In today’s society, it seems like everyone wants to start something big, whether it be a brand, a media channel, or a blog. I have always been in love with the idea of getting in touch with your creative side, mainly because I feel like I depend on mine to get through the hard parts of life. I had been attempting to begin a lifestyle blog for years now, and it was not until last summer that I finally took the chance and made it a goal of mine to create one and stick with it. Looking back a year later, I have come to realize that writing a blog and making a name for myself in the creative world of social media has made me not only a better writer, and photographer, but a more confident person overall.

I am not going to lie. Beginning a blog isn't as easy as so many of the famous bloggers make it out to be. Chances are, many of those bloggers started with some cheap site with a programmed domain name and no income from their work. The bigger you get, the more likely you are to have people design it for you and provide the resources for ads which bring in the money. I never imagined that I would become someone who hit twenty readers, let alone 500 in one week when I was first starting out. I remember the first night I semi published it through a picture on Instagram. I was so afraid of self promotion, but the outcome was incredible. I was seeing my viewings go up and my confidence in my work was only growing. Many people, including myself, visit blogs as a form of therapy because they are safe havens after having a crappy day at work or school. People can be as nosy as they want, indulge in others thoughts and ideas, and become immersed in a form of artful culture. To be honest, I always thought just reading a blog was enough for me, until I started one. It became a pastime that evolved into a pure passion of mine. Day after day, I would set a time out of my schedule to work on the design, my content, or email other local bloggers that were out to reach the same goal as myself, that goal being to change peoples lives with your experiences and words.

I was fearful that my blog would fall into the wrong hands, perhaps of people that I didn't get along with or even friends who don't quite understand that creative side of me because I never really showed it to them. I was afraid that I would be laughed at for my content or design. Because of this fear, I have only one regret about starting my lifestyle blog and that was not promoting it sooner.

Blogging has become a part of my daily life and I consider it to be one of, if not the best, parts. It has forced me to break out of my comfort zone and visit places I have never been before. It serves as an idea platform for my friends, a documentation of my travels and adventures for my family, and a place for me to sit down at the end of the day and work on what I believe to be one of my best talents, whether my concentration that day is writing or editing. Blogging isn't just about making yourself look good in a post, but it is about having fun and giving people a chance to know what you know and to give them inspiration where they may lack it. There are countless times where I cannot think of an idea for a post and I simply go and click on someone else’s blog and check out what is going on in their minds. It not only helps, but it also creates relationships with other bloggers by leaving comments on their pages and contacting them for collaborations. It is a fun way to unwind and a form of therapy that consoles a busy mind after a long day. You learn so much about yourself by just dumping all of your ideas and things that inspire you down on a platform. If someone had told me a year ago that I would not only still be keeping up with my blog, but own my own domain, promotional items and preparing myself to sign up with ad providers, I would have told them to get a reality check. I have never stuck with anything in my life the way that I have with blogging, but I am so happy that I have. If I could give any advice to someone that wants to begin blogging, vlogging, or become involved in the immense world of media, I wouldn't think twice about telling them to just go ahead and do it. It will not only change your views, your aesthetics, or your outlook on your daily life, but it will change you because the more you accomplish within it for yourself, the more confident and happy you become. It may take months, maybe even years if it is the ultimate scary thought for you, but I promise that in the end, when the content is published and the design is completed to perfection, it is all worth it.