I was a conformist. Ironically, I had wanted to be special and outstanding. But I wanted to be accepted in school, teams, work, so I conformed to a framework. I smiled, I was polite, I was outgoing, sociable… You know what I mean.
A few weeks ago, I caught a terrible cold, sneezing and wheezing like an excited elephant splashing water onto innocent onlookers. But last week, after I felt a trickle of energy from the post-thesis hiatus, I wanted to update my blog and shake things up a bit. Suffice to say, I have neglected this space over the last year or so.
I looked through both this blog, and Bearapy, and gasped at the flat statistics curves. Did not some renown blogger say that we should update it twice a week? I am updating it about twice a quarter if I got around to it. And the amount of interest in my bears? Zero.
I remember that when I first started this blog, I kept getting requests to post ads on my website, and random people wanting to do guest posts on pharmaceutical drugs for me. I turned them all down. I tried hard to figure out SEO to increase the readership for my blog, but gave up after a while. Too technically challenged. I thought about getting people to subscribe to my newsletters but I was too tired to write newsletters or try to figure out MailChimp. Moreover, my writing – those blogging classes would be appalled! No headings, no lists, no word limit, no structure…
I had investigated these methods and strategies before, and even them tried on a few posts. But I felt like I was deceiving my own integrity of writing. That style was not me. So, instead of conforming to get society’s approval, I decided to stand my ground.
The internet has no lack of tips on how to create a “successful” blog. But what is successful? Who defines it? Why do we have to follow them?
Admittedly, I get grumpy when I read other websites with a million followers and I find the content crap and superficial. I wonder if those people who comment and rave about the article are doing so because they really think that, or they just want pingbacks to their own website? Yes, I am cynical.
Other websites are very well done, and I wish they would notice me and my ramblings. But so hard to break in.
Yet, what is my purpose of writing? To be famous (well, why not?), or to write for myself?
Conforming without understanding is like blindfolded sheep in a herd.
Non-conforming could be lonely though, for the black sheep was never well-liked.
At the very least, Sinatra would support me, “I did it my way…”
Still searching for a way to revamp my two blogs and publish the ebook… Patience, patience…
Dear Nochnoch,
you are unique.
Guess, a lot of structures have “pyramid” view, non-conformists are not the majority of that pyramid.
You are natural.
Your blog gives the priceless thing – truth.
For all
For free
Maybe some time ago it has prevented me from being depressed.
It made me more aware of myself, helped me in some way not to be a lost one, dissolved into the outer world.
I usually don’t read fiction books – people invent something in their heads to entertain others, to distract from the reality… But it is well-paid – to entertain.
I don’t know should somebody take money for saving life or soul… Though we live in people’s world. Medicine does take money. For saving bodies. Soul is much more delicate area. Official medicine cures just the outer shell of the disease.
In our churches we are free to give as much money as we wish.
Some websites place the button “donate”.
I could be just very grateful that you are at this space.
HI Anna
Thanks for the encouragement and reassurance. I’m glad it’s coming through, what I hope to be is “true”, or authentic, but without effort, because if that’s just me, then it should just come across as me. I will keep writing. Even if no one reads it, because that’s what I love, what I think, and I have faith in myself. I am grateful – and thank you for reminding me to be grateful
My hugs to you
Noch NOch
Even though you are not updating on a frequent basis I still read all of your posts because I follow you with an RSS reader. I don’t know how that affects your SEO stats and maybe that’s a stone age way that no one uses anymore.
THanks Tony B, always lovely to hear from a familiar soul. I don’t even know if SEO is “in” anymore haha. The internet changes so quickly I feel suffocated some times. Thanks for staying loyal. Also, I’m happy to hear the RSS reader works – I never really knew if it did because I did the plugins myself and I’m not very literate technically. We all keep swimming. Hope you are enjoying your rides in your corner of the world. NN