I know there are many bloggers who cover tough subjects with amazing - sometimes downright astonishing - honesty (hello, Penelope Trunk). However; is it just me or is there a maddening tendency among many bloggers to portray their lives as picture-perfect fairytale romps through Never Never Land? While I'm the first one to champion fun and uplifting content, I often find myself yearning for a little more substance and a little less style. However, I don't take issue with these blogs...not really anyway. Instead, I take issue with myself. If I really wish that more bloggers would talk openly about these kinds of things, then why shouldn't I hold myself to the same standard?
I can tell you why I don't. I don't because I'm scared of sharing my feelings so openly in a public forum. I don't because it makes me feel vulnerable. I don't because I fear that the response wouldn't be positive. I don't because I worry that no one would care.
But, you know what? The more I think about it, the more empowered I feel by the idea of injecting some radical authenticity into these posts. I recently tweeted about how excited I am to have lost 20 pounds since December (woo hoo!). A couple of you lovelies immediately responded by asking me to share some weight loss advice, so I began working on a post in the form of a bulleted list with tips like eat more fresh fruits and veggies, etc. Halfway into my post, I realized something. I could come up with 7 million "tips," and still any post about weight loss would feel incomplete if I didn't share at least a little bit about my mental, emotional, and physical struggle to be in a place where I feel really good about my body.
I'll still share my tips, but I'm re-writing the post. In fact, I've got lots of topics that I'm excited to blog about with radical authenticity. My hope is that this space will continue to be a source of positivity and inspiration, but that I will also provoke some candid conversation on a wide range of topics that affect us all. Thank you for being the supportive and intelligent ladies that you are. I look forward to deepening our dialogue and continuing to build our little blog community.
xo,
12 comments:
Honesty is always the best policy -- and I think there is MORE love that comes at blisschick, the MORE honest I am in my writing there about some of those very things (body image, for example is my MAJOR theme this year).
Love this post.
I am guilty of painting a perfect picture sometimes too... for all the same reasons you mentioned. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and encouraging us all to open up more. I look forward to having that dialog with you :)
Thank you for sharing this with us all.
& Thank you for your nice comment on my blog. :)
You don't sound weird at all, you're sweet.
♥
I'm looking forward to reading more of your blog posts, I followed you!
XOXO
i'm glad you wrote this because right now i am going through such a hard time with a relationship, and it's so hard to blog in a happy voice while i'm really upset and most likely crying on the inside. i look forward to reading your more "honest" posts! Maybe I will have the courage to do the same.
see, this is GOOD stuff. this is what its all about. i love your radical authenticity. and i, for one, will be along for the ride!!! :)
flex those courage muscles!
xo s
Go for it - looking forward to seeing the results!
One thing I've noticed, in many of the blogs I read, is that 99% of people only leave positive, supportive comments. To have a really great dialog, some folk will need to disagree, so just be prepared for that and I think you'll be onto a winner!
You know, I'd been thinking the exact same thing. Everyone seems to feel so pressured to appear perfect.
Like that's what everyone wants to see.
I believe people read blogs because they're desperately trying to RELATE, to feel NORMAL.
I really do appreciate people who open up, because it takes a lot of courage to not care about the negative input. I've learned that I can either worry for the rest of my life about what everyone else thinks, or I can enjoy my life the way I want to.
:) Great post.
For me, part of the appeal of blogging is that I can portray a part of me that I'm not often brave enough to show people in real life. Café Chick can have a lot of fun that I'd normally hesitate with, although we are both far from perfect. What's always in the back of my mind is that once a post is 'out there', it's out there forever, even if I choose to delete it later (caches, etc), and sometimes I don't need to remind myself and everybody of a bad hair day way back when ... although I appreciate it when other bloggers open themselves up like this. Double standard? I guess so!
agreed I want honesty, not self-censorship. What a refreshing post.
i can't wait to read your next post. you are amazing and inspiring!! :)
i love this! you are simply amazing. i salute you for blogging with heart & authenticity. i, too, am like you, i have a hard time letting any emotions out unless they are good ones. i've always been this way. i am a very positive person (always have been) but i am working on letting emotions out, even if they aren't as pleasant as i'd like them to be. we are all human :) i look forward to the upcoming posts. and CONGRATS on losing 20 lbs since dec, that is awesome!! hugs!!
This is why I love your blog so much. You do an amazing job of articulating a lot of the things I struggle with blog-wise and life-wise.
I'm probably always going to be one of those pretty pictures bloggers because it's a form of therapy for me, haha!
However, I love reading your blog and Jezebel.com (especially the comments) for some deeper thinking about personal and societal issues.
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