A Blog.

You close your eyes.
Focus.
Sometimes, it all comes to you at once and you just know what you should be doing.
Other times the push is a struggle, you're not really sure, you just know you want it to happen.

Either way you push, and a new life is born.
A blog is created.

What made you start a blog?

Image from here

I think for everyone when you first start blogging you feel surrounded by idols. There are so many blogs you're jumping all over, they have you excited and wanting more more more. You will never be short of idols, although they may shift.

As time goes on you find that you are establishing yourself with your peers. Equals, in regards to content, the age of your blog, your simply you share the same interests. Later this becomes about people with similar statistics as you, the same kind of reach. These guys can be both the people holding you up when you need it, and those tearing you down. You're in direct competition, and sometimes this can have everyone going crazy like a 80% off Jimmy Choo's sale. It's not that they want to upset you, but they see a prize and they want it for themselves. Hey, I'd pull some hair!

Time goes on still and eventually after a lot of persistence, writing, letting your readers know you, and getting out there to know your readers you find yourself being the idol to some. They are big scary shoes, but you do appreciate seeing that some of your hard work is starting to pay off, that you are starting to inspire.

This, is where blogging starts. It's not about numbers, it's about people.
It's about writing, because you have something to say and a keyboard in your hands, not money.
It's about connecting with people because it's just more fucking easy than having to get the kids dressed, all their shit together to go and meet someone somewhere and spend all that time screaming at your kids to stop trying to eat little Jimmy's foot, and to please remember to go to the toilet, not in your pants, which is a useless plea because they always go in their pants. Or having to clean your house, buy something delicious and turn the oven, that you never use, on for a few minutes before your guest arrives so it smells like you baked the something delicious when really you struggle not to burn water. You can sit here typing away talking about how you've just baked a triple layer cake looking perfect when really you're eating something you've just picked up from Cake Biz in your underpants with the holes in them.


Recently it occurred to me that you're only as "big" as you appear to be.
Often, with so many idols to look up to, sometimes they won't be as established as your own blog, sometimes they won't have as big of numbers, but it doesn't mean you can't learn from them, that they won't have something that inspires you, or has you addicted like a whore to crack.
Some of the blogs I love are just that. Small. *shrugs*
Sometimes they're crazy big, a place I know I will never reach, and I'm ok with that.
Both can equally be my crack.

But where am I on this scale?

I often ponder this.
I am finding more and more that everyone has their assumption about where other blogs are.
A lot of the time, it's way off the mark. At least in my case.
How important are those numbers though, when people see you as something else entirely?
Listen to your blogging peers, whether they be those looking up to you, those sitting in the same carriage as you on this ride, or those you are chasing dreamily.
It's important to hear what they say, how they see you, and use that to help benefit you.

Chances are you're short changing yourself.

What made you start your blog?