Comments on: Keeping it Real. Mostly.

By: Kelly the Kitchen Kop

Kelly the Kitchen Kop — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:22:27 +0000

So do you think I should post a picture of myself right now on my blog that shows me still working in my pj’s when it’s almost lunch time?

By: Jennifer Juniper

Jennifer Juniper — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:34:50 +0000

I can’t keep it too real in regard to family stuff since they all read (darn!). But, I try to keep it real with myself as much as possible. For instance, today I showed the uncropped version of a home photo to display the mess left over from Christmas!

By: Julie

Julie — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 03:23:35 +0000

I know I have often felt intimidated reading blogs and thinking that the mum-bloggers “have it all together”. The funny thing is that sometimes I find the “let it all out” posts even MORE intimidating because I think (a) is this the worst that ever happens? and (b) I wish I could handle a situation like that with such dignity and grace!

Another thought is that even if bloggers aren’t trying to come across as “having it all together”, because we are writing about our passions and things we enjoy, in our posts we often sound thoughtful and knowledgable. I, for example would not even be trying to write about sports, building, business, geography etc, etc because I don’t think about and don’t know much about these topics. If I tried to post about these thinggs, I would come across as ignorant… just a thought.

By: Blessed

Blessed — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 01:00:50 +0000

My best friend and I had a conversation about this type of thing – except not in blogging, just in conversing and we mutually agreed that if something really stinky is going on in our life it’s ok to talk about it if we must – but we won’t allow our conversation to focus on that. It means that when I call her and we have a conversation if I have a really stinky thing in my life that I need to get off my chest I can, but it won’t be the only thing or the last thing we talk about – because we want to leave our conversations with each other encouraged, uplifted, inspired… we know life isn’t perfect, but we choose not to dwell on that and instead to dwell on what is good.

I feel like I’m talking in circles but – there are things I would love to blog about, in order to “let it all hang out” but in the same breath I would never consider blogging about those issues because I don’t want to drag other people down, I don’t want to be constantly reminded of the stinky in my life, I want to overcome. I like to write about the good and pray about the bad. Sometimes that means that my blogging isn’t reflective of what my heart is feeling, but is instead a conscious decision to lay aside the negative in order to focus on the positive.

OK… I’m still talking in circles so I’ll stop now and just say I hope this ramble made sense

By: Shelly @ Life on the Wild Side

Shelly @ Life on the Wild Side — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:15:02 +0000

Just checking in after a long day to find such nice words about me here. Thank you. I am truly humbled because all I wrote about was my ugly heart. But thanks anyway.

I like honesty and “realness,” but honestly, I don’t really like to read other people’s really heavy “stuff” like about their marriages falling apart or things that belong in a counselor’s office. Do you know what I mean? Those posts make me uncomfortable.

There are a couple of people in my house who like their privacy, so I don’t post about them much. I think I try to focus on how events in my life affect ME. Make sense?

By: Alli

Alli — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:05:57 +0000

Can I sign up to be interrogated by Jack Bauer?

*waggles eyebrows*

By: tracy

tracy — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:15:00 +0000

I just tell people as they enter my home (family included) that anything they do or say may end up on my blog! LOL!

By: Dawn

Dawn — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:54:19 +0000

Well said Mary Kathryn!
Just remember Jo-Lynne there will always be people in all areas of your life (including church!) who spend their life looking for flaws in others—at the root of that, just as it was in high school, is jealousy. You share just enough—you have a right to be proud of your family and the gifts God has given you. By posting your less than perfect moments, you are an encouragement to others. The only time I ever considered really dislking you was when you posted your “around the house” Christmas pictures. But then I realized that your garland and decorations would stay just so for a milli-second–enough to take a picture, before one of your children mussed it up and returned your house to looking normal! Here’s something my husband taught me about running my mouth (and no, I don’t always follow it) but I think it would apply to blogging as well. “When in doubt don’t.” There’s your deep thought for the day.

By: mary kathryn

mary kathryn — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:25:09 +0000

Hm. I think letting-it-all-hang-out is over-rated. Some things are private and meant to remain so. Keeping private things private is NOT being a hypocrite, or unauthentic. My blog is my blog, and it’s meant to be creative — it is what I intend it to be. I prefer to present order and beauty.

To me, it’s rather like readers complaining to Victoria Magazine that it presents an unrealistic view of life. Of course it does! It’s supposed to! It’s presenting a beautiful life that we aspire to. Some women want realistic blogs with warts, so they can think, “Ah a woman like me. I feel better. Misery loves company. I’m not weird.” Other women look for beauty in a blog. They think, “Ah, this is relief from the drudgery of the day. Maybe I could make something this beautiful, if I try.”

Both are valid.

By: Christie

Christie — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:12:13 +0000

I left a comment – not sure why it’s not showing up. I’ll try again and hopefully you’re not inundated with comments from me!

Thanks for the link – loved every point you made. My rule of thumb has always been this: Would I be embarrassed to know that my father-in-law read this post? If the answer is yes, it doesn’t get written. Has helped keep my blogging integrity.