Aloha Friday #47
August 28, 2008 by Kailani
Filed under aloha friday, blogging
Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday.
In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.
If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link below. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!
Today’s question is:
Have you ever felt like taking a long blogging break?
I’ve been dealing with some blogging drama lately and as much as I try not to let it bother me, it does. I just don’t understand why some people just assume the worst in others and try to bully them into conceeding. Aren’t we all supposed to be adults here? If you have a problem with someone, shouldn’t you just confront them personally instead of bad mouthing them to everyone you can think of?
Over the past 2 years, blogging has been a overwhelmingly positive experience. And even though it took valuable time away from my family, I continued to post every day and built amazing friendships. But now I Iook around the room and see a 6 year old who is screaming for attention and a baby who is not a baby anymore. It’s these times that I know that fighting a cyber war with someone I’ve never met is just not worth the time and effort. I have better things to do, you know?
It’s these times that I think I may need a nice long blogging break.
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About the author: Owner and founder of An Island Life. Sharing my life as a mother to 3 wonderful daughters, working as a flight attendant, and living a blessed life in Hawaii. |
I think we all have days where we wonder if we should blog or take a little time off.
What still shocks me is that I keep hearing about people and the blogging drama. Unbelievable how adults can act like this and do something to each other. Of course I guess I am just naive. I have heard about many of these dramas and I guess am lucky not to have a clue . . . yet
So glad that you continue to plug away and not let the drama get to you.
I feel as if I have been taking a break. I’m a bit overwhelmed with events happening in my life and unfortunately blogging has fallen behind. The best part, responding to comments and visiting other blogs has fallen behind. I’m trying hard to get in full blog spirit again though.
My life forces mini blogging breaks often…I guess I fear that noone will ever check back if I’m gone too long!
I’ve taken mini-breaks so I think that’s why I haven’t taken an extended break for a long time. When I first started blogging, there were long gaps between posts because it took me awhile to get involved in the online community. Nobody was reading my site and I got discouraged. But since really getting into the swing of it, my blogging has been pretty consistent. I still don’t publish posts nearly as often as a lot of other folks, but that’s because I only have a limited amount of time to devote to blogging & it’s a hobby, not a money-making endeavor.
Have a great Labor Day weekend Friday!
i just blog about our family life and the fun stuff we get to do. that gets tiring in its self! what you do is a ton of work, in my eyes! as for the ppl that make it their life’s worth to attack others (who are really cowards in person or have major issues that they wouldn’t otherwise get out any other way but to attack those they do not know–as in online places) are really just covering up their own insecurities. they are cowards and wouldn’t make comments to ppl in real life. OR, like i said, they, themselves, are being attacked by a loved one or not and have no other outlet–enter kailani’s blog. i know it’s not hard to just let it go, but at least try to understand them—they are cowards plain and simple.
I’ve thought about it – more so lately now that I’m home full-time with the girls. But I also feel like I’ve put so much into it – and I enjoy it (and the people I’ve met) so much that I know I’d miss it too much.
Only like every month! I did cut right back on blogging for 3 months in the middle of this year due to my European vacation and too many commitments and not enough energy. I just felt so over it, like it was a chore I didn’t want to do anymore. I even started to think about closing SHE-POWER down, but after taking some time off from my online world I realised I really love my blogging community and I just need to keep things in perspective. I only post 3 times a week max and if I don’t want to write one day, the world won’t end, will it?
Kelly
I know exactly how you feel. What I hate is that whenever I slack off, I lose a bunch of readers (friends) and it takes forever and a lot of hard work to get them back. I have to keep telling myself that the counter is not my purpose for blogging.
From time to time i breaking blogging, everybody need that
So far I haven’t thought of having a long blogging break. I think the longest time I took a break in blogging was a whole week because I had flu.
I’m sorry that you’re experiencing a blogging dilemma. How sad that someone is causing you intentional problems. I hope that you can overcome it. Take care.
i think about it all the time cuz:
1. i don’t have many readers anyways
2. i don’t make money off of it
3. too busy to make a post every day
4. i am easily BORED
LOL
but seriously, sometimes i feel like i don’t want to blog anymore at all.
yes…I think it is natural. I seem to hit a wall after awhile and there’s just not much happening in life to blog about. Also, life is happening that I don’t prefer to share on my blog….or just the daily mundane chores of dishes, laundry…yada…yada…yawn!
A break helps.
I have taken blogging breaks, and I’ve only been blogging for about six months. Now that I’ve gotten more serious about blogging, I feel less like taking breaks, because I feel that I need to keep up regular posts to keep the audience I’ve acquired, and grow it more. It’s also become more fun, now that I have an audience, however meager.
