Life seems to be passing me by at a rapid rate at the moment. Blink and you miss everything. My life consists of a Monday to Friday job in an office, so you’d think that time would go slower than it does, but with a busy calendar it’s almost like my feet are moving without me even realising. I’m so grateful for the wonderful opportunities that my blog is seemingly bestowing me with at the moment. It’s exciting & exhilarating, I’ve finally had a moment in my ”blogging career” where I’ve thought ”I’ve had a special blogging moment” and that’s been a few times recently. That has taken FIVE WHOLE YEARS (remember this throughout the post). This is not a brag post and it annoys me to the very core that I should have to semi-advise/apologise for feeling good about something. Surely we should be championing each others achievements?
This is an open letter to all you Bloggers out there.
Hayley posted a wonderful Wittering Wednesday post this week about the social media/blogging world. I think she should be extremely proud of what she has achieved so far. Her following is on mass (much more than myself) and blog that is well articulated, yet funny at the same time. But it got me asking the question though; Are we ever going to be 100% happy with our blog?
Kind of like ourselves, we are a work in progress. Sometimes our stories are cut short and not necessarily have we done the things we set out to. Some lead long, prosperous lives but then at the back of their mind despite their successes, I’m sure they will be asking ”have I truly done what I set out to do?” – it sounds morbid, but you must hear me out. The blogging world is crazy at the moment. Everyone wants a piece of the action, whether it be for right or wrong reasons. In the last few months I’ve had countless people ask me for blogging advice on how to start a blog etc. Some I have relished being able to share my knowledge, albeit limited, and some I have helped knowing full well that their intentions are just that of, ”for the free stuff.” But through gritted teeth I’ve helped, giving them the best advice I can. You see, I want to be a person that can deep down say that I helped someone. Even if in a small way. I want to be the reason someone smiled and didn’t cry, especially on that truly, horrific day that they just had. I don’t want to be one of those bitches who looks down their nose at you because you only have 1% of their massive following or that you aren’t good enough to be in the ‘clique.’ Can’t we all just be taken at face value rather than a number?
Social media has helped me achieve this. Just through the verse of a few tweets between two strangers, with a common love for their own blogs I’ve been able to engage with so many lovely people and have eventually gone on to meet, you know in the real life flesh. They are no longer just twitter blog friends, they are real-life friends. And they are all just as nice in person as they are online. Some, even nicer!
There has been so many stories recently about how bloggers who use Instagram are creating this self-loathing pit we are all in, because we are looking at someone else’s account and wishing and hoping that was our life. Hey, I do it all the time but that’s for me to work out and the same goes for you, and you, yes and you. I can see you nodding and agreeing. In fact I’m probably half writing & half scrolling looking at someones perfectly perfect white background, a bunch of freshly cut flowers, a copy of vogue delicately laid on one of those H&M marble trays (you know the ones I’m talking about!). But I probably make someone else jealous too, and that person who is jealous of me will be making that girl who is eating her Fish & Chip Friday lunch feel crap as well. Were all our own demons. So where does it end?
We need to realise, jealously is normal. If you don’t like something, fix it. There is no right or wrong way to measure success. Ask yourself, does it feel good? If the answer is yes then I say you’ve done a pretty darned good job of whatever you were meant to do. As hard it might be, try not to compare your successes to someone else and this goes without saying the blogging world. If you are meant to get that chance to shine, you will get it. If you don’t get it, then that’s fine too. Be true to what you want to do, work hard because trust me,
Those who wait, will not get.
I’ve seen far too many talented, wonderful bloggers/writers/editors (whatever you want to call yourself) take a long, long break because they are disillusioned by the en-mass of newbie bloggers. Please remember, you are the reason that these people are going, you inspired them to do it! Fine, if you want a break because you just don’t have the vision or creativity to come up with new posts but if it’s because you’re not getting your break, man up, roll your socks up & keep working hard and being the best you want to be! If it is the latter, you need to stop being selfish too. I may sound harsh and hurtful, but in reality and in the ”normal world” it’s only like everyday life, you see something someone else has, you want a piece of the pie too. It’s the same in everyday scenarios. So let’s not spit our dummies out, shall we? Move with the times, try not to get left behind – if you want something, go bloody get it!
In short, do you. Not anyone else. Keep at it, because you got this girl!
Bee xxx
Follow me on Twitter | Instagram | BlogLovin | Pinterest
