2.14.2014

Blogging about life, or living to blog?

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{that was the sound of me, playing with the new camera we got for Christmas, while we were out on a family walk}

"Lish, I love you.

...but don't be that person."

"...? Hmm?"

"Don't be like that. The person who is so busy taking pictures of everything and wanting to blog about it and not just enjoying us."


"Oh."

Quietly, I placed my camera in my coat pocket and tried to be 'all there' for the rest of our walk. It was a gorgeous January afternoon (Sunny! Not snowing! Crisp, but not cold!), and Will got home from work early that day, and wanted to take a family walk. A walk that included all of us enjoying the moment - not four of us enjoying it and one lagging behind to capture it for a post about family time.

It was hard to be "all there". Sometimes, as a mom who blogs, I think about things in terms of "how do I chronicle this?"

Recipes = do I need to take pictures at various stages?
Homeschooling = should I snap a photo of this experiment-gone-wrong?
Homemaking = ooh! Neat trick...grab the camera!
Field trips = play-by-play in photos of the whole experience!
...and so on.

and I'm guilty of interrupting the moment, just to capture it on film...instead of seriously drinking it in.

Jesus did not come that I might blog abundantly. He came so that His glory would be on display in my life - by giving me thousands of opportunities to live abundantly.

When my blogging about life becomes my living for the blog....something's very off.

Do you blog about life, or live for your blog? How do you balance it?

Learning to blog about life,
and not live to blog,
~Lisha

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43 comments:

  1. I'm glad you posted this. I find myself doing the same sort of thing. Using an editorial calendar helped me to tone it down. That way, when it's blog time I do blog activities and it doesn't bleed over into my everyday life (as much)

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    1. Thank you, Lydia! It's probably not a coincidence that I just spent time looking up DIY calendars for blogging! :D

      Blessings!
      ~Lisha

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  2. I almost had the same experience during my Valentine's Date with Hubby...he was like can we eat an entire meal without a pause to snap? LOL He said it in humor but I realized that I was loosing the moment and only having it in pictures. So just like you I put away the camera and tried to focus on the time. It was great and I was happy I did. Great post!

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    1. It's hard to break out of that habit. I'm glad you were able to enjoy the time with your husband! :) Thank you for stopping by and for the encouragement!

      Blessings,
      ~Lisha

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  3. I'm the opposite of you. I think about blogging all the time, and my family is filled with blog post ideas and even video ideas for me. However, I don't like to capture very much on video/photo to display on my blog/social media. My kids are all the time begging to have their picture taken for the blog. My husband is now walking around with a recorder, recording his thoughts as he comes up with them to share with me for the blog.
    We live our life to the fullest, but we all think about the blog and ways to make it better. It's honestly a family event. Now my husband plans on creating his own blog/website soon too. Go figure. What started out as a simple hobby for me has turned into so much more!

    This is a great reminder that we have to enjoy our life moments to the fullest while we can.

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    1. I think that's a blessing, that your family works together on the blog! :) My husband is the one who encouraged me to begin blogging about 5 years ago, but does not care to be involved in it.

      I hope you are able to support your husband in his blogging venture - what a way to be a great team.

      Thanks for stopping by, Crystal!
      ~Lisha

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  4. I can totally agree with this post! The more I get involved in my blog and the blogging world, the more I think about how I will put things on my blog. Whether it be a recipe, a tutorial, an activity, moments with my son, etc., I have started thinking "Oh, I need to take certain pictures to put this on my blog" It really does interrupt life sometimes. The balance can be hard, but luckily my blog is small and I don't have to spend too much time worrying about it being super 'perfect' for the blog world!

    Stopping by from Mommy Mondays :)

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    1. It does have a tendency to interrupt things! Most of my writing is done after the girls are in bed, but if I need cute photos or action shots I have to plan for it during the day.

      I am thankful that you are here - and for your encouragement, Julia!
      Blessings to you,
      ~Lisha :)

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  5. Great perspective! A while ago I wrote a somewhat similar piece on keeping my priorities in order, and how for this season of life blogging is more of a hobby (that if the Lord chooses to bless with income and consistent community would just be icing on the cake). We can't lose sight of the lives (and relationships) that God has called us to.

    http://www.thesmudgecurve.com/2013/10/why-i-dont-post-every-day.html

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    1. Thank you, Janelle! :)

      Blessings!
      ~Lisha

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  6. Oh such a beautiful reminder, thank you!

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    1. Thank you for the kind words, Ngina!

      Blessings!
      ~Lisha

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  7. It's a fine balancing act. I have to remind myself to get off the computer and social media on my phone. I have started using a blogging calendar and limiting my time online. I found your site on Titus 2 Tuesday.

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    1. I was just looking at blogging calendars earlier today! :) My husband and I purposely avoid buying smartphones because I know I'd be on it too much and I need to spend less time on the computer during the day, too!

      I am thankful you've stopped by, Nicky! Blessings!
      ~Lisha :)

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  8. Really good questions to ask myself.

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    1. Thank you for the encouragement, Amanda!

      ~Lisha :)

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  9. So, so true!
    ~Blessings,
    Rhoda

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    1. Thank you for the encouragement, Rhoda!
      I hope you have a blessed day,
      ~Lisha

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  10. I have the same problem, I must confess. Sometimes it's also easier to hide behind the camera and the blog than to interact and be there, totally. But it's true, Jesus came so we could live, not blog.

