ANOTHER YEAR OF BLOGGING
Well, another year of blogging just sailed by and I'm pausing for a moment to look back and to appreciate all that blogging brings into my life. 11 years ago when I first Googled "how to start a blog" I never imagined what a blessing it would be to have my little spot on the interwebs.
I'm not even sure what I was hoping to accomplish by starting this journey, but I know I never expected to be here so many years later, and with so many benefits that have come my way...
WHERE WOULD I BE WITHOUT A BLOG?
When I stop and look at what blogging has brought my way, here's just a few off the top of my head:
- Somewhere to share my journey and to receive thoughtful comments in return.
- So many connections over the years.
- Inspiration and encouragement to live Midlife my way, and to live it well.
- Opportunities to be published in magazines, a newspaper article, and on other blogs.
- Interviews on a variety of podcasts.
- A small, but much appreciated hobby income from collaborations.
- A way to keep my computer skills honed while figuring out new challenges.
FROM EARLY 50'S TO MID 60'S
Blogging has taken me from my early 50's through to my mid 60's and it's been integral in keeping me positive and encouraged during this phase of my life. I do remember thinking that life looked pretty dull and gray when I started. I was in a job that I was bored with, our kids had left home and were established in their own lives, my husband and I had ridden out a major hiccup in our marriage, and there just didn't seem to be a lot of joy or light to look forward to.
What blogging did was connect me into a network of bright, smart, engaging women (and a bloke or two) who were my age and who were doing Midlife really well. They were all so different, but they were figuring stuff out and the more I wrote and connected, the more I found myself being proactive and embracing this second half of life, and I've never looked back.
MAKING THE MOST OF MIDLIFE
Since starting this blog I quit that boring job, started another, went down a major rabbit hole with a very difficult work colleague, quit that job, pulled myself back together, decided to retire, decided to un-retire, and then decided to re-retire.
Along the way I figured out who I am, I learned about boundaries, to stop trying to be all things to all people, to own my small space in this world, and to live life in a way that feels authentic and joyful. I've been encouraged by others, and in turn I've cheered others on. I'd like to think that sharing my story has been helpful - and I've had plenty of comments and emails with a "me too" in them - where we walk the same path and find our way through.
When you stand and share your story in an empowering way, your story will heal you, and your story will heal somebody else.
Iyanla Vanzant
THERE'S ALWAYS MORE AHEAD
As each year draws to a close, I look back at other bloggers who've closed their blogs down and moved on, and I start wondering if I'm done with blogging too. I wonder if I've said all I needed to say, written all there is to write, and if I'm done. Each time that happens I say to my husband "I think I'm going to stop blogging because I think I'm done" and he tells me "you say that every year, and yet here you still are" and he's right. There always seems to be something that catches my interest that I want to explore more, there's always thoughts whizzing around in my head that find their way here, and there's always something new to learn and to share.
RELATED POSTS
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Yay for your choice to keep on blogging Leanne. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and words. There is always something for me to learn here. I am going to keep writing on Substack when and if I have something worthwhile to say. Take care, Denyse x
ReplyDeleteHi Denyse - I feel the same way. Once a week seems like a good fit for me, and an extra one here or there if I have a collaboration. I think it's about enjoying a lovely hobby - not trying to prove anything, or to be Oprah - just sharing and being part of a really genuine community - thanks for being one of my biggest cheerleaders. x
DeleteSo glad - I really enjoy your blog and look forward to it every week!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you enjoy what I write - and thanks so much for taking a moment to let me know - that really makes my day. :)
DeleteSo many bloggers have been talking about quitting recently and that's so sad. We need blogs, they're the soul of the internet! I agree with your husband and I'm glad you will continue writing, the world needs the inspiration and positive vibes from your posts! I know I do!
ReplyDeleteHi Susanne - I've been sad to see so many long time bloggers fade into the ether too. Sometimes it feels like blogging is redundant, but then I remember how much I enjoy the process, the connections, and the community - so many lovely people all over the world - what's not to love about that? I'm glad you keep coming back too because I love your photos and your stories. :)
DeleteHi Leanne. I'm glad you're going to keep blogging. Reading your blog is part of my Monday morning here in Lincolnshire, England. A lovely start to the week 😊
ReplyDeleteHi Rebecca! How lovely is it that we get to connect from the other side of the world? I love the commonalities and the community that blogging brings to me - and thank you for taking a moment to tell me that you read my little bit of the interwebs - it means a lot to me. x :)
DeleteHi Leanne - I am glad you are still blogging. You post such a nice thoughts, very often inspiring ones. I am happy to have found you and that I am able to read all your posts. I too hope to continue to blog for as long as I can.
ReplyDeleteHi Pradeep - you are one of thevery few blokes I've connected with here - not many men can consistently write a blog that isn't about "how to write a blog" where they need to tell us how to do it! I always enjoy your comments and reading your posts too.
