Sometimes blogging comes with the challenge of opening up and making yourself vulnerable. Of exposing raw emotions. Of unveiling the layers within and etching the reality of the blogger deeper into the blog itself.  

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Each blogger has a different level of openness they feel comfortable sharing. Some use every post as a personal diary to expunge their deepest thoughts. Some rarely if ever get too personal and simply strive to keep their blogs information based. Some focus on keeping their space light-hearted for an always positive place for readers to visit and have fun together. There is no right or wrong. I certainly don’t discredit any blog for not sharing the personal nitty gritty from time to time. I simply know what feels right for me. Personally, the longer I blog, I only feel more strongly the need to blog transparently. For me, I could not blog any other way. And the response to my post this morning solidifies that necessity in my blogging voice.

Blogging transparently goes much deeper than simply hitting publish on a more controversial or personal post. Could a post go too far in sharing personal information? Does it carry extra weight and play into that whole blogger responsibility factor? Could it put off any readers? Does it negatively impact the “feel” of my blog? Does it reflect poorly on companies I work with and represent as a healthy living blogger? Those all could pose downfalls to divulging certain aspects of the inner workings of my heart and mind from the rough moments that we all inevitably face from time to time.

However, transparent blogging also allows…

…the chance to garner support and outreach from fabulous friends, which all of you are to me on a daily basis.

…the opportunity to become more relatable and possibly uplift someone else with the knowledge he or she is not alone.

…for every relationship I build through this blog (from fellow bloggers to the silent readers to companies) to sit on the solid foundation of trust. Above all else, I always hope you can expect genuine honesty when visiting FFF. In the many years I intend to blog, I want you to know that I will stand for transparent blogging. I will always hit publish with the satisfaction in the knowledge that I expose truth. It may only be my truth, but it will be truth nonetheless. That I promise. And I thank you for making it easier for me to keep that promise. Cheers.

• On a scale of 1-10 how “transparent” would you say you are as a blogger? Any things you don’t feel comfortable sharing?
• As a reader – what level of blogger “transparency” do you appreciate? What takes it too far

Since I had a rather wordy post earlier – feel free to add to the discussion on the “health persona” of blogging – I shall share the weekend update links now. In case you missed it:

• I Didn’t Like It – my first negative review of a product
• What Are You Doing To Me?! – 8 mile run to jump back into workouts
• Body Love Song – the duet my body and mind created to an Adam Lambert song
• FFF Features of the Week – included a Baby B laughing video!
• Self-Love Reflection: People CAN Change – overcoming binging through pregnancy and fitness

Now back to regularly scheduled blogging…

Bloggers, quite frankly, rock. Whenever I meet up with a great group of blog friends, it never fails to transform into the highlight of my day. I had the pleasure of dining with an amazing group of twelve Atlanta bloggers this past weekend. Our group just keeps getting bigger and bigger! Which only means it gets better and better as well. Yep. Bloggers rock!

 
From left to right front row: Carol, Katy, Laura, me, Katy. From left to right back row: Lauren, Alayna, Lee, Lindsay, Laura, Kristy, and Brooke.

When making lunch plans, they don’t suggest the general standbys of Chilis or Taco Mac. They seek out little gems such as R Thomas Grill – a kitschy restaurant serving a wide variety of healthy (and amazingly delicious!) options.

Their eyes don’t bug out when you say you spent your morning running 8 miles. In fact, they have their own race stories or workout adventures to share.

 
taken from Lindsay @ The Atlanta Running Mom

They have no problems opening up and chatting away too. It feels so natural!

They are right there with you when whipping out cameras for food…

…and relate all too well to the trying dilemma of figuring out what to order.

It took me 47 years, but I finally landed on the portabella melt sandwich with lots of grilled veggies and a side of cinnamon sweet potatoes. It delighted me!

And for the record – you know a restaurant has a lot of good sounding options if a blogger crew shows up and nearly everyone orders something different because there are that many eye-catching items on the menu.

Bloggers also rock because they get just as excited as you do over things like Love Grown Foods granola.

Thanks to the Love Grown team for providing me with some samples so I could spread the love with my friends. I hope you all like them! 🙂

And finally, they have husbands who totally understand the need for a plethora of pictures and happily oblige with a mid-summer-day-way-too-hot-out photo shoot. Thank you Brooke’s husband!

And don’t blink an eye when the photo shoot includes us holding up bags of granola.

Yep. Bloggers rock. I can’t wait for our next get together!! Perhaps it will be bigger and better again. The Atlanta blogging scene just keeps expanding. My last count had us at almost 25 and it wouldn’t surprise me if others lurk in the shadows. Let me know if you’re in the area and want to get in on future meet-up action!

• Complete the sentence: Bloggers rock because ____________ .
• Have your friends, family, significant others gotten used to the picture taking, blog talk, and everything else that goes along with blogging?