Why ditch a perfectly good blog to start all over again? I’m not sure that I have the answer.
When I first started blogging, it was an adventure. I needed to prove to myself that I could do it. That I could attract an audience, entertain them, and handle the technical aspects of creating a blog.
I loved sharing my world and making connections with others. Not quite a diary, it almost felt like a practise run for that book I might one day write. A blog is a fantastic platform for a foray into the world, and it’s wonderful to watch your readership grow. But, for me, it came at a price, and after a while I began to feel constrained. Manipulated, almost. So why start again?
I still find myself checking the Reader most days. I love that feeling of being taken out of myself and delving head first into someone else’s world. Sharing someone else’s discoveries. Being taken on a flight of fancy. It’s akin to reading a good book, yet wholely different. I never know what I’m going to find, but so often it illuminates and enhances my day. I’ve always loved to tell a story, in words and in photos. It’s powerful, the feeling of carrying people along with me, in pursuit of a good yarn. Pure fantasy I’ve never been able to write, but I’ve been known to embroider the truth a little, now and then.
Small steps, beginning with Jo’s Monday walk. Join me next week? And who knows where we’ll go from there?
Still Restlessjo 
I didn’t realize until today that you have started a new blog. Will you keep the old blog as well or π€?
LikeLike
It’s archived but I don’t think I can post on it, Rupali. That’s not the intention anyway. I said my goodbyes on the last post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I shall follow the new link π
LikeLike
Thanks!
LikeLike
Thatβs a nice photograph you got there Jo! I hope youβre still continuing on your other site.
LikeLike
No. I wanted to ‘downsize’, Sling. I don’t need that many followers. Still got the walks, if anyone wants them π€π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Downsize your website? You got a new one though, so you might just get back all those followers for all you know.
LikeLike
I really don’t want a big following. Just friends and like minded people. That’s why I’m starting again. π€π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good luck with that Jo! Howβs Algarve?
LikeLike
You really want to know? Fabulous! Just back from an evening with friends π€π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Jo, just wanted to drop by and say hello. It is so lovely to see you’re still living the good life and sharing your adventures. It’s been a long time since I engaged with the blogging community, and although I miss it other things needed my attention. I hope you and all your family are happy and well, the sunshine and relaxed lifestyle in Portugal looks very tempting however I’ll be surprised if we’ll be allowed ‘out’ anytime soon. Wishing you lots of joy and adventure, cheers Sam π
LikeLike
Sam! How lovely to hear from you! People slip in and out of the blogging community for all sorts of reasons. I know you had work issues and hope things have resolved themselves and are going well for you now. I sometimes feel guilty at living the good life, but today I’m full of excitement. My son arrives in a few hours, and my daughter and husband were here last week. A little bit of ‘normality’ and I’m grabbing it with both hands, before someone takes it away! Stay well, Sam! Sending hugs.
LikeLike
This is also a good way to gather the closest connections and weed out the superficial. Iβm at that point, too, though I wonβt be starting over anywhere. Iβve turned off the like button for starters. π
LikeLike
Yes, that’s pretty much what I wanted. Quite easy to lose some people though. Better than losing myself? π€£π
LikeLike
You canβt get away from me that easily Jo!!!! Still stalking β¦β¦β¦
LikeLike
π€£π
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t think it’s a bit cheeky to let folks know where you’ve moved to. I’m truly glad you let me know…. then again it always seems to take me awhile to check in. The older I get the faster time flies … and the eyes aren’t letting me spend as much time online as I would like.
Then again, there’s what you said: “So many lovely people, but thereβs a life out there to live “. Blogging can easily take over if you let it. Good to find you again though. It’s been fun meeting some truly good friends here in the blogging world, so I continue for that reason. When I can. I’ve been noticing a trend where some folks are clicking *like* and not commenting as often. That eases a bit of the compulsion to respond. Just sayin’…. π
LikeLike
Yes, I do that if time is short, or sometimes I really don’t have anything to add to the conversation. Just an acknowledgement that I’m here, and so are you. π€π
LikeLike
Until just now I didnβt realise that you were already operational on your next blog. Iβm on my sixth, no need to explain anything to me. π Iβm sure your readership will follow you here. Just an idea: maybe post once more over there and alert anybody who havenβt realised, like I hadnβt, that you have a new blog. Happy new blog and restlessness!
