Lurking

Since reading Katie's last two posts I've been thinking about lurking.  I'm not a huge fan of the word but it is what it is, so I move on.  BTW Katie, I put my email address on my profile.  So now I've got TWO ways for people to contact me - my blog email and my real email!  Keep pregnant girls happy y'all - that's the rule.  Oh yeah, go read what she wrote about lurkers - that way my post will make a little more sense and you can act accordingly.

So back to people who read your blog without telling you, i.e. leaving a comment/email.  On one hand, of course I want to know who is reading what I write.  I feel less alone, more validated when someone comes on and says "I know what you're going through" or "Hang in there" or "Pretty mirror!" 

We all like validation and we all want to connect with others, otherwise we wouldn't have/read blogs.  For me, I like knowing that I'm not the only one in the world with an imperfect marriage, or who's struggling with infertility, or simply that I'm not the only one who thinks the world is funny.  So many times I'm alone and something ridiculously funny happens to me and for a moment I think that was so crazy!  I wish someone could have been here with me to see that!  Then I remember that I have a blog and if I tell the story right, it will be like you were there! 

I would looove to know who is out there, who is reading, who thinks I'm funny, who cries with me, who is happy with me.  That would be cool, but I don't think it's entirely necessary.  I do the same thing - I hop around on tons of other blogs, reading their stories but not commenting because I don't want to sound like an idiot by leaving a comment like I was here, cool story because sometimes that's all I have to say.  Other times I leave long, novel-like comments because I'm that moved and I want the writer to know.

It's a funny thing, this blogging and commenting and lurking.  I would love to have a cool blog with a slick layout and kabillions of followers because who doesn't?  Even if the people who read my blog clicked 'follow' after reading only one post and have since not read anything I've written, I touched them that one time.  Wait, that didn't sound right.  They liked me enough in that one instance to click 'follow' and that is super awesome and I thank you all.  And I loooove comments just like the next girl - with each comment back and forth I feel like we're forging a friendship.  I love hearing from those who read what I write, hands down.

However, those that read and don't click 'follow' and don't leave comments - you're awesome too!  I'm happy that you bear witness to my life because that matters to me.  Scratch that, it means so very much to me.  It warms my heart - no lie.


So if you want to stay in the shadows and never comment or email me, I'm actually okay with that.  Somehow, some way, I know you're out there and that's enough.  In fact....

*this is me moving an imaginary internet tree to give you a little more shade*


How's that?