Friday, December 4, 2009

About Those Comments

I love your comments. They are as much a part of my day as my morning chai, the need for a shower, kisses from my family. Your shared thoughts provide me with continual moments of respite and reward.

It's always been important to me that I reply to you individually, within each post's comment section, and I've liked bringing the comment circle to completion. It's been my small attempt at hospitality, letting you know I appreciate the time you took to say something about my post.

The time has come for me to rethink this. I didn't want it to, but it has.

Between family, household, holidays, writing a novel, visiting others' blogs and all those other things that make up a life, responding in such a way isn't always going to be possible anymore. And I hate that, because it feels kind of like I'm taking away my part of a life line so crucial to, well, my life.

Sappy, ain't? (That's me, in a nutshell.)

I know you haven't expected it, anyway. I know this will be no skin off your noses, and I'm not trying to place some psuedo self-important purpose on this thing I've always done. I just wanted to be clear with you all that I will continue to relish your words. That your comments will feed me, they will bring warm and lifted moments to my days, even if I don't call attention to it by replying.

Thank you for being my readers. And please, do keep those comments coming. I appreciate them, and I appreciate you.

31 comments:

Wendy Paine Miller said...

What a great communicator you are! I'll keep 'em coming.
~ Wendy

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Thanks for letting us know, Janna. I'd much prefer to get your posts without your replies than no posts at all.

At least I know where to find you... :)

WendyCinNYC said...

I don't think you need to respond to every comment. I'll still visit!

JLC said...

No comment.



Hehe.. sorry, I had to say it. ;)

Rosaria Williams said...

We all get to this point, sooner or later. The nice thing, we all understand.

Jessica Nelson said...

I appreciate your comments too! I love commenting back to people, and I like when someone replies to what I've written, but honestly? I rarely go back to check if someone replied.
So don't feel bad. :-) I think you're very sweet to post this.

septembermom said...

I always am amazed when people comment back. It looks like an exhausting endeavor. Janna, we all LOVE you. Of course, we'll come back over and over and comment all the time. Happy Friday!!!

Kristen Torres-Toro said...

Definitely! I understand time restraints! Have a great weekend, Janna!

Melanie Hooyenga said...

I'm just checking if you've caved yet. :)


LOL @ JLC!

Tamika: said...

How thoughtful of you. It is very time consuming and we certainly understnd that better than anyone. I try to make one global comment back or just those that asked a specific question.

Diane said...

Everything is a time choice. We know you still love us and we love you! :O)

Cindy R. Wilson said...

I know just how you feel! Sometimes you have to rethink your strategy. But don't worry, I'll still comment!

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Janna -

I understand the effort it takes to reply to comments because I do it. There are times when we have to make adjustments.

Just try to keep me away. :)

Blessings,
Susan

Susan R. Mills said...

I gave up doing that too. It's just more time consuming, and I don't think most people come back and see if you responded anyway.

Donna M. Kohlstrom said...

So glad to hear you post this as I was thinking the same and felt maybe I was being a bit selfish reading all the great blog posts out there and not always replying to every comment not because I didn't want to but because of time constraints.

Looking forward to reading your blog and know that comment or not...reply or not...I'm out there loving every minute of reading everyone's posts!

Jill Kemerer said...

Comments are my way of monopolizing the conversation (wink, wink!) and I have no intention of stopping!

Have a great weekend!

Voidwalker said...

Yeah, without comments, my blog would crumble from my sadness. I understand though that it is difficult to reply to everyone. Once you build a big enough blog base, it's almost impossible to, unless you live on here.

Deb Shucka said...

Your visits to my blog feel like the completed circle to me - the circle of a friendship. Taking care of yourself and finding some balance in order to do that is critical. So proud of you for doing just that. Love.

Karen said...

You just keep writing, and posting, and you'll always have readers. Blessings*

Nadine said...

And I appreciate you!!

Terri Tiffany said...

I am always amazed when the poster goes back and answers that way. I feel bad cause I never go back and see if they answered as I don't have the time!
I didn't even know you always did that! UGH! But you are always so good at emailing if something needs to be said and that I love!

Joanne said...

Hey Janna, thanks for the heads-up! Always enjoy stopping by here, hope to see you around :)

Katie Ganshert said...

I think that's an excellent decision. I used to try to keep up with individually responding to all the ocmments, but it got overwhelming, but like you, I still cherish all of them!

Jody Hedlund said...

Hi Janna,

I had to do the exact same thing a while back. Even though it can be an important way to socialize, I think so many of us are really too busy to go back to blogs and re-read the comments. (I'm actually blogging about comments next week!) It is a struggle and I appreciate your forthrightness about it!

Analisa said...

I so understand. I went back to work and rarely get to read all the blogs anymore and felt bad when I didn't respond to comments like I used to and I only post once a week.

We know you appreciate folks who read your blog. Like Melanie said, I prefer to get the post.

Anonymous said...

I don't know how you've kept up with your comments for so long. Really, you've done an amazing job. We'll keep enjoying your blog even with your silence. ;-)

Hope you're having a great weekend.
-FringeGirl

Capri K @ No Whining Allowed said...

I'm ashamed to say that I wasn't even aware that you did that for a loooong time! I am really.so.alert.

No biggie, still think you are a doll!

Carol J. Garvin said...

I think many of us are discovering that we have to prioritize... that time spent online has to be used to the best advantage. Interacting with our readers is important but there's a limit to how much time we can spend repeatedly going back over comments. So don't feel guilty. We understand.

Joshua said...

love ya too cous!

* said...

While I admire the bloggers who respond to every comment personally, sometimes less is more. I enjoy your blog & thoughts all the same!! ;)

Lori said...

I have been struggling with this thing too, although probably not as much as you, because I don't get all that many comments. But you are wonderful indeed, Janna. You do things so well. I bet nobody ever gets upset with you.