A funny thing happened this morning. I woke up, went to work, and did the same routine that many of us repeat each day. I saw my neighbor who is slowly losing his mind and he too has a routine. He wakes up, and goes walking to the park with his walker and he collects garbage and he takes it home as a prized possession. It's a sad sight to see him deteriorate mentally but nonetheless, watching him walk as I drive to Starbucks is part of my routine. He is in my universe.
I was in the parking lot at work and I was considering how I would end my blog. I thought about talking about cycles and comparing the birth of a blog to the birth of a star that ultimately has an end. I also considered having a "death" theme and perhaps having my last rite before I buried this blog.
I had started to feel bad about my lackluster postings and my lack of energy due to the lack of time and I even began to question what virtue there was in blogging and... you know the drill. I felt bad that I had so many followers and so few comments. So I assumed that no one was paying attention to this blog. I browsed other blogs that managed to maintain their edge and I felt that my lack of partipation in the blogging world had finally caught up with me. I dodn't want my blog to suck so I was considering a virtual euthanasia.
Then I got a comment from Shady Dell Knight who has me as his guest blogger. I gave my music selections that have influenced me. Shady has a great blog that is very informative and super cool. I recommend it highly. You can see it here:
http://www.shadydell.blogspot.com/ .
His presentation of my music selections was awesome. He had the video with super cool graphics and I got to hear other bloggers comment about how grateful they were to learn of new music. (New to them)
Shady was very generous in his praise of my blog that it gave me that push to keep going. I remember once Kelley from http://www.kelleysbreakroom.com/ had mentioned that she wanted to quit blogging and I gave her a lashing (not physically) because I think she has such an original and witty point of view. I think that I told her that each blogger is like a different spice in a virtual soup and that she was needed to keep the soup delicious.
I thought about the advice I gave her and wondered if perhaps I add something to the soup and then I started thinking beyond the blogging community and realized that we are all inter-related in a cosmic chain of creative energy. The creativity is "out there". We are all creative beings. That is our nature. (Thank you Julia Cameron author of The Artist Way)
I have been lagging but I will make a conscious effort to keep creating. I choose to focus on the positive. I hope you choose to still follow me on this journey.
I'm glad you made that decision. I think more people are reading than you ever think. Only a small few comment. I know lately, I've been so damn busy that the time I have had for blog stuff has been so limited that I read and move on, usually without commenting unless there's something vital I have to say instead of my usual nonsense. Finding time is hard. But people are reading.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why I blog. I have nothing particularly I need to say, but I like the outlet and a chance to let the silly side of me out when it doesn't get enough chance to exist in real life. :)
Keep on keeping on young man!
It's a pleasure and an honor to be featuring your life and music on my blog this weekend, Israel!
ReplyDeleteI've been blogging nearly three years and I assure you I and every other blogger can relate to what you've been going through. Doubt creeps in. We wonder if anybody's buying what we're selling. We look around and wonder why the next guy has more followers or reaps more comments and compliments. It's easy to fall victim to blog envy and place yourself under pressure. A blog is an art form. It can be whatever you want it to be. Blog for the joy of it. Blog only when the mood strikes. There's no rule that states you have to post every day or every week or that you always need to be brilliant. Keep in mind that if you flood the market with multiple posts per day you will probably receive fewer comments because, as the Veggie Assassin pointed out, people are simply too busy. I have actually reduced my rate of publishing from every three days to twice a week. I have also reluctantly abandoned some of the blogs that I used to read. I needed to cut back. Otherwise, as I told our friend Yvonne who I will surely miss, I simply would not have enough time to create high quality posts for my blog and leave high quality comments on the blogs of others who have remained loyal to me. The last thing I want to do is go around writing "nice post" on a hundred different blogs in an effort to drum up business. As I see it I owe you and everybody else a thoughtful, intelligent comment and that's what I usually deliver.
I'm glad you're still here, Israel, and I hope you will keep your blog going because it is fun and interesting and people care about you. It's true that we are all ingredients in a virtual soup. If one of us drops out it'll be like "MacArthur Park"...we'll never have that recipe again.
You can't stop blogging. I will hunt you down!!!
