Howdy y’all!
Have you ever come across an amazing blog and feel like you were the last one to find it? I find myself completely perplexed sometimes… how I didn’t know such a gem of a blog existed… whether it be a great craft blog or home blog or just someone with a fantastic writing style (you know, where you “get” everything the blogger says…. have the same humor or outlook… and decide instantly that this person would be your bff if you didn’t live so far away? haha)
I mean, really. How are you even supposed to know about these great blogs? Usually you click on a catchy name on someone’s blogroll, right? But to me, that is like going to an “Antique Mall”… you can spend daaayys looking around a huge consignment shop… each booth having something unique to offer and maybe you will find a treasure here and there. But once in a while, you will spot a booth and immediately be drawn to it…and be delighted by all of the goodies it has to offer. You can’t wait to come back again and see more items that seller has to offer! That is the same way I feel when I find a good blog! I can’t wait to come back when I see a new post.
Are you with me?
No?
Well, let me try harder to confuse you further:
Sometimes I feel like blogs are like recipes. Not all of us are fortunate enough to have great recipes passed down to us from our great grandmothers. Now if you tasted the best carrot cake you’ve ever set your taste buds on… and a friend tells you it is an “old family recipe”… you automatically feel rude asking for the recipe, right? Even though you want nothing more than to spread the joy (giving credit where credit is due) to your family and friends.
People get awfully territorial about recipes. They want to hoard that gem all to themselves so they can choose when to impress their guests.
I get that. I don’t like it, but I respect it.
So you now try out 23 different carrot cake recipes… trying to find one that taste’s exactly like the one your friend made.
Wouldn’t it just be easier if your friend volunteered the information? If they found (or have) a great recipe and couldn’t wait to share it with you?
I see blogging the same way.
I have stumbled upon some blogs that I consider to be gems.
Gem = Rare.
But just because it is rare, doesn’t mean it will be of less value if it is shared. Amen?
Hence, I am starting a new weekly feature on my blog called “In the blogLight”.
It is taking this simple “sharing” principle and applying it to great blogs.
Because I want to share my gems.
And maybe you want to share your gems, too.
So here is how it works:
Every week… on Wednesday… I will post about a blog that I think deserves some recognition. And I encourage you to do the same! I will even put up a McLinky thing so we can all “blog hop” around and read about everyone’s gems. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy… maybe what you like about that blog… or how you found it. Whatever you want… it’s your blog post.
Bloggers put a lot of time and energy into their blog writing, pictures, designs, networking, community, etc. Wouldn’t it be nice to recognize some of these bloggers and let them know that we appreciate their work and enjoy their blog?
After all, there is so much catty-ness (is that a word?) going around… and everyone and their mother (and their grandma’s neighbor) feeling the need to leave comments or voice opinions about blogs getting too big, or shunning anyone with a “.com” address instead of a “blogspot.com” address as being “too commercial”, or having too many advertisers or they can’t stand music players or judging a blogger as just trying to increase readership, rankings, etc…
I get the annoyances.
People feel validated when their opinion is heard.
I’m not excluded.
It is an easy, easy trap to fall into.
But the important part is that we choose to get out that rut and change directions.
Wouldn’t it be great if we celebrated each other’s blogs instead of tearing each other down?
“Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 NLT
Girls, there are so many blogs that are excellent and worthy of praise! We are all on our unique journey through life… trying to fulfill God’s purpose for us along the way. Let’s celebrate the praiseworthy lives, the God-given talent and creativity that is just bursting from our blogging community!
Shall we?
