A Must Read

in Blogging|Fear|Life|Me with 26 Comments written by

If I had a nickle for every time I saw someone say on twitter “this is a must read……..” I would own an iPad right now.
It seems that everyday I read 6 or 7 post that are deemed “must read.” And you know what I have realized after I have read these post, I really didn’t need to read them.






My Marriage to Twitter and Blogging

Its been more of a codependent relationship then a loving and giving relationship. I feel like that couple in high school that is only happy if the other one is happy. I have the hardest time shutting down twitter during the day. Why? Because I am afraid that I might miss something. That a must read tweet that could change my future, could go unread.
I have the hardest time not reading blogs in the morning. Why? Because I could be missing out on a blog post that could change my life. You can see why I have this codependent relationship, its almost like I need these things to feel complete. Wow, I can’t believe I just typed that.

Sometimes the most important thing you can read is nothing at all.

Does anyone else feel the same way?

*kyle

About Kyle Reed: Kyle Reed is a connector looking to connect with others. A 20 Something that is blogging his way through life and looking to connect through community. Also a team member of the 8BIT Network and brand evangelist. Find me on twitter: @kylelreed, lets chat.

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  • Chelsea

    Definitely agree with the post. I’m afraid I’m going to miss a topic or scripture that I might need for the day. I neglect my own blog (not that it’s much) to read everyone else’s. Maybe time needs to be spent away from one or both for a while haha.

    • http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com Kyle Reed

      That is a good point. Ya it is almost like you can neglect things in hope of getting something from the blog world.
      I picture it like a guy that is hoping this girl will like him. He is sitting there waiting on her just hoping that she even notices him. Five months later, he is still siting there.

      Maybe it would be good to pull away from both.

      • Chelsea

        Nice analogy. It wouldn’t hurt to pull away. I also agree with how you stated that you don’t like being out of the loop. I’m the same way. I got rid of cable for about 8 months. Most of it I didn’t miss but I’m a huge sports fan and it was so hard not having the sports stations. Did I live through it? Yes but it drove me crazy not knowing what was going on. It’s addicting but I also think that some good thing can come from blog posts. We can learn a new idea or might change our thinking about something. Or maybe our discussion of a topic can make another person think. I think it just needs to be in moderation.

  • http://morethanuseless.com Tom

    I dig that you’re being honest about this. At the risk of sounding like a jerk (because I’m not), I’m gonna be brutally honest:

    I’ve never read a single tweet or blog post that has changed my life. Very few of us have that kind of wisdom to share and, if we do, are these fleeting mediums really the best place to do it?

    This isn’t to say I haven’t read some really good stuff, but “good stuff” is not the same as “life changing.”

    Secondly, you can’t miss out on things that don’t disappear. You can scroll back through your Twitter feed; you can read your blogs later.

    The Internet’s not gonna miss you when you’re away.

    • http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com Kyle Reed

      Good honesty man, I think you are right.
      I definitely have read some post that have made me think. But you are right, nothing monumental.
      It almost feels like a give relationship where nothing is coming back in return.

    • http://www.dannyjbixby.com Danny Bixby

      “The Internet’s not gonna miss you when you’re away.”

      Yes it will.

  • http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com Kyle Reed

    I forgot to mention in this post that another problem for me is that I like to be in the know. So if I am not paying attention and constantly seeing what is happening then I will not know what is happening and be out of the loop. That addiction is very addicting.

  • http://randrambles.com Rand

    Yeah, like you I like to be in the know and have gotten to know some awesome people on Twitter, which means that I don’t want to miss something they post, that’s basically why I created a special list for them so I can just focus on that one, but it keeps growing. But yeah, pretty sure it’s called: addiction. You should take a break. I’m taking one later this week. Believe me, you will survive. :)

    • http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com Kyle Reed

      Ya, I really need to.
      Saturday I didn’t touch my computer until later in the day, it was very strange and I felt way out of the loop. But you are right, I survived.

  • http://www.dannyjbixby.com Danny Bixby

    Maybe it is that codependency that you mentioned.

    The interwebs are addictive. Whether it’s blogs, twitter, or something else.

    Also I’m sure you’re probably in a pattern of some social media outward spiral. That just creates this circle of checking, reading, writing, checking, reading, writing; it just keeps expanding outward with more and more contacts, but your time doesn’t scale in the same manner.

