BEING MYSELF

be yourself, own your voice, don't follow the crowd - shine in your own right.

FINDING MY VOICE

One of the side benefits of starting a blog is learning to hear my own voice. For a long time my voice was lost in the noise of what everyone else was saying, shouting or declaring. I didn't know that I had anything different to offer until I took the time to stop and settle and put my thoughts down in a coherent fashion.

When I started blogging there was a lot of talk about finding your niche and sticking to that area, on the other hand there was also a lot of advice about writing what other people want to read. The more I worked at following the blogging rules that are EVERYWHERE, the more I noticed that it took away from what I really wanted to say. What I wanted was to write from my heart, with my voice to people who were interested in connecting and walking the same road together.

FOLLOWING MY OWN RULES

So, I've given up on following the rules, I don't bombard Pinterest boards with my blog pics, I try not to swamp my Facebook page with my blog posts, I haven't taken up Tweeting or Instagram-ing. It's just not who I am - to be out there selling myself to the (mostly) uninterested masses. I know that there is a fine line between avoiding self promotion and having a blog that nobody can find or read, and I'm walking that line very narrowly, but that's okay and feels right for me.

be yourself, own your voice, don't follow the crowd - shine in your own right.

OWNING WHO I AM

What I have come to realize is that who I am, and what I believe in, aren't really in line with becoming a world renown writer. I want to write what comes from my heart, I want to encourage others who are at the same age and stage as me to enjoy every minute of it. I want to interact and connect with people without having to sell my soul to achieve that.

What you find on my blog is me......I will always be honest, I may not always write what other people want to read, it will just be me putting my thoughts and my heart out there and hoping that somewhere in cyberspace there will be others who are walking the same path and who are finding joy in this crazy world we live in. 

I'm not political, I'm not particularly fashionable, and I have very little interest in makeup or nail varnish. I'm not a foodie, I don't drink wine, and I have no understanding of vegan, tofu, dairy-free/gluten free dining. But I'm pretty optimistic about life in general, I'm occasionally 'religious' - (that's part of who I am), I love my husband, kids, grandbaby, friends, and cats, learning from my mistakes, and taking the tough times in life and turning them around. 

This is my blog, this is my voice and that is enough for me. I hope it's enough for others too. x

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Windback Wednesday ~ www.crestingthehill.com.au

24 comments

  1. Hi Leanne, I love your post, it sounds so much like me. I really didn't think there was anyone left out there that feels this way. I love God, my family and all my four legged and two legged little ones. I write my Blog using the words that God puts on my heart. I wish you lived closer, I'd ask you to stop over for Coffee, oh and I don't drink Wine either. Because I dig in the dirt when I Landscape I don't polish my nails either. You know what, I like it that way. Don't change anything Leanne, it's always best just to be you.

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    1. Donna I think that is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me - I definitely want that cup of coffee! It's so refreshing when you connect with someone who has the same life experiences and the sees the world through similar eyes. I am so grateful I have reached a point in my life where I actually like the person I've become and I'm satisfied with my lot in life - there are so many who have so much less (whether they realize it or not!) I love that you've reached this stage too :)

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  2. Hi, Leeanne - Thank you for making a quick connection with me on Blog Share Learn. That connection lead me to your blog - which I have found to be incredibly inspirational! You are so right--we each need to learn to hear our own voice and not let it get lost in the noise of what everyone else is shouting. I look forward to following your blog further.

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    1. I'm so glad to have met you through BSL - I love finding other bloggers who are midlifers loving where they are and discovering the joys of this stage of life. I'm looking forward to reading more of your posts in 2017 too.

