It has.
I have found some really fun blogs (which I will post about later) and have met some new friends (yay! Shout out to BK: great comments!)
Ummm....my readership has gone up to 40 followers.
It doubled.
In 5 days.
And I'm kinda freaking out.
Here's why:
I comment back to everyone who follows me and to those who comment my posts. (If I haven't got to you yet, don't worry, I will).
I take my blog seriously in that I want to build friendships with people. I don't do "acquaintances". I develop relationships with people.
It's why I follow Brambleberry Grace and Jesus. Women. Words. These women impact me and I want to get to know them.
Now, I know how this whole party thing works. It's like swapping business cards. We exchange cards and hope that we contact each other in the future. And many times it's just dropped into a rolodex and only glimpsed at occasionally because it happens to be hidden behind the card for the Chinese Take-Out place that is used most often.
I don't want to become that kind of card...er, blog.
And neither do you, right? (maybe not. I could be wrong, it happened to me once before)
Here's the thing. I don't follow for the sake of following.
I have only immediately followed a handful of people and that is usually because I spent a while on their blog reading other posts.
I usually wait 4 weeks before following a blog--just to see if it's something I want to invest my time into. (And if you want to know how seriously I take my time, then please read my post: A guide to staying off your blog)
Maybe I'm having a hard time believing that so many want to read what I have to say, but I mean...truly...do you???
Now you are free to do as you choose but before you follow me, you might want to consider the following:
3 Reasons You Need to Stop Following Me
1. You don't really plan on reading me. You only hit follow 'cause you were in the party mood.
It's ok. You can remove yourself. We all do crazy things at a party some time and I have done some silly things myself.
2. You are hoping I will be reciprocal and follow and boost your numbers. Won't happen. Sorry 'bout that.
3. You collect blog friends, like you collect Facebook friends. I detest Facebook (read here) and I don't want to be remotely associated with those habits!
Well, there you have it. With the complete potential that I've insulted you and your competency.
I realize this is probably counter blog culture, but I guess the truth is...I want to journey with people, not just be another name on a list. I have always desired to be set apart.
So, please don't follow me unless you really mean to.
And I mean REALLY mean to.
It's ok to unsubscribe yourself. I haven't written down a list of names of who is following me and if I see your name disappear I won't be showing up to write mean comments on your blog.
Scouts honour.
This post feels a little bit like a mother walking in to announce that it's time to clean up the tea party and put the dolls away...but every party needs a pooper!
Consider yourself introduced to this party's pooper.
19 comments:
OOOOH OOOOOH OOOOOH! I SO want to duplicate this and stick it on my blog!!!!! I feel the same way. We have had Dr.'s apt. all day so as I was sitting there in the waiting rooms I was thinking that this party thing is all good, but I want really, rubber hits the road, I am your soul sister, I can laugh, cry, have fun with, pray for and simple just be with friend. HOPING one day to me here on this side of heaven but if not that is okay, we were there for eachother via blogger when we needed it most "in the world". I am so with you on this. Last night I was actually weeding out all of the blogs I DONT read and girl let me say that yours has to be one of my faaaaaaves. So anyway all that to say that I LOVE your post and SERIOUSLY considering the same.
IN response to what you commented to me THANKS, our little guy loved his cake AND so I like to share it with others. Also the author of "Mother" is Kathleen Norris it's a revision of a classic. I think I got it off of the Vision Forum website.
Sister, I hope you have a great day and I look forward to laughing, crying and praying with you, YAY for boldness ;o)
Blessings,
Amy
I follow/ed you because you have an awesome blog, you're a fun writer and write encouraging thoughts about God. What could be better?! And you just TOTALLY made my day by mentioning me -happy tears- THANK YOU!
You girls are great!
yes, feel free to link this post on your blog. Or you can have me guest blog and you can insert it on your blog. Just give credit where credit is due.
Thanks Daughter of the King --hugs to you too!
And BK, I love your blog. You are very encouraging with your comments so I must give credit where credit is due!
I totally agree! I am following you a) because I like what you have to say, b) because I'm extremely picky about whom I follow and you made the cut my dear, and c) I'm known to be a party pooper, too, and every party pooper needs a friend who's the same way.
