I have been a fan of Facebook for about 2 years now and I can understand both the pros and the cons, but for me, the positive side wins over. Twitter? Now that is a whole new world and one that I have only just dipped into. It is beginning to grow on me. As a new blogger, I have discovered an extension of the whole social networking party and something else to kind of suck me into the virtual friendship game.
I have probably spent the last month in a whirlwind. I have discovered new people (albeit virtual ones!), a new hobby and something to grab my interest/get my brain working again. Being someone who is most definitely an 'all or nothing' person, I am totally drawn in. I have probably spent 90% of my waking hours thinking about my next blog and have even dreamt about twitter parties (thanks to dorkymum for that!). I have even had mental conversations signing off with hash tags, I think I may have taken it one step too far!
At the beginning of this week I was feeling a little low. I stood in the playground waiting for DS1 to go into class, watching all the other mums chatting away and I was standing alone. On some days that is fine, who needs constant people around? On this particular day however, I started to wonder if all this social networking/blogging had got the better of me and I had actually forgotten how to communicate with the real world and actual people. Perhaps someone was trying to tell me something?
Later that day I had a coffee morning arranged with some old friends...it got cancelled. I thought about using the time to write my next blog post ( I told you I am an all or nothing person!) but I chose to go to my Zumba class instead. Whilst there I met with an old friend and a relatively new one, we had lunch together afterwards (yes, undoing all the work we had done but at least we had burnt calories first!). We discussed our children's school, laughed about our parenting failures and generally did 'life' together. That same afternoon I went for a sunny dog walk with a relatively new friend, someone who I am getting to know better. I thoroughly enjoyed it, so did the pooch, who made a new friend at the same time which is always a bonus :) We talked about real life issues, our children and the things that make us tick. By the end of the day I was at the top of my lift, I had spent my day well.
Being a new blogger and new 'tweeter', I kind of feel like 'new mum in the playground' the one who is trying to make an impression, trying to be accepted...it's an odd feeling and obviously one I am not used to. On the one hand I am loving the new world I have discovered, it fulfills a lot of my needs and the things I enjoy : interacting with new people, sharing my thoughts and learning new things about others. However I have also discovered that it should by no means REPLACE my actual friendships or begin to impinge on my real life and in particular, my family. This week I have realised how important it is to strike the right balance.
I am so thankful for the people that God has placed in my life and put around me....if you are reading this and are one of the lovely people I have had the pleasure of spending time with this week, you are a gift and I love you very much :)
This post is part of a blog hop, linking up with Michelle at mummyfromtheheart for #R2BC.
Gosh you round like you're writing about my life! I'm a new blogger too and sometimes feel like its taking over my life. I really enjoy writing but its all the other parts of blogging that are so time consuming. Your blog is fab though, keep up the great work! Xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you Debra. I think it's all about learning to balance, I am on a journey! I will check your blog out too. Thanks for commenting x
DeleteGreat post, and great points. When you first start blogging it can be all consuming. I started my blog last August, and there was a time when I felt that it was occupying my every thought and stopping me from living 'real' life to the full. I found that after a while these feelings subsided anyway and I found that natural balance. But it is hard at first. It sounds like you had a great week mixing with old friends and new and that you've got the balance thing in check too.
ReplyDeleteI agree, blogging can be all consuming when you start. I felt the same. I think over time, you do find your natural balance. I remember thinking in hashtags too at one point. You are not alone!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a great week socialising with old friends and new, so hopefully you won't find yourself sucked too far into the blogging vortex! Great post and great points, and some great reasons to be cheerful too. x
Thanks for the encouragement and for taking the time to leave a message. I love interacting with people, both virtually and face to face....just need to get that balance right!
DeleteI could have written almost the same thing about worrying about social networking taking over from real life and have also made a conscious effort recently to get out more and socialise in person. Keep up the blogging though, it's great to find others "out there" with similar concerns and interests.
ReplyDeleteBeing a newbie I guess i will find my 'groove' in time, I just find it all quite exciting really! I am enjoying the new world but it's also a little daunting at times.
