It’s hard to believe that it’s been three years since I made my first post. At that time I didn’t know anything about blogging. I read a few of them, but I’d never tinkered with writing on any platforms, outside of MySpace on our honeymoon. (Wow, does that date it or what?) Most of the blogs I did read weren’t even food-focused. Now writing, taking photographs, jotting down recipes, and logging a list of post ideas are all parts of the natural rhythm of my thoughts and life. After three years and 232 posts, here’s what I’ve learned:
1. Celebrate the small victories. It’s easy to forget when page views slow for a month that there was a time when 30 page views a day were not uncommon. There were many months when I had three people who regularly made comments – my husband, a close friend, and one stranger named Sarah (but more about her later). There will always be someone who has more Facebook fans, who scores a book deal, or who has a post that goes viral, skyrocketing her/his popularity. If success is always something off in the distance, how do you ever feel happy about our far you’ve come? Take the time to celebrate every new person who likes your work enough to subscribe, or comment, or follow. If we never credit ourselves for the small victories, we continually postpone our own happiness.
2. Comment on other people’s blogs and respond to the comments left on yours. In the blogosphere, comments are currency. While some people work at blogging full-time, for most of us it’s a beloved hobby. When people contribute to a discussion and leave a note, it feels good. As I mentioned in the prior paragraph, for most of my first year, I had three regular commenters. Two of them are people who love me and wanted to be supportive, and goodness knows I appreciated it. When you spend time writing, it can start to feel a little silly, as if you’re speaking into an empty room, if no one ever speaks back. You have to wonder – why am I doing this? It’s for that reason that the stranger, Sarah, who read my blog and regularly commented, meant so much. She made my recipes. She commented about my blog on forums. She engaged with posts, and especially in those early days, I treasured those comments. They helped keep me writing. You never know, you might be a Sarah for someone else.
Another reason for commenting on the blogs of people you enjoy is that it builds relationships. I’ve come across many people online who seem like kindred spirits. They’re people who have similar interests, and they’re people who I think if we lived in the same town, we could be friends meeting up for a vegan potluck. (Plus, not everyone in our lives actually wants to talk about visiting animal sanctuaries, the best way to press tofu, or who makes the most addictive vegan reuben. Let’s give it up for those people who share our same enthusiasm!) I could very easily say that the best part of blogging has been the connections that I’ve made. What’s more, it keeps me growing to see the creativity in the posts of other bloggers I admire. It challenges me to keep doing my best work when I see their efforts.
3. Blogging doesn’t just create connections outside of your inner circle. It deepens understanding in real life relationships as well. Any time that we redefine ourselves, there can be a period of adjustment, not just for us but for our loved ones too. Who are you now that you’re married, or a mom, or living in the country, or living in the city, working a new job, or going back to school? Who are you now that you’re vegetarian or vegan? You’re the same person you always were, but you’re someone new too. With every step and stage, we learn about ourselves and our values. In writing about veganism and animal rights, both things that I care about very deeply, and then hearing from friends, family, and acquaintances, it’s been a way to connect and find understanding. It’s a way to frame a discussion that is based on ideas and concepts and has been a vehicle that’s allowed for some valuable insights.
After these three years I have to say – blogging makes my everyday life more interesting. Looking through the lens of a blogger, I’m more engaged. Knowing I’ll write about it later is a wonderful excuse to do something new, to try something new, to go somewhere new. As people we’re creatures of habit, but knowing that I want to have fresh material means that I’m stretching myself to go outside of my standards. It keeps life fascinating when we are open to discoveries. I’m sure that even if I wasn’t blogging I’d want to try new-to-me foods or visit the local vegan restaurant on my travels, but going with blogging in mind keeps my senses peeled to take in every moment and engage with it, and who doesn’t want more of that? Here’s to fully appreciating this moment, and as always, thanks for reading!
