Hi there,
I miss blogging. I want to get back to it.
It seemed a little bit awkward to just bust into a regular post after a long hiatus, I’m pretty sure I owe you beautiful people a little explanation regarding my whereabouts.
Several factors contribute to my dwindling presence and then straight up absence over the last ~5 months.
This blog has never been a money maker for me. I did decide to “monetize” about a year and a half ago and joined onto Foodbuzz as a Featured Publisher. This means that I signed a contract, put some codes into my blog, and ran an ad down the side of each page. I got paid based on how many people looked at my blog each day. The dollar amount was pretty insignificant but it did offset the costs involved in running a blog and made the whole thing feel a little more validated. Also, getting paid based on views was a good incentive to keep up with posting and try to grow my readership.
In November us Featured Publishers got a note saying that the ad part of our program was going to be ending in a few weeks time. I was a little thrown by this development. Like I said, this blog has never been about making money but it had become a bit of a job (you can/should love your work! Job doesn’t have to be a dirty word!) and without the compensation I felt both free and lost.
*side note, I am still interested in monetizing the blog and have a few things in the works. It is of utmost importance to me to only advertise/promote things/ideas/products that are in line with my beliefs and the tone of Gracefulfitness. I will write more about this in the near future.
Then December hit. That month is always odd. So busy, so fun, so full of stress, so dark. I traveled for a lot of the month and felt both overwhelmed by the idea of posting during this time and uninspired.
Two things happened after this; I got out of the habit of posting and I went through some very intense and distracting/consuming shit in my personal life.
So yeah, a perfect storm of factors occurred and I all but abandoned this blog! Thank you to those of you who continued to check in and even take the time to let me know you miss me, I really appreciate it and miss you too!
All I have to say at this point is, thank goodness for Spring!! I am feeling that good Spring energy, it’s a time for rebirth, renewal, reawakening.
Spring and all its flowers
now joyously break their vow of silence.
It is time for celebration, not for lying low;
You too — weed out those roots of sadness from your heart.
~Hafiz
Love, love, love, and happy Spring!
Faith
So glad you are back- I enjoy your blog ” speak “.
Luv the food details!!!!
I welcome your return to blogging and anticipate many insightful, educational and enjoyable postings.
Welcome back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I still get on and check for your recipes 🙂
Hope you guys are great xx
So glad you are back! Yours has always been one of my favorite reads 🙂
Great to see your new post 🙂 Happy Spring (doesn’t feel like spring at all in St. Louis but I’m hopeful it will come)!
Welcome back! 🙂
Oh I’m so glad to see this! You’re one of my very favorite blogs! Hope all is well.
See you again soon!
Always inspirational and so very graceful Faith!
Welcome back! I have certainly missed your voice here in this space, and look forward to reading more soon. Hope things are well with you–I really am hoping to make it to your dance class soon! Tuesdays have been the most difficult evening for me to leave work before 7pm…
Glad to see you back, and wishing you a fresh and vibrant spring!
Love that quote and so glad to have you back! I have no problem with bloggers making money off their work as long as they are true to who they are and I know you will embody that spirit. I look forward to what you have coming up for us. Again, so glad to have you back.
🙂 🙂 🙂
Thank you Joanna!
So glad you’re back!
Yay! You’re back! Thank you for the insight into the blogging world. We should all get paid for what we enjoy. Keep enjoying! Happy Spring!
Thanks Natalie! Let’s get together some time soon.
So happy you are back (but sorry to hear about the “stuff” that happened) – I was wondering about you! Although I don’t know you in person – or what is the tech-speak now – IRL? – I missed your writing all the same.
glad your back. been reading for years it seems & was sad a lil not to see your posts & pictures. Always enjoy your perspective on life and love your photos. Never really comment but always read!! 🙂
katie
Thank Katie, I’m glad to be back too. F