I still can’t believe I’m a blogger. I knew writing was in my soul but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine owning a blog. It was my cousin who led me down that path and before I knew it I had a website and was doling out my existential angst and advice by the bucketfuls. Here’s what a year of blogging taught me.
The First Step is the Hardest
I know that’s a cliche and has been done to death but anyone who ever had a major breakthrough in life would shout it out from the roof tops. The first blog I ever wrote and published as a note on Facebook was totally on a impulse. I didn’t fret about it and plan for months in advance. I just sat down and typed it all up in less than an hour and then published it. If I hadn’t taken that risk I wouldn’t be a blogger today.
Something Better
You get what you ask for or something better. I didn’t ask to be a blogger. In 2011 I was looking for writing gigs and met with no luck. At one point in my life I even questioned my ability to find a job – any job! I applied for jobs at banks, day care centers and preschools. I finally got a part-time job at a Kumon Center. It wasn’t my dream job but I felt I still had something to offer. Like I wasn’t worthless. A month later I had to quit and stay home because my daughter broke her arm. I was back to square one. I had no time to feel sorry for myself because my daughter needed me 24/7. A few months later I started blogging and a couple of months after that I had my own website! Now if I could only get paid to share my opinions!
Walk your Talk
It’s easy to give advice. Ever tried following your own advice? I couldn’t write about “Living Fearlessly” and be afraid of driving (outside my comfort zone) or salons anymore. I couldn’t preach about the universe and “Signs from Above” while I ignored all the signs that were appearing in my life. I had to align my life to be in sync with everything I believed. I had to live the life I was telling everybody about. Since writing the post on fear I’ve taken the wheel when we went on road trips and made two trips to the salon!
The Bigger Plan
In hindsight, there was nothing accidental about becoming a blogger. The Universe was nudging me all along. When I was foolish enough to question it, alarming and unmistakeable evidence presented itself. It showed me that I was just an instrument and a higher purpose was being fulfilled through the blog. Case in point – my post “Love Never Dies”. I wrote it and didn’t publish it. The very same night my brother wrote to me saying his friend had lost her father. She used to read my posts and find comfort so he asked if I could suggest one to help her grieve. I published the post and sent my brother a link. This has happened more than once. What can I say? I’m blessed beyond my wildest dreams and I’m deeply grateful to be given this opportunity.
Expansion and Connection
The most rewarding thing about blogging is connecting with like-minded people. My experiences are not unique in that atleast a dozen other people have been through the same thing. The more I blog the less lonely I feel. I have kids, a spouse, neighbors and friends. Yet a part of me always felt lonely. The part that stayed under wraps for far too long. It’s this part that finds solace through my blog. The sensitive soul, yo-yo optimist, facebook activist and the many other sides of me that people never get to see. The parts of me that I am no longer ashamed of because through my blog I can reach out to some who can totally relate to my different avatars!
Blogging vs Venting
Blogging got me into the habit of writing every day or writing without the intent of posting. Why is this important? Because I almost ended up using my blog as a place to vent. By journaling regularly I could weed out stuff that wasn’t blog material even though it was cleverly disguised! It also got me into the habit of keeping a prayer/gratitude journal. This one habit has transformed my life.
It’s no surprise to me that my first post was “Experimenting with Miracles”. My blog is a little miracle to me even today!It has sown many seeds near and far. Seeds of magic, hope and possibility. It reminds me that miracles happen every day, we just have to believe!
Punctuate Life 
I completely understand feeling less lonely through blogging, I feel the same way.
Congrats on blogging for a full year!
Yep, It was as if you talking about my own journey into the blogosphere. The fact is, I never thought or saw myself as a writer but there I was writing shore stories. In the end it has much more rewarding then I would/could have imagined. Blogging on… 🙂
Blogging is easily one of the most enjoyable things I do. It’s an opportunity to explore ideas, learn new things and of course, as you noted, a chance to connect with some pretty amazing people that I would otherwise never get to meet.
It is also an amazing confidence booster. It illustrates so easily how ideas can be transformed into reality. With all that positive energy, it would be a shame to turn it into a place for a lot of negative thinking. Cheers to blogging.
Writing in any form can be so therapeutic and help you find that little something.
As a fairly new blogger I have yet to reach one year. I have been able to meet so many wonderful bloggers and clients through the blogging world. Congratulations on your first year. 🙂
You better start believing that you are destined for great things, for yourself and for others … helping out the world at large and spreading joy and happiness to name just two