It's been awhile since I stood up here and wagged my finger. God I hate that finger thing about myself. Trying to stop that habit, but anyway, with my hands folded behind my back I need to talk to some of you about something called, "I'm not good enough."
As in what I read on twitter this week, used in this way, "I won't nominate myself for BlogHer Voice of The Year because I'm not good enough."
Would you tell a friend they're not good enough? Would you discourage a friend from trying to go for something? Then why would you talk to yourself that way?
Tell yourself you are that good, submit that post of yours that you are so proud of, and the one where your own words make you cry, and the one that makes you laugh every time you read it. Send that baby in here.
How can you tell your kids to go for it and reach for their dreams if you don't do it yourself?
Go. Now.
Dang. The finger came out again, didn't it?
*submit, encourage, cheer and VOTE*
I love you guys.
* * *
I agree with you, I was disappointed when I saw the kind of tweets you mentioned. That it was a popularity thing, and that because they're "small potatoes", they couldn't possibly be recognized. Which made me sad. VOTY is the one thing out there which is truly about the writing, and beautiful writing can be found anywhere, big and small blogs.
ReplyDeleteI nominated myself this year, and I'm not ashamed or embarrassed. xo
No need to be. I nominated myself my first year blogging and became Community Keynote Voice of the Year/Humor. Not bragging, just telling. There you go.
DeleteLOVE THAT. Guess, I better jump on that :)
DeleteI have lots of things I think would fit. But I cannot participate because I have adult content on my blog.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they'll have an erotica category ever. Good question to tweet out, right?
Deletesmiles.
ReplyDeletesome good finger wagging.
ha! you make me smile, B. xo
DeleteIt's the ugliest part of a woman: insecurity and lack of self-confidence.
ReplyDeleteMakes no sense, right? I mean we encourage others, why not ourselves?
DeleteI finally did it. I nominated myself for one.
ReplyDeleteSo thank you.
(although I did it before you had to wag your finger at me!!)
love you.
I'm one of those that was thinking that I wasn't good enough. That it was a popularity contest. That I would never be chosen.
ReplyDeleteI did - kind of reluctantly - nominate two of my posts in different categories. And now I'm kind of crossing my fingers that I will be chosen. :)
BlogHer is not interested in letting me into their club and I am not sure which is better, to keep trying or walk away not feeling dejected. Yeah, I might need that finger wagging!
ReplyDeleteWell, when you put it that way, I guess I should just put on my big girl underpants and do it already. (As I am watching my 7 yr old edit a story she is submitting to a writing contest and knowing she is so proud of her work).
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kick in the a$$!
Thanks for the reminder. I've been meaning to submit, but I just get so busy doing other things ... You Tube. Anyway, I just nominated myself. I even voted for myself too. Is that allowed?
ReplyDeleteOh and to all the folks who don't think it's worth nominating themselves ... If you think your writing is good enough to post online for all the world to see, your writing is good enough for Blogher Voices. So get to nominating. And if your post doesn't get picked, I guess the folks at the Blogher conference will be missing out on hearing some pretty awesome stuff written by you this year. It's their loss really. It certainly won't make you any less of a rock star. Just saying...
You are a good person.
ReplyDeleteI hope people tell you that enough. You are the kind of woman that makes writers feel good about themselves, who makes them feel that they have a solid support network, and who, as a result, coaxes out those small voices who need to be heard. Because that's how strong your voice is: you feel like a whole committee unto yourself.
The blogosphere is better for having you in it.
Thanks for the encouragement. I'm so out of the loop, I didn't even know about this. Now to decide what to submit...
ReplyDeleteThanks for saying this. It's such a great point. I have told several very new bloggers about it, and they were absolutely terrified of the idea of putting themselves out there. (Which is kind of ironic since you are actually BLOGGING.) I think it's so hard for women, even ones confident enough in their voices to blog, to ask for recognition. Many of us were not raised that way and need a little nudge to change our thinking!
ReplyDeleteUmmm, K, I put a few funny ones up. Who knows. It would be nice to have more exposure in my little box.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying. I'm really trying. To lift everyone up, let them know that it matters not "who" you are in regard to VOTY (or anything else.) We are all somebodies; our worth is not determined by recognition unless we let it be. Yes, it feels good as hell to hear your name called, to see your name on a screen. But, you'll have to at least submit something first. So, go. Do it. And let yourself KNOW that you're worthy.
ReplyDeleteI already told people I would kick their butts.
ReplyDeleteYou, lovely lady, are a good soul.
ReplyDeleteWhen you're right, you're right.
ReplyDeleteTime to get off my ass, shake off my fears and submit something.
This is a great reminder. It's funny how we are so quick to encourage others and on the flip side not ourselves.
ReplyDelete