I read this quote in a magazine recently:
“Nourish your mind as carefully as you nourish your body”.
Now for someone like myself, who is an avid reader, I was like “Sure, no problem!” But then I got to thinking, what is it I’m really reading? Am I reading to learn more? Am I reading something because I feel like I have to, or because I want to?
In the personal finance community, there are a lot of blogs. Quite a bit, actually. And one can drive oneself crazy thinking that they have to read 150 blogs a day and not have a life. And especially when you are new to the community, you feel like you have to read and follow everybody. But I’ve found that the positive blogs, the ones that I feel really have something to say, something that can help me…those are the ones I gravitate to, time and time again.
I like a PF blog where people share their stories and what works for them financially and what doesn’t. I like for people to share what’s real.
And positivity begets positivity.
Being all judgy and constantly critical, does nothing to “nourish one’s mind”.
I feel like we are all in this community together, and that we should build each other up, and congratulate when something goes well.
And if something doesn’t work out the way you planned, to be there to console.
Saying “I told you so!” in a snarky voice, never did anything to help anyone, ever.
So let’s continue to nourish each other’s minds. Let’s continue this sense of community.
And come from a place of positivity…
Love this post and completely agree – I gravitate towards positive folks in real life, so it only makes sense I do so in the PF world. It’s just way more constructive and meaningful than the alternative. 🙂
Yes, I gravitate towards positive people in real life too 🙂
I’m a new blogger who has just recently been flooded with negative comments in my inbox so I couldn’t agree more with this post. Thanks for writing it lady 🙂
Negative comments are the worst, honestly. It’s so easy for someone to sit behind their computer screen and be mean 😦
I really like this! I don’t really like fluffy PF posts, where it seems like people are writing just to have written something. It’s like they don’t even really care or value the topic their putting on the internet for everyone to read. I can imagine that some people would take my posts to be snarky or negative, but I guess that’s just how I write. I can’t really judge my own work though, so it may just be in my mind.
Totally agree! I like when people write from the heart. SEO driven posts are completely obvious and mean posts (which are completely passive-aggressive) are just obnoxious.
Well put together. I try to provide posts that will make you think along with what I have tried and what I do. I break that up with guest posts that bring in another thought process into the mix. I think my posts are the ones that people gravitate to the most, so I like to make them more in depth.
I really like your blog! Your posts are interesting, and I learn something along the way 🙂
Well said. The blogs I enjoy reading most are not the ones that give strictly financial advice (or non-advice, as we all say in the disclaimers). The ones I enjoy are the ones that tell a story and make me feel like I’m hanging out with an old friend. For folks who just want content, there are plenty of blogs that offer just that-mine is not one of those 😉
I love what you said: “The ones I enjoy are the ones that tell a story and make me feel like I’m hanging out with an old friend.”
This, a hundred times, yes! 🙂
Instead of just having a blog, I’d love to build a community where the post is just the beginning of the conversation – the rest occurs in the comments where we all work through an issue together. I’ve got a long way to go, but that’s my goal. 🙂
Ooh, what a great idea Travis! That sounds awesome, sign me up 🙂
There are a gazillion PF blogs, aren’t there? I too gravitate towards the ones that have something interesting to say!
There are soooo many PF blogs!! That’s why the ones that are interesting (like yours!) keep me tuned in for more 🙂
I hate being positive! This blog sucks! Why can’t you be more realistic about negativity, Mackenzie?! Ha! How’s that, huh? (Sometimes I should lay off the coffee before commenting….)
On a more seriousity note: I’m really working on my writing skills right now. I always feel like I’m moments away from penning that absolutely epic post that’ll just shatter the internet and bring all Suze Orman’s followers running to me begging me to be their new diva. I’ll have to practice my negative talk and finger pointing that Suze’s so good at to get there….
I swear Joe, you always manage to crack me up!! “I’m moments away from penning that absolutely epic post that’ll just shatter the internet and bring all Suze Orman’s followers running to me begging me to be their new diva.”
I really, really want to be there when that happens 🙂
A-freakin’men! I’ve seen too many blogs lately which slam other blogs. There are a lot of PF blogs that I normally don’t have a ton of interest in for one reason or another, but who am I to say what is right or wrong. I gravitate to the real, genuine stories too. And that probably means they may not be pulling in “big numbers” or perfect with SEO, but it’s more about the human connection. That’s one reason I LOVE your blog. I know the authenticity and kind-hearted person behind it. I’m glad I an call you a friend in “real life” too!
Aw, thanks Tonya! Ya know I think your blog rocks!
Yes, this slamming other people because you can, or the passive-agressive blogging and commenting (especially the commenting, good grief…) it is really detrimental to the whole spirit and community of our little PF blogging world. I don’t understand it at all.
I am glad we are friends in “real life” too! 🙂
LOVE your thoughts here Mackenzie! There is too little time in life to not try and be positive. I have found that makes life so much more interesting and fun to live. I tend to gravitate to the blogs who are positive, ones I can learn something from and ones that I can see them in their writing. I agree that there seems to be something like 11 bagillion blogs out there and I remember when I started feeling like I had to follow them all. The problem is that there is just not enough time in the day plus my dear wife would probably shoot me. 😉 On a side note I was not aware that there are blogs slamming each other lately. I guess I have not been going to them, or have just been completely oblivious…which is NOT out of the realm of possibility. 🙂
Thanks John!
Yes, there has been some negativity out there in our sphere, and it is just not nice. All of us put ourselves out there and share what we know. I’m just not vibing on people putting down other people, simply because they can.
I like positivity, but I also enjoy reading bloggers who have an opinion, even if it is one that I disagree with. It’s not interesting to read about someone who never strays outside the box!
I like reading bloggers who have opinions too! It’s the ones who insist on tearing other people down in their blogs and/or commenting, that is difficult to read, you know?
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Great post. I think we have a lot of the same goals. Becoming debt free, investing and ultimately reaching financial independence. It’s always best when we learn and help each other even though sometimes we don’t always have to agree.
I am late to this post but man I’m glad I read it! It really is about positive support and validation. So keep putting out posts that you feel good about. We may all have different ways about getting to similar goals and voice them strongly but the idea isn’t to tear each other down while going about it.
Exactly! Positivity is the way to go 🙂