the world with us, chocolate included! it’s wonderful that you are so concerned about people’s feelings and wouldn’t the world be a better place if we were all more like that. but i agree, ya gotta take care of yourself, girl, and live your life. anyone who faults you for that is possibly a little bit of a stinker 🙂
when we take care of ourselves, then we have more to give to others. does that make sense?
have a fabulous day!
I will still comment on your blog!! I totally understand. Getting back to everyone and commenting is HARD work. Especially when you are busy. So relax, girl, we all love you! I don’t expect you to comment like crazy 🙂 We’re all busy!
<3 jess
xoxo
Goodness gracious, I can’t imagine how you have the time to do all the commenting that it sounds like you have been doing… I have a teeny, tiny blog compared to yours and while I try to check out commenter’s blogs I CERTAINLY don’t have time to always do so and I definitely don’t have the time to comment on them all.
You are awesome enough without trying to be superwoman! Just be your lovely self! 🙂
Hi Katie!! First time commenter!! 🙂 I’ve been reading for awhile now, but haven’t been commenting because I just assumed that since your blog was so popular, that my comment wouldn’t really matter. Not that you don’t come off as darling and nice, but I guess I’m just used to commenting on other popular blogs and never getting anything in return. And I don’t expect you to start commenting on my blog… that’s not what I’m saying, but what I do appreciate is that you recognize your commenters and let them know that even though you aren’t able to always comment you still love them. I totally understand what you’re saying about not being able to comment on everyone’s blog. If we did, we’d be sitting around on a computer alllllll day wasting away our lives. If anything this post just made me want to keep reading even more. Have a great day!! 🙂
While, we of course all love to hear from you, we ALL understand the time it takes and how it’s good to step back and not let blogging become a chore. I still plan to read your blog because I truly enjoy it. And part of it is because you aren’t solely obsessed with posting about food and only food. I’m no foodie either. I like to find healthy eats and recipes to try and share, but don’t spend tons of time figuring out new food ideas or taking pictures of my food either. It’s good to be well rounded with many passions and interests, which you are.
And yes, comments always make my day too! I totally hear you on that. But at the same time, its not necessary either if you use blogging for the right reasons of an outlet to express yourself. 😉
Hi, Katie –
You have a fun and informative blog, and I feel badly that it is causing you angst (examples such as calorie counting, commenting, etc). I don’t have a blog, but I am an avid reader of several blogs. From my perspective, I enjoy reading blogs as opposed to nutrition/diet/food books because blogs offer an opportunity to see how real people incorporate food and fitness into their life, instead of idealized suggestions on how life should be lived. I am grateful that people are willing to honestly share their unique lifestyles and let readers know what works well and also what doesn’t work for them. I think that as soon as you, or anyone with a blog, starts catering to their readers and worrying about making everyone happy the integrity and individuality of the blog is gone. Once the blog becomes more generic and less Katie, the readers are losing out on gaining your one of a kind perspective, and much of the joy you get in sharing yourself and your life will be missing. Not exactly what your post was about, but basically I am trying to let you know to worry less about what others think. In the long run your blog will be better and you will be happier.
Karen
AHhh don’t EVER feel pressured to read MY blog. I make your recipes because I love you and I love your creativity, NOT because I want to be promoted. I feel a little overloaded with reading blogs sometimes, and I have to remind myself the reason I blog (it’s a creative outlet for me!) – so I can’t get upset if no one reads it because I do it for myself. I (of course!) love getting comments and positive feedback, but I don’t expect anyone to share the love of MY food like I do. Hah. Blog because you love it, not because you want other people to love you. 🙂 (Although, I think people love you so much JUST because you ARE you)…shake those guilty feelings and just do your thang.
Katie –
You rock, plain and simple. I’m not a food blogger, but I have a little blog, and I admit I kinda like it that way. It doesn’t bother me when I get 5, 10, or 15 comments for each post. I kinda like the smaller side of things. Keep it simple, I guess. I don’t read your blog just so you respond to my comments via email, or comment on my blog. It’s always awesome to hear from you, but I don’t expect it. Does that make sense? Beyond blogging, we are all human beings with lives and priorities. I really love your creativity and spunk in the kitchen, you writing style, and your personality; that’s why I read your blog! It’s not about the comments!!!
You won’t be abandoned for admitting that! Your readers love you! Don’t feel selfish for not always being able to comment, because you have, as you said, *plenty* to do in the real world outside of blogland. Blogs are for entertainment, fun, sharing, and support. Other bloggers will still know that you are reading their blogs, and simply reading each other’s blogs can keep bloggy friends in touch too. 😀
Oh Katie dear, I was so happy when you featured me in your Shout Out one day. I was screaming! It made me feel FAMOUS!!!!
Most popular bloggers like you wouldn’t give the time of day to a little blogger like me, but you are one in a bazillion!
Thank you for thinking of us little people! And keep up those tribute posts. You’re the kindest soul!
I am a lurker…I admit that because I read your blog every time you post and I don’t always comment because I don’t always have the time and I don’t always know what to say…but this post reminded me that even the big bloggers still appreciate and get excited about comments. Thank you sooo much for being so inspirational, creative and unique! Thank you for being so awesome and honest here. Please do what you need to do to bring the fun back because blogging is supposed to be fun, not a chore! I’ll always read, no matter what!