Wednesday 28 September 2016

On this blog

I don't like my blog name.  I haven't liked it since the day I turned a year older than I was when I concocted it up at the awkward, clueless age of 14.  I remember lying in bed the night before I decided to create this blog, deciding on all the details of my first post and the logistics of the design.  For some reason the name was already decided at this point.  I must've spent a solid 5 minutes on it.  At the time, I guess, The Life of Little Me had a nice little ring to it.

Now it just sounds childish and unprofessional.  It sounds like the kind of blog a 14 year old girl would make to tell you all about her latest read of 'The Fault in Our Stars'.  It sounds like the kind of name that belongs to that tacky looking blue blogger design this blog first had.  I don't like being 'little me' because little seems so demeaning.  I don't like this being 'the life of' because it can only be a fragment of what I do and am.  I certainly do not like the link 'thelyfof...'.  It sounds like a 14 year old trying to be cool.

But at the same time, I don't know if I want to change it.  The Life of Little Me is a name that has been here from the beginning.  I wouldn't be able to associate this space with anything else.  I wouldn't know what else to call it either.  In some ways, while the name may seem immature, I think it's managed to grow with me.  I can look at it now and see this blog as it is, the things I share as they are.  The Life of Little Me isn't so much five different words strung together to form a cute little informative title.  Instead it's this one word, one string of letters, and it's my blog.

And yes, my URL is absolutely atrocious, but hey, what can you do.  Trying to change it would be too much hassle.  Here's hoping nobody notices.

...........

This blog has been through two designs.  The first was very very blue.  It could be compared to the 2006 version of Microsoft Office in my opinion.  It was clunky and clashy and awkward.

On my blog's one year anniversary I decided to become inspired again (but evidently, not inspired enough to learn how to code).  I googled the first remotely attractive free minimalist blog design and copied and pasted the html code - it was an incredibly smooth transition that took no thought whatsoever.  This blog design could be more comparable to the 2013 version of Microsoft Office, which is a big step up from 2006.

But now here I am deliberating whether to change it up again.  I've been loving the blogs with huge images which make their minimalist designs look less monotone.  I've been loving the blogs with only fragments of their posts on their home page, asking you to click to read more.  I've been loving the blogs without sidebars, leaving a wider screen available to showcase their actual content.  The problem here is that I don't have enough images, or the skills to actually code such a design.

This blog is also more writing based than image based, and frankly, I don't have the time or the interest to take beautiful photos for every post.  I would like the flexibility to position such photos where ever I would want in whatever size I would want though, but these are the limits of not being a tech-savvy blogger who would never pay for her own domain.

...........

Over the two years I've been here my content has never changed.  I may post less often and about different things, but effectively it's all still me sharing stuff I care about with you.

This blog has always been flexible.  There are no labels here.  There's no purpose.  There's no editing or drafting or planning.  I've always been able to post what I want when I spontaneously want to.

I read so many posts about bloggers who are concerned about their followers and making their lives look perfect.  I hear so many people come here with the intent of becoming famous somehow, without actually knowing what their blog is for or what they're here to write about.  But who am I to judge?  We all blog for different reasons, and I'm just thankful that while my 14 year old self didn't have the best judgement with names or designs, she did have the idea to start this blog.

I'm thankful that this blog is still here as my little me project, and probably always will be.

Love,
M

17 comments:

  1. I'm glad you're here, I'm glad you're still writing truthfully, and I'm glad you've gone through all the growth that comes with teenage years, even if it means reflecting on some not-so-great blogging decisions.

    I've thought about changing my blog name, too, but I ultimately stuck with it because of its simplicity and, er, brand recognition.

    In the end I'm sure you could change it or not and your audience wouldn't mind either way.

