If writing calls your name

When I decided I wanted to write a blog the first time, it was probably ten years ago. Maybe more. From what I recall, I thought it would be a fun way to try new recipes and catalogue them.

I didn’t do it.

The second time I decided I wanted to write a blog was about 7 years ago. I wanted to write as I was starting to learn about sustainability and regenerative principles, so I could share as I learned. 

I didn’t do it.

The third time I decided I wanted to write a blog was roughly 3 years ago. My best friend and I both wanted to offer career insights and advice to others who didn’t have anyone to guide them in their day to day lives. 

We did it. 

And then we stopped doing it. But we still pay for it. 

Half win?

The fourth time, this time, I decided I wanted a place to write the little stories that pop into my head as I’m living my life - whether they’re inspired by a word I hear, an object I see, or a conversation I overheard, my mind loves to embellish and add and play. 

I still want to share notes on books I’m reading because it’ll be a good archive as I strengthen my understanding of various topics. And I still want to write blogs about terrible movies that my sister and I can’t get enough of. I also still want to write random fan fiction when I get inspired by those same terrible movies.

I put off starting this blog for a year. Then I took my first steps; I bought the domain name and decided which service to use to host it. I learned how to do these things when my bestie and I decided to start our career advice blog.

It took me another five months to add my first story to this blog. It’s a short story that came to me as I walked around a large park that bordered a golf course a few years ago.

The story I wrote isn’t groundbreaking. But I wanted to write it, and now I’ve shared it on the internet so it can be read by others. I have told myself that I’m writing for practice and because I love it. Knowing it’s practice helps ease my perfectionist brain. It’s practice, and I’m practicing.

Do you know what stopped me from putting that story on my blog? I was stressed about creating an image to accompany it. 

For five months.

How silly is that? Is it silly? It feels like it is, now.

The words were written. The website was created.

Then it occurred to me that maybe my little blog didn’t need to have images. Maybe the words could be enough. And that unlocked so much for me.

I had to give myself permission to NOT need images. And now I have three stories ready to share. This is the fourth post in the lineup, but I might put it out earlier.

I wanted to share this in case it inspires someone else. Or maybe so that the next time I get stuck in my own head, I can see past my own need to get it right and decide to get it done instead.