I've been thinking recently about blogging again. I still follow some bloggers on social media (mostly bluesky) that I used to read daily like Night Owl Cards, Baseball Cards Fan and Not Another Baseball Card Blog. At times, I believe I've seen The Chronicles of Fuji and some others on Twitter, not that I'm there much these days.
It's sad to see so many bloggers have stopped posting. I hope they've just stopped the posting and not collecting. I hope they are still with us. I know Shoebox Legends is still collecting, evolving his collection and adding some great cards because I watch his YouTube videos.
I can't blame anyone for leaving. I did it. I did a different blog/website that I am no longer paying for but for some reason is still there. I didn't enjoy it anymore. I thought it would be easy to put together a website and post that could bring in some money for revenue. I was wrong. I discovered that when money becomes a part of what you're doing and you feel obligated to post regularly, it takes the fun out of it. Sounds kinda like worrying about selling cards, no?
Then I did YouTube for awhile. I ran into the same feeling after awhile that I had felt with the website. I felt obligated to post videos regularly. It felt like a job that I was doing for free. One of the things I was looking for was interaction and I just didn't feel I was getting the interaction I was hoping for. Collecting is fun, but it's more fun when you're sharing with others and talking about the cards and hobby.
I've been on Instagram for years and ran into the same thing. I felt somewhat obligated to post and didn't receive the interaction I was hoping for.
Which brings me back to this blog. Should I make a return? Would it be the same? Are there people still in the blogosphere that want to interact with me? Are there new blogs? So many questions.
What I do know is that I've spent the last couple hours looking through this blog. There are so many stories I told that I've forgotten about. I've seen a couple posts from the weeks before I got married (we're at seven years and still going strong) and it was fun to remember those days, some of the details and how I was feeling.
Tonight, I learned what I'm sure many others have known for years...our blogs are part of our collecting history and journey. They are a time capsule. They likely don't chronicle the whole journey, but they certainly chronicle large chunks.
As I get closer to 50, I need these trips down memory lane and these happy memories. It's good for me. I haven't made a decision on whether I should start writing again but at the same time, maybe I have.
I would certainly follow along if you started up again!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Shane!
DeleteHey Kin! It's really nice to see a new post from you. I haven't been away as long as you have, but I'm finding that it's awfully difficult to start blogging again after a lengthy absence (I've been trying, and failing, to get a new post up for over a month now). Hopefully this won't be as much of a problem for you if you do start posting again.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to see a comment from you, Jon. I did check out your blog and saw that you hadn't been blogging. Believe me, I get it. It's really fun to see the comment since my last post was a package from you. I hope you are well!
DeleteReturning is all up to you. it sounds like you still have some gas in the tank so to speak so, why not? Will it be the same? NO, but sometimes change is a good thing. I am in a similar boat, it has been a while since I've "blogged". For me it was due to the time it takes to create new content and when it came to my hobby blogging the scanning time. I also had that feeling that it was becoming a "job" and took too much effort.
ReplyDeleteYou nailed right on the head why I've stopped many of the things. It really hit me last night that I enjoyed seeing things I'd done in the past. I think that will help me keep in mind that this is more for me than anyone else and not make me feel like it's a job.
DeleteI say go for it. Many of us are still here, we just don't post as often. I'll put you on my blogroll and spread the word to my 61 followers. :)
ReplyDeleteThat is certainly much appreciated. I need all the help I can get to get some interaction. Although I must admit, my views and comments since I posted this have been quite surprising (in a good way).
DeleteGood to see you again. I went away twice, just came back last week. Had to start fresh (note the new title even). I hope this will be fresh start for you.
ReplyDeleteWe live just a few minutes apart and are attempting the restart right about the same time. Perhaps it's a good omen?
DeleteThanks for giving my blog a follow! If you write, I will read
ReplyDeleteThere is still a pretty active blogging community! If you post, I will read!
ReplyDelete