I’m Aby; mama, wife, friend and drinker of copious amounts of chai latte. I am never too far from my camera, you see, I have so many memories to capture.
One day a couple of years ago, when I was a new mum and was unknowingly suffering from post-natal depression, I decided to start a blog. Just on a whim, but that afternoon I started what was meant to be my online baby book, a way to protect our memories from erosion over time. What I didn’t know at the time is just how powerful that would be; how amazing the world was that I was about to enter; how the friends I would go on to make would be the very best of friends, better than I ever thought I would have. I didn’t know, just by starting this blog that my life would totally and unequivocally be changed forever.
It started slowly, I would write about things that cropped up during our day to day lives. Not confident enough to be bold with my writing, enjoying it nevertheless. As time went on, my love of my blog and the community grew. I met people, I met friends, I was blown away by their talent, support and kindness. People with similar lives and goals coming together, over their desire to share their story in their voice.
We all have a voice, we just have to know how to use it.
As my confidence grew, so did my skills and my voice. I became less afraid to publish my words and more immersed in the community. People who I met online, became friends I would speak to everyday. The proof of the power of blogging at it’s finest.
As my journey progressed, writing became my job and it easier to press the publish button without worry of being judged. You see, your opinion matters, your opinion is what makes you unique, it is your USP. If you sit on the fence, despite the splinters you may get in your bum, you are not giving anyone a reason to read your story. So while I am not terribly controversial, I will never shy away from sharing my opinion, I will never be fearful about whether I have the right to have that opinion.
Fear can be at best an annoyance and at worst crippling. A natural instinct that can affect your life in so many ways, if you let it. It is better to be remembered for the wonderful things about you personality, not for the most basic of instincts that we all possess. People will always judge; rather they judge you on having an opinion and not agreeing with you, than of being devoid of any conviction.
Your writing is your opportunity to share your story. People want to listen, so share something worth listening to.
Comments 16
Agree wholeheartedly with this. My one piece of advice to anyone who wants to start a blog has always been to have the confidence to find your own voice and not get drawn into being an imitation of other people – after all, no one can write ‘you’ as well as you can.
You’re right about being unafraid to voice your own opinion too. There is a happy medium somewhere between offering no opinion (for fear of offence) and being preachy and judgemental (which will inevitably cause offence). Everyone has the right to tell their own story, and while there are some unpleasant people out there who will ridicule you just for daring to have a different world-view to theirs, that doesn’t dilute your right to state your opinion one iota.
The blogging community is, on the whole, an incredibly supportive place – and it’s a richer one for the diversity of opinions and stories it offers.
I’ve been blogging for almost 2 years now, and i still believe the best thing to come out of it (apart from preserving the memories), is the friendships. The blogging community is simply amazing and I hope to stay part of it for a while yet! x
What a great post and how very true, I use to worry a lot about people judging me and my opinions but now I do not. I have my own beliefs and convictions just like the next person.
I have been blogging for just over 2 years and it has been such an amazing journey x
This is a beautiful post 🙂 and very timely for me! I have been blogging for 10 years now and have made so many blogging friends, but fear that has held me back since many years before that have stifled my writing massively. Until now… A desire to stop letting fear control me led to starting a brand new blog and whilst I am in the terrifying stage of launching and wondering what the hell I am doing, it is great to be reminded of just how important and powerful it can be to share your heart and write freely, without (or maybe despite) fear. Your post just shines with happiness and that is so beautiful and inspiring for anyone at any stage of their journey!
How long have you been blogging for now? You have accomplished so much and I am so pleased that you found the confidence to blog xx
Love this post honey, I have only been blogging for 9 months but I am throughly enjoying it and its mainly down to the relationships and friendships which I have found. I will have to go back and read some of your earlier posts, as I feel like I have missed a whole chunk!! xx
Ah I love this post Aby. I know you know that blogging has completely and utterly changed my life, so I will always be thankful for that and support other bloggers too. x
I love this and it’s so true. I’m very opinionated on certain topics, some people love it and some people hate it. But those people who love it will always support me and my blog so it’s worth the haters x
Thank u for this I’ve being away from blogging for a few months now I’ve had a total mental block in every sense of the word ( I suffer form post natal depression ). I decide about two days ago to give myself a kick up the ass and get back into it. Mr easing your post is totally inspirational thank u truly thank x
Lovely post, blogging is amazing in’t it? – I started almost two years ago, and have made some fantastic friends through it, as well as documenting my crazy family life and having some amazing opportunities. Kaz x
Blogging is just so amazing. It has brought me so much more than I ever expected and with that a whole host of awesome friends. Where would we be without it!? x
What a lovely post, I have been dabbling at this blogging thing for almost a year but I struggle to press the publish button, I delete almost everything I write and when I do actually publish something I worry that it is terrible and although I use the excuse that it is just a little hobby and a nice way to record memories, I really hope there are people out there who read it and go ‘hey, that wasn’t 2 mins of my life I wasted’. And I love the thought there might be a community of like-minded people out there I may one day become friends with, so this year I will try harder. Thank you for the motivation!
Totally agree with you Aby. I’ve been blogging for 2 years this month and although I haven’t achieved half as much as you have, I’ve certainly made some wonderful and extremely supportive friends. The blogging community is wonderful xx
Really love this, so thankful you started this journey as it brought us together x
Oh this is such a gorgeous post. I am so grateful that you started this blog and by reading it in the early days your writing and ambition inspired me to push on with mine too. I feel so lucky to be your friend and that would have neve happened if it wasn’t for our blogs xxxxx