Have you ever felt that you are not sure if what you are doing at a particular moment in your life is the right thing for you? Well I have been questioning a great deal of what is going on in my life at present! One question which keeps plaguing – Is Blogging Really Right For Me? It could have something to do with the fact that I will be turning forty at the beginning of next year and I feel that along with this comes a need to be sure that I have my priorities straight!
Is Blogging Really For Me?
Why you may ask? Well I guess that for me forty is one of those milestones in life that brings with it a need to truly grow up. Yes, up to now I have not really worried too much about where I am in life, what I have achieved or what I would like to achieve. The exact reason why, I am not too sure about but it may have something to do with focusing most of my attention on my children but somehow forty looming seems to have bought about a mind shift!
So why now, what is the difference in turning 40 as opposed to all the other major milestones? I think it may have something to do with the fact that I have almost reached middle age, as my life expectancy is probably around 80! Wow that is a rather sobering thought – I have almost been alive for forty years, I use to think that forty-year-olds were really old! Do I feel really old? Not really but in the back of my mind I am thinking maybe I should start paying attention!
This brings me to the ever important question that is constantly in the back of my mind – Why I am blogging and is blogging what I should be doing with my life? Well I suppose I need to reflect back to why I started blogging in the first place. Essentially it was to do something for “me” – to have an outlet for my thoughts and a platform to share my creativity. Almost 2 years later I am not entirely sure if I have indeed remained true to what I set out to achieve.
If I have to be completely honest with myself, I feel as if I have lost my way and allowed the commercial aspect of the blogger-sphere to get the better of me. I know that a vast majority of people view blogging as a just a hobby or something bored housewives do but if you have a look at what has happened in the blogging world in the USA you can see this is not the case. In South Africa however, as with most aspects of technology we are somewhat behind the curve. Where does this leave me? Well as I mentioned earlier, questioning my motivation for where I am destined to be in the blogging world.
As with most things I do I am fiercely competitive and being a complete perfectionist nothing less than success will do… but at what cost? So this has brought me to a few realisations I need to address going forward, if I do indeed continue blogging I need to remain true to myself and not allow numbers and stats to be my motivation for doing what I do. I need to do the things that make me happy, the things I am passionate about and follow where these things lead me!
So in conclusion I have decided that for the immediate future I will no longer be concentrating on the commercial aspects of my blog but rather the inspirational side of it. I have also decided to start a second website, well I have actually started it already, which will focus primarily on my passions which are photography, fashion, beauty and leisure, in time I hope to develop this into an online Lifestyle Magazine. For what are we if we have no dreams?….or more importantly, do not pursue the ones we do have with every ounce of passion we can muster and give life our best shot!!!!!!
[quote style=”1″]If your dreams don’t scare you, they are NOT BIG ENOUGH![/quote]
I question if what I’m doing is right all the time – especially after the tornado. I may only be 25 but I realized my life on this planet is so short. In some aspects I already feel like I’m almost done with my life. But again that’s because I almost died.
Doing what you feel is right is important, and I’m really glad you decided to focus less on commercial aspects of blogging. For me particularly at this time I do want the commercial aspects as well as having an outlet. I feel like my blog is what makes me me. If that makes sense. Haha. In all seriousness I love to blog. I’m still kicking myself for not starting a blog much earlier in life.
I can’t wait to see your other websites and how this blog will turn into a lifestyle magazine. I’ve only been on your blog a couple of times but I’m already a fan.
Thanks for posting hun. You’re very inspiring.