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, I think we all go through that point where we don't get the number of comments that we expect. Or at least the number of comments that we used to. I used to get around 30-40 comments but now, it takes 2 weeks for me to get at least 20. I guess it's just that people don't comment as much. But they read. I still read your posts. I think you know that.
You are an intelligent blogger and I love your humor. If you quit, I will, well, shave Justin Bieber's head...? That would ruin the the future of teens, you know? And it's gonna be in your conscience. :p
I'm glad you're still here too! It's comforting to know that other people also struggle with trying to maintain their standards on their blogs.
ReplyDeleteI've been having similar doubts about my own blog - with work commitments I've been struggling to keep to my weekly routine. So you're not the only one. I say hang in there. Your site is almost always good for a laugh and some of your jokes are gold.
I starting reading Israel and almost cried! I thought you were leaving.
ReplyDeleteI blew up my other blog last year and that only lasted a month or so. I realized maintaining a creative schedule was important to my sanity. I want people to follow and comment, but I have to put that aside even though it's hard with my ego!
Take a break if you need to, but keep your options open. You are a terrific blogger and I always look forward to your posts. Like others, I don't always comment if I'm in a hurry.
I have gotten caught up in the whole leave a comment to get a comment... but it only feeds the ego short term. I have a core group of maybe 10 to 15 people who follow me and comment because my blog gives them something. That means more to me than those vague comments that are just a nicety.
And I'll be real honest, when you visit my blog, I absolutely love it! I feel like you're in my corner. I'm in your corner too Israel. You are TOP NOTCH! You are funny, intelligent, sensitive and an all around remarkable human being.
You seriously just gave me a scare damn you! I was about to flood you in In box with emails detailing how I was going to hunt you down and put you in a choke-hold until you promised not to leave!!! ;) Thankfully, I won't have to do that now. I don't like channeling my "inner "hood" rat! But I will if you try this again! I understand your frustrations. I believe we all go through them. I can only advise you to take a break if you need to, but don't quit. You have a talent, share it with others, don't be stingy. Besides, who else is going to call me out on my blog???
ReplyDeleteOh, no way!! There are a good amount of us who would freakin' die if you ever quit blogging. YOU are a part of OUR universe here, and it would never be the same. Things slow down & speed up again. I know it's a weird cycle, and I also know how it can get so discouraging.
ReplyDeleteI feel bad that I haven't been able to be the commenter I usually am as of late, but the shite hit the fan for me & I've been scarce. I also know that when things get better I'll be up to par & chugging along again.
(I also think a lot of us have SO many more followers than we do comments.lol. I know personally how it makes you wonder)
This post really scared(and stung)me. I hope you don't ever leave us. You can't! We'd be too heartbroken & missing something that makes our world complete.
Iz, I kind of understand what you're feeling. At one time, I thought that followers = comments, but that's not the case. I was at work and in the middle of a discussion when one of my co-workers mentioned something from my blog. Of course, it caught me off-guard, because I had no idea she'd read it because she wasn't a follower/commenter. It made me realize that people are reading. Even aside from that, when I posted my very first blog, it was to get something off of my chest. Creativity relieves stress. It allows your mind to go to a place where everything you do is precise and right. Because of that, I felt no pressure as I picked up my first follower to do anything to impress him. I kept the focus on why I blog. And that reason is to explain how I see the world. The day I no longer feel the need to express my views is the day I will stop. Not because of a need to generate more comments or followers. You have a unique gift. Being a comedian is absolutely one of the toughest things to do. Ask "The Situation" after his meltdown during Trump's roast. Yet you take day-to-day events and get people to laugh with each post. That's why I use some of your jokes at work from time-to-time (we'll have to work out royalty payments at a later date), and that's why I hounded you to appear on my radio show (offer still stands). All because no one does it like "The Iz." Hang in there, my friend.
ReplyDeletePlease don't stop blogging! Just don't stress yourself out please! I'm taking breaks from blogging but I'm always back. Your true loyal followers will be here for you when you decide to return.
ReplyDeleteMan I hear ya...but you are making an impact! You can't stop now! there are too many damn people who linger on your blog that need you to make their day. I'm one of them. I haven't had the time to post lately let alone comment, but I still stalk you on the regular! You are on my blog family list for a reason! don't leave me!!!! I mean, don't leave us!!!
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