We all have lives outside of blogging. For most people, blogging takes up only a small part of their lives. Still, starting a blog is a great way to share your thoughts with the world. But life can change, and so can your blogging habits. Bloggers aren’t obligated to keep posting the way they used to. Now I’ll get to the important part and the real point of this post: Following a blog isn’t a contract that requires you to read every post immediately or even comment on it.

I really appreciate all my followers and don’t want to miss out on any of you or on the wonderful exchanges we have time and again. But there’s one thing that really bothers me: when followers apologize for being “late” reading and commenting on my posts. There’s absolutely no obligation to read my posts just because you follow me. My blog is open to everyone at all times, and I don’t keep any lists that I check off at the end of the day to see who was there and who wasn’t. My posts will likely remain online for as long as this blog exists. As I was thinking about all this, I was reminded of one of Hugh’s posts: Blogging – Is It All That You Want It To Be? There is one paragraph that describes the issue very well:

The two biggest blogging traps to look out for

Most of the people I have encountered in the blogging world are friendly. However, not all help themselves. By this, I mean that some bloggers seem to believe they have to be everywhere at all times. It’s one of the biggest blogging traps bloggers fall into, one that can turn their blogging world upside down and inside out, and leave them feeling stressed or guilty. It’s a horrible place, yet it is easy to escape – if you allow it.

Spreading yourself too thin doesn’t make you more popular. It only makes you less interesting.

Some bloggers apologise for dealing with life outside of the blogging world. Some apologise for not visiting your blog. I recently witnessed a blogger apologising for being late in leaving a comment. The post had only been published the day before she left the comment. I don’t know why they believe they need to apologise. Nobody needs to apologise for dealing with life outside of blogging or for not visiting a blog. And if the comments section of a post is open, you are not too late in commenting.

To everyone who feels the need to apologize: PLEASE, DON’T! I’m happy about every visitor, whenever they stop by, but I wouldn’t expect that from anyone – just as none of you would expect it from me either. Feel free to stop by whenever you feel like it, and if you just don’t feel like it, that’s totally fine! I cannot be here every day anymore either. So: Just relax and enjoy!

In Love and Light

P.S. Check out Hugh’s blog over at HughsViewsAndNews. He has not only fantastic blogging tips but also amazing short stories.