On Blogging out of Passion and Not Obligation

Shane is here today to talk about blogging obligation - when you're not a fashion blogger or DIY blogger. I'm sure a few of you can relate to her position! Make sure to show her some love :).

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Hello loyal Three Years Down readers!

Boy do I have a treat for you today. 

Oh yes, introductions. That's me, Shane, and my little fam down there.

I write over at Whispering Sweet Nothings & craft jewelry at WhisperingSweetly. Please pop by and introduce yourself, I love new visitors :)

Now, here's my take on the "Blogging Obligation"

I literally have one friend that blogs. The rest of my friends and family enjoy reading mine but say they would never be able to take one on themselves. In a perfect world, every one of my 756 friends on Facebook would switch over to blogging.  People would be real.  It wouldn't be a slew of status updates, check-in's and pointless drama. 

Now I know not everyone has the time, motivation or creativity to be a blogger.  But hey, I never in a million years thought I would be a blogger by any means.  I don't plan to become the next Casey Wiegand and make a living from my blog (Although she is amazing, don't get me wrong).

On blogging:  I feel like its something I "have" to do to keep my readers happy.   Even if I have 3 exams to study for, an interview to prepare for, and business meetings to attend each night.

And if you're like me, you have way more obligations to take care of than hours in the day.

Blogging should not be an obligation.

It should be something you enjoy for you.  Not your 3456 followers, not for your mom, not for your dog.

I began Whispering Sweet Nothings when my lovely cousin Megan began the 30 Day Challenge and I just had to jump on board. After the 30 days I took a break for a few months, then decided to start back up while I spent the summer in DC.  It became a place for me to vent about emotions, express my creativity (something I don't get much oppurtunity for stuck in an office dealing with finances 40+ hours a week), and just be me.

Once I really got going readership grew faster than I ever imagined...

then sponsor swapping began...

then the obligations came.

Sometimes I feel like I HAVE to post something each and every day.

Let's face it, I don't have a friend that will take a photo shoot of my less-than-stellar choice of outfits each and every day.  Being a college student, the only days I look nice are Friday through Sunday if I'm lucky.

My crafty side is seriously lacking... Scrapbooking is my only exception.

Sometimes I fall victim to throwing a bunch of Pins I find appealing on Pinterest which is clearly in no way my own ideas, simply because I don't have the enough hours in the day.

And I'm pretty positive I could burn boiling water...or cake pops. Fail!

I follow all these Mommy bloggers, fashion bloggers, DIY bloggers, none of which I fall under the umbrella of.  So what is my blog?  That is actually something I am still trying to define for myself.  I have "met" so many amazing people on here that I wish I could have as friends in real life.

I promise I will keep up with all the sponsoring/giveaway/random goodness that happens on this blog, for years to come.  If I'm lucky, you will eventually see photo dumps of my future children.

I just don't always have the gusto to promise that Monday will be outfit day, Tuesday will be X day, etc.  I have taken on a few projects: Bloggers Coast to Coast, Weekend Wanderings, Secrets on a Sunday, Operation Beautiful, Let's Get Pint-imate Challenge.

Blogs should be fun!  Your blog should be an expression of you, and not just for gaining followers, so in my opinion there is no "right" way to do it!  Just be YOU!
So tell me, why are YOU here?