Why even have a blog? Why not just post long captions on Instagram? First, off, fight me. Having a long caption on IG is not blogging. If you think blogging is writing, you are wrong. Blogging is one word to encompass the many skills it takes. Some of those skills? SEO, coding, photography, writing, editing, social media planning, etc. So why do all of those things when you could just post a photo on social and get wayyyy more engagement than having people click over to a website?
Why Blog?
It’s Career Building
I’ve shared this with you before, but I would not have my current job if it weren’t for this blog. You can read that story here. While I have other talents, because I took blogging seriously, for a very long time, I had a portfolio my future bosses could look at and see how I worked. Although my job has changed in the four years I’ve worked at ADT, I’ve taken the skills I’ve learned from blogging to every single role.
It’s Healing
I’ve always been open on this blog. About break-ups, job loss and the hardest of all, calling off an engagement and wedding. I’ve never been what you might call a “fluff” blog. My content doesn’t fit into a box. Yes, it’s style-based, but is it? The way I write is purely from the heart. I don’t craft a story around what I’m wearing. I craft a story and then have fashionable visuals that compliment it. This isn’t what the mainstream reader wants. You have to sit down a little bit to read my content.
So much of what you read is often the last step of my healing process. Releasing it into the wild. In a way, it doesn’t feel final until I hit that “publish” button.
The Connections
Not only has blogging given me some incredible relationships, it’s helped maintain them. I remember my friend Jessica telling me, shortly after the birth of her first child, she looked forward to reading my blog posts so she felt like she could keep up with my life. Or something like that, that was the gist. We all go through highs and lows of friendships. Blogging has been a great way for me to be able to share what is on my heart and mind without having 15 heavy conversations a day. In no way does a blog post take the place of a conversation, but it is helpful to get to know a friend through them, even if you think you know everything.
It’s for You
There is no one that dictates to me what this space is. When I first started writing, you weren’t meant to read it. This blog is and always will be for me, first. It’s going to be the thing that I need. Not the thing that society needs from me. This blog is and always has been about showing up for myself. How? Writing about those really scary times I didn’t think I would get through. Having a place to remind myself, “You can do this. Look at where you were here and you still made it.”
Patrick Weseman
Very interesting. I just blog because it a way to learn about different things I see and it is a way for be to be creative in my life. A simple way.
beautygirl24
I’ve always enjoyed your perspective and have so much respect for all the effort you put into your blog. I’m not as devoted to mine as you are to yours – I get lazy for sure. Or I let other things get in the way. I wish everyone could read this post who is an influencer. Some of them really grind my gears LOL. But then I remember that they are doing what they want. I just don’t have to participate if all I see is blatant attention seeking. I’ve unfollowed so many of them on Instagram because it was too much for me. But I’ll always follow true bloggers like yourself. Great post 🙂
Lydia
I remember when I first started my blog I was never even planning on telling a single soul of it’s existence. Then I started reading other blogs, and experiencing the community of bloggers who were willing to share their lives and vulnerabilities. This blog might just be for you, but I’ve always loved having it in my life.
Chic on the Cheap
Natmari's Corner
I found this post via Cotton Cashmere Cat Hair Blog and I really enjoy it. This is why I started blogging years ago. But I greatly fell off the blogging wagon (I haven’t blogged in over 2 years). I go back and forth on going back to it. Thanks for sharing this inspiring post. 🙂