Four score years ago I ventured out and wrote my first ever blog post. The post – thankfully lost to my Blogger archives since I switched to WordPress! – would start my journey into this weird and wonderful corner of the Internet that, now, feels so much like home.
I wracked my brain to think what I could do for this year’s birthday post and it occurred to me that four years is a heck of a long time to commit myself to doing one thing. Writing about my life and my interests is a really weird thing to commit myself to doing, and admittedly there have been so many times I’ve sat at my laptop, had a bit of a blogging existential crisis and thought ‘Y’know, maybe I’ll just pack this whole thing in today’. So today’s little birthday post I’m keeping it pure and simple. Here are my top four reasons why I keep blogging.
1. I’m stubborn and want to make a point of continuing
Blame in me being a Taurus or say it’s just my own personality coming through, but as anyone who knows me in real life will tell you, I’m a really stubborn person. I feel like I’ve come this far after four years that I’m not about to let up now. And for every time the angel on my shoulder says you should really call it a day, the stubborn little devil says ‘HELL NO, don’t you quit on me!’. In the space of four years I’ve started and finished University, started two more blogs, got myself a graduate job and will be moving onto my second in January, and travelled solo for the first time! My friendships circles have changed, people I love have left my life, but my blog has always been the constant. So why would I stop now?!
2. It gives me bragging rights
When I first started blogging I used to keep it ultra secret and separate from my personal life. Over the years it’s become harder to keep this thing a secret, but I’ve also become more confident to actively tell people I’m a blogger and it honestly feels really cool. Wishing For Chanel has become something I’m really proud of and my conversation starter in any situation with family, friends, at University, at work, online, and even in job interviews – the blog(s) I run have even come surprisingly handy with the latter! I’m definitely not afraid to say that blogging has defined me as a person and I’m eternally grateful for that.
3. It gives me a venting post
The MTV movies awards red carpet fashion was insanely good? Blog about it. Taylor Swift looked red hot in her latest video? Blog about it. I want an excuse to peruse Net-A-Porter for two hours? Blog about it. When friends ask me how I find stuff to write about I tell them the same thing every time…I write about whatever the hell I want! My blog is my personal writing space and there’s no high blogging deity telling me what to do. Sure there are trends and topics people post about, but for the most part I dictate what I write about, not everyone else. This epiphany did not come easy but this is definitely my mantra now.
4. The community
I’m about to get all sappy now (*vom*) As I’ve said many times on this blog, I’m an introverted person. Social situations physically and mentally drain me, so I tend to have the occasional night out, my really close friends and that’s about it. Call it sad but blogging has become a place where I socialise. It’s less physically exhausting but it still allows me to feel more connected to more people at the same time. And over the years, those simple online connections have turned into genuine friendships. I love this community and the people in it and would defend it to the core. You guys – yes you reading this post – are the number one reason why I keep going
So let’s raise a glass and toast to my little corner of the Internet ^_^
Happy Birthday Wishing For Chanel!
And here’s to many more years!
R.xoxo
