Never has this quote been more true for me.
I fired up the laptop this morning to write a blog post, and made the mistake of reading lots of other peoples posts before I'd even thought about starting to write mine. After missing a few days due to 'stuff', I scrolled back and read through lots of posts to catch up, as I always do.
I shouldn't have done it. Apart from a few bright lights it was such a downer.
The world is full of such negativity at the moment, and over the past year or so as well as being shown all over social media, television and newspapers it has silently, insidiously been slipping itself into blogland.
This space used to be so different. I understand some of it, but not all of it.
My first thought was to completely discontinue my blog, and delete it all entirely.
Luckily I had a think, over a coffee and a bowl of chips in Booths café with Alan, and on getting home and sitting at the computer I came to the conclusion that I will alter what I post about, change what I do and hopefully, in doing so, make sure that I am making no contribution to the steady decline in blogland.
It might just be me, hey it probably is.
Please don't worry about stuff, but I'm taking time and space to change things up, work things out and do what's right in my mind for me. If you've noticed this trend towards the negative let me know, if I'm the only one ... let me know that too.
In the meantime I will be here but differently.
If you don't like the way that I change things up ... and I don't mind at all if you don't ... I'll be leaving all the other blogs on my sidebar for you to hop over to as usual. I can see from my stats that my blog is used as a jumping off point to lots of other people's and I would hate you to lose the links.
Sue xx
I hope you find your 'inner sunshine' again - I do enjoy your posts.
ReplyDeleteIt's not mine that is lost, but it does get very diluted by other people's negativity, and I don't want to have to protect it over and over again.
DeleteTotally agree with you. I am selective in my blog reading and skip the Debbie Downers.
ReplyDeleteI use your sidebar to read other interesting people, so thank you. I also like all your interesting memes.
And yes, I am a hobbit. ~ skye
It's nice to know that I am not the only one that has noticed this trend. There will no doubt be a lot of memes in my blogging future, and a new name and header from Wednesday.
DeleteHobbits of the world unite. In cosy slippers ... although hairy toes are allowed!! ;-)
Yes as a reader, I've noticed it too. I skim over some blogs now as they bring no joy to me.
ReplyDeleteI literally felt the enthusiasm draining from me the more I read. I will leave them on the sidebar though as people are definitely using the links.
DeleteI enjoy your posts very much, and the links to like-minded bloggers who find joy in the small things.
ReplyDeleteHappily there are still a lot of folk who enjoy life and all that they can get out of it. :-)
DeleteI’m very selective about the blogs I read and I always enjoy yours and some others who write about things I enjoy-crafting, thrifting, books and coffee (Decaff). I was once given a job reference by a rather odd boss who said that I was exhaustingly enthusiastic and cheerful. Where has that woman gone? We’re decorating our bedroom in a. Beautiful calming shade of pale mint green and I hope it does the trick as my sleeping habits are all to pot. Hope to have a few days at the seaside toward the end of next week in the van before the nights are too cold and dark. Catriona
ReplyDeleteMaybe she hasn't gone ... maybe she's just drinking too much decaff. ;-)
DeleteI hope you never stop blogging. I thoroughly enjoy reading your posts. Please don't delete your blogs.
ReplyDeleteI won't, that's why I tried to make it obvious in this post. So many people come over here to read and then go on to reading other blogs from the sidebar.
DeleteOh sorry I misunderstood. Doesn't take a lot to confuse me lol. I'm glad to hear you're going to continue blogging though 😁
Delete❤️ xx
DeleteSue, it is not just you . . . I have unfollowed a lot of blogs in the last few months because of endless ‘woe is me’.
ReplyDeleteI completely understand that sometimes life throws lemons and you don’t have the time/energy/enthusiasm to look for a lemonade recipe, but you are right that there are folk around who do nothing but whine and moan. Yes, we all need to let off steam at times, but every single day? Every single post? No thanks. There is still so much in our tiny part of the planet to be thankful for.
This morning I drove to the supermarket at 08.30 in thick fog, and when I came out of the store half an hour later the sun had burned through and the town looked lovely - leaves are really showing their Autumn colours and were so pretty in the sunlight. Although I only buy fresh veg and salad on a Monday morning the shelves were full and no-one was shooting at me. Since then I have been in the garden for the single hour which my back currently permits, and am now curled up on a comfy sofa with my iPad. Lots to be happy about (I could have complained about idiots driving too fast in the fog, pain from carrying shopping and gardening, and the ironing basket . . . but why would I want to give more energy to those things?)
