A Blog Post about Blogging

Does that title sound a bit redundant? That’s o.k. because it is mostly intended to get the attention of those in the blogging community, specifically my blogging community. Each month, a unique group of individuals from all walks of life gather to discuss our common interest in blogging. Jenna, entertainer extraordinaire and author of The Painted Apron, describes our group like this:

An artist, a communications consultant, an editor, a photographer, a journalist, an author, a stylist, a decorator, a jewelry maker, an antique shop owner, a librarian, a cook, a recipe developer, a writer, a movie extra, a swim team mom, an etsy expert, a vocal coach, a crafter, a DIYer, a party planner, and a psychologist…What do all these people, who are many of these things, have in common? They are bloggers!

Now who wouldn’t want to be a part of a group like that?

Typically, we meet at a business or visit a community hot spot for the purpose of publicizing them through our blogs. For some in our group, this is a natural match for their blog. Take for example, Fairhope Supply Co. who writes about local events and people. When we visited the new coffee roasting business in town, she devoted a blog post to telling and showing readers through photos all about it.

Others in our group blog about their passions, such as making jewelry at Crafty Hope, collecting and selling antiques at Coastal Charm and Judy Hanks Pimperl, or about their families at WeAreClamco.
And of course Kim at Cozinest who had the idea to start this group after creating her blog about transitioning to life as an empty nester.

And then there are those of us who blog very little at all. Admittedly, I fall into this last category. I’ve created two blogs with great hope and enthusiasm but both have become sadly neglected. So why keep attending meetings with bloggers when I don’t blog? It’s simply because I have grown to love the company of this unique group of people. But now, quite frankly, it’s getting a little weird. When we go around the circle to share highlights of blog-related experiences, I have nothing to add. It’s a bit like a teetotaler attending AA meetings for the coffee and donuts.

My excuses for not blogging are quite reasonable. Because I spend so much time sitting in front of a computer for work, it seems my recreational time should be spent doing something completely different. Also, when I am sitting at my computer, guilt overwhelms me if I’m not spending time and brain power on a work-related project. This seemed like a pretty good excuse until I read The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. Now here we have this clever attorney-turned-full time writer sharing her personal journey about pursuing happiness in her daily life. And what do you suppose she discovers that gives her fulfillment in addition to getting more sleep and reading children’s literature (truly a woman after my own heart)! That’s right. She blogs! And from the looks of her website, on a very regular basis. So if this full time author and mother of two young children can sit at the computer to blog, why shouldn’t I?

This brings us to our most recent blogger meeting when Alan of Stump the Librarian suggested that I ditch both my blogs, start one under my own name and simply write about what is going on in my life. I mentioned that I already have a website under my name and that there is a blogging feature. Hmm...that got me thinking.

So that brings us right back to the title, "A Blog Post about Blogging." This is my first blog post from my website so I can try it on for size. I want to find out how it works and if it has the features of a regular blog. But if I’m being completely honest, the real reason for giving this a try is so I can keep hanging out with some truly dedicated bloggers that I’ve come to admire!

Here are a few members of our group meeting at the local library.