No Blawg 100 For Me Again This Year

Weep.  Weep.

There are two things that I seem to always miss.  HGTV's Dream Home give-a-way each year and the Blawg 100.  It is silly really.  I really want that Dream Home!  Every year I enter every day and for some selfish reason HGTV overlooks my entries in favor of the remaining millions of other entries they have.  It is just not fair I tell you!  I deserve that home!!

The Blawg 100?  Not that much.  The Dream Home is tangible.  I can live in it or sell it for a bunch of money.  I can gleam in the camera when surprised with it, and jump up and down with uncontrollable excitement when presented with it on TV.  The Blawg 100?  Pretty much it is limiting to pasting a digital logo on my blog.

If I had to chose between the HGTV Dream Home and the Blawg 100 .... Well, that would really be no choice.  What does the Blawg 100 offer me or anybody legal blogger for that matter?

I think hard through issues.  I post a lot .  My posts are original and often helpful (with the exception of maybe the Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald videos I post now and then).  Most of my posts represent original work as opposed to a repeat of what you might find elsewhere.  I have a pretty large readership.  But, somehow I managed to miss the Blawg 100 again this year.  More likely the Blawg 100 missed me in combing through the thousand and thousand of legal blogs out there.  Their loss really.

I do not say that I would not appreciate the recognition.  Most of the blogs receiving such honors very much deserve them.  I quibble with a couple as being worthy, but the humble part of me says that most are very good.

What I do say is that there are many, many more very good and very helpful law blogs out there, each working hard to do what they do, without any reward, and many of them are better than what the ABA has listed here.  Some days it is hard to find the time to sit down, put your thoughts in order, and write what other find helpful and useful.  It is not easy to always share.  To those that want to believe that the ABA has any magical insight or system as to determine who is worthy and who is not, I know it is difficult to always continue plugging away.

I think people, and lawyers in particular, should get into blogging without the expectation of any recognition.  They should continue in the same regard.  If some unexpected recognition comes your way, regardless of its subjective manner, rejoice, but do not let it be discouraging to you if it does not magically appear.

It is easy to feel tired and lonely when you go unrecognized.  But, do not give up.  Because I will and many, many others will continue to read you, and appreciate you, and admire you (and sometimes argue with you) regardless if you have a Blawg 100 sticker plastered on your site.

Just remember, there is a saying in East Texas that goes: “The shallower the stream, the louder the babble.” When it comes to advertising personal accomplishments, at least I always prefers to keep the stream as deep and quiet as possible.  You should too.

But you know what?  I am still going to root for me getting that HGTV Dream House next year.  As far as I am concerned, it is in the bag.

Comments

[Scott Wolfe]

Unfortunately, the HGTV Dream House has been promised to me next year.

[Mark]

I agree that your blog includes an incredible amount of original thought. Agree or disagree, I review your blog for the original thought. Keep up the good work and the awards will come. Mark

[Rae Turner]

Chuck, if it's any consolation, you're in my Top 10 list again this year. You've been an inspiration and source of valuable information as I downshifted and moved my office home. Without the encouragement of your blog, I'm not sure I would have made the leap. Keep up the good work.

[Peter]

Here's to building great and useful blogs that are well-read and recognized in the REAL legal community. Really, is anyone a member of the ABA these days?