noBOLOGNA

When blogging hurts!

Good morning!  I’m blogging on a Saturday.  Crazy, I know! I don’t remember the last time I blogged on a Saturday.  I really wanted to sleep in this morning.  I enjoyed not setting an alarm clock, but of course, I didn’t sleep much past my usual time.  I woke up around the time I’d be heading off to work.  I started having a lot of back pain – I know that I really need a new mattress.  Any suggestions, friends?

I have my vegetarian sausage biscuits in the oven and my coffee brewing.  I have a lot of things I want to work on today before Nick gets in town – I need to clean my room.  I need to write a lot of blog posts for this inspired idea I have for April.  I need to go on a long bike ride to get ready for my Tour de Cure.  There are probably a few other things I’d like to get done.  Right now though, I’d like to talk about when we get our feelings hurt and what that means for us and how we can respond.  The truth is, there is something I’ve been struggling with in blogging specifically.  I’m not going to provide a lot of details because I, in turn, wouldn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable or hurt anyone’s feelings, but the truth is…. I’m hurt.  I’m not hurt by just one blogger, I’m hurt by a few bloggers.  They probably don’t even know that my feelings are hurt and that’s okay.  It wouldn’t resolve any issues if they did.

But how do I move past this and continue to enjoy blogging?

First of all, I know the truth is that I’ve hurt a blogger at some point or another.  I’m sure I’ve said something that rubbed someone the wrong way or I didn’t include them when I should have.  Whatever the reason may be, I know I’ve been the one to hurt another person before.  This fact doesn’t make my hurt go away though.

One thing I need to realize is WHY I blog.  Do I blog for others or do I blog for myself?  I like to believe that I blog for myself, but we, as bloggers, all know that somewhere down the road that’s not the case.  We end up blogging for others.  That’s not a terrible thing, but it puts our emotions more at risk.  When we’re concerned about others involvement and we don’t get the response we would like, then we get hurt.  In my case, I feel that others are not being conscious of blogging etiquette.  Blogging etiquette is important and it’s what keeps blogging fun and enjoyable for all those we blog with.  I found this post from Jennifer @ Dancing in the Rain that I thought was spot on.  Confessions of a Blogger: The Etiquette Edition.  There are just things that I find to be common courtesy and it baffles me that others wouldn’t think the same thing.  We’re all different though and our minds work differently.

As I battle with my emotions during this time because I’m not completely happy with how certain things have transpired, I searched for some verses to help me along the way.  I have no idea if any of you are experiencing some of the hurts I am when it comes to blogging, maybe you’re hurting in other areas of life, but hopefully these verses can be encouraging to you as they are to me.  The truth of the matter is: I can’t say anything to these bloggers – there would be no point in my opinion.  All I can do is be an adult about it, share my thoughts and opinions here on my own blog, and move on.  I cannot be defined by what others do.  I can continue to practice blogging etiquette myself because I know that’s how I would like to be treated.

Do you have any thoughts on this subject?  Anything you’re experiencing with blogging that deals with the hurt that can come along with it as well as the lack of blogging etiquette from other bloggers you see?

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:6-7

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”  – Colossians 3:13

“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”  – Romans 5:3-5

I’m working on my own heart – letting it be free of the pain.  Finding peace and rest in the Lord.  I’m trying to direct myself off of the fact that others may be hurting me and try to respond with “What can I continue to do through blogging that will help, encourage, & inspire others?”  Just like everything else in life, blogging will never be perfect.  There will always be people who rub me the wrong way, there will always be people who hurt me, intentional or not.  That’s vice versa – I have no doubt, I will in turn affect some one else in this way too.  I hope that’s not the case, but I know I’m human and I have struggles of my own.

How do you choose to combat the hurt that can come with blogging?  How do you choose to approach situations where blogging etiquette is not being used?  I’d love your thoughts & opinions!

Have a wonderful Saturday and weekend, my friends!  Regardless of the pain, blogging will continue to be something that encourages and inspires me.  The friendships I’ve made are amazing and I wouldn’t give those up for anything!

 

I miss this girl, that hair, & some FROYO!

I’d consider myself pretty crazy to try and push out a blog post this morning.  I have about 5 minutes before I absolutely have to finish getting ready for work.  I’ve got my vegetarian sausage biscuit over here on my left though that I need to eat, so that’s my excuse for having the time to sit here right now.  It’s meal time, Obviously.  I also have my coffee.  By the way, I’ve been trying this new creamer that I’m seriously loving (should have mentioned that in myBliss post yesterday), but it’s a coconut milk French vanilla creamer.  Not only does it taste delicious, but it makes me happy because it’s vegan.  I continue to think that it’d be easier and easier to become a vegan when I find simple pleasures like this!
 
 
Because I’m pressed for time, you get an old picture that’s already been posted to this little ole’ blog.  It makes me miss a lot of things…. That girl right there.  I miss her.  I miss the days when me, Lacy, & Stedmond would leave work and have lunch together at McAlister’s and during the perfect summer, we’d have dessert at Local Culture (our FROYO place in town).  We may have taken longer than our typical hour lunch break, but the time we spent together was good, it was encouraging, it was refreshing.  I miss it.
 
I also miss that easy bun during the summer.  Wake up, throw your hair up and go.  Easy.  I miss Summer.  Oh summer… when will you finally make your beautiful grand presence into the South!? 
 