DeleteI’m the other side of midlife and still learning …. Thank you for your insight 💐
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for taking a moment to comment - I think I'm probably on the far side of midlife (and still learning) - but it feels like the best descriptor for this stage of life where we get to rethink a lot of the stuff that we were told to believe. :)
DeleteOh Leanne, I loved reading this, I’m so happy that you’re continuing to blog and share your thoughts with us. There is something so comforting about feeling like you’re walking alongside someone on a similar journey, and that’s the feeling I get when reading your words. I admire your dedication to your readers and community. Your insights are always helpful. I feel a sense of calm after reading your posts. So glad we’ve connected. xx
ReplyDeleteHi Sue - I'm so glad we connected too - and that we are on a similar journey (and not on opposite sides of the world!) It's been such a lovely "hobby" to have had for the last decade, and it's brought me so many blessings along the way - and I think that's why I'm so reluctant to ever give it away. There's always something new to keep inspiring me - and there's still new people to meet too. xx
DeleteHi, I'd not seen the quote, "When you stand and share your story in an empowering way, your story will heal you, and your story will heal somebody else." But it sums it up perfectly. I know my own writing often heals me. I hope my story in my blog inspires someone, as I know I get inspired by other's stories. Inspired, uplifted, and even sometimes jostled into awareness (nice way of saying a kick in the pants!). I'm glad you're sticking around for another year... and yes, I am as well. I'll be posting pictures of the house build as it progresses. Tomorrow the plumber is supposed to show up to do incoming water lines...not very exciting, but the next step!
ReplyDeleteHi Pat - I definitely think that sharing our stories has an impact. We might not realize it at the time, but I've had many emails and comments over the years from others who have had similar struggles or lessons - it's such a good feeling to know we're not alone. I think it's also a gift to be able to connect with someone far away and to find so much in common - different countries, same journey.
DeleteYour year of ups and downs with losing your home and the turmoil of getting things underway with the rebuild has been a reminder to me of how resilient we are, and how we can feel like we're overwhelmed, but we keep stepping up and moving forward. I'm so looking forward to your new house progress updates. xx
Leanne, you have a remarkable gift for encouraging others simply by identifying with them and stating plainly what we may not be able to articulate. Keep doing that. I still need to hear it. Have a wonderful December.
ReplyDeleteOh, Suzanne that was such a lovely compliment. I feel like sometimes I might be stating the obvious here, but there's a lot of lessons that have come my way over the last decade or so - and I've enjoyed sharing the process. I also feel that I'm so much more self-aware (and maybe even self-assured) than I was when I started. Getting older can bring a lot of blessings with it if we allow ourselves to navigate the process and to ride the waves. x
DeleteHi Leanne, I enjoy reading your gems and inspirational posts. Interesting how you mention honing new computer skills and challenges, positives not always discussed by bloggers. I like your words, ‘proactive’ and ‘embracing.’ They reflect your authentic and positive personality in your blog posts. I look forward to reading all each week! xx Erica
ReplyDeleteHi Erica - I love that you've stayed in touch after you stopped blogging (I keep hoping you'll re-start one day). So many have left the blogosphere and disappeared - it's like being ghosted by old friends to lose them. I still love being here and sharing my little discoveries - they grow me, and I hope they provide a little bit of interest to others. And most of all I love the connections - and our friendship. xx
DeleteI'm at that point where I'm thinking about the way forward and what I want to write about and how often. At this stage I think I'll be stepping back from links other than the monthly bookish one and just being a tad looser.
ReplyDeleteHi Jo - I totally get that. I stepped back from link parties a couple of years ago and haven't missed them. I love the idea of them, but not the "token gesture" type comments they seem to create these days. I'm still a little in love with my blog and having my corner of the interwebs, and that's what keeps me coming back + the community who are still here hammering away. x
DeleteHi Leanne, I can't remwember how I found you here almost a year ago...I am in the States, South Carolina. But my life mirrors yours in some ways, I finally left a job of almost 20 years that had always had unhealthy waves but one person made it truly toxic for me in the last 8 years. I was so afraid to leave, lose that identity, (it was in ministry) and afraid I'd have nothing to do. I was certain I'd need to fina another job and quickly. But it's now been 10 months since I left, I LOVE not working, and I feel like I'm finally coming to life--leaving behind the idol of people pleasing and the type 2 in me that cares for everyone who steps in a room before knowing my own needs. So, I realte to much of what you share and am thankful God led me here to your wisdom!
ReplyDeleteHi Leanne, congrats on another year of blogging and for deciding to continue on with it. I'm also continuing and as long as people read and enjoy what I write and I enjoy doing it all I'll keep going! Our retirement years are for doing what we enjoy and like you, I don't know where I'd be if I hadn't started blogging all those years ago. Great to read your post!
ReplyDelete