Oh - and your new header photo is gorgeous!! Love from your fellow Hobbit, xxx
Exactly, if we look for the sunshine, the good news and the special little moments of every day we will find them. I hope your back soon lets you do a little bit more, you must be getting a bit frustrated, I know I get that way at times. But then if I manage half an hour it's some jobs done and something accomplished. Every little helps wirh us Hobbits. ❤️
DeleteIf I can have a book with the bread and cheese I'll suffer the bare feet!
ReplyDeleteHaha, I'm firmly in slippers ... but with bread, cheese and books too. 😄
DeleteI'd dispense with the bare feet, but the rest will do nicely, thank you.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's much too chilly here for bare feet now. I need to find my thermal socks too. 😀
DeleteI'm intrigued now. Not that I think you need to change anything at all. I always love to read your posts.
ReplyDeleteI try to keep my space fairly positive, although perhaps I lean too far that way. I had a rather unpleasant comment recently, from someone remarking that I clearly led a privileged life! If only they knew the half of it.
Oh people jump to conclusions oh so quickly don't they! I'd much rather someone be over-positive and cheerful than the opposite. 🙂
DeleteI rarely dip into other blogs. Just you and Sue in Suffolk. So, I haven't noticed any increased negativity but I can see it can be draining. I'm trying to stop doom scrolling the news - a new and disturbing habit ever since a certain person was over promoted into a job he is wholly unsuited for.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to read the hobbit diet. I'm not that worried about potatoes. Cheese, bread, and dark chocolate and I'm a happy bunny/hobbit 🤣😁Definitely need the slippers though.
It's been building steadily over the last year or so. I do like the sound of a bunny-hobbit ... forget the /. 😄
DeleteI'm almost with you on the Hobbit diet but are we allowed booze?
ReplyDeleteI don't think I follow any miserable bloggers, I can't be doing with that kind of person in real life let alone in Blogland, my happy place.
Keep doing what makes you happy, I don't mind what you post about, I love visiting you! xxx
Oh yes, I should imagine Hobbits like a nice frothy beer or a refreshing cider with their bread, cheese and potatoes. 🍺
DeleteThank you for your visits. ❤️
Second breakfast? YES.
ReplyDeleteI have to be very careful about what I read and watch. It sinks in.
It sinks in without you noticing for a long time doesn't it. 🫤
DeleteI am currently having two breakfasts every day, so I'm well on my way to being a Hobbit. 😄
Let us be bloggers of joy and hope , and shine a light in the dark places. You may have all the cheese, as I cannot digest it. But do leave me some potatoes please...
ReplyDeleteI agree completely Angela. ❤️ All my cheese is dairy-free, and I'll happily share my potatoes. 😀
DeleteI read very very little online. Anything/or one that makes me feel anxious/fed up/worried/ etc etc or generally iffy- then I avoid. I believe in being the change I wish to be in the world, so I pick up litter, I don’t moan about the eeejits that drop it, I am smiley and kind when people I pass in the street are the opposite, I offer to take back peoples shopping trolleys or carry something, or let go ahead of me in the queue. I’m determined to be the opposite of what online tells me I should be doing/feeling and thinking. Just chose where your eyes fall x Danette
ReplyDeleteThat’s a great outlook. Sorry seem to be anon-Sarah
DeleteI read very few blogs but always feel ‘at home’ with yours. I would hate you not to be here/there/everywhere. I am appalled that there is such a thing as ‘doom scrolling’ but I understand the urge in people. I have a friend with very serious health problems and she says that she can only be on an even keel and physically feel ‘just ok’, if she does not watch the tv news and ignores news on-line.
DeleteThank you. From Susan in France
Another one here who has stopped reading most blogs because they don't add anything to my day. Everyone has rough times and is entitled to share and moan - but,for some , that's all they do , all of the time. Which is their right and choice - as is mine to no longer follow or read them :)
ReplyDeleteI’m so relieved that you are going to continue to be part of the blogging world. I look forward to your missives and the occasional beautiful artwork. There is too much doom and gloom in the world without it infiltrating our happy place of blog land. It sounds like there are going to be quite a few of us joining Hobbit land.
ReplyDelete