LikeLike
Sorry, Manja! I didn’t want a big fanfare because I’m not sure where I’m going with the new blog. I’m not joining challenges or actively seeking new followers so you can fairly ask why I’m blogging again. It’s more of a diary, I suppose. I do enjoy the interaction but it’s so time consuming. I don’t think I can still post on the old blog as I lapsed the subscription but I still visit old friends in the Reader and usually leave a link to the latest post if they haven’t found me already. I would have given you a nudge at some point but I don’t like to be too pushy. π€ππ
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ahh, I see. You’re right, those who wish will find you in every case. It’s lovely that you let us into your diary. Happy cake walking!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful to find you here now. YES! I am excited to share with your journey and it is so good that you can be free in doing what you love doing in this new site of yours. Goodluck and welcome all over again ππΌβ€οΈ
I do have three blogs as well. 1) the one I usually use to catch up with other bloggers and join challenges. 2) my travels blog 3) My day to day pen and watercolour sketching.
Hope you can join me there one day.
LikeLike
I found this in Spam today, Teresa. Will visit and try to sort it out with you later.
LikeLiked by 1 person
π€·π»ββοΈ
LikeLike
It’s great to have you back and I hope you’ll feel happier and freer here. You might want to change the link on your gravatar over to this site. I was curious by your ‘I began to feel constrained. Manipulated, almost.’ I am starting to feel overwhelmed by all the challenges. No-one could do them all and though I know nobody expects me to, I still find myself feeling bad if I don’t, especially if several people I know are hosting a related topic. I’ve noticed that few people actually click through to things I link to in any case. I don’t think I have ever joined in with your walk, or hardly ever, although I read some of the posts and feel like that’s taking part in a way.
LikeLike
Not sure that I know how to change the Gravatar but I’ll have a look. Hard to explain how I felt without offending people, Susan, but one issue I had was that as the number of followers went up so did the spammers and people who just wanted to use you as a vehicle. For me 50 people whose ‘company’ I enjoy is far more important than 10,000 anonymous followers. The challenge system is designed to introduce you to people and increase your readership but there’s a definite down side. I value your comments and your presence here and I don’t need more than that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I unfollow obvious spammers when I’m on top of things, but they can refollow. If you want help with the Gravatar, just ask! I keep thinking of doing a post about it actually as so many people don’t connect it in at all.
LikeLike
I did know about Gravatars, Susan, but I can’t remember the details. Jude usually keeps me right π€π
LikeLike
Looks like you can just click on your little round picture to get to My Profile, scroll to the bottom, add your new site and click the cross to remove your old one. Fingers crossed it’s as easy as it looks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Found you from the link you left in a comment Jo! Might be a good idea to post it in a goodbye post on the old blog for followers who come looking for you. Look forward to following your new journey. Good luck and stay restless β€οΈπ€
LikeLike
Thanks a lot, darlin! The link on my swift goodbye post on the old blog does bring you here but not everyone will think to follow that. I have left links on a few blogs but it feels a bit cheeky. I would have come to see you soon. Trying to keep everything low key and not get lost in blog land again π€£ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just saw the link Jo. Tell me about it! The black hole of blog land was part of my problem. Learning how to handle the guilt better now:)
LikeLike
It’s a conundrum, isn’t it? So many lovely people, but there’s a life out there to live π€π
LikeLike
I hope you had a great summer in the old country. It’s great to do whatever you want with your blog, which includes starting afresh. I like how the plane has the website on the wingtip. They know you’re not the only person who’ll take a photo like this and publish it!
LikeLike
We usually fly Ryanair so I don’t mind giving Jet2 a bit of publicity. They were really pleased to see us. I feel like a newbie all over again. Hopefully I’ll make different mistakes this time.
LikeLike
Welcome back Jo – I always admired the way you kept up with your blog commitments so meticulously (I could never be so disciplined!). Hope you now feel refreshed and free from any pressures – simply enjoy the writing and connections you make round the world. Look forward to joining along on your Monday Walks too and seeing your beautiful photos along with your poetic writing xx π (Have now followed this new blog of course!)
LikeLike
Thanks so much, Rosemay! Hoping not to make the same mistakes again, but it is lovely to be part of a community like ours.
LikeLike
WordPress β happiness engineersβ are anything but in reality as they are always changing formats and ways of doing things. Change for the sake of change I think. Makes it very hard for us βseniorβ bloggers… I also found it hard to get my head around the changes after I had a years break from blogging. But I, sort of, got there. Stick to your guns about not getting sucked in to too much time blogging, but I am so pleased you are going to still be here in my virtual world. Iβll look forward to visiting England through your photos and beautiful evocative words. Welcome back Jo
LikeLike
Thanks so much, Pauline! Hoping to make different mistakes this time. I have company arriving this weekend and family next month so blogging will have to fit around that. I always regard it as a winter occupation and it’s raining cats and dogs right now. Our first since May- a good old electical storm! Good to get it out of the way before the visitors arrive.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Enjoy your visitors. Still canβt have overseas visitors here yet, our borders are still shut.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A new start is always fun and exciting π
LikeLike
Still finding my way, Cee, but it’s keeping my brain active. Thanks for visiting!
