This post is one that I’m surprised I haven’t written yet. It’s based on something that goes through my mind every single time I hit publish on a post, or share on my gazillion social media outlets.
(It’s funny, though. When I was done writing this post I changed the title to hate(D) because I suddenly became FREE from what I thought I hated about blogging. Don’t you love it when that happens?)
Thanks to Clare and her post from yesterday for inspiring me to share my thoughts on this. Clare addressed the issue of feeling the need to censor herself on her blog, and I couldn’t agree more. For me, though, the pressure to censor myself has less to do with my blog readers and more to do with my real life friends, acquaintances, and various relationships.
Over the years I’ve definitely gotten to the point where I’m comfortable sharing my blog with everyone I know – I tell friends about it, post it on my personal Facebook, and even refer to myself as a blogger when asked my profession. Considering how I was almost embarrassed about GML at first, I’ve come a long way when it comes to being proud and confident in being a blogger.
The difficult part now, though, is coming to terms with the fact that I’ve opened myself up to so many people’s opinions and criticisms that a normal person would just never have to face. It can be uncomfortable to realize that people (whether they’re people I know or not) can know things about me that might take months or years for someone to learn if I didn’t have this little old thing called a blog.
But you know what? That’s just something I’m going to have to deal with. I know for a fact that this platform was given to me for a reason, so I’m willing to take whatever comes along with that.
I think that what it all boils down to is that having a presence on a public forum like a blog has forced me to learn what it means to be fully and unapologetically myself.
So yes – I take pictures of my food.
I share TMI sometimes.
I wear too much makeup sometimes.
I had adventures in Tinder.
I take selfies, and I love other people’s selfies. SELFIE SELFIE SELFIE.
I don’t have a “real” job.
I’m a Christian that goes clubbing.
I overuse emojis, Pinterest quotes, and hashtags.
So if you want to follow my blog, my social media, or just have me in your life – that’s what you’re gonna get. Welcome to girl meets life.
**********
If you’re a blogger, is this something you can relate to? If a blog reader – would love to hear your thoughts on this!
Some related posts:
love. now i want to do one like this!! we can just play back and forth:)
haha yes!! xo
LOVE!!!!!:) xoxoxo
I love this! You go girl 🙂
I love you. And this. And you. And this. I just shared this quote on insta today: “Living to prove is not living on purpose.” You have purpose and your blog is one way of sharing that purpose with the world. It ain’t about provin nothin or pleasin nobody. (I don’t know my Mama Hen voice is southern. Oh well.) =)
Thanks so much for this, Shawna! Means a lot coming from you. I LOVE that quote - how perfectly it applies to this post!
And is it weird that I can almost hear your Southern Mama Hen voice in my head? hahaha love it 🙂 xoxo
I just laughed out loud reading this. Love you Gracie. Keep it up! It is weird to get used to be so authentic and vulnerable, but people seem to like it! xoxo
I <3 this. Esp I'm a Christian who goes clubbing hahahhaa. Get it 😉
I love this post. At the end of the day we have to own who we are and what we love apologetically. Thank you Grace!
Megan @ sirenjane.blogspot.com
The reason I am drawn to reading blogs and therefore delving into some of the details of people’s lives is because each and every blog is so different-just like each person’s life is. I’ve read all over about bloggers’ views on putting themselves and their lives front and center for the world to read, think about and critique and it leaves me with the thought that despite all the reasons that person may have to blog…they in the end have the strength to withstand that criticism if it comes. My point is that blogging means something to each person that may be vastly different from what another blogger gets from it. They may choose to put a ton of their life on their blog or not…but undoubtedly they’ll receive some sort of criticism for it regardless. Having the strength to continue relaying your messages to the world is admiring. It’s more admiring when a blogger stands by their vision and intent of their blog and says “this is what you’re going to get”. You go girl! 🙂
thanks so much for sharing this, Alex! always look forward to your comments 🙂 xoxo
I love how you dare to be yourself. And I can certainly relate to your post. On my blog, I publish pictures of every cat I meet on the street or while on holiday. As many people I know HATE everything that’s cute, I’m censoring myself by not daring to mention my blog, even if I have thousands of visitors daily.