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    1. It is easier to hide behind the lens and not interact! But sometimes Will reminds me that I will want every one of those "behind the lens" moments back when the girls are older - so I've been trying to be more interactive :)

      I am grateful you have stopped by, Joanna!
      Blessings!
      ~Lisha

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  11. Hey Lisha,
    This is such a great post and something that I struggle with daily. Sometimes I feel like the blog runs my life instead of me running it. I so get the feeling of thinking through everything you do to fit into the blog, because it would make a good post. You come to my party every week and share your posts and I love them and everyone else's posts also. There are days where I feel so badly when I can not comment on each post at my party, because there is not enough time to do everything that needs to be done and have a family life also.

    I have still not figured out a happy medium, and struggle with whether I should continue blogging. I love it and missed it in the fall when I cut back a lot. When I started again in November, I did it on a more limited basis, but sometimes it still feels like too much.

    I am trying very hard to listen to Jesus and see where I am supposed to be going with it. This blog needs to glorify him, and I am not sure that I am doing that right now.

    Thank you so much for being such a loyal follower, I can not tell you how much it means to me. If I do not comment on your posts each week, please know that it is not because I don't care. I really, really do. Sometimes, I just have to live life without the camera and come out from behind the computer.

    Have a wonderful week, and thanks so much for sharing with out party again this week.
    Debi @ Adorned From Above

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    1. Debi - I am so grateful that you've taken the time to share what's on your mind!

      This verse comes to mind as I'm praying for you right now - Proverbs 16:3: Commit your works to the Lord,
      and your thoughts will be established.

      I will pray for you - for wisdom, for confirmation in the Word and with your family, for ears to hear, and for Jesus to be magnified through your blog and in your life!

      Your blog is a blessing to me - I am not (NOT) a creative/crafty lady and seeing what you post and the features you chose each week has given me some good ideas with my girls that I'd never have thought of on my own. :)

      Thank you for stopping by and sharing!
      Blessings!
      ~Lisha

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  12. Wonderful & convicting post thank you!

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    1. I'm grateful it's a blessing to you - thank you for stopping by!

      ~Lisha

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  13. I so relate... yes... blogging to live or living to blog.

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    1. Thank you for the encouragement, Aysh!

      Blessings to you,
      ~Lisha

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  14. Thank you for sharing this at Anything Goes. I have certainly been guilty of this from time to time. Thanks for this reminder to put down the camera and enjoy life with my family!

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    1. Just stopping by again to let you know I featured this post at this week's linky! :)

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    2. I know it took a while, but thank you! I was surprised by how the Lord allowed this post to speak to so many others. Thanks for being willing to share it!

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  15. Very important to remember. Thanks for the reminder and for linking at Family Fun Friday!
    Monica

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  16. I actually detest taking pictures, probably more than I should for the sake of my own future family albums, but I much prefer simply enjoying the time. Still, I love having the pictures to look back on, blog or no blog, so a balance definitely has to be struck.

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    1. Balance! One of the most elusive words in my vocabulary....you're so right. I imagine finding it will be a lifelong pursuit :)

      Thank you for stopping by, Rachel!
      ~Lisha :)

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  17. Once we become bloggers it's amazing just how much of life we look through the lens of our blogs. Learning to find the balance in it all can be tricky.

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    1. I agree, Wanda! On one hand, I want to capture the moments - but on the other, I don't want to live my life through the lens.

      Thank you for visiting - I'm so grateful you've stopped by!
      ~Lisha :)

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  18. This is such a great post, Lisha. There have been times when blogging has got out of control for me but I have made boundaries that I try to stick to and that really helps.
    Thanks for linking up at Essential Fridays.
    Blessings
    Mel from Essential Thing Devotions

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    1. Thanks, Mel! I am learning by (great) trial and (greater) error which boundaries work for us in this season!

      ~Lisha

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  19. On the contrary I have to remember to take my camera and then remember to take a picture or two. Everyone isn't used to mom taking pictures so they duck. I don't blog about my family and I don't think I have ever shared pictures of my children on my blog. There is life beyond blogging and the internet is a lot smaller than we think. My children need the privacy since they are older. This was such a good post, Lisha!! It really is an important topic to share.

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    1. Oh, how interesting - I have my camera within reach almost all of the time. I suppose, again, it's a byproduct of the times. But you make a really important point - especially with my older girls, I try to ask them before I post if it's okay with them that I do so - unless it's family photos, etc, because I want them to know that I respect their input about which pictures extended family and friends (and my readers) see.

      As ever, I appreciate your encouragement Judith!
      ~Lisha :)

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  20. OH....this is so so so good!

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    1. Thank you, Sarah! This seems to have spoken to quite a few ladies. I'm so thankful that the Lord encourages His daughters and lets us know we're not alone - He is here and we can empathize with one another!

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  21. I love taking photos so I'm guilty of this too! Sometimes it's hard to get the balance of enjoying family life and hobbies. Great post :)

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    1. Thank you, Rachel! :) I'm grateful you've stopped by to visit!

      Blessings!
      ~Lisha :)

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