Book Blogger Jealousy: It Happens!

Green-eyed monster!
Recently I read one of the most honest posts over at Book Brats.  It really got me thinking and I wanted to share my thoughts and personal experiences.
Jealousy is something I’ve always struggled with.  I’m not talking just with blogging, I mean in real life.  I’ve always wanted what other people have whether it be my brother, my friends, or some complete stranger.  I know I have a wonderful life and really there is nothing that I need that I don’t have.  My parents spoiled me rotten and  yet I was one of those kids that always wanted more.  It wasn’t always something tangible, sometimes I was jealous of an idea someone had or other crazy things like that.  Maybe joining the blogosphere wasn’t the best decision for me but at the time I didn’t know it would only add to my jealousy.
When I started my blog, jealousy wasn’t really a problem.  I didn’t know about free books, ARCs, traffic, comments, and all that.  All I knew was that people took the time to share their thoughts on the books they read and that I wanted to do that too.  And that was enough for me.  It was fun just to get my thoughts out there and if someone happened to read and comment on my review, that was fun too.  Blogging was just something I did to pass the time and entertain myself.
Nowadays, everything is a competition.  Sometimes literally.  As if it’s not bad enough that we already compete with each other for books/followers/traffic/comments, etc. now we actually have awards where people can convince their multitude of followers that they’re the best and they should win the award.  Really?  Does anyone actually think it’s a good idea to have awards like this in an already super competitive blogosphere?
Personally, it’s not the ARCs/books that I struggle with jealousy over.  I will never lack for reading material.  I know that.  It’s the other stuff that gets to me; the awards, the followers, the traffic, the memes.  I wish I was creative enough to come up with some awesome meme that tons of people would participate in.  I wish I won awards for my blog.  Heck, I just wish I was nominated for awards.  I want to be a “big blogger,” one of those bloggers that just automatically is associated with all things YA and all things awesome in the blogosphere.  However, trying to actually achieve that goal hasn’t been easy and when I see other blogs that started way after me achieve that, heck yes I get jealous.
What I’m trying to say with this post is that it’s okay to get jealous.  It happens to the best of us.  Admit it, get over it, and heck, maybe even use it as motivation.  Just don’t let it run your life or your blog.
How do you guys feel about book blogger jealousy?  Does it happen to you?  If so, how do you combat it?  
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