Celebrating Six Years Of Blogging: What I Know So Far
Fine – I’ll let you in on a little secret! I almost forgot what a special day today is… crazy cause I normally count down to this day from the very start of September. After all, celebrating six years of blogging isn’t something that happens every day, but somehow it slipped through the crack, and I nearly missed it ~ nearly that is!
This year has been eventful in ways I wished it hadn’t been, and whilst I chose to keep much of it offline for the first time since I began this blog exactly six years ago, I still check into it every day. I watch from behind the scenes, setting up the stage for the next chapter and ensuring the lights stay on. I watch as each page gets explored, and I won’t lie, I still love the rush I get by knowing someone somewhere has discovered this safe space.
The fact that one of you was revisiting my fifth blogging anniversary post yesterday sparked the lightbulb in my head. “Wow, tomorrow is the day!” I said as I began reflecting on how far I’ve come in six years. I know it was most likely coincidental, but it’s the kind of coincidence that has me writing this today, so I’d like to believe it was something a little more magical than that.
When I began this blog with the back-to-school energy you can only get during “that” September of your final year of university I only had a pocket full of hopes and dreams. Back then, I knew nothing about blogging and merely followed along tutorials wishing they’d help me accomplish the vision I had in mind. I had nothing but conviction and enough confidence to fail – a trait I can’t say for sure I have now.
I knew I wanted thousands of views, but had no clue how much work would have to go into that. And even more than that, I hoped I would get to connect with strangers across the world by sharing candid diaries they could relate to. Truth is, I had no clue what I was doing, but that was the fun of it all.
Celebrating six years of blogging was something I’d only imagined in my head. It was only something I hoped I’d get to be doing in a future that seemed far back then, but here we are pushing through year after year.
I continuously learn a lot from putting my thoughts and opinions out there. It’s not as easy as it may seem, and I’ve even noticed myself shying away from showing the “realest” version of myself in recent years. Having this blog as a creative outlet has taught me so much. I’ve learnt a lot about myself, about facing life and about the blogging industry thus far. It wouldn’t be surprising that my relationship with blogging has changed so much in the past six years. Undoubtedly, everything was much simpler when I was clueless. Since we’re celebrating six years of blogging (how crazy is that?!), I thought I’d let you in on some of the lessons I’ve learnt through blogging. These lessons continue to play a big role in how I approach my life as a blogger, however, they can also be applied to any passion that drives you. So, after six years of blogging, here’s what I know so far:
Be Brave Enough To Fail.
It takes a bit of blind confidence to start something from scratch, but that’s exactly what’s needed to succeed or even fail. Over the years, I’ve learned that failure and success go hand in hand. You can’t have one without the other lurking in the shadows.
Six years ago, I was brave enough to fail. I was brave enough to start something other people might have laughed at or judged me for, but I did it anyway. I didn’t know one person personally who had a blog. However, I think realising there’s beauty in trying unprepared is one of the best things a person can do. Learning how to start when you’re crippled by fear is one of the greatest lessons. Understanding that being brave enough to fail is the beginning of every big change.
By no means am I saying I’ve reached where I want to be. Not even close. But I’m sowing the seeds and it’s so worth it watching them grow.
Never Stop Learning.
Even after six years of blogging, I’ve never shaken off my eagerness to learn more about my craft. The more I know, the more I want to know. Sometimes the more I know, the less I think I know, and while that can present itself as a sad case of imposter syndrome, I like maintaining a healthy level of curiosity with everything I do. There’s always a better way of working. Perhaps there may be a shortcut to make a gruelling process faster. Maybe someone else’s findings can elevate your ideas.
There’s so much I’ve changed since I started blogging. I learnt how to adapt to new ideas and throw out old ones. It’s important to not get so stuck in your ways you don’t notice the seasons change. When the leaves start falling it may be time to grab a jacket. When the sun is shining it might be time to change into something lighter and plop on some sunscreen. So, when was the last time you asked yourself: “What does this season call for?”.
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Remember The ‘Why’.
Whilst celebrating six years of blogging, things will inevitably change over time, but one thing I like to hold on to is my ‘why’. Why do I keep doing this? Why does this even matter? What do I want to gain from all of this?
It’s really easy to get lost in the cycle of it all. God knows I’ve had my share of times when I felt stuck too. Things can become mundane and ordinary. You fall into habits and routines. And just like a hamster on a wheel, you run in circles until there’s no breath to catch.
I think it’s important to remember the ‘why’ because it always helps retrace your steps back to a place of sanity. It can serve as a compass to guide you back to the things that truly matter and that are necessary ingredients to keeping the spark alive.
In time, it’s normal that the reason to carry may change, it might shift and bend to fit your newfound knowledge. It might morph into something different and take on a new shape. That’s okay too.
The important thing is to have a simple reason that drives you. Going back to the reason why you started will be the foundation you stand on and to keep it firm you’ll need to check in with your ‘why’ every now and then.
Perfection Is The Killer Of Consistency.
If I could go back in time to tell myself one thing, I’d tell her to ditch perfection. In the name of being a perfectionist, I’ve ruined my momentum countless times. To achieve the “perfect” thing, I’ve sacrificed consistency over and over again. In time, however, I learned imperfect is better than incomplete every single time.
Frankly, I’m still learning to abandon the idea that things must be ‘perfect’ to be ‘good’. At times, good is just enough.
With blogging, the most success I’ve found has been through consistency. Choosing consistency over perfection means showing up for yourself, your dreams and your priorities. I haven’t always won my war against perfection. There have been times, I’ve taken the crown and marvelled at the results. Other times, I’ve taken the L so hard and dropped the ball. But I’ll keep fighting the good fight. I’m looking forward to showing up more consistently in my sixth year of blogging. I hope you’ll join me…
Your restless romantic roamer
Thank you so much for joining this community and continuing to follow my journey through this blog. Here’s to six more years!
Congratulations on 6 years of blogging! I have been blogging on and off for several years and every time I return to it, it brings me so much joy. I’ve also had to learn to ditch perfection though! x
Thank you so much! I can’t believe it’s been so long since then. Time sure does fly by so fast and I’m glad I have this portal to look back on all my thoughts and experiences in the years that passed. Thank you reading! x