Why Did I Start Blogging?

Great question with a not-so-clear answer!

But stick with me, I do have a reason.

Blogging never crossed my mind when I was in Maine. Like never. I would read blog posts through Pinterest now and again because I could easily spend hours on Pinterest to get ideas on pretty much everything. Other than that, I did not truly understand what blogging was, what it entailed, or what the goal was of blogging. The main reason it even entered my mind was for selfish reasons; I needed an outlet to reflect and process this big change I made and am still currently going through. I thought writing a blog was going to be a very complicated process and make me more stressed which is the opposite of what I was looking for. It turns out, it is easier than I thought.

Of course, there are many different and effective types of outlets to help achieve this and I have utilized them in the past and/or currently (therapy, talking to family and friends, etc.). I wanted a way to write it down and get it on "paper" and I saw that lifestyle/personal blogging is a way you could do that. I know, I know, I could just do this in a journal or diary and have it for myself. But that would be no fun for you guys! Y'all want to read about my life, right?! See I knew it!

But in all seriousness, writing my thoughts and walking you through my journey is a more interactive way of writing a journal (at least in my eyes). It feels like I am talking to friends, old and new, and getting to share the ups and downs of making a transition like the one that I have. I also find this as a great way to keep people up to date with what I am doing and how things are going (yes, I am assuming you want to know/care) in one place.

Writing posts, maintaining a blog, and managing a website for my blog as been very therapeutic and an amazing distraction. I find myself getting the most homesick and down in the dumps when I just sit in my living room, binge watch a TV show that I know by heart, and mull in my thoughts. Knowing that I have posts I need to write or that I get to play around with the look of my website, gives me something to look forward to on the weekends and weeknights and it gives me something to do. I find that I do better when I am constantly busy.

This may be the former college student-athlete in me (I literally do not know how I could have done college with like free time to do homework, attend classes, and be involved on campus. I feel like I would be bored and super unproductive). My productivity and organization skills thrive in a busy world. Blogging simply adds more to my day and keeps my creative juices flowing.

I would not say I am the most creative person in the world when it comes to drawing, doodling, painting, basically the traditional ways you think of when someone says they are creative. I suck at drawing (even the stick figures), I can only sing well in the shower, and I only like to paint/color when it is by numbers because it stresses me out to know that I can choose whatever color I want. Where I feel that I am creative and can show what little skills I have is in designing marketing materials and social media posts. I did this quite a bit in my previous job and I do it now to let people know of events that are happening and basically beg students to attend them (all my higher ed peeps understand that freaking struggle).

Being able to play around with themes, colors, texts, and other designs for a website, posts, and emails to subscribers is something I truly find enjoyable, especially when I do not have to do it for work purposes. So far, blogging has been a really rewarding experience and I know that I am just getting started.