BYOC - Bring Your Own Crazy....Theme Edition!!

Well, my buddy Drazil has really given us a doozy this week.  A theme based BYOC!!  AND there's 10 questions this time.  I'm so excited...let's just get to it, shall we?

1. When did you begin blogging? Do you plan to do it a long time or do you think you’ll stop after a while?
My first ever blog post was written on March 25th, 2009.  That year, I wrote a total of 59 blog entries.  I was just starting out, and trying to find my groove.  In 2010, I wrote 222 posts.  The majority of them came after June, 2010...that's when my blogging fuel really blew up, and there was no stopping me after that.  This year, I've written almost every single day...and have a total of 284 posts.

Honestly, I don't think I'll ever stop.  It has become a part of my routine...and as long as Blogger is still around to record my thoughts, I'll keep sharing them.

2.  What do you enjoy more - blogging yourself or reading other’s blogs?
No offense to anyone, but I enjoy blogging more.  Don't get me wrong...I LOVE reading other blogs.  My blog is what introduced me to the world of other bloggers out there.  But, at the end of the day, my blog isn't just me sharing my life with the world - it's my own, personal therapist.  My blogging helps release stress, anxiety, worry, and leaves me feeling calm and collected so that I can enjoy reading other blogs.

3.  What’s the biggest thing blogging has taught you? Biggest surprise about blogging?
My blogging has taught me that there are so many people out there struggling in the same ways I struggle.  I was never naive enough to think that I was the only one struggling with weight loss, but I was so surprised at how many people blog about it...succeeding or failing.  My biggest surprise was that other people want to read what I write.  It still blows me away that I have 146 followers, and get a couple of hundred hits to my page each day.  I don't consider myself a talented writer...I just share what's on my mind.  But, I love having people interact with me, getting emails of encouragement, and sharing my journey with others.  That's just AWESOME!!

4.  Have you met any other bloggers in real life – solely because of your blog or theirs?
I haven't.  Not because I don't want to, just because I haven't had the means to do it.  There are several bloggers that I would LOVE to meet in person.  I think I'd have the most amazing time spending the day with Draz...we'd tear up some shopping, that's fo'sure.  I'd also love to attend one of the many blogging conferences, like FitBlog or something cool like that... but with my schedule, and lack of funds, not sure if that will happen any time soon.  There are also many other bloggers I'd just love the chance to have a cup of coffee with...just because we interact so well with each other on our blogs. 

5.  Does your blog have a general theme as in one topic or do you cover everything and anything?

Well, my blog is a weight loss themed blog.  That's how it started out.  I still, for the most part, try to stay with that theme... but it's also transformed in to a more personal, day-to-day journal type blog. I think it's important to share my successes and failures in regards to my weight loss... but it's also important for me to share the general goings on of my life.  It helps with the whole my blog is a personal therapist thing.  So, it's not uncommon for me to go a whole week with just talking about weight loss, another week being completely devoted to my personal life, or a general mixture of the two.

6.  Are you public or anonymous? Whichever you are – do you ever wish you were the other?

I'm public.  I use my real name, and real pictures of me.  I do, however, use "code names" for those closest to me...like my fiance, my kids, and my friends.  I don't mind exposing who I am - but it's not up to me to expose them. 

For a long time, now, I wish that I was anonymous.  That's only because I feel like I am constantly monitoring myself and what I say - in fear of someone I know reading my blog and taking things the wrong way.  I have to be careful how much I write that I don't really want people I know knowing about me - that make sense?  I think that if I had started off anonymous, I would have a lot more freedom in what I can write about - and really letting my true feelings out.  Sometimes, I tend to hold back a little.  I know that sounds bad, because it is my blog - and I should be able to write about what I want to write about - but being public tends to fray the edges on that, just a little.

7.  What’s your best blogging advice for a new blogger?
Before you even begin, make the decision on whether or not to be public or private.  Depending on what you plan on writing about can have a huge impact on that decision.  Also, if you start a theme blog - like weight loss, cooking, shopping, whatever....don't feel like you have to stay restricted to that topic.  I was so bad about this in the beginning.  Just because I have a weight loss blog doesn't mean that's the only thing I can write about.  There are no Blog Police that are going to arrest you for switching gears, and writing about something that's not really in line with your theme. 

8.  Does anyone in your real life read your blog/know it’s address? Do you wish they would or wouldn’t?
There are several people in my real life that read my blog.  I post it on my Facebook page daily...so it's nothing new for a family member, friend, or co-worker to make a comment and let me know that they've read a particular entry or they read every day. 

While I don't wish that anyone wouldn't read my blog - this goes back to the whole being private vs. public thing.  Knowing that I have so many people in my real life reading my blog, I am always cautious about what I write about - because I don't want to upset or offend anyone.  Sometimes it doesn't really have anything to do with offending - it could just be that I don't want to share something personal because I know people will know about it...and it's embarrassing or a little shameful.  At the end of the day, however, I'm grateful to anyone that actually wants to read my blog.

9.  Do you enjoy blogging or do you view it as a chore? How often do you blog?
OMG...it's my most favorite time of the day!!!  Blogging is the first thing I do EVERY SINGLE MORNING...unless I'm out of town or something...but that doesn't happen very often.  If I miss a post, I get all out of whack and moody and disgruntled.  My early morning blogging is others early morning yoga.  It's my way of releasing tension, preparing my mind for the day ahead, and just letting everything out through the ends of my fingertips.

10.  Do you tell people in your real life that you blog? Or keep it a secret?
I tell everybody and anybody that wants to listen or is the least bit interested.  It's such a huge compliment to me when I get new followers or people that I know say something about what I've written.  In my warped mind, my writing is my claim to fame.  Hey - I said in my warped mind.  No matter how many times I've wished that my blog was anonymous, or that I've had to censor my writing...it's still a massive boost to my ego if I hear "Hey, I read your blog this morning, I love how you say...."  I feel all important and special and stuff.  What started out as a little piece of the Internet for me to write a daily log of my weight loss process has now become a full time devotion to my love of writing.  I do it because I want to - and I want others to hear what I have to say.  I think I've mentioned how much of an attention whore I am, right?  Well, now you know why. 

Wow...that was so much fun.  I felt like I was being interviewed.  So, my lovely blogging buddies - how about you sit yourself in the interview chair and fill out these questions for all of your followers to read?  If you haven't done so already, copy the questions and answer them on your blog.  I'd love to hear what you have to say on the topic of blogging.


Everyone have a great Saturday....relax, have fun, and enjoy yourself!!

Till next time. ;)

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