This is my fourth year writing a rewind post, and that’s kind of hard to believe. 2012 was my first year of blogging, and there’s definitely a feeling of wow—I’m still at this four years later. I’m not always the greatest at sticking with things, but here’s what I realized in 2015: I love book blogging.
In my reading rewind post, I mentioned how crazy things got outside of books and blogging this past year, especially since I had to devote a couple of months to a course I needed to complete for work. It was also kind of a crappy year in general, the sort where the lows outnumbered the highs, and I’ll be glad to put 2015 behind me in a few days. It’s not necessarily for privacy reasons that I’m not going into specifics; it’s because this blog has truly become a space where I shut out the worries of everyday life and focus on something that brings me happiness: books.
I always feel awkward about patting myself on the back, but I do have to say that I’m proud that the blog kept going even while I was studying, studying, studying. Finding the time to read and blog was tough, but it felt necessary; I had to maintain this part of my life because it’s come to mean so much to me. In the past there have been times when I’ve viewed blogging as more of a chore than a hobby, but having a very limited amount of time to devote to it for a good part of this year really woke me up to the fact that it’s OK if I can only manage a handful of posts in a month. I’ve always been a little too obsessed with the blog’s numbers and worried that every unfollow meant that I was doing something wrong. But this was the year that I finally gave up the numbers game. Do I still check them? Yes. But I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing whether they say 1 or 100 or 1000 followers or page views, so really, stats have lost their relevance for me.
The biggest reward that I get from blogging is interacting with all of you. Quite a few of us who chat regularly started blogging around the same time, and you don’t know how happy it makes my heart to still be chatting with you almost four years later. Your comments never fail to brighten my day, and you inspire me to be a better blogger. I feel so very, very lucky to have met all of you, and I can never thank you guys enough for all of the love you show this blog.
It took me two posts, but I think I’m all done talking about 2015 now, lol. There’s just the last monthly recap of the year left to post, and then it’s hello, new year! I hope you’re all enjoying a wonderful holiday season, and see you in 2016!
I'm so glad that 1. you got past feeling like blogging was a chore and that 2. you realized how much you love and need it in your life. To be honest, I feel the same. When real life gets hectic and I feel like I don't have time to read, I do feel the pressure a bit that I haven't put a review up when I should have, but you know: I always bounce back. This community doesn't forget anyone even if they don't post as often from time to time :)
ReplyDeleteThe highlight of blogging REALLY is chatting books, bookish stuff and general fangirling with other kindred spirits :D I'm happy with found each other in any case <3 Now let's kick 2015 in the butt and make way for 2016!! All the best in the new year! xx
I used to stress so much whenever I couldn't post regularly, but I've finally realized that the only person having a breakdown over it was me, lol. Over the past year I've gotten into a pretty comfortable groove where I'm posting enough to silence my inner critic but not too much where I'm ready to burn out.
DeleteI'm so happy that we found each other, too! ♥ Here's to another amazing year with lots of fantastic books to fangirl over together! :D
I just want to say that your determination to keep blogging even when you had so much on your plate is really inspirational Lee. I don't mean to sound so sappy but its true. So many times this past year I put blogging on the back-burner because I didn't think I could make time for it and I don't want to keep doing that. I want to be continuously devoted to blogging. And knowing that someone was able to study, read, have a social life, and blog will really help me with that =D
ReplyDeleteIm so happy for you that you were able to get past the number game! I know how hard that can crush your motivation but I am so glad that you got past it and stopped viewing blogging as a chore :D.
I'm so sorry that 2015 kinda sucked for you but 2016 will be better! We'll make it better gosh dangit =D
Awww, thanks so much Kimberly! ♥ It's so hard not to emphasize stats because they're something that's measurable, and I know I'm the type of person who tends to measure success in numbers. I had to stop and really think about why I got into blogging in the first place, and that was to talk about books and have fun!
DeleteAnd a big YES to making 2016 awesome! Happy New Year!