Other things I’m missing right now……
 
My early mornings.  I’ve been terrible about going to bed late and waking up late.  I give myself barely any time to get ready in the morning.  I miss the days when I could wake up at 5am – shower, do my quiet time, read some blogs, write my blog post, make a good breakfast, enjoy my coffee slowly, get in a run/workout if I wanted.  Yeah, there’s no way I could fit that in with the mornings I’ve been having lately. 
 
That Running High.  Last year when I completed the Wine & Dine Half-Marathon, I had the worst run of my life.  Ever since then, I’ve had a difficult time enjoying myself when I go run.  It’s more of a chore, not something I’m excited about doing.  Sure, working out will always be a “chore”, but I remember the days when I take a leisurely run and pray or listen to music or think through a difficult situation I was in.  My runs were motivating, they were life changing… and well, I just haven’t had one of those in a while.
 
My Disney Experience.  I know I’m a Disney freak and I talk about it a lot, but I’m not just missing Disney itself at the moment, I’m missing the entire experience I had.  I miss the cool breezy morning waiting on the bus for work (CA-RAZY!), I miss bringing a change of clothes to work so David and I could go straight to the park when we got off, I miss my roommates and the laughter they brought to my life, I miss pictures with the characters and getting excited about seeing them, I miss watching the Festival of the Lion King anytime I wanted, I miss the drive to the Y in the early morning hours before work, I miss my Disney College Program Experience and there are days I wish I could re-live them, but I can’t.  They’re in the past.  And even if I did go back and to DCP or even did a Professional Internship, it wouldn’t be exactly how it was.
 
Unemployment.  Except, I don’t miss this that much, I just miss some of the perks of freedom haha.  I miss being able to visit my cousin whenever I wanted and being able to stay in Starkville for an extra day at a time.  I miss having all the time in the world to get in a workout/run for the day.  I miss the time I had available to blog (not that I used that time wisely because clearly I would have done a lot more with this here blog).  I miss spending the day with my sweet pup.  In reality though, I love my job and I’m thankful I have a job.  I wouldn’t trade it for unemployment EVER, so I guess I don’t truly  miss it that much, but I do miss the freedom I had during the day because it’s been a struggle getting in a workout and finding time to blog.  How do those full-time working mama’s do it?!  No clue.  All I can say is, if I keep a full-time job when/if I become a mother, chances are, this blog will disappear into thin air.
 
In keeping with the theme that the entire world is missing spring/summer at this point in late March
What else are you missing right now?

 

March Bliss: Come Link-Up!

Who else is absolutely STUNNED that it’s the end of March?  Every year seems to go by quicker and quicker!  I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for some warmer weather, gosh darn it!  Usually in the South, we’re heating up, but it’s a continuous back & forth between hot and cold at the moment.  What’s your weather like right now?

Since it is the end of March, it’s time for our second link-up of Bliss and I can’t wait to see what you all share with us this month!

 
Haven’t heard about Bliss yet?  Well, on the last Wednesday of each month, link-up a post where you share some of your favorite things from the month.  It could be 1 thing, it could be 20 things – It could be a product, a person, or a moment in time. We just want to know about it!
Next Month’s Link-Up: APRIL 30TH

{1} Whitney English Day Designer
I’m sure every blogger who doesn’t own one of these is sick and tired of hearing other bloggers talk about it!  Just like when Erin Condren became so big, but y’all, I won this wonderful planner and although it’s taken some getting use to, I’m really enjoying it!  I tried to use it for work, blogging, & personal, but I think I need to just keep a separate work planner at work and a separate blogger/personal planner – so that’s what Whitney English is for me!  I have so many ideas for this blog and for local events/meet-ups.  I’m hoping this planner will help get me there!

{2} Arbonne Raisin LipGloss
This stuff is amazing!  I’m a huge fan of Arbonne mainly because they’re vegan!  This raisin color matches any and every skin tone though!  I’ve had it for about 2 months now and wear it almost every day, I don’t think it’s even close to running out.  If you get a chance to try it, please do!

{3} Vegetarian Sausage Biscuit
I had one of these yesterday morning and chances are I’ll have one again this morning.  I use the Morning Star brand of sausage (hot n’ spicy) and then I have a bag of frozen biscuits so I can use just one at a time since I’m usually cooking solo.  I made one for my ride to work and it was delicious.  How could I possibly miss meat when there are delicious alternatives that didn’t kill an animal?

{4} Mississippi State Baseball
I’ve been going to a lot of baseball games this season!  A friend of mine is married to a coach on the team and so she has great seats.  If no one is coming to town for the game then she always shares her tickets with me and Nick.  They’re right behind home plate.  I also bought my very first Mississippi State Baseball t-shirt this month and enjoyed wearing it to my last game.

(Photo Credit: Nick – he caught a foul ball at one of the games he went too)

Those are the main things I’ve been loving this month.  If you’ve been reading along, then you know that March has just been crazy for me so I’m glad I could enjoy these little pieces of Bliss throughout the month!

Stay tuned for something a little different on the blog next month!

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The views and statements expressed on No Bologna are my own. You are reading No Bologna at your own risk and I am not providing any type of professional advice. Unless otherwise noted, all material on No Bologna may not be used, reprinted, or published without my consent. I do occasionally have affiliated links on my blog - this does not raise the price of the product, I simply get a very small commission from the regular retail price if something is purchased using an affiliated link on my site. I appreciate any support by you in regards to affiliated links.