TWO YEARS! For two years I've managed to write and publish THREE blogs a week to this little pet project of mine. And while I'm still not famous and not sponsored by anyone, I am consistently putting content into the universe and people are consistently reading what I've got to say.
In many ways, each blog is very much part of my journey and what I'm going through at each stage in my life. I'd love to say that I write what I think is relevant in the world, and some of that may be true, but for the most part its relevant to my life at any given moment. If I'm proud of anything, it's my consistent commitment to being authentic.
I started this journey because I have a passion for writing and a need to be more open about my feelings and the things I've been through in life. I have a unique journey, a loud voice, and a way with words. If I'm able to share my voice and experiences and even one person finds comfort in that, I feel good. Selfishly, I also find comfort in the feedback from readers. And I find release from saying the things I share out loud.
In two years I've changed a lot. Like a lot a lot. I like to think I've changed for the better but often times I suffer setbacks. I like to go back and read things I've published and see how I've changed my opinions, feelings, and actions. I stand by everything I write because it's truly who I was and how I believed at that time. But there's something to be said for being able to tangibly read about that time in my life.
So the lesson for two? Reflect. Keep a journal, even if it's short blurbs and thoughts, write down where you're at and force yourself to go back and review what those thoughts/opinions were. Reflect on how they make you feel now. Are you happy? Shocked? Appalled? Confident? Take time to reflect on the growth or lack thereof.
Invest in yourself through the time you spend both logging these things in a notebook and in the time you spend reviewing those musings. It's so easy to forget times in our lives that are often inconsequential at the time. When you review them later, sometimes they've been defining moments or eye opening thoughts. Things I've never really thought twice about have become turning points. People I didn't think played a role in my life now have taught me some of the biggest lessons.
Realistically, how do you grow if you don't invest in reflecting upon who you were then and now? Two years for me is 312 blogs. Some completely frivolous in hindsight like costumes and hair care. But some are political and social and feelings based. And even the frivolous ones, they give you some insight of how I was prioritizing things in my world. But that's 312 little pieces that tell me who I was, how I was feeling, and what I was believing at any given moment. And that's 312 opportunities to reflect and decide do I feel that way now? Do I believe those things now? Is there room to learn/grow/be better?
How are you carving out time to reflect? Do you take time to invest in yourself and who you are? Do you consider who you want to be? Do you learn how to get there? Are you feeling empty or missing something? How are you going to fix that? Are you proud of changes over time?
There are so many questions and opportunities to reflect. And so many opportunities to be happier, live better, and enjoy more. Sigh, the cliche is true. You get one shot. One chance to make the most of this journey. Take the time to make it a life you can say you did your best to live authentically as your best you. It's never ever easy, but it's always worth it. You invest so much in others, why aren't you deserving of the same?
