9.26.2017

Please Stay

After seven years of blogging, where I posted usually five days a week, taking and editing my own pictures, creating hundreds of original DIYs, I ceased.

 And I had no intention of doing such a thing. I blogged through illnesses, vacations, through losses, personal struggles, deaths and depression. In fact, I had recently posted about my overcoming a recent bout of depression. I kept blogging as other bloggers went through burnouts or life changes and faded away. Not me! I had THREE YEARS of draft ideas for future blog posts. Nothing was gonna stop me!

And then I stopped.

For a month.


So here’s what happened when I stopped: 

Nothing!

Now this isn’t a new phenomenon. I have read plenty of posts on how bloggers took a break and had some sort of epiphany, like they were spending too much time away from family, that they were always on their phones, not really living life, you know, stuff like that. Not me. I was still on my phone or computer. I thought I would be sitting around finally catching up on all of those books I never get a chance to read. Or some nagging chore. Nope, I still tried out beauty products, I still took pictures, I still made things. 

I thought others would notice my absence, just begging me to come back. Nope, that didn’t happen either. Instead, I got encouragement from many to quit, something I’d not considered. It was like people didn’t notice I wasn’t blogging anymore (hey, we are all busy doing our own thing, so I didn’t take it personally). 

After another “maybe you should quit” message, the thought of leaving for good started to weigh heavily on me. I mean, I’ve never really felt like I fit in the blogging world. I’m not a gorgeous young 20 something sharing killer outfits. I’m not a Mommy blogger writing about the adventures of her family and the struggle of being a mom. I’m not an Instagram beauty blogger—I keep my makeup pretty natural-looking. Maybe they were right. I should just throw away all of that hard work. Maybe it was time for goodbye.

I opened up a draft to compose my last blog post, after not opening Blogger for a month. I decided to let the words flow. I just wrote two:

Please Stay

That was it. Those two words to you might mean an incantation to cajole my readers to not leaving me. But I saw it as a message to myself. You see, I felt lost when I wasn’t blogging, as if a part of me was missing. Blogging was never a chore to me. I always loved it. Sure, there are plenty of tedious, time-consuming aspects to it, but I truly have missed this space.

Those two words were a reminder to the advice I had always given—I write this blog for me. Me! Yes, I want it to be informative and helpful, but even if no one read it, like in the beginning, I stilll wrote. Elle Sees, the blog about all things beauty, is just who I am. And being here is what makes me the happiest.

But I can’t go back to how things were. There need to be some changes in this space that I created and love so much. First, I probably won’t be able to post 5 days a week anymore. My life (new job, 10 hour work days) and my body (restless legs, feeling tired), aren’t allowing it right now (although I’m really hoping that changes). Second, I am going to put more of ME into my Blog. It’s not going to be easy. I’m an introverted guarded person to begin with. I’m still uncomfortable in front of the camera. But it’s time to do it. Finally, I’m going to freshen up the design—it’s been this way for too many years, so expect some changes soon. Maybe it’s the season—I’ve always equated autumn with change.

I hope you will please stay.

I know I’m going to!





39 comments:

  1. SO happy to hear from you. Blogging isn't easy, and while I don't view it as a chore either it does take time and effort. I'm glad you decided to stay because I LOVE reading your posts and am excited to hear more about you. Sending love!

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  2. Yay! You're back! I've been so sporadic about blogging lately, and last night I was looking through my list and saw that you really hadn't blogged in such a long time. I thought to myself, I guess blogging is really dying out. I'm so glad that you're going to stay with it, and I can't wait to read your future posts! :)

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  3. Elle!! Hear it from me: PLEASE STAY! Write what you want to write about. I would love to read about it. I am going to stay.

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  4. Glad to have you back! I can't wait to see what the new design will look like!

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  5. I'm glad you're staying! I'm still here!

    I know exactly how you feel. In it's heyday, blogging was so fun and inclusive and supportive and I haven't felt any of that in a long, long time. I still blog for me though. Not because I have a particular story to tell, but because it's an outlet for me, no matter how trivial my topics are. Haha!

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  6. Yes, please stay! You have so much to offer and I miss seeing your smiling face on my feed. Good luck with this new chapter regardless of how many posts you can do! @bumpylife

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  7. So happy to see you back! You have been missed!

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  8. I'm SO happy to see a post from you. And to hear that you will be staying! I'll be here as long as you are, and always visit your blog and support you. You don't need to be a 20 something fashion blogger, an Instagram blogger, or a mom blogger. You are absolutely perfect and beautiful the way you are, and so is your blog. I'm excited to have you back, and it honestly hurts my heart that others were encouraging you to quit blogging. I'll be here through all the changes to your blog, and maybe things can't go back to the way they were but that doesn't mean that things still won't be great <3

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  9. I’m excited to see more of you in the blog! I personally love the authenticity you bring to your blog and I love the posts where you bring that voice to bear in talking about yourself and your own experiences. I’m so glad you’re back!

    Courtney

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  10. YAY! So thrilled to see you back, AND to hear we are going to see more of YOU on the blog!

    Kimberly Sheppard

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  11. I think your decision is wonderful, Elle. And cutting back is never a bad idea. Can't wait to read more!!
    XOOX
    Jodie
    www.jtouchofstyle.com

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  12. I've missed your posts and I'm glad your back! I can't wait to see your upcoming posts!

