Remember when you were a kid and life was simple? Your biggest problem was if your mom remembered to pack you a good lunch and your best friend remembered that today they were your friend and not that mean girl's? Sometimes I really miss those days. Why was I in such a hurry to grow up? Can you tell there's been too much on my mind lately? This girl needs an off switch for her brain. Otherwise this look of mine is going to get worse. Do you like how my skin is so white I literally reflect the light from the computer while I'm taking pictures? Yes, I'm really that pale. And yes, I'm always that pale. Except for that time I sunburned so bad I can still see the scars. Which is why I'm always this pale.
But I digress. Something happened that's completely thrown me off balance. For the first time in 5 years of blogging I don't feel like my blog is a safe place where I can say what I feel and it will be okay. Even as I'm writing this I'm shaking just a little bit remembering it all over again. I received a rather horrible email following this post that's caused me to question myself.
Can I not be honest on my own blog? Can I not be open and be me? Should I have to put up a front of continual happiness and perfection just to please other people? I've never pretended to be perfect. I'm the first to shout out that I have a wonderful life but that doesn't mean that every part of it is wonderful. Should I have to pretend that it is? I've got a naturally positive attitude towards life (I can thank my lovely parents for that one). I see no reason for continual complaining. It doesn't make things better, it doesn't change your situation, and it annoys everyone around you. But once in a while you just need to get it all out. That's what my blog is for! If I need to vent I get to do it here. If I want advice, need a pick-me-up, or just want to share something happy I come to my blog. I've made so many wonderful friends through blogging and it's always been such a positive experience. It should be okay to share on your blog if you're having a hard time.
I'm trying hard not to question myself and if I should share less personal things on my blog. I know I shouldn't let one horrible email throw me so much but it got under my skin fast and it's hard to get it back out. I know it's unnecessary but I apologize for two downer posts in one week. Apparently this is just not my week!
And completely off topic:
Come back Monday because I'm going to be having an awesome giveaway!
I'm SO sorry someone sent you a horrible email :( People are ridiculous! Of COURSE you should be YOU and share whatever you want on your blog. It's YOUR space. If people don't like it, they don't have to read it. Just delete that horrible email and forget about it. We all read your blog because we LOVE it. And you :)
ReplyDeleteyep. this is your blog. you can't make everyone happy. some people are perpetually UNhappy. hate it for them... don't let this stop you from trying to be open and honest. vulnerability is something we can all relate to :)
ReplyDeleteI am incredibly sorry that someone did that to ! Blogging is supposed to be a place for friendship and support, and there is no need for anyone to respond critically or judgmentally! Something I love about your blog is that you are open and honest - please don't let this person keep you from continuing to do that!
ReplyDeleteI am looking over this post again and still fuming about it. You are awesome, Sue! Don't let anyone get you down!
ReplyDeleteSue! I can't believe someone sent YOU an ugly email. You're so sweet and that post was just you being honest and open. Maybe that turdball should remember the "if you can't say something nice..." rule. I'm sorry friend. :( in happy news though, I mailed you a little something today! Set up a lookout at your mailbox! Ok it's not that exciting, but mail is always a happy thing ;)
ReplyDeleteI am really sad to hear that you received a nasty email. It is your blog and it can be anything you like. It should be a safe place. I blog openly and really raw, as well. It may be too much for some people but it's what I need to do to live authentically. Keep up the amazing work and ignore all the haters.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all- -I didn't feel like your post was a "downer" post at all! For that reason, I can't even begin to imagine that someone would have something mean to say about it! I know how it feels to question the things you write....but in the end, I'm always glad I did. There will always be someone who doesn't agree or doesn't love what we have to say, but there's nothing we can do about it. We are who we are, and the people who love us will support us and give us shoulders to lean on. We all have downer days. And they're what make us stronger!
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how the bad sticks to us more than the good sometimes. Although I remember and treasure so many good comments and emails (ahem, yours!), I remember one very cruel comment on a post I wrote almost two years ago, and it has still stayed with me.
ReplyDeleteExperiencing some similar things today, by the way.
