Slice of Life: Contemplating Motivation

Lately, I’ve been giving my blogging life a lot of thought. I’ve been writing almost daily since February of 2017. It’s a lot of posts! I still enjoy it very much. I still gain followers on a regular basis. I still have ideas that stem my daily habit.

Blogging has been good for me. There’s no question about it. It has made me a better writer. It has made me a more interested reader. Blogging has allowed me to connect with others close to home and also in far away places. Some of my blogging friends have moved on such as the gardener in England whose posts were so beautiful but no longer has time for it. Unfortunately, I miss those people.

Are there still things I’d like to work on and improve? Yes. These things are motivators. I’d like to reorganize my blog and it’s appearance. When there are five years of daily posts, that might be easier said than done. I’d like to categorize my posts. I have varied interests and life experience and it would help readers find what they might be looking for. There’s more that I’d like to do – I’m working on those things too, but hesitate to say.

I’ve asked myself why am I blogging? To help answer this question, I’ve gone back and re-read my home page. Are my reasons for writing still the same? Most of them are.

I think part of blogging is networking and human connection. Last night, I spent some time looking for new blogs to follow. Did you know there are blogging lists according to topic? Huge lists with hundreds of blogs listed. I looked at the lists for environmental education, general k-16 education, gardening, and science – all things that interest me. Most of the blogs in the lists seem to be corporate extensions. Some are by individuals. Surely, there is a lot to read – but do I still want to write a blog?

Yes. I do. But, I’ve recently realized that I am more externally motivated than I have always believed. Since writing is a solitary activity, one needs something to sustain it. Regular comments from faithful readers have certainly been sustaining for me. My husband comments on a routine basis when he reads a batch of my posts. My sister-in-law comments. But, my mom, my sister, a few of my good friends don’t read my posts -ever, claiming they are too busy. I think it’s too bad. They are missing part of who I am – my thoughts and feelings about life. It’s been this way since the start, so I am used to it.

But, I think my actions last night -pouring over lists and lists of blogs- says a lot. I want more. Whether blogging is going to give that to me or not, I don’t know. I do think I need to start to spend less time on my daily posts and more time pursuing my own writing – poetry, gifted education, gardening, and even baking or foodie type entries. Of late, my keto journey posts have garnered a lot of attention. I want to compile family recipes for my sons – all now living on their own. I want to publish a compilation of my own writing. These things take time – time that is currently being used by daily blogging.

When I think back over my life, I’ve always had feedback – two graduate degrees in two different disciplines, substitute teaching, volunteering, and groups of students have always sustained my motivation to do better and do more. I think it’s more a question of personal fulfillment more than anything else.

Blogging? I’m not so sure where it’s taking me anymore. I’m not sure it’s fulfilling.

Time will tell.

Today is Slice of Life Tuesday. I’ve participated in this community of bloggers, authors, and teachers for the last five years. I thank TwoWritingTeachers for creating a supportive community for writers.