DeleteYip, it does feel like it might take over at first, but then you settle down into your groove - well I have anyway. I've met some brilliant friends through blogging and Twitter, who I've since met up with in real life - and they are just as brilliant in the real world too. Social Networking widens your horizons, I would've said I didn't need any more friends before I started blogging, but here I am with a wonderful new bunch of pals!
ReplyDeleteAh that sounds great! I love meeting new people so looking forward to meeting them virtually and hopefully in real-life too!
DeleteI think you hit the nail on the head when you say it's all about finding the right balance. I am also new to blogging and it is time consuming but even after a short time I have met some people I connected with through twitter and via my blog and it's been brilliant.
ReplyDeleteYes I can definitely see the benefits and reading other blogs definitely feeds my nosiness and I enjoy it!
DeleteI have the social media and blog "feva" too so get what you mean when you said that you have started thinking things in your head and finishing with a #Hashtag lol I find myself thinking and looking at things in totally new way - Its kind of exciting. I too love how blogging heps feed the craving to challenge your brain a little! :-) Nice blog!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your encouragement :) I am sure I will get the balance right in time, it's all new and like you say....exciting!
DeleteOoh, this is a really good post. Lots to think about. I am like you - a total all or nothing person, and I get completely sucked in to one part of the internet for a year or two and then get tired of it and move on to something else. (I've done a blog post about that, but I'll tweet it to you rather than self-promoting here!)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you are being very thoughtful, and will definitely find the right balance between online and real friends. Maybe some of the former will become the latter too?
I think the benefits of online networking outweight the positives too. When I moved house from Scotland to England, the first people I met up with in my new town were people I'd met through blogging and Twitter. And as a SAHM it's a way of getting some grown-up company even on the days you're stuck inside. I agree that you can't let it become a total time-suck though, and that can be hard to resist! Good luck! xx
I would really like to see your post....I wonder what I will get sucked into next! I am sure there will be more blog posts about getting weighed down by it all but for now, there are more pros for me. Thanks for taking the time to comment :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! Really got me thinking, I have been on twitter as my business for over two years now and I completely love it - and have written blogs for my business as well but since starting a personal blog I am finding myself thinking about it all the time and wondering whether people will even want to read what I have put and what about my family and friends? What will they think? Will they want me to discuss my inner most thoughts with the cyber world?
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you. Every time I click 'publish' i wonder who on earth is going to read it and what will they think of me! Most of the time I reconcile myself to the fact that it doesn't matter and I'm doing it cos I enjoying writing blah blah blah, but quite often I have a little wobble and get cold feet. I guess this is all part of the fun of trying something new! It's hard to try and stick to writing what you like and not think about the reader and how it will be perceived.
DeleteI've been blogging for 10 months now and I still have to give myself a nudge to get the balance right.
ReplyDeleteTwitter does draw you in and if you have a few nights off it you do tend to sit thinking that you are missing out on something!
You will eventually find the right balance naturally, but know one thing - most of us are trying to get the balance right, even those who seem to have it all sussed!
Only 10 months?! Wow....you really have worked hard since then.
DeleteShe doesn't sleep - honestly - it's freaky!
DeleteYou're right it doesn't replace your old friendships. Online friendships are different, you share different things with them. In some ways you can be more yourself than in real life or perhaps you're just more in control of how you present yourself.
ReplyDeleteHope you can find a balance that suits you.
Thank you, I am slowly getting there! I think it's quite addictive but have thoroughly enjoyed a weekend off and not blogged or anything...yet!
DeleteNooooo! Don't feel like that! You do have to work to get yourself known, but not to be accepted! Be who you are, do what feels good, and you will find the right people. You mustn't try to fit in with others - we will like you for what you are, or not. And if Dorky Mum is influencing you, you've made a great start! Did you read her post about Twitter - awesome (apparently she was squiffy on wine, so if all else fails..)
ReplyDeleteIt was Dorky Mum's post about twitter that got me dreaming of twitter parties lol! I'm actually enjoying discovering a new world, not really finding it too much pressure. I am trying to get my blog known but not making it the be all and end all. Thanks for your comment.
DeleteOnline social networking, or using web-based services to connect and interact with people about shared activities or interests, can be a great way to establish and enhance existing friendships, play games, and share ideas.
ReplyDelete