By the way, we may seem very different (I don’t take selfies, I don’t go clubbing, I’m not a Christian), yet I read and enjoy every single one of your posts since two years now (or is it three already?) I hope you continue to be yourself, because that’s why we like you 🙂
ah, thanks so much for that encouragement! xoxo
I have been obsessed with your blog for years because it is so real and not “fake, cookie cutter”. I can’t read those blogs. I love how real you are- keep it up!
XO
This made me laugh out loud as well. I give you a high five for your confidence. I wish I would have had that at your age. I have it now in my 40’s…So I am with some of the others in saying you go girl!!! And, I’m sorry, I simply love what I will call CGC…Christian goes Clubbing =) That truly made me smile as I can picture some stern (whisper…maybe a tad legalistic…shhhhhh)church members saying clubbing? AND I like the fact that people with different backgrounds, views, opinions feel comfortable reading your blog…
hahahah CGC - so using that 😛
thanks for this comment, Susan! xo
Well said, Gracie!
I think I’ll stick around. 😀
So I’m a blogger, and my mom said the same thing this time last year - that she was surprised I’d open myself up to other peoples’ criticism. But I really just don’t care. I know my heart, I know I’m an awesome person and I KNOW my topics running/fitness. If anyone feels the need to judge me on this, they’re entitled, but for some reason, in the past year or so, what people think really ceases to get under my skin.
So glad you did this! I love your blogging and love you and love food pictures!
Very nice post. I totally agree and appreciate your openess.
Great point made! I am still in my first year of blogging and definitely feel how you described at first. I don’t share it on my personal Facebook and haven’t told too many of my friends. I slowly am becoming more comfortable with it, but I think it probably definitely takes a little time. Love your blog btw!
Yes, I can relate to this! Some of my “real life” friends still don’t understand what I do or think that blogging is a “real” job, so I filter myself and don’t even bother mentioning it. I need to stop doing this, though, because it’s a big part of my life, and I take the time to listen about their (sometimes boring) professions!
Love this!! I can totally relate to everything. I had a different blog before this that I never told anyone about. I took a few years off from blogging and now I’m open and proud. To be honest, I think it just took me getting older. I was 20 when I started my other blog, and now I’ve graduated college and am 24 and a lot more open about everything!
Ok, so what you’re saying is all those feelings are normal?? I’m still pretty new at this blogging thing, but it’s always scary hitting publish. It took me at least a month before I came out of the blogging closet on my personal Facebook. Even longer before I ever mentioned it to my parents. And rarely do I mention it to people who don’t already know about it. Slowly, slowly I’m becoming more comfortable and confident about it. After all, I have some good pieces of writing coming and I want people to be there to read them!
yes - very normal! i’ve been blogging for over 4 years and still get it, haha. but for me it’s worth it because it has forced my to realize my true identity more than I would have otherwise! best of luck with your blog 🙂 xo
As a newer blogger, i can relate to this. I didn’t want to share my posts on facebook for fear of what others would say (especially old high school friends that aren’t the nicest). Now I am more comfortable with my blog. I have learned that what others say and think shouldn’t be my concern, unless I have offended someone. I think my friends get annoyed that I have to take a pic of this or that “it’s for my blog” and that I am constantly taking pictures of food. But i love it!! Thanks for this post.
HA! It’s so funny that you posted this! I recently rebranded my website, changed my name, the whole sha-bang. I purposely named it “Yetti-says” because these blog posts are my words, my thoughts, my beliefs, my complaints, my ramblings, and I stand by each and every one of them. I started my first blog when I was 15, when I was 17 I received my first hateful comment. I’m slowly learning to love everything about me, and my blog is a representation that. So people will have to deal and learn to accept that it’s a part of my everyday life
Love, love, loveeeee the post!
