A Year Of Blogging
“And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been. ”
I have been blogging for an entire year now. I started writing because I made a resolution to document the lives of myself and my kids in unique ways. This blog became a vehicle for me to drive towards that goal, and I can proudly say that I accomplished what I set out to do and so much more. I wanted to post, on average, once a week for a whole year. This entry marks my 57th post - I did it! When I look back on the past year of blog posts, I am inundated with pictures of my kids, thoughts of how I felt, glimpses of what ‘typical’ looked like, and gifted with collections of memories that may have been forgotten had I not chosen to pursue blogging.
Aside from the fact that I have this beautiful document of what our life looks like, in this very precious season of life, blogging has gifted me with so much more than I ever thought possible. I realized this year that I longed to find a creative outlet that was all my own. I was craving a schedule and craft that was strictly for me. In discovering my love of writing, I found a passion for something that once was a chore to complete.
Blogging has taught me the importance of carving out time for the endeavours that you love; the things that set your soul on fire and ignite a sense of joy deep within you. You cannot sit by idly as your own passions fizzle out and die, as fire becomes a flame, becomes an ember, and eventually loses all heat. If there is something that’s important to you, make it a priority. Sometimes, being selfish is necessary. Whether that meant staying home from an outing to write, carving time out of my personal schedule to blog, or staying up late to make a deadline I set for myself, I made it happen.
Blogging proved to me that the things that create the most fear are usually the ones most worth doing. Everything about blogging was outside of my comfort zone: from the simple act of writing to the complex nature of expressing my true feeling to the panic-inducing prospect of actually allowing others into the intimate details of my life. I was nervous to push publish for the very first time, nervous to share on Facebook, and nervous to contribute to another bloggers’ website. I wanted my blog to be real and that meant that I had to tell the honest truth - and sometimes honesty isn’t always the prettiest picture to paint. All of the things that terrify me about blogging have turned out to be great learning experiences. I wouldn’t want to go back even if I could.
Blogging has shown me that people are drawn to authenticity, not perfection. Sure, those pretty Instagram pages and beautiful blogs may spark interest, but to keep an individual coming back they need to find something relatable; shared interests, shared problems, and shared energies to draw someone in. Projecting an image of perfection is uninteresting, not relatable, and quite frankly boring. People didn’t comment on the beauty of my posts but more so on how they found solace through the words I wrote, knowing that they had similar experiences and feelings. There is a sense of relief and comfort that comes from knowing you aren’t alone in your feelings; this is where kinship and camaraderie are born.
Most importantly, I want to thank anyone who has taken the time to read my blog. The people who are backing me (whether or not they relate to what I am writing) have not gone unnoticed. The moms who have commented, sympathized, and shared my posts have magnified how worthwhile this endeavour has been. And while I only set out to create my own little memory box, supporting others has been a separate and unexpected blessing to blogging. I am grateful for every read, every like, every comment, and every share. Although, in spite of these things I would have still written every single word, these tiny gestures validate my feelings, indicate the relevance of a post, and push me to continue on my blogging journey.
So, as 2018 comes to an end, I am gifted with the time to reflect on my future goals and aspirations. I can’t help but wonder what the next year will bring for my blog and family. For now, I will continue to cultivate content while maintaining my zero expectations mentality. If and when this becomes a chore and I am no longer passionate about writing, I will stop. But for now, my heart is full and I am happy with this little space to call my own.
