When I got back from BlogHer last year, one of the things I wrote about was how hard it was to accept praise. People would say to me “oh, Table for Five, I love your blog!” and I would stammer and stutter and say things like “oh, I like YOUR blog”. I found it impossible to simply say Thank You.
I was raised by extremely Puritanical parents for whom bragging about anything was absolutely taboo. The highest praise I ever got from my parents was when they would invite friends over and I would be required to play something on the piano. It was their way of acknowledging that I was actually good at it, but it was unspoken.
So now, another BlogHer conference is coming up, and I’m thinking about how I am going to react to people when they praise my blogging. I’m trying to figure out why I’m having such a hard time processing the fact that I have been invited to a cocktail party at the NBC building next Thursday, given by a new web start-up called The Experience Project. An employee of the site contacted me and said some very flattering things about why she was interested in meeting me in Chicago, and all I can think is “me? really? She wants to meet me?”
I need to allow myself to be worthy of recognition. I work very, very hard on my sites and I need to finally, after all these years, give myself permission to acknowledge my successes, however tiny they may be. I need to look people in the eye and just say Thank You.
P.S.This is my profile page at The Experience Project. It’s like Facebook but with a lot more detail. I think it will be very successful!
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I agree! You DO deserve the recognition. Your blog is wonderful because of all the hard work you put into it, and I appreciate your hard work. Thank you!
Marie- Well, thank you!
I swear I wasn’t fishing for compliments, but I appreciate them!
I appreciate your hard work too…I enjoy your blog.I finally signed up to be a part of the community. Thanks Elizabeth!
For some reason my avatar isn’t working…
Oh well, that’s me down there, Elizabeth9….Hi ..I’m a tech dummy.
Hooray for all the comments from other Elizabeths! I invited everyone named Elizabeth Edwards to be my friend on Facebook!
I enjoy reading. I’m not sure anymore though what is a personal story or an ad. I still come and still read.
I look forward to meeting you at blogher, if I can find you. It sounds as though you will be a pretty busy lady. That’s a good thing, to be busy.
I am Chinese and we’re notorious for not being able to respond to compliments so I know exactly what you mean. BUT, just keep practicing because I love your blog. It really is a good read. And its educational to newbie bloggers like me!
Christy- I try to make ALL of them as personal as possible, unless I’ve been asked to specifically review a product or website. But if it’s just a text link, I work it into a regular personal post on purpose. So if you can’t tell, that means I’m doing my job!!
I’m so glad you will be at BlogHer! I’m emailing you separately with my cell phone number, call me so I can come find you!
Amanda- Thank you, what a nice thing to say! I am happy to help you with any blogging questions you have, you are on Wordpress, right?
It was once told to me by a very dear friend that,,,,”when you do Not allow yourself to enjoy the good things others say about you,,, You take away THEIR blessings” After that I started thinking I might not be such a bad person to just say…. “THANK YOU” Nice to meet you I will be roaming around to check ut the rest of yoru stuff.
Jaye Just a mom
Amanda- Oh, your avatar showed up, you must be on MyBlogLog now! I’ll come find you and add you as a friend
Jaye- Thank you, I’ve never heard that saying but I like it! Glad you like my blog, welcome!