I'm an overly sensitive person, and those things really hurt, so I totally understand. But let this blog be your place and yours alone- don't let anyone else take this space from you. You have so many people cheering you on and applauding your honesty.
the blogging community is SUCH a sweet place... why do some crap heads have to ruin it for all the rest of them? sigh. i've gotten a few responses sometimes that make me want to chuck it all, but fear not- the good DOES outweigh the bad!
ReplyDeleteI have no idea what someone could find to say negative about that post...you are human, and missing your family and feeling a little down & lost is totally normal, and you should be able to blog about it. Whoever managed to send something mean is a stupid ass and needs to get off the internet (sorry for the bad words).
ReplyDeleteIf you do not feel comfortable, of course, you should give yourself some time, but PLEASE don't let some jerk keep you from expressing yourself! For every jerk that may come across your page there's tons of us who actually care about what's going on and support you, no matter what you have to say :)
Oh, I'm sorry. Being an adoption blogger I recieve plenty of mean emails. I have learned to let them roll off my back. You're allowed to have a bad day and think of all the support you recieved because of that post!
ReplyDeleteI seriously cannot understand the mentality of people who take time out of their day to send horrible emails to other bloggers!?
ReplyDeleteIt makes no sense at all, and it says a whole lot more about them than it ever would about you!
Still, I'm sorry you had to deal with that. :/
Baby girl. Do I need to punch someone out? I love reading your blog. It lets me feel close to you and I know that you are doing well. You have a lot of great friends who follow you and love you. Just remember the mean ones are not happy with themselves. It's not about you. I love you! Mommy
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't worry about it. They are just jealous of your awesomeness and trying to steal your thunder. You have a lot of love and support from so many people. It is your blog and you should say what you want to say.
ReplyDeleteI read the previous post and I found absolutely nothing wrong with it. If someone has something mean to say it's as simple as don't read it, it's not like they where forced to read it. Your blog is awesome and totally worth while to read!
ReplyDeleteAwwwww Sue! I'm so sorry! The beautiful thing about blogging and social media...particularly blogging and Twitter...a person does not need to follow you if they don't like what you have to say! That's the plain and simple fact. So what it comes down to is...whoever sent you that email needs to get off it and realize they can hide behind their computer all they want but THEY are making the decision to follow you. You need to continue doing what you do. Blogging is a beautiful outlet and you should never have to change you and your feelings for one person that clearly has their own problems! There are many of us who look forward to your blogs because they are so real and I know they have actually made me smile on a rough day and that means so much more than you know! LOVE YOU!!!
ReplyDeleteYou got a horrible email over that post? I'm sorry, I'm trying to wrap my mind around that. This is YOUR blog, YOUR space. You get to write whatever you choose and if someone doesn't like it they can choose to not read. And FYI- I did not think that post was a downer. I thought it was real and true and I loved it.
ReplyDeleteIt says more about the ridiculous email SENDER than about your post. I hope you blocked/unfriended/rejected that negative waste of space from your life. Keep blogging as you do - I love reading your blog.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Rosie x
dearest sue, that makes me mad! this is YOUR blog and you, as the author have the right and freedom to write about whatever the heck you want and feel like. Who cares if it seems like a downer post (no one's life is perfect or in a constant state of happiness unless maybe they were on high from drugs lol) jk, in fact, i didn't think it was at all! I thought you were so honest and showing us (your readers, you!)Like in the above comments, that person chose to read your blog. If they didn't have something nice or positive to say, then those words shouldnt
ReplyDeletet have been spoken. IF they didn't like it, well that's THEIR problem not yours! keep on being sue that we all LOVE!! i enjoy reading whatever you have to say and share!! :)
I am so sorry you got a mean email... I've had really nasty comments on my blog and they're so hard to deal with.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I strongly believe that people who put hate into the world get hate back. So whoever sent you a mean email is only going to get that meanness back.
Stay strong lady.
Hang in there. You SHOULD be honest on your blog.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand people who leave mean comments. I see things I don't agree with on blogs all the time, and I simply skip over them and read the next blog. Never once have I found it necessary to take the time to stop, and write something nasty. Especially over someone just being a little down in the dumps. As though anyone ever doesn't feel like that sometimes. The kind of person who would stop and do that is a total freaking loser who is lying to themselves. Pretty sad and pathetic. And therefore their opinion doesn't matter, at all.
ReplyDelete