About the drama: I’m sorry you’ve been going through this! Why do some people have to be such children. I don’t know anything about your individual situation, but people who start this kind of stuff usually do so out of jealousy. Food for thought…
Ack! I hope you don’t take a break … at least not a long one because I enjoy your blog. (I hope that doesn’t sound selfish.)
It’s funny how an ounce of negative overshadows a ton of positive, but it’s like the wise old saying of “one bad apple …” or “a little leaven …”
Whatever is getting you down, I hope it gets resolved. But life should be fun so when blogging is no longer fun, it’s time to step away.
Every time I get discouraged, thinking nobody wants to read this crap, I get an email saying how much the person enjoyed my blog.
There has been drama on my email list, but I resolved that fairly quickly.
The blogs I read, most of them are read by the same people who read mine, so it seems like a family.
The phrase Aloha Friday brought back some good memories of living in Hawaii for me.
To answer your question. I haven’t felt like taking a break recently. I just started my blog after not having one for almost two years.
Not yet probably because I’ve only been doing this for 1 1/2 years and so far, blogging’s been okay. No drama yet. I hope that doesn’t happen.
And I hope your drama’s over soon. Have a nice weekend!
Goodness, I’m sorry to hear about the drama!
I am pretty new so I haven’t thought of a break yet.
I’m sorry that youre dealing with drama! I hope that if you do take a break…that it’s a short one!
Hey, if you need to take a little break you know I’ll still be around when you get back.
Well I’ve only been seriously blogging for about 6 months now, so no, not so much. I’ve also seen little of the drama thus far. Which is nice – I don’t understand the point of internet drama… Hope yours goes away soon!
It’s funny you ask that – with me having this herniated disc I’ve got nothing else to do but sit on this couch and use my laptop and I’m getting sick of it. I can’t wait until I can be out and about and then I just might take a blogging/computer break all together.
I have when the kids are screaming and the hubby is griping about how much time I spend on the computer but then I remember how much I enjoy blogging and that I have to do something for ME. If my bucket is empty, I cannot help fill the buckets of others, ya know?
Hang in there!! We love ya!
What do you consider to be long? And my last break which was a week and a half on vacation, I felt like I came back overwhelmed! I did miss the everyday blogging, reading everyone’s post.
i don’t blog every day like I used to so not really
Kailani, I’m so sorry about the drama. There is NOTHING more shallow and petty than Internet drama (well, there’s real-life drama, but you know, we’re not talking about that. *grin*)
Some people just can’t handle the fact that your blog is successful, that you have a lot of readers, that you’re personally gorgeous (both inside and out) and that you have a happy family. The jealousy just eats people alive because they want what you have and don’t know how to go about to get it. So, they take their disappointment and frustration out on you.
I know that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with, but some people … they have issues. Unfortunately, they don’t have the mental control to handle those issues so they lash out.
I sincerely hope you don’t give up blogging all together – I’d miss you. You were one of the first bloggers I started reading and I’ve been stalking, er, reading you ever since. *grin* Please, ignore the naysayers – do not give them the time of day. If you respond or interact with them, it’s like pouring gasoline on a raging fire – it’s pointless and it just eats up too much energy.
Take a break. Take a week, a month, whatever you need to give yourself some breathing room. Sometimes, just turning your computer completely off and walking away for the afternoon is enough. Since I work on the computer too, I get INCREDIBLY BURNED OUT, but I have found that if I simply turn off the computer, I immediately feel better; I don’t feel obligated to answer emails or do updates.
Only you know what you need. Just know that the “drama”? Is insignficant and sort of comes with the territory of being a popular blogger and that the majority of your readers think you’re awesome.
Sorry this is so long but it’s sort of my trademark now to leave long comments. *grin*
((((hugs))))
Hi Kailani,
Flair is exactly what is on my post. You receive a blank bulletin board and you can give and receive buttons to decorate it with! It’s silly, but it’s fun too!
no, not really. i take one day breaks frequently and then longer ones during vacations (which i probably take more of than normal).
like this weekend we’re going camping so i won’t be blogging. when i get back, i’ll be more than ready to post something.
have a great weekend.
No, not at the moment because I have just started last week. I was surprised to hear the cyber/blog drama. I was not aware it exists. Anyway ! nice site hah! Thanks for linking and nice meeting you of course through rachael site. Cheers!
Cora
I’ve only been blogging for about 5 months so I really haven’t had a whole lot of drama. Yet. I do understand what you are saying about the time involved. Since I’m not making any money off of blogging, I do question whether it is worth the efforts. It is a lot of fun and I enjoy meeting so many interesting and friendly people all over the world but it is a HUGE time suck. I guess the answer to your question is yes, I definitely think of taking a long blogging break. And you never know. I may just get to that point.