    Ella ★ <a href="http://www.scribblesbyella.blogspot.com”>Simply Scribbles</a>

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha yeah I wouldn't call it brand recognition, but maybe recognition? Like I know everyone who follows this blog knows it by its name, and then what would happen if I changed it? It would be like.. huh? Also what would I, or you, even change it to? This is serious business! Thanks so much Ella x

      Delete
  2. No matter what the name of your blog is, what it looks like, or how many followers it has I will always love it because of the content that is here. Your writing style and deep conversation with all of us and most important yourself have inspired me.

    I understand wanting change and not wanting change at the same time. Sometimes I would rather change my blogs name or deign but I like it the way it is too. Same goes to your blog. A change is never bad and keeping it the same is fine!

    The teen years are awkward but the writing is what really matters. You were one of the first bloggers I followed and I have started being called V because of your name. A cute abbreviation. I am getting off topic but point is your blog is one I really really enjoy reading.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw thanks so much Vanessa, or V. I'm glad you enjoy reading it. I know I enjoy reading your comments.

      Delete
  3. You know M, it's natural to feel like you want to change. And it's ok to change too. I've been quietly reading your latest posts (not in a creepy way tho lol) and it seems like most of them involve the element of change.But you should know that it's ok if you wake up one day and decide you like one thing and dislike the other, because you can always change it back, and it won't even be that big of a deal to those who truly matter.

    And trust me, the thing about bloggers and followers is so real because I'm currently going through that.But what makes your blog so special is you. You're content is basically you and you are such an interesting 'little' being!You simply ooze authenticity even amidst your doubts and confusion, you're still authentic, raw and real.And that's priceless!Also, I love your name.And the url.You should definitely keep them. or nah. That's fine too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Followers has never really been a big thing for me. I'm more here for that content, but I also feel like my blog name doesn't suit that content, and it's not me. But it has kinda grown on me too, so I probably won't change it. Thank you so much for this comment, and keep reading those old posts in your non-creepy way. They were written to be read! Also, I love change.

      Delete
  4. You know, I smiled through this entire post. It just sounds like a person growing. And it was beautiful to read, your transition. :')

    ReplyDelete
  5. We all change as we grow up. I know that I have. Even though it can be sooooo awkward to look back at old blog-related things, it's kind of a nice little walk down memory lane.

    I'm glad that you're still here:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Exactly! That's why I keep all my old posts. I enjoy looking through them as like an archive of what I've found important over the years.

      Delete
  6. I had my own doubts after a few months of blogging under the name 'The Bearable Blog'. At the time, I didn't mean for the blog to become so serious, the punny name kind of reflected my attitude. But now I'm kind of where you're at, since it's always been called Bearable Blog (also, it really is a hassle to change it).

    Also, if you need any help with coding, I can offer my help. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nah. I feel like I just don't have the energy to learn. People have offered before but I'd rather just copy and paste from google and stuff. I'm probably never going to make another website other than this. And Bearable Blog has a nice ring to it! I feel like it's what you came up with originally so it's like the essence of your blog now. It has a homey feel to it.

      Delete
  7. I always go back and forth on my design too, wish I had the skills to make it amazing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha maybe one day in the future we'll have the incentive to learn how to code or something :')

      Delete
  8. Dude, I feel you SO HARD. My first name was "Random Rants by Rcubed" and it was just so...thirteen. Like I don't even know what I was thinking. I don't even know what my dad was thinking, lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rcubed :') That's actually so good. Maybe a change of name can be a good thing, but at the same time.. it's so much effort.

      Delete
  9. You don't know how MUCH I actually relate to this post.

    When I was around 15, I had the same thought process going on. I used to keep thinking, "Oh, but my blog is so lame and so boring. Who's going to read it?"

    If you do think about it, the URL "eeriefairy" does sound a bit stupid, doesn't it?

    But later on, as I grew older, I realized that I didn't want to create a blog that catered to the needs of everyone else and I really didn't want a blog which didn't make me happy.

    Which is why, I decided to just keep as it is...

    Stay awesome as ever,

    Much love,

    Archie <3

    ReplyDelete