Congrats on 3 years of blogging! I’ve only been blogging for about 8 months, but I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiments, and I especially love what you said about blogging making you more engaged. For me, blogging is definitely reconnecting me with my creative side, which unfortunately had been given a backseat during my professional career. And it truly is awesome to be a part of a community that gets excited about things like the first strawberries of the season, farmer’s markets, and so on.
You’ve only been blogging for 8 months? That’s impressive! Your blog looks fantastic! What you said about blogging reconnecting you with your creative side resonates with me too. It’s good to have an “excuse” to create and it increases the likelihood that we’ll follow through and do it.
“And it truly is awesome to be a part of a community that gets excited about things like the first strawberries of the season, farmer’s markets, and so on.” Absolutely! Here’s to finding joy in the little things!
Happy Blogaversary, Cadry. This is a terrific post, and so true. I have been known to get disheartened from lack of readership, and then someone out of nowhere tells me they were feeling down and I made them chuckle. (if I write out of love not ego, that’s where it’s at) Your blog has continually made me smile. I just read your interview with David…great. and love the inspiration that started your blog. We never know where the first step will take us. So glad I have found you and your blog
Hugs.
“f I write out of love not ego, that’s where it’s at.” Well said! That really should be the first lesson. If we write because it brings us joy, then anything else is tempeh gravy!
You are definitely one of the kindred spirits that I’ve found in this three year trip, and I’m so glad for it!
This was so good for me to hear right now. I often wonder if other bloggers think/feel the same way I do, so it’s so good to know that I’m not the only one who sees things through a different “lens” since becoming a blogger and who finds that the connections and friendships made through blogging are very real and sincere.
Thank you for these very helpful reminders and thank you for your contribution to the vegan blogging world. Thank you for being you!
It has been such a gift to find so many others who I “click” with, like yourself! I mean, how else could I have found another person who also loved the work of Don Knotts on Three’s Company when she was a kid? (Truth be told, my first crush was on Jack Tripper. This explains a lot about my taste in men.)
Thank you for being you too!
No, you have it all wrong. WE should be the ones thanking YOU for blogging all this time and for blessing OUR lives with your beauty, talent and humor. Love this post, Cadry! You are such a shining light.
Aw, you got me all teary eyed! xoxo
Your writing style is special and inviting and you SHOULD be blogging. One day, maybe you’ll do an e-cookbook app with vegan recipes! and it will be fun to read!
That’s a good idea, Astrid! Thank you for your kind words and encouragement!
Wow, Cadry. Quite the milestone! You are definitely an inspiration to a newbie like me. Congrats and thanks for being awesome!
Thank you and likewise! I always enjoy seeing the creative spin that you bring to the food blogging world!
I’m so glad you decided to join the blogosphere. Your posts have been a great source of inspiration for me. I’m always excited to see what you’ve created.
xoxo
That means so much coming from you, Lisa, since you’re one of my favorite bloggers! xoxo
What a sublime post. You inspire me every time you post something. AND — I was so surprised to hear that you only had a couple of commenters in the beginning! I’d always envisioned you as the Queen of the Vegan Internet since forever
This was such an incredibly sweet thing to say. You have made my day, if not my week.
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Great post and so encouraging. I feel the same way about having the same two people comment and although I’m only in my early stages you do have days where you think, well, I might just as well write in my diary. So thanks for the words of encouragment and motivation, will stick with it and hopefully grow to something as big and special as your blog!
Wow! I cannot believe you haven’t been blogging for 10 years… Professionally! This post truly resonated with me as I just started blogging within the last month! I am loving every moment of it, but it’s very time consuming. For now, that is my only negative.
Wow!! This is an amazing post! Thank you..I really needed this as a new blogger. I started blogging three months ago, and I’ve already met so many amazing people! It’s so encouraging and awesome to “meet” people from all diff backgrounds, experiences, places, etc and be able to connect instantly due to similar interests, lifestyle, humor…whatever it may be.
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And I, too, am a creature of habit, and you’re absolutely right! Blogging is really helping me to venture out and explore and try new things! And while I’m not a vegan, I def want to learn about and try different diets. As a RD-to-be, food fascinates me
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