Two years ago I found my first blog. It was a food blog that I still follow today. The man and I had just moved in together. I wanted to play Housewife (minus the fake knockers and expressionless face) and cook something different everyday. I Googled “healthy recipes” and found SkinnyTaste. I hadn’t heard of blogs prior to finding this one and none of my friends seemed to be following any when I brought up the topic of blogs. I googled some more and sure enough I found another. And another. And another. I looked at each blogger’s blogroll and found more and more blogs. Some had tons of commenters and followers while others were more muted but still held up a loyal readership. I was fascinated by these online diaries. What fascinated me the most was that these blogs were written by average Joe’s. Some who blogged full-time and others who kept day jobs and blogged part-time. I wanted more and I sought out to follow more bloggers who simply fascinated me. Or inspired me. Or made me laugh. Or made me think.

Today I follow just 25 blogs via Google Reader. Several of which post almost everyday, two that post twice a day and one that posts up to three times a day.

When 2012 came to a close I couldn’t wait to read what these established bloggers had in mind for the new year. What new projects, blogging ventures, posting schedule they’d declare to take on for 2013. I was surprised by the number of bloggers that declared they’d be taking a few steps back from blogging to focus on other things.

One had just become a mother to a beautiful baby boy in 2012 and found that blogging everyday simply took too much time away from her little bundle. Instead of blogging every single day multiple times a day, she vowed to simmer down to every couple of days or even once a week.

Another blogger, a home decor and DIY enthusiast, declared that she’d be simmering down to just a few posts a week. She revealed other promising business ventures she’d be focusing on for 2013.

Another blogger, who carries a small but loyal readership, a day job, husband and toddler also vowed to take time away from blogging and investing more of it into her family and herself.

I read through a bloggers comments and realize the impact that they have on people, myself included. How close we feel to these writers despite the fact that they live states away. How much I’ve grown to enjoy them and their families and all  their humor. No matter the frequency of their new posting schedules, I know that I will continue to follow them. To send them an email when I spot something online that reminded me of them or to leave a comment just to remind them that I’m still listening.

Do you feel like the blog world is slowing down? Are you a blogger? Have you decided to slow down as well?

 P.S. Aaron Swartz, a creator of RSS has passed away