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  3. I'm glad that you have remained true to yourself Leanne. I started blogging not long after you and fell into the trap of 'following the rules' - lots of hard work but I soon found that you don't really need all that razzamataz. People respond to someone who is genuine and that is what you are. I love your blog and please don't change. Sue from Sizzling Towards Sixty & Beyond

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    1. I think we all fell in that trap for a while Sue - it works for a lot of bloggers, but for those of us who don't fit the mould it's good to break free and just go with what our hearts tell us to write. I love that we're sharing this journey together and making similar discoveries along the way x

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  4. Now, in the New Year 2017, I've been struggling about what to write...... and along comes your post. It was a wonderful centering reflection for me. My goal on my blog was to be authentically 'me' and write from the heart. Thanks, Leanne! :)
    https://meinthemiddlewrites.com/2016/12/30/me-in-the-middle-of-letting-go-2016welcome-2017-flashback/

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    1. I'm so happy to have inspired you Mary Lou! I think writing from your heart and being true to yourself makes a blog really sing. I know I'm dying to find out how your Hawaiian trip goes (with that special person!) Keep writing so I find out :)

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    2. Hawaii is still on my bucket list, Leanne! Unfortunately, my special person had a stroke. Recovery will take time. :( It's nice to know I was included in his bucket list for the trip. Maybe I'll still get there. <3

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  5. These are Wise Words! Thanks for affirming many of the ideas that I also hold about blogging. I have read several of your posts and always enjoy them. Keep up your excellent work in 2017!

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    1. Thanks so much Carol - I think that being our authentic selves and using our authentic voices is what makes our blogs special. I love reading blogs that feel "real" to me and that's what I look for in my friends too. No more pretending for me :)

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  6. Read this 3 times and still wet leaves out of me the most is that reminder to follow my own rules.
    <3

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    1. I think you have that pretty much down perfectly Carla - I think my problem is making too many rules - now I tend to try to be more relaxed about things.

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  7. Absolutely. BE YOU. Who else can you be? Follow your instincts that will bring you the happiness you seek. That's what you're already doing! Love your honesty and individuality. Great post,Leanne.

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    1. Thanks so much Cathy - it's been such a journey to get to the point where I'm happy to own my own beliefs and values and not try to fit in with expectations - and also to leave a lot of my expectations behind (that was the most liberating thing of all!)

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  8. So glad there is someone else who isn't playing by the rules and your doing your own thing and have found your voice. So many blogs seems to be all about making money. Thanks for linking up with Blogging Grandmothers.

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    1. I don't think I'll ever make much money from my blog Candace. I'm not prepared to do the hard yards that it takes to monetise - I'm just going with my heart and writing what I love - glad you are too x

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  9. We love your writing Leanne, your rules are working. I think we all take time to settle down and find our voice. There are parts of blogging that I don'e enjoy much, but they need to be done. I am trying to spend more of my time doing the things that I love doing.
    Kathleen

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    1. Thanks so much Kathleen - I really appreciate your feedback and encouragement, you are doing so much to move your blog forward and I'm always interested to see what you'll come up with next. I'll just keep on tootling along with mine in the background (and linking up on Fridays of course!)

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  10. Leanne - I love you and your blog!!!! And after 1 year of blogging I am SO OVER blogging rules. Thanks for staying true to who you are!

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    1. I think I came to the same conclusion around the 12 month mark too Cathy - if you blog for the love of it then you really don't need to feel confined by all the "how-to" lists do you?

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  11. Oh my goodness! You are so right about following all of the blogging rules. When you do that, you have no time to blog because you're always second guessing yourself. I've taken classes from this one and that one on how to blog properly, how to get followers, how to monetize my blog, etc. All the while doing so I came to realize that each and every one of these top bloggers giving these classes were taking away from me and my writing an actual post...So, I decided to just be me, write about what inspires me or interests me and not get so overloaded with do it this way or do it that way. Thank you for partying with us at Blogging Grandmothers Link Party. I shared your post on my social media sites.

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    1. You are so right Dee! I don't have any desire to pay someone to tell me how to make my blog stupendous. All the things that have been suggested all end up going against what I want to do in my writing. I don't want to schedule, entice, lure, sell, etc. I just want to connect and write about what I love. It's so nice finding a group of others who feel the same xx

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  12. I loved your post! I kept saying to myself, "me, too....me, too!" I could relate to so much of what you wrote. Good for you, and keep being you!

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Thanks so much for your comment - it's where the connection begins.