…taking time out for real life.
Our friend YNB, Beano, The Bean, Just Jill over at the Elemental My Dear Blog has a challenge out to her readers to define what “Love Is’ Head over to her site and see who has answered the call but be prepared to bring a hankie as none are provided and several are needed.
She encouraged us to think of it in terms of our own style. My style has always been not to follow the rules so I decided to talk about what Love ISN’T.
Love is not…relationships on the internet. Sure there are those who meet, fall in love via the web and live happily ever after. But if you have been working that route for 2+ years, I have to tell you, you need to do something else. I spent my single days internet dating. It was when I realized that route wasn’t working that I started spending those hours volunteering. Meet new people, who introduce you to new people, who introduce you to the love of your life. I repeat this constantly to single friends. “If you always do what you have always done, you’ll always get what you always got.”
Love is not…another visitor, another hit, another follower, another comment. I am the worst about dashing home from work or dinner or wherever to see if I had a comment to respond to or got closer to a daily visit record. That isn’t love, that is ego. And I am all for ego stroking but there are times where it can get addictive. I didn’t start this site to make money, I did it to share my work and hopefully make someone laugh once in a while.
So because that isn’t love, I have decided to take a break to refresh my real relationships. I also have been slacking in doing volunteer work the last year so I want to explore opportunities to keep giving back. So I am going to take a break for the next week and not get on my blog, not visit your blog. No twitter, facebook, stumbleupon, reddit, etc etc etc. It’s a time for me to refresh and renew the real relationships that I have in life with loved ones.
I had things lined up to post over the next week automatically but I pulled them all. I can’t offer advice and then feed your habit of coming here 20x a day. haha So nothing from me. Some people might cry that that is the wrong thing to do to keep people coming back to your site and building your audience. Screw that. The people that care will be back. And don’t worry, I will be all ready for some new ego stroking when I get back.
Hope everyone has a safe Valentines Day (for those countries that celebrate) and take the time to go hug a real person. Remember your computer doesn’t hug back.
Comments
33 responses to “Love is…”
Love this Bearman.
Your talent and wit aren´t going anywhere, and neither are your fans.
Enjoy your break.
Bear, this post is fabulous! You better not be coming on to check these comments until next week!! 🙂
Have a wonderful, loving week and thank you for taking the challenge!
good post about a good point – bloggers like everyone need balance
A very fine post; be refreshed by the break…
Great advise Bear and well stated. Enjoy.
I hope that you enjoy your very well deserved time away … 🙂
Ah Bearman it’s Valentine’s day already here in Oz and I’ve already kissed and hugged my boy at 7.00am this morning. He woke me to tell me her was ‘ hungry ‘. I had to laugh so that was the start of the our wonderful day.
Enjoy your break
Ann
You don’t see Abe Vigoda slacking off.
Enjoy your break.
This was like straight from the heart. All that was missing was one of your cartoons….joke
This is the truth..well said.
Love is telling the truth even when it hurts.
L – A -M – E – O
lol just kidding bearman. big bearhugs! ill see ya when you get back 😀 Loony and I will continue ruffling feathers and causing trouble hehe
The soft sensitive side of Bearman!! Lovely, very lovely. I also did lots of online dating, but that’s for another time.
I love the post and the simple sincere thought behind it. You will be missed but a week is short. Enjoy, come back refreshed.
counting the days already – enjoy your break !!!
Nice post Bearman. Enjoy eating those candy hearts today.
(BTW – I’ve got you linked up over at Toaster)
Great post….and not to sound redundant (because I can at times), but enjoy your break from the cyber world.
When the time is right, we’ll still be here for you to use and abuse….
You suck! How dare you get a life 🙁
baahahhaha loon so funny
That’s awesome Bearman. You should love the one’s in you life. That’s why I do my strip when everyone’s in bed. That’s my ‘me’ time… 😀
I know exactly what you’re saying, Bearman. We’re gonna sorely miss you until your triumphant return. Have a great respite.
Enjoy your break. When you’re back, I will be, too. I ain’t leavin’ just ’cause you’re taking a break! 😀
That is one reason I don’t have an internet connection in my home. I am afraid that I would neglect real life. Way to go Bearman. We will all be back.
So Bo, are you doing your blog from work? 🙂
It is where I pretend to work and my boss pretends to pay me. I go in early to update my stuff every day and I go to the library once a week and post my stuff for the coming week. My boss is well aware of my activities. I am an honest and honorable man.
So is that why you use same avatar but two different names? Blahahahaha Bo Lumpkin you crack me up 🙂
See you when you get back.
Save some lives.
Enjoy your time with loved ones..we will await your return!!!
Love is . . . . watching the Swedish Bikini team bringing you a gourmet prime rib dinner 🙂
. . . and awaiting your refreshed return!
If you love someone, set them free… believe me the statute of limitations on kidnapping is looooong 😛
hey, you know that no one is more sparatic that i when it comes to the internet. and you’re right, those who care WILL come back. just as i will always visit you, no matter if i’m gone for a couple days or couple months.
and i came to the same conclusion about the volunteering. thats a big part of my life thats been missing for the past year and i feel that has something to do with my depression. volunteering gives perspective and gets the focus off of you. i’m with ya bear.
Awww, I didn’t know you were so sentimental!
what a great post with that bearman style we’ve all come to love! one thing is certain, we’ll be here when you get back, whenever that will be. that’s the beauty of blogging, someone’s always here…. 🙂
Haven’t you been paying attention….I am back.
oh you are? sorry….geez i’ve been away.