Today’s post is a little bit of a mixed bag. I’ve got a lot of different things I want to share but no real connecting theme. Enjoy!
The Reasons I Blog
First, I wanted to share the reasons why I blog, prompted by MizFit’s post: Why do I blog? I originally started this particular blogging journey in Dec 2007 with no direction. When the new year rolled around I must have made a resolution about health and my blogging activities after that turned toward journaling my story, my progress, my many struggles, my successes, and my thoughts. Over the last year and a half I’ve done that and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. When I started writing I really wasn’t doing it for anyone else. I wanted to get those things down on paper, so to speak, so they wouldn’t take up space in my head. I didn’t want to tell anyone I knew about my blog and even now only about 5 of my real friends know about it. I had no real intention for an audience but over time through finding similar blogs and awesome people online I’ve found an audience and community that supports me. It has become one of the most rewarding things in my life for this very reason.
I now blog because I need to, because I want to, because I’ve been told I’m a good writer, and because I need a place to write. I blog because it is in my blood as a natural writer; it is a habit I can’t and don’t want to break free from. Although I’ve tired myself with writing and thinking specifically about weight loss (and often about myself) I am still completely enthralled and excited to be living a healthy life and sharing my thoughts on it. I do spend a lot of time writing, thinking about posts, responding to e-mails, etc. I agree with MizFit that it would be nice to be compensated for my the time I spend working on my blog. I don’t want to get rich, but it would be nice to be able to feed myself healthy food without worrying if I am spending too much. I worry a lot about paying my bills and trying to help out my mom with hers. Sometimes it is difficult to justify spending so much time in the blogging world without making enough money to even buy myself food. (I went grocery shopping yesterday and almost had a breakdown when I had to pay, hehe.)
Feeling Like Myself
Also, I wanted to say, I feel more and more like myself lately. When I came home from a lot of different situations added up to a very bleak picture for me. I admit it, I binged a time or two in those first days back. It was just all too much. And then everything changed. I moved out, which has turned out to be a fantastic decision. I love living with my friend because it is almost like I am living alone. I probably could go the whole month without actually seeing him in the apartment, which has given me freedom and space like I wanted. I also have a lot of friends in town that normally aren’t around. I’ve been spending as much time with them as I can because they bring me back down to earth and help me feel like who I once was and who I want to be.
On my post about my priorities, FLG left this awesome comment: “My priority is becoming the person I see myself being, which includes being healthy and losing weight and other things.” Great comment! That is EXACTLY what I feel like I am doing. I am trying to be the person that I see myself being when I think about my life and my future. Part of that is living a healthy lifestyle. There is a lot more involved, but I feel like right now I am the person that I see myself as. When I think about myself I don’t see a binging, unhealthy girl. I see an active, social, fun, adventurous, and HEALTHY girl, a girl who has no problem with doing things like ziplining through a jungle^. That is what I feel like I really am and want to be and now my actions match up with the mind version of me.
Food Bank Donation
And finally… There were a total of 83 comments on my post about feeling shallow and donating money to the food bank. I promise I won’t be asking/begging for comments ever again after this. I said I would donate 10 cents or more, so I decided to give 30 cents per comment and donate $25.00 to the MidSouth Food Bank. This will effectively put my bank account at zero and give me warm fuzzies in my heart at the same time. For those of you matching my donation… pony up! You can totally give whatever you want though – thanks for donating!
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{ 26 comments }
It does get in the blood, this blogging business. I thought I’d peter out of ways to say “eat less, exercise more,” but I’ve found the opposite to be the case. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with stepping away from the health focus and using your platform to talk about anything else that interests you. You ARE a good writer, and I think folks will be interested in reading your work, no matter the subject.
Good job again with the Food Bank drive; you inspired at least one other reader to get a check in, so that needy organization will be able to continue doing its good work. That really was an inspired idea…
Ziplining always looks fun but scary. I get scared on fally things like rollercoasters. Hmm. Keep blogging, I like your blog. Myself, I have blogs that are just inside of me and when I’m walking or whatever, they’re there, repeating themselves over and over. LOL. It’s a relief to get them onto the computer…but sometimes when I have time to write them is when they get shy and wont come out. Glad you like the new place looks like youre having way more fun than before, when you were contemplating an exciting walk to the closed library. :)
Feeling like yourself is a BIG step, I have yet to make it there but that is one of my goals.
I would be lost if I stopped blogging all together. Who would I share all my madness with.
Oh keep blogging for sure! I couldn’t imagine my life without it!
I don’t blog as much as I would like to, but I would be lost without it!
And YAY for feeling more and more like yourself! :)
I’m surprised at how much I enjoy blogging, and reading other people’s blogs. One thing I find really rewarding is watching other people’s progress.
