letting go of {others} expectations

Last night, I was taking a photo of the falling snow just outside my window. They were so beautiful. The contrast of the dried-up, golden leaves and the dark brown branches was stunning to me. I downloaded the image on my computer and sat back and admired it. I thought it was so pretty. And then it hit me.... Will anyone else think it's pretty? Is it silly for me to post a picture like this? Are the colors too dreary, now that it's almost Spring. My mind went on and on and on. The truth is, I've fallen into a bit of a trap lately. It's something that is easy to do in the blogging world. Trying to make your blog posts interesting to ALL of your viewers. Worrying if they're good enough. Second-guessing the choices of pictures that you post. Doing things just because other people do. Comparing your blog to other blogs that you follow...etc, etc. I first started to blog about a year ago with the intention of using my blog as an excuse to practice my photography skills. Back then, I really didn't care much about what anyone else would think about my blog. Frankly, I didn't think anyone would really view my blog. But, a year later, things are a little different. Now I get occasional written comments on my posts as well as verbal comments from people who follow me. They are always nice and complimentary, but it has caused me to worry a bit more about the quality of my posts. Which, when I really stop and think about it, is nothing to worry about. If people follow me, it's because they are genuinely interested in my blog. Right?? No need to sweat about it. The poet John Lydgate said, "You can please some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time." I believe this to be true. And so, I have posted my falling snow picture proudly today. Because it is beautiful to me. And that is reason enough....