First off many hugs to you. Sorry to hear about all the drama. Thankfully I haven’t had any on here. (knock on wood) I tried to blog every day, but there are just some days I don’t get to it.
I think everyone needs a break from time to time, just to let their brain rest.
I have thought about giving up on my review blog. Sometimes it really does feel like middle school. Some bloggers get all these great prizes, and I’m not “in the club.” And sometimes instead of reviews, I feel like I’m sort of being used as cheap advertising. I’m just not sure the review thing is my purpose, even though I love getting stuff to try out. I love doing the books, though, so I’ll probably still do those.
I can’t ever imagine you in an online war, but I definitely agree with what Karen wrote. You rock , and that probably p!@#$es some people off. I’ll always be a fan. no matter how long your break is!
PS, I’ve just recently seen a mass exodus from BlogTopSites. (no wonder I jumped 50 points in the rankings!) What’s up with that?
I have never wanted a bloggy break. Sometimes I don’t have anything to write or am too busy for a few days, but I don’t want anything longer than that.
It is cheaper than therapy! I am much happier with blogging, it just helps me get things out that I can’t when I am just cleaning and dealing with fighting kids and driving them around, etc.
Therapy.
That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
I did take a bit of a blogging break earlier this year! I missed it too much!
I’m so sorry to hear about this that you’re going through. I’m also sorry that I’ve been so busy that I didn’t already know about it.
I think the best way to deal with cyber bullies is to ignore them. They’re just looking for attention and anyway acknowledging them feeds into it. Ignore and they go away.
and I do the blog thing for me, not the cybersphere…so if I don’t have anything to post, or the time, I don’t post. I just love you and my other readers (all 6) who keep coming back. hugs!
I don’t know anything about the drama but I don’t take breaks. I’m the only one that listens to me around here. lol – I have a lot on my mind and blogging is my outlet. I need it to keep my sanity! lol
Not just yet. I’m new to this bloggy-biz but I’m sure that after devoting more time to it, a break may be required every now and then.
I enjoy blogging and I do so for myself and for our children. However, there are times when I do feel a certain amount of frustration due to the fact that my biological family have disowned me and do not acknowledge the existence of my children because they are biracial AND YET, they check my blog almost daily. Grr… But in the end, I live my life so that I am at peace with myself.
Yes, I feel like I should take a blogging break because I think I’m addicted! But I know it will be inevitable once baby #2 comes, so for now I’ll just blog as much as I can =)
Oh my gosh, Kailani, sorry to hear about the drama. What ever it is, you do what you feel is right. We’ll be here for you no matter what.
I do miss everyone terribly when I take (mostly they are unintentional blogging breaks), but some things about life come at you unexpectantly. I blog when I can, and I know it’s hard to catch up with everyone, which I plan on doing this weekend, with nothing planned. With me, Life just seems to be getting in the way, right now.
I remember a post Michelle wrote for 5M4M, about hitting speed bumps in blogging, and even though things don’t go as we plan them, to just keep up with it. Expect the unexpected, and for me I just keep blogging when I can, the best I can.
BIG HUGS!
Sure! I mean we all have so many demands- family, work, life, school…. it can be overwhelming at times. As with everything, I just plug along and do the best I can. Some weeks I blog a lot…some weeks I blog a little.
Blogs are like a box a chocolate…you never know what you are gonna get…
Have a great holiday weekend!
Don’t stop blogging. It is such a great release. Of course I say that because I have just started blogging in July. Maybe over time I will be burned out also. Who knows? Only time will tell…
Hey sweetie,
I really try not to put demands on myself about blogging. Each one of us has our own reason for blogging and when I get discouraged, I just remind myself why I do it.
I don’t know anything about drama, but maybe clicking delete and on moving on will help.
Hi!… I am totally feeling you on your question. I’m new to this and still, some days just aren’t the best days to venture on the blogosphere. You know, we have some uneasy times with everything we endeavor… marriage, children, family in general, work, etc. And, what I’ve learned is that you can’t let those things change the essence of who you are. You were made how you were for some special reason and it would be a disservice to everyone if you became someone else because of these uneasy times. Take heart… another day is sure to come!
yep bloggy drama is super frustrating. But honestly the only thing that has truly made me consider a LONG break is the drama I get from people who know me in real life who think I am too honest about my life on my blog.
True story.
Yes, I know exactly what you’re talking about. It is sad, but true, that there are “adults” out there in cyberspace, and real life, who don’t know how to behave like adults.
I too feel like I need to take a blogging break (very mini, though) to give my kids the attention they need and deserve.
I hope the situation improves for you.
