Reminding myself why I blog

There is hardly a day where you don't see a post of a blogger apologizing for being absent and not blogging. It's sort of funny if you think about it. Many of us do this in addition to our everyday lives. We juggle family, work, household chores and just plain relaxing on the couch (or getting the sleep we would need if we were honest) with blogging. So why do we feel we have to apologize when it's the one ball we happen to drop for a while?

I could tell you that I've been busy lately. Everyone is busy these days, right? Work can be demanding, chores have this unpleasant way of recurring every day or week and don't even get me started on little kids. And that is just the general life maintenance thing. I'm not even talking about birthdays, preschool summer parties or the million other things that pop up everyday.

But it's not really true.

I mean, yes, life goes on and there is always something to do. Especially if you're me. If my husband asks what my plans for the day are, I usually start a long list of things I absolutely need to do. Which usually results in him rolling his eyes, mumbling something about me always having something to do. (He might have a point there. But don't tell him I said that.)

But sometimes it's more than just being busy. We seem to all be busy these days, and always. Yet there somehow is always time for the things we really want to do.

I'm not sure I really wanted to blog.

Yes, I kept putting up posts, especially the simple things sunday ones. But it started to feel like another thing on my list. A chore. A to do.

But I don't have to do this. I chose to do this.

Because I love writing. And because as much as my sweet husband tries, he really does not get all that excited about a cleaned out closet, the kids' latest craft project or a mustard yellow scarf named Noelle. But I get excited about that. And if you know me at all, you will have noticed that I like to communicate, to share these things.

This month it will be one year of blogging for me. And it's all I ever hoped it would be. And more. It's amazing to see so many creative ideas and connect with so many creative people. Most of all it's just amazing to know that I am not the only one who can walk around with a huge grin on her face all day just because she had the perfect idea for a kids party, made a delicious cake, finally cleaned out that closet or managed to sew a gift for a friend.

I think I hit some sort of a dry spell for this little tiny blog of mine.

I realized I lost the connection with why I write when a friend of mine commented that I am so descriptive and should be a writer. Now, we know this is greatly exaggerated, but it did spark something. I am at my best writing when I really connect with what I feel and describe my world around me.

So if I start to see it as another to do, if I just upload photos and write a few quick sentences then yes, that is something I might get done in-between everything else. But it's usually not when I am at my best writing. It doesn't really feel right.

I am not going to apologize for not blogging more frequently. But I will promise to make sure what I write comes from my heart, be it a long post or a few short thoughts on a photo.

What is your secret for staying connected to your creativity, your inspiration and your reason to blog?

Do share.

Swenja