Does Anyone Ever Read These Posts?

Silence is a text easy to misread.  
~A.A. Attanasio

I don't think I am the only blogger to ever wonder this.    

The post on the Self Care Girl blog with the highest number of hits is one I wrote over a year ago about the importance of celebrating a regular Date Night with your significant other.   It didn't take me long to realize that the traffic to that post was solely directed by the photo I chose of Disney's Lady & the Tramp.   I would like to think that an occasional wayward surfer actually took a moment to read my blog, but judging by the comments on that particular post  (zero comments), I cannot gauge inspiration, exasperation nor apathy.

In the beginning it is thrilling to find that someone found your blog interesting enough to "follow" it or leave a comment.   Nobody has to know that the one friend who likes your blog is your Mom, or your sister, your best friend or YOU personally, for that matter (if you write under an alias).  

And this is true of most posts, really.  More often than not I get what I optimistically refer to as "silent applause."

Occasionally, I will receive a sign that a particular post touched a nerve (a direct comment on the blog or on the link I place on facebook).  Often I will speak with someone who out of the blue tells me "oh- that post on (insert topic here)...I could really relate to that!" or, "I love your blog - it really reminds me that I need to take care of myself better".  I have had a few posts re-posted by others, and an invitation to provide regular content on another very inspirational site.    This kind of feedback is always encouraging.

However, I think it is important to keep blogging in perspective.   I started this blog for many reasons:  to inspire other women to take care of themselves;  to practice my craft (I love to write); because I am passionate about my own self-care; to explore my own interest in social media; to provide something positive and selfless to the world.     

The point of this post (and I do have one) is that the feedback you receive (or lack there of) should not silence your purpose or your voice.
  

Putting yourself out there- expressing your thoughts and ideas- takes courage.   Not everyone will agree with you and there will certainly be people who just don't care enough about what you think to comment.  This is okay.  It does not reflect your worth as a human being...or the value of your thought.  

So far, no one has attempted to silence me....sometimes that IS the best you can hope for!  (Although I find the idea of expressing some dangerous and earth shattering idea somewhat alluring...hmm...)

In my opinion, there is nothing more worthless than a thought NOT expressed.  (The caveat -of course- is that you should aim to keep damaging thoughts under some control here).   What goes on in your head is of little consequence if it is not expressed or transformed into an action.   Sharing ideas allows us to connect with others.  It allows you to express your existence.  And, quite frankly, your opinion matters more than you may think it does.