Most of us begin blogging without any grand vision of our future. We begin writing to fulfill a void in our life: maybe we just love fashion. Maybe we’re channeling the energy post-breakup, move, or other major life crisis into a creative outlet. Maybe we’re looking for others who think similarly; I began mine because I felt alone and isolated. I was living in a college town where I wasn’t in school, and I felt looked down on by the people I met who were in school. It was as though my love of fashion made me shallow and unintelligent, and I knew that I could be intelligent and love shopping.
As I’ve moved beyond the feelings that created my blog, I’ve struggled with a lingering doubt of, “is that all there is?“
Some bloggers use blogging to find a natural path: they become consultants, stylists, or open their own stores. Their fashion passion is journalism, and they find gigs writing for larger publications. Maybe they become ambassadors for brands, working to develop creative content. And a great many of us are satisfied with the day-to-day of simply creating new content.
But there are a handful of us who are balloons released in the air; bottles dropped in the ocean. Creating content for our sites and loving it, but eventually a sense of is that all there is? lingers in us. Our eyes are bright to the possibility of a future of something more, but we haven’t figured out what that something more is.
The good news is– blogging: it’s NOT all there is.
I’ve spent the last five years floundering a bit and trying to pave my way. Each day, each post, each break, and each comment has brought me one more step closer to what I want. Every moment of doubt and questioning has found me another blogger friend who feels the same. These bring me a little more clarity to what I enjoy and what I want to leave behind.
If you’re questioning your blogging, writing, or online experience, and find yourself asking, “is that all there is?” remember that a) if you’re happy with it? It’s okay that it is, b) it’s okay to want something more, challenge yourself, and grow into another path, and c) put it out there. Send out a tweet or post it on Facebook. I bet you’ll find a few souls out there feeling the same. Shoot them an email. Form a little blog-help group. I’ve got one, and I tell you– it’s been wonderful: inspiring, reassuring, and reaffirming.
Now I’ll end my blog-istential crisis with a little tune for you from the great Peggy Lee:
Thank you=)
Brilliant write-up and so very true. I’ve been there, done that failed, deleted blogs, still felt teh void and started all over again. I’m pre-empting the ‘is that all there is?’ and would love to hear of any blogger groups. Ann x
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