LikeLike
Jo, thanks so much for reaching out to me. Iβm in Scottsdale for doctors appointments tomorrow. I forgot my mouse, so Iβm stuck for my blogging tomorrow, but I will be back with many walks. Love you. Iβve been on your blogging journey and love it for many of the same reasons. It is its own genre. I did go the self-hosted route and even with help it wasnβt worth the effort for me. I went back to WP just over a year ago. The goal is to connect and have fun, and Iβm doing that. Look forward to more walks.
LikeLike
Thanks, darlin! You have the warmest heart. Hope all goes well in Scottsdale. See you soon!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll be there soon. Lots of love. π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello, followed the breadcrumb trail and found you!
LikeLike
Cryptic clues, Anabel. π€£π Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, found the comments on this one. There must be a knack to it as the comment box doesn’t show up automatically. I’m wondering about your reason for starting afresh when you seem to be continuing with the Monday Walks. I thought that was why you were getting fed up with blogging as they demand too much attention. I won’t take offence at your challenge remarks π₯± but I do hope you’ll post snippets of your Algarvian life so we can all be mightily jealous. No pressure π
LikeLike
No, I enjoy writing the walks. If people want to link to them that’s ok. The bulk of my content for the next few weeks will be English though. Not sure exactly the impact when the Premium site expires on Sunday. It’s all a bit suck it and see.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah! Tracked you down through Margaretβs post! Jo, it takes courage to start afresh but I understand your reasoning β so many changes over time and particularly the reason why one started a blog in the first place and for you, its success has almost driven you, I guess. This looks beautiful, full of reflection and I look forward to seeing your new direction, stories. Will you be sharing some fiction, I wonder? Enjoy your βStill RestlessJoβ and always feel free within it! hugs xx πβ€οΈπ
LikeLike
Many thanks for reaching out to me, Annika. I don’t have a talent for fiction but never say never π€£π. My husband wanted me to ditch WordPress and start a website of my own, but I don’t have the confidence or know how for that, so it’s a compromise. And still, as you can see, a work in progress. WP is annoying in many respects but I don’t want to jettison friends on there. And there’s an aspect of ‘devil you know’. Sending hugs back to you π€ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jo, I initially looked at creating my own webste but quickly realised I didn’t have the know-how! I asked a couple of computer friends and their prices were steep – mainly because of the time it takes. WordPress, even with all its issues, is far easier! I talked to a quite a big company the other day and they are using wordpress, via a web designter. I tried to explain the contradiction of it all and how they would be overpaying – without success! Lovely that you’re coming back afresh! xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
A beautiful blog!
Always good to start over, taking learning and doing your own thing with it!
I look forward to dipping into your next chapters, Jo!
LikeLike
Thanks so much, Emma. Not sure where it will lead and if I’ve got it right but I’ll enjoy finding out. π€π
LikeLike
Woohoo, found you! I shall enjoy some Virtual Walks from you, looking forward to those
LikeLike
Thanks, Sue! A bit of a nervous start this morning. Hopefully will be a smoothly oiled machine at some point- ha! Was I in your Reader?
LikeLike
By the way, you haven’t got a link here to subscribe my email for those of us who are Reader Refusers. And you might like to look at your sentence ‘doubts are sewn… ‘. Not like you to have spelling moments;) !
LikeLike
Ooops- sorry about that! Still learning. Will try to rectify for Monday.
LikeLike
Well, It was a good day when I discovered your blog first time round Jo. It was the Polish connection, and our love of the Hospital de Sant Pau in Barcelona wot done it. But I’ve always loved your photos, and your way with words, and the walks we all share on Mondays (I shan’t oblige this week, sadly. None worth sharing). So good look. I hope your original readers come flooding back, and that you get new ones too.
LikeLike
Thanks, darlin! I don’t really want to play the numbers game this time around, and I don’t want to get dragged into the challenges either, though it seems ungrateful not to. I’m mostly writing for me, and because I enjoy it. I realised this morning that the Polish aspect of my story isn’t represented here. Maybe in time I’ll revisit that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know what you mean about the numbers game. I too only join the challenges if they speak to me, which means I’m not a consistent joiner. And yes, our Polish ancestors are definitely part of both our stories.
LikeLike
I was always going to write Dad’s story, but I don’t think I could do it justice, and there are too many people who might be offended.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Really? People still living? Do it anyway. Don’t necessarily publish it, but leave it for your children. I truly regret that I know so little of my father’s story, and any further back is a totally closed book.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re probably right. I have so many Polish cousins and I would hate to upset any of them. Why Dad stayed in England all those years is a sensitive issue. π€π
LikeLiked by 1 person