It is crazy to think that I joined the internet as a blogger 4 years ago today. It has been a whirlwind of a journey that is for sure. Have there been challenges? Definitely. Would I do anything differently? Absolutely not. I think everything that has questioned why I write this blog has been worth it, because it has allowed me to grow as a person, a friend, a family member and a writer. If things were easy, there wouldn’t be any special moments, because nothing is more satisfying than a win – no matter how big or small.
After blogging for 4 years, I have been through my fair share of experiences, friends and collaborations with brands. I just want to leave you all with 4 things that I felt like I should share through my blogging experience and wisdom. I hope some of you can relate to it too.
1. Be yourself
I am not sure how many of you have read my archive posts, but I have shared my confidence story in a few of them. I was never someone with a large amount of confidence, I often struggled with how I looked, spoke and had an huge inferior complex of the way I came across to others. I was not the popular boy by any means, but I had enough friends to count on one hand and that was okay for me. Moving to university was the hardest thing, especially as it was the period when I started my blog too. Going from my few friends to branching out into a world where everyone can read the words I type and share on here to making new friends and adjusting to a new city. Not to mention, getting to grips with working with brands and attending events in representation of my little blog. I was extremely vulnerable when I first starting going to blogger events and group dinners, everyone knew each other and I did not know a soul. I use to sit in a corner and hope that a whole in the floor would swallow me up. Over time you learn that you are your own barrier in life and you sometimes need to push past them and do things that scare you. What’s the worst that can happen? I started to show people the person I was, I started to flourish and spread my wings – similar to a caterpillar going through its transition to a beautiful butterfly. The people i’ve connected with over the years, the friends I have made and the success has not come through hiding behind an alter ego but being me. Remember, “you is a good you”.
2. Blogging friends at the best kind of friends
I have been lucky enough to have crossed paths with a whole range of different people. From beauty bloggers, from people who are into alternative fashion, who are 10-20 years older than me and to people who have come from different backgrounds. I have learnt about different cultures and religions and it has been a blessing in disguise. Through this journey, I have been fortunate enough to make some very close friends. People that I would have not honestly crossed paths with had it not been for our common interest in blogging. I often think how fortunate I am to have friends that I could not imagine my life without now and who would the extra mile just to see me smile. Now, that’s a special kind of friendship. These are the same friends that I now make memories with outside of the blogosphere and would definitely invite to my wedding…when the day comes!
3. Let your passion shine through
When it comes to the content I produce, I have had days that I have not wanted to write and I have not. My blog has got to where it is because of the passion and love that has gone into it. The careful technique to find my own photography style and my voice through my words. It’s not something that comes over night either, it took me a while to find my style and how I wanted to portray myself to the thousands that read Fresh And Fearless so regularly. It has never been about quantity but quality is a must. You may write one post a week, or a fortnight even, but make sure that the words you type out and the photos you snap are true to you. Let your readers learn the things they would not otherwise known, through your content. Personality and reliability is so important as a blogger. Just remember to never let that ignited spark within burn out, for as long as you continue to write and create content.
4. It’s okay to not succeed
The amount of times I wanted to throw my laptop at a wall, hit delete on my WordPress account and just give up completely. I would have restarted and deleted at least 40 blogs by now if I had done that, but it’s the perseverance and my own blog journey that has kept me going. I had to make myself understand that everyone’s journey is different, whether it be their life or blog path, I could not compare myself to Tom, Dick or Harry. I had to concentrate on my own content to ensure that I always put my best foot forward, whilst always radiating positivity around my blog. I am blessed and honoured to say that it has worked, because it has allowed me to work with some fantastic brands that I am truly passionate about representing. If the content and love is there, it will be noticed and you should not lose a nights sleep over it either. Just believe in yourself and what you do, the rewards will follow, like how I was recently appointed one of the top 25 travel blogs of 2017. Although, blogging is not about collaborations, awards and making the most money. I never knew it was even possible to collaborate with brands when I first started and even if I was never worthy, that would not have bothered me. I started my blog as personal diary of my life, just like it continues to be and will always be.
I hope my tips and advice help in keeping you happy and satisfied content creators, because after all blogging is about having fun. I’m off to eat some cake now, I have a blog birthday to celebrate!
Until next time…