Unfortunately, it seems no matter what kind of work you’re in, there are always people who love to stir up drama. I work in an office by day and the petty back-stabbing that goes on is ridiculous. It’s truly a shame that this goes on in the blogosphere as well. I guess some people are compelled to behave that way. Try not to let it get to you!
Kailani,
I only have 2 words for you.
YOU ROCK!
Ok, a couple more. When did I ever have only two words to say.
Happiness is the best revenge, as is success. You’re obviously envied because you’re successful and personable. Keep being you. Anyone that truly cares or matters will know the real truth.
Hi Kailani,
This is the third time today that I’ve tried submitting a comment – not sure why they’re not posting, but here goes:
We, your loyal fans, adore you. I’m sorry a few rotten apples have spoiled the cider for you. Know that we’ll be here for you, whether you decide you want that break or not.
I think we all get tired of blogging, sometimes. Heck, I’m tired of it, this week. My little boy is 7 months old, and instead of chasing after him with the video camera as he crawls everywhere, I feel like I’m online. Now, I know I’m only online when he’s napping, but still… I feel like it’s cutting into our time.
Anyways, I left you an award over at my site.
Take care!
hang in there girl…
We ♥ you..
I’ve only seriosly blogged for the past few months, but I’ve been writing books for years. As per the book writing, yeah, there’s been times I wondered if it was worth it and the time away from family, the frustration, or even just writer’s block. I wouldn’t doubt I’ll eventually have times I feel the same about blogging. For now, I’m preposting a lot of my blogs so I don’t have to do it nightly when I’m tired and crazy from the day job or on a writing deadline for my books.
I’ve taken a break for a few days. But then I miss my online friends.
Also, I like to write things down/journal, and it bothers me if I get too far behind!
I don’t really want a blogging break, but it consumes my thoughts too much, so maybe I need one. Just not yet.
Oh, I can so understand your need for a long break!
I’ve been taking more and more little breaks lately..
I’ve been blogging for just over two years and the first year, it was almost like an obsession! But in this second year I’ve scaled way back because I began to realize, just like you, that my little ones were growing up too fast…and it would also be nice for my husband to see more than the back of my head as I type, too!
Life is so short and childhood even shorter.
But hope you don’t go away completely…so many of us would miss you way too much!
Hugs,
~Tammy
Hi! Happy blog break!
Yes very much so. In fact I took a 24 blogging break on my birthday this past thursday, which was refreshing, and I am taking a 6 day blogging break in a week because my husband and I are going on a cruise. I definitely understand where you are coming from, and you should do what is best for you and your family. I know you wouldn’t leave us forever, even if you do scale back your blogging a bit.
Yep-it’s like everything else in our lives, we need to walk away sometimes to gain back the control and understanding of why we do it to begin with.
yes.
who’s causing you drama? Tell me who and I’ll kick their butts!
I make it a point to always leave positive feedback and comments……..no one needs to be put down, harassed or scolded on their blog. Hang in there.
Hi Kailani – I found your blog through She-Power. I can never resist anything tropical sounding.
I get those cyber attacks too. And I know it’s best to ignore them – after all, it’s usually the attacker who has the problem. But I must admit, I let them get to me too.
Re: Taking a break – I’ve done that a couple of times over the last 16 months, due to ill health etc. Both breaks were for 3 or 4 weeks. My traffic suffered a little, because I wasn’t writing anything – but it picked up again. And people came back.
I say – if you really feel like you need a break – take one. Your health is far more important than anything.
When I started my blog I decided that I would post once a week. This was reasonable considering that I was starting a new business and looking after a spouse who has been diagnosed with a chronic illness and living with my own chronic disease – Rheumatoid Arthritis.
It seems to me that you have become discouraged by what others have posted (You have alluded to ‘cyber wars’) which then has dampened your joy in blogging.
When we feel joy, our body responds in a way that is good for us emotionally, mentally & physically. However, when we feel the negative emotions, our body also responds – in ways that harm us.
So, my question to you is: When you make a post, are you feeling stress? (Experiencing looping thoughts that may sound like, “oh no, what kind of reaction am I going to get?” or “gee, I hope I don’t get negative comments on this post?” or, or, or….)
If so, this means you are going through a stress response. Your job is to decide whether the joy you get from blogging is worth the risk/fear of the negative comments and also whether you need to re-visit how often or if at all you post.
There is also something called ‘overcare’ which means that we become burnt out from caring too much. Is it possible that you may be experiencing this?
Hi kailani..
Pearl City in the house!! I would love to participate in Aloha Fridays and I’ll start this comming Friday. I’m glad I found your Site..
Good to see ya Sistah!!
Hugz Lorie
I am currently on a blogging break and enjoying it…