I’ve always appreciated how open and honest you are on your blog (Christian clubbing and all - God loves having fun too). Unfortunately, I think this social media generation in general opens everything we do up to more judgement. It just comes with the territory. I’ve just recently started sharing my blog with friends. I was nervous at first. But the people who truly care about me want to read it. Thankfully, the other bloggers I’ve encountered so far have been really welcoming and encouraging (hope it stays that way).
it’s so true - the age of social media has changed everything (whether you’re a blogger or not!). that’s why i think it’s more important than ever to truly know our identities, and just *own* them!
Good for you! I love your blog even more because of this post. You are honest, genuine and i admire your confidence, a lot of people wouldn’t be able to take this kind of feedback and grow from it. Thanks for this post, i’m a fan! 🙂
Love it! I’m still afraid to share with everyone. And it doesn’t help I don’t write all the time like everyone else. Maybe one day I can be confidant enough like you! Love your posts!
haha — a Christian who goes clubbing! That can definitely be something difficult to put out there, because have such strong opinions about how you ‘should’ behave. I think it’s awesome that you own who you are and put it all out here!
Gracie, I really love your blog and have been reading it for a long time by way of your friend Gabriela’s now defunct (dangit!) blog.
This compliment may sound weird but I find you extremely very mentally healthy. Especially for how young you are. I really appreciate everything you write about and love your fashion and selfie blogs 🙂 I am not religious yet still find your posts on the subject enlightening and I enjoy reading them. You’re a gorgeous girl inside and out and I really look forward to reading each blog!
Brandy, thank you so much for this comment and that compliment! that really means so much! xoxo
I love how you addressed that writing a blog has allowed you to be unapologetically yourself. That is such an important quality to have, and it gives you the right to ignore all criticism. I now feel more confident about becoming a blogger after reading this
I love this post!! I really can related to everything you shared.
It’s crazy because almost a year ago I deleted a blog I had for two years, which I was so proud of and completely opened up. I went through a lot in a few months, which is why I deleted it. I recently started over with a new one, and feel like I’m starting from scratch - scared to tell my friends and such, but I think it takes time to get comfortable again.
I love how open you are here, and that you are always you and own it. It’s beautiful and inspiring!
Yes having a blog is tricky when you aren’t anonymous. I started out not even giving my name away and not telling ANYONE about it for like a year…but eventually I opened up. That definitely has it’s ups and downs! Bloggers are definitely open to a lot of criticism like you said unlike out in the real world since it can get personal depending on what’s happening in life. Anyways…thanks for sharing this! Good to know I’m no alone! 🙂
I think blogging has made me so much more open and confident with myself. Like yes, this is who I am and this is what I do and if you don’t like it.. move on!
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
love this! I enjoy reading blogs daily & it’s best when the writer can be honest 🙂
love this post and can totally relate! especially about the part of getting comfortable opening up about it with friends in your daily life. i also read a great devotional this morning from Ecclesiastes 2. part of the devo said “you are here for such a time as this-to share this God-sized dream with your generation. there are things in this world only you have been called to do!”
so keep on keeping’ on and let your voice be heard! 🙂 xo
I love this! My biggest fear is what my friends and family and even people I graduated with think about my blog and all. I also feel so insecure when someone I know asks about my blog because they usually don’t understand it or just think it is stupid or a waste of time and it is not a good feeling when you know how your loved ones feel about it. But I just have to remind myself that others’ opinions of me AND opinions of my blog are NONE of my business. I feel like reminding myself of this will keep that fear of criticism from overpowering me.
Do you have an email list I can subscribe to? Thanks!
Yes! Go here: http://feeds.feedburner.com/GirlMeetsLife
And there’s an option to choose subscribe by email 🙂