    Basically I’m saying you need to change your pattern. Or you’ll start getting the shakes.

    • http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com Kyle Reed

      You hit it right on the head. It keeps expanding and my time keeps getting less. Ahhhhhhh

      I need to change some things.

  • Zac

    I go through phases with this. There are days where I don’t check my twitter until the end of the day and it takes a while to catch up, but usually there are not anything earth shattering that I feel sad I missed (unless its a chance to get something free in a limited time-frame). As for my Google Reader, there are days when I am really busy at work or with my family that I can’t even check it. Or like last week where I had to pick and choose which ones I could read because I only had a small window of time to spend reading. When that is the case, long posts such as your one on two major problems with the church (which I still have marked unread and fully plan to read), have to be put off until I have time to read them. I hate when some of my favorite blogs get a double digit of unread next to their name, but there are only so many hours in a day. Facebook I have gone entire weekends without checking it and didn’t miss it for a second. Sure there are funny posts that I would love to have added to, but life outside of the internet can be awesome. Another problem I have is once I have commented on a post, is checking to see if someone else commented on it or reading other peoples comments that might be similar.

    I have to stop myself sometimes if I didn’t get a chance to do my Bible reading or pray, then I know I have spent too much time on the internet.

    There are a lot worse things for you to be addicted to on the internet so don’t feel too bad.

    • http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com Kyle Reed

      Thanks zac, appreciate that.

  • http://godlysheep.com Brett Barner

    I know what you mean. My Google Reading will get stuffed full of posts, and I want to read them all. However, few things are as freeing as hitting “Mark All as Read”, and doing something more productive.

    • http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com Kyle Reed

      That is freeing.

  • http://mcblake.com Mark Blake

    I’ve never read a post that changed my life, from the perspective of: I read it, I got up from my desk, and my life was instantly changed.

    However, I do feel that some posts can “change your life” by teaching you something. Take Michael Hyatt’s blog. He’s published posts on productivity and leadership that I take notes on. I learn. And because of what I’ve learned my life “is changed.”

    But for a lot of blogs, its like you told me one time: People don’t care what I (you, they) have to say. Its all about building the relationship – once you’ve done that, people will read and people will care because you’re more than just a link on a screen, you’re someone that the reader knows.

    • http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com Kyle Reed

      I think that is the issue, I actually care about what they say and am looking for the interaction. I think I feel like if I do not engage I am not building in to the relationships.

  • http://theperkinsblog.com Michael

    Right there with you. In the past 2 months I have declared RSS Bankruptcy 3 times. There is a lot of twit and blog vomit out there, mine included, but I too have that codependent relationship as well.

    • http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com Kyle Reed

      Ya I am about to hit bankruptcy here.

  • http://www.ricianne.com patricia

    to be honest: i dont read every must reads.

    unless it’s a personal testimony. the reason why i love reading people’s testimonies is that if i meet someone that has a similar problem…i direct them to read that blog for them to see that they are not alone with the struggles they go through. it helps for them to feel comfortable to learn to open up their hearts and say it’s okay to be vulnerable and share about my struggles.

    testimonies are also important coz it shows the power of Jesus to transform lives.

    that’s all =]

  • http://blog.tabithas-team.com Kelly@Tabithas-Team

    This is funny, because I just took a couple of weeks away from my RSS reader, and I committed “RSS Bankruptcy” this morning. It’s hard because you think “What am I deleting?”

    I decided to visit a few blogs directly and catch up those today. I love the convenience of RSS, but there is something about that full inbox that can be overwhelming. Do I really need to read 100+ posts every day?

    • http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com Kyle Reed

      Ya it can almost get out of hand how much you subscribe to blogs.
      Sometimes just following 10 is more beneficial then following 100, and I am telling myself that as well.

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  • Christy Baggett

    I have had a similar struggle with Facebook and finally decided to take a break until May. So far I’ve had marginal activity on my wall and very few notifications. It’s very humbling to find that most of the activity in the past was in response to my efforts and actions and that when I’m not doing anything, FB is quite dull.

    • http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com Kyle Reed

      Ya that is tough. Almost like when you leave all the interaction leaves. The hard part is wondering if it will still be there when you go back.

      • http://christybaggett.wordpress.com/ Christy Baggett

        Exactly. Something makes me think I’ll survive and if it causes me to spend less time on it in the future, that’d be okay.