    Jill
    Doused in Pink

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  13. I kind of tried to say "please stay" when I commented on your facebook page, but I didn't want to be a burden, since I knew you said you were dealing with depression - and that could be putting pressure, which is not good. You are 20-something gorgeous blogger, for sure! I feel like stopping may times, but like you said, I write more for me. So I am glad you posted this now and shared your thoughts! Staying or leaving, you must be happy. When you say nothing happened, I think it did - you took time to think, to decide, and that is priceless!
    DenisesPlanet.com

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  14. I remembered and thought you were still adjusting to the new job.
    Life gets in the way sometimes and blog would be the first to give, I felt like you were ok since I was still seeing IG posts from you. I am glad you're still around my dear and you actually are ok. You add such a great voice and I learned about some many brands from you too.
    I'm still trying to get back into things post baby but my littlest one is pretty demanding now. Someday...

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  15. Thanks for the update! You've been missed Elle! Sounds like you have so many things going on right now and I'm glad to hear you will still be posting to this space.

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  16. So happy to hear you've decided to stay. I definitely did notice your absence and missed hearing from you for the last little bit, but completely understand that life happens and sometimes blogging can't be the priority. At the end of the day if it brings you joy, keep on keeping on and don't worry about the rest of it. Sending hugs your way! <3

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  17. Welcome back sweet friend, so happy you've decided to stay <3
    Green Fashionista

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  18. Welcome back!!! I, for one, am certainly glad you stayed!!! I definitely noticed you weren't blogging...but I never ask someone why they aren't. I don't want them to feel pressured to come back if they cant or whatever they have going on. Sometimes we do feel burnout or need to step back for a bit. I love that you are going to put more of yourself into it coming back. That is my favorite thing about blogging, getting to know all these amazing people :)

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  19. I hope to see more of your posts soon! I have missed reading them!

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  20. Elle, you have blogged and powered through many ups and downs over the years and seems to be you finally hit a wall. You took a very long and well-deserved break and I applaud you for it. I am not here to tell you to stay or quit, that is not my place but I will always be here catching up on your post whenever you decide to update. xx

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  21. I am staying for sure... & even more excited you'll be making it more about you & personal - those are the best blogs to me.
    & I get it - I feel lost when I dont blog. Its a part of me. Not that it matters to anyone else in the world, but its something therapeutic to my soul ... plus, my dad always likes to read so I know I have one reader ;) haha

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  22. What a lovely post. I know what you mean, sometimes i wonder what i was doing before i started blogging. I go through all the doubts about it too but to be honest i don't what i would be doing otherwise x

    franklyflawless.com

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  23. So beautiful Elle. Always. I won't be going anywhere! Welcome back and I'm so glad you got a break

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  24. Glad to hear you aren't giving up. I think once you post 5x a week you feel you NEED to and that's not the case. I used to post 4x a week, then 3x and now 2x. Do what YOU can handle. It's hard when you get a steady schedule going but I have tried to tell myself its not the end of the world if I don't get a blog post up. I hope you figure out what works best for you and continue to do what you love.

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  25. Listen, you have been missed. Im not sure who told you to go away, but they are not the voice of the masses. You were one of the blogs I read even when I wasnt blogging myself. So yes, please stay! :)

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  26. I was actually wondering about you. I still saw you posting on IG and FB and I was wondering if somehow Bloglovin' wasn't showing your posts (it has done that before with my blog and I've had to email them- grr)... I am glad to hear you're going to try to make it work! I would love to see you back. I did love reading about how you really didn't have a lot of extra time minus blogging, I've always wondered about that! I guess you just find other things to fill the void. I'm excited to learn more about you!!

    Carrie
    curlycraftymom.com

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  27. I'm so happy that you're not going to quit! I loved reading your blog, and all about your beauty tips! A new job is a huge adjustment, and I can't wait to see where the blogging world takes you in the future!

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  28. I'm so glad you will still be blogging! You were missed :)

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  29. Hey Elle! So glad to see a post from you! I'm glad you're here to stay!

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  30. Welcome back. I did notice your absence and I'm really glad that you are back. Hope your new job is going well. There is nothing wrong with taking a break, I'm glad you did decide to come back. You have been missed.

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  31. Sometimes a blogging break is needed whatever the reason may be. Welcome back sweet lady!

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  32. I'm glad that you will continue to blog. I had noticed that I hadn't seen anything from you in a while, but thought that maybe I somehow missed it. I love checking out your blog.
    http://therantingsofadramaqueensmum.blogspot.com

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  33. Glad you decided to stay . . . breaks are good for the soul and make you realize that it is for you and no one else . . . that's why I keep coming back too! You take care!

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  34. Missed your beauty blogs, but I understand people have things going on, so I didn't say anything. Glad you are back and can't wait to catch up.

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  35. Woohoo! I'm glad to see a post from you - I must say I'm very bad at reaching out via email, but I definitely always came back to see if you had posted. It's your blog, do what feels natural to you! I can't say I've really blogged in the past few weeks, not because I don't have things to write about, but I dunno what I intend to do. In any case, I can't wait to see the new changes around here!! xx

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  36. I'm very glad you stayed. Yours is one of the few blogs I actually open and read. I did notice but didn't want to bother you in case you were on vacation or dealing with personal stuff.

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  37. I think it's important to examine your life occasionally and ensure you are walking a path that brings you joy. I definitely missed you!!!

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