As I always sat in my blog, do what feels good to you & it sounds like you are there!!! I love reading your blog & as long as you enjoy it, we will keep reading! Also love that you are feeling “like yourself”!!!!
Wow! What an awesome challenge! I’m so glad that you moved out on your own, the freedom is amazing. I’m so glad you blog, I love reading your posts!
Great blog post. I left a novel on MizFits blog..becuase I think it’s important to understand why one blogs..well really why one does ANYTHING in life. I think it’s great that you’re understanding that for yourself. The other is that you’re getting to a place where you feel so much more like yourself. My new little blog that I am starting up is all about celebrating the little, medium, big insights into your lives that help us live our life more fully. I think that is such an important thing. Once you wrap your head around that..then you’ll be able to get to whereever you want to be. Keep going!
I loved MizFit’s post and the question she posed. I’m glad that you enjoy blogging so much; I truly enjoy reading your blog. :)
I’m glad that living with your friend is working out so well for you! Have a great weekend!
I agree that blogging is just something that’s just in the blood. People don’t really understand what a great thing it is until they get into it. Great post.
Yep. I puffy heart blogging. It is one of the BEST things I could have ever done. Seriously. It has helped me in so many ways I’ve had to stop counting. I really liked reading this post. Alot of it made me smile. I have some quite similar issues and its just nice to hear you’re not alone sometimes.
great going on the food donation. really admirable.
@Jack
Thanks dude!
@Merri
Ziplining is a bit scary because you are soooo high up. I really didn’t realize how high the trees were. But it is so much fun! … Yeah I am having a lot more fun at the new place. There just isn’t anything to do in the little town where I was.
@Michelle
Yeah I’m working on figuring out the reasons behind a lot of my actions. I haven’t always been very good at self-analysis but I’m working on it.
Great post! Blogging is contagious isn’t it? LOL!!!
Good for you on the food bank donation!! :) I plan on putting a few items of food in the ‘food bank’ box at my local grocery store every time i’m there for the rest of the month… (I shop much too often, so prob 3x week.. lol!)
Hi Mary,
This is my first time here and I want to congratulate you on your passion for blogging and giving back. Believe me, it will come back to you ten-fold.
That is such a great photo! Zipwiring is so exhilarating.
I blog for similar reasons to yours (I just can’t imagine myself NOT doing it. It’s too much a part of me… I’d be so lost without my writing).
I’m so glad that you’re feeling like yourself and happy. Sometimes breaking out of our comfort zone- like moving out of the house- can set the stage for it all.
@Maria
Thanks!
@Sagan
It is so exhilarating! I love it.
Breaking out of my comfort zone was exactly why I did all that I did and its EXACTLY what I needed. :)
I’m so happy you’re on such a positive track. Full steam ahead!!
I’ll match you on the donation! I’ll do it right after I hit submit.
Hey merry you have shown appropriate reason for blogging i like your passion for blogging keep going on.
You are looking so excited in the picture infect your weight can not stop you in doing anything what you desire and it such great example for that that you are doing Zipwiring in jungle its really so adventurous.
I can tell by this post you are a writer… not just because you write things but it’s part of who you are as a person. I’m so at the same point in my life. A lot of things you said reminds me of things I’ve thought or written and it’s so awesome to feel like other people get you, like they are coming from the place you are. I find that the more I open up and expose parts of my soul through writing, the more I understand that more and more people can relate to me and I can relate to them. Much love.
I ADORE THAT PHOTO OF YOU!
Ive reread this a few times and IMO why you are successful and will be in all that you do is that youre approaching fitness as a piece of your self-definition.
You want to succeed in all arenas.
The phrase about there being a lot more involved.
were I as insightful as you are when I was your age I cant help but think my world might be a little different now (work).
I am happy where I am—I just took the longass way to get here :)
ACK! I can’t believe I haven’t left a comment yet! First off, awesome job on the donation! Seriously, that’s freaking rockstar right there.
Secondly, aw hell, you’re just a freaking rockstar all-round! :D It’s good to hear you’re feeling good about yourself. There needs to be more positive vibes in the blogosphere :)
I do have to agree with MizFit because even though I am only slightly older than you I believe I would have been a lot smarter at doing things if I started at your age.
I also like FLG comment My priority is becoming the person I see myself being, which includes being healthy and losing weight and other things. I find myself losing myself sometimes but I do usually find myself again. I need to get to the point where I can be myself the person I know I should be all the time. I am getting better at it. Keep up the blog I LOVE IT.
Hi Mary,
This is my first time to read your blog. I really enjoy your writing. If I have chance I would really love to interview you and then put in my blog. Thanks for your great blog
Nok
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