The last few weeks have been pretty crazy around here, as I’ve been trying to balance work, my blog, and sorting out everything for buying our house. And because it’s been so busy, it’s had me thinking a lot about things I do.
Then, I saw a post from one of my favourite bloggers about why she blogs, and it got me thinking about why I do what I do.
So today, I thought I’d share my reasons, just in case it inspires someone out there.
I blog because…
It inspires me to learn.
I have always loved to learn (yes, I was that kid in school). And a lot of the stuff I post on my blog, especially for design, is stuff that I push myself to learn how to do in my spare time—sometimes just for the joy of sharing that knowledge with others.
There are days where I’ll just go looking for a new technique or trick that I don’t know how to do, or a new trend to explore, just so I can figure it out and share it with readers. There are even days I’ll immerse myself in learning about interior design just so I can try to bring real styles to life in games, and it’s satisfying to see how far that’s brought me—especially if you’ve ever seen my first build!
But it isn’t all about in-game skills, either. Blogging pushes me to teach myself a lot of real-life skills, too—things I wouldn’t otherwise know how to do, like animation and video editing. It’s also 99% of the reason I know anything about SEO.
It gives me a chance to help people.
I’ve always been the kind of person where if there’s something I can do to help a friend—even if it’s out of my way—I’m going to do it. To me, that’s just the right thing to do.
Maybe it’s not the biggest thing in the world to write blog posts and guides that help people with things like building in games, but I still remember how many hours it took me to figure out floating—let alone practice it to a point where it would actually work properly. If I can save others that time, and blogging can help me do that, then that’s something I’m going to do!
I just find it fulfilling in a way, like I’ve been able to put some good out into the world and into the lives of those around me.
It’s a creative outlet for me.
Writing has been my calling for as long as I can remember. I was writing novels (terrible ones, sure) by the time I was seven. I wrote sonnets before most kids my age knew what they were. I wrote entire series of short stories that I was too shy to share through most of my university years.
For as long as I’ve known how to spell, writing has been my primary way of expressing myself. It’s the easiest way for me to get out what’s in my mind, in a way that makes sense to others. And unlike other creative endeavours like music or art (which I definitely tried), writing has never left me feeling inadequate. It’s always been the thing I knew I could do.
Blogging became the next stage of that for me. It was scary at first, because I went in with the understanding that people would see every word I wrote, and that was new. But in a way, it’s become freeing, and I find now that the more I blog, the more creative and fun ideas I have to keep doing it!
It lets me build something all my own.
Back in 2013, I worked for a wedding magazine based out of Toronto. I started writing blog posts, and quickly moved up the food chain—but even as assistant editor, they kept me in charge of the blog. I’d plan topics, write my own things, and make sure there was something new every week.
A few years ago, when I was unemployed and putting together my portfolio, I discovered that the magazine had been sold—and the blog didn’t exist anymore. All that work I’d done was gone forever.
That is one of the biggest reasons why I’m glad to have my own blog now. It gives me the freedom to say what I want to say—and I know that it’ll always be there, waiting for me. It’s not at the whims of anyone else and will never disappear on me.
It gives me something to look forward to every week.
I know a lot of bloggers out there who don’t set themselves to a schedule. And in all honesty, I see the value in that sometimes—especially on the days where I feel like I’m just too tired to write.
But on the flip side, I like that blogging gives me a set time and day to look forward to each week. It’s almost like a form of self care at this point; it’s a time that I’ve set aside, where I know I’m going to stop everything and do something for myself.
And there’s no greater feeling than knowing you put yourself first for something. Isn’t that the whole vibe of the self-care movement, after all?
Now that I’m starting to publish more each week, too, that feeling is only getting better. It’s giving me something to look forward to each day of the week!
YOUR TURN