All that being said, I hope you don't mind that I still want to follow you. And I won't get my feelings hurt if you don't want to follow me back. I'm a big girl.
I don't really collect followers either, and I think I only follow like four or five blogs. And I think the really great blogs don't even have their followers listed on their sidebar anyway...
I do like facebook, but I only get on there once a day or so, to see how people are doing. I cannot stand the games and such on their, that it a total waste of time to me.
Glad you spoke your peace...I wonder how many will actually un-follow you!
I'm so much like you. I would be ecstatic to have just 5 people reading my blog. If it meant they were actually reading it because they enjoyed it and found something to connect to.
Those who feel the need to follow me, point out they are following me, and then ask me to do the same? Uh. No.
In our house, the five year old would take this opportunity to call me a stick in the mud. (Luckily I don't think he's heard the term party pooper yet.)
Came here via a link on BK's blog (How To Stay Off Your Blog) and this post cracked me up! I hate it when people follow in hopes of following back, and you go to their blog and all they talk about is weight loss programs they sell. That's always such a bummer. And I'm a big fan of comment unto others as you would have them comment unto you. This blog community has created some great friendships, that I have had for years...yet at the same time strained one I have in real life, which is just SO wrong. It really is all about priorities, huh?
Anyway...I've enjoyed what I've read here, and I'll be back! :)
I love your honesty in this post...I'm sure a lot of people feel the same way! :)
I really like your honesty here, because honestly, this is a message I need to hear. Sometimes I follow just to follow; sometimes to boost my own followers; sometimes for a lot of the reasons you mentioned. It's hard to see it in black and white. But it's good to see the truth, too. It's important. Thank you.
Every time I read your blog I am more sure of why I am following you. I'm stickin' with ya! :)
Thanks ladies. Graceful, you live up to your name!
I'll let you know how many un-follow!
don't know if I'm a "follower" I don't really pay any attention.. but you know I'm a faithful reader and friend and that is all that matters - to me too.
But I don't want to stop following your blog!!! I felt honored when I read this since you did choose to follow me:) Thanks.
But your stuck with me - I'm hear for the duration and look forward to chatting/reading/sharing/picking your brain soon.
The very fact that you wrote this post makes me want to follow you. Seriously! I love reading blogs that are honest and real, and I completely get your point!
Hi! I am sticking around here too. What little I have read {so far}, you keep it real and honest. I love that! When life settles down around here, I am looking forward to reading lots more.
Thank you for praying on Tue. You don't know how much that meant to me!
Jennifer
Oh Allie! I LOVE your blog...Have I mentioned that before?!!! Seriously it's my favorite! You are such a talented writer - writing it how it is! I'm not going anywhere as I read everyday!
This post is a lot like the one I wrote about the Friday Follow I did a while back! I did it impulsively and immediately regretted it! It bothered me all weekend and finally I just had to own up to it. Seriously - I felt sick to my tummy over it! I feel very much the same way you do! Because of that Friday Follow feeling that was so bothersome I contemplated whether I should do the UBP or not...In the end I did but with strict rules for myself 1. I wanted to use my time wisely, I didn't end up visiting very many blogs 2. I put a note beside my title saying what I was all about in hopes to attract like minded folks rather then just anyone 3. I followed up with anyone who came by and only followed if I found a blog I really liked and wanted to come back too.
You are a great writer! I'm not at all surprised that your #'s doubled!
This is a great post Allie, thank-you and many blessings to you! You seriously rock! xox
Camie
You girls are so much fun! Thanks for the blog-love and for following. I look forward to getting to know you!
You have a really unique blog. I like the diary posts. Typically, I don't have time to read something that long, but you caught me on a Saturday night at home alone, and I wish I was keeping a dairy so I could go back one day and reminisce like that. It would be a reminder of how far I have come. You are a very honest and witty writer. Keep up the great work.
www.cdycattle.blogspot.com
I really enjoyed this post...I like the following thing just because I'm scattered brained, and it's easy to keep up with blogs. However, I keep a habit of going through every so often and UN-following the ones that I don't visit.
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