DECIDING TO START A MIDLIFE BLOG
I started blogging last year with the intent of getting a lot of stuff off my mind. There were things churning around in there and I wasn't a particularly happy person at the time. What a difference starting a blog makes! Blogging has opened up a whole new world for me and changed my mindset from negative and defeated to positive and proactive - what more could you ask for?
MY LIFE BEFORE BLOGGING
Last year I was recovering from my marriage almost imploding - one more step and I'd have been on my own. I was dealing with the fact that my husband had gained and lost the perfect job in less than 12 months and that job had been given to one of our friends. I was coming to terms with being superfluous in our adult children's lives and not sure of what that meant to me. I was working in a job that I really didn't like, with people I found difficult to deal with on a daily basis. I was spiraling down into depression and didn't see a great deal of joy in my life.
I thought I'd unload some of that by writing it down and the simplest way to do that was to start a blog and get it off my chest. I hadn't the faintest idea about what blogging was or how to go about it, I just jumped in - googled it, picked a name off the top of my head and off I went. I was jumping all over the place with what I was writing about and never thought it would last more than a few weeks and certainly never expected anyone else to read it.
HOW BLOGGING CHANGED MY LIFE
All I can do is repeat yet again - what a difference a blog makes! Within a few months I had "met" some wonderful women and read lot of other Midlife blog posts. I'd been encouraged and motivated to pick myself up and make some changes. A drop of courage goes a long way and I can't believe how far I've come in such a short time. I keep thinking about that movie "How Stella Got Her Groove Back":
I've never seen the movie but I loved the title and I feel like my blogging is "how Leanne got her groove back" or as groovy Austin Powers (who I've also never seen a movie of) would say "I got my mojo back baby!" My marriage is stable, changing jobs saved my sanity and gave me the space to clear my head and not resent the loss of my husband's job any more. I'm too old to hold grudges, so friends who are less than friends are moved to the background and I'm embracing the friends that build me up and who are on the same journey. My kids are happy and I am finding where I fit in their lives and that they are happy to see me when I need a bit of "mother time."
BLOGGING CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE TOO
All in all, blogging has been such a fun and empowering pastime and those few weeks that I thought it would last for have stretched to several months and I hope I can keep going for many years to come. Midlife is a lot better than I was giving it credit for. Sure there are bits that suck at times, but that's life and there is an awful lot of good stuff happening to outweigh the sucky stuff!
If you're at a crossroads and don't know what to do with your life, if you like writing (or you did when you were back at school), if you need somewhere to put your thoughts down, then blogging may be the place for you. If you need some moral support and an idea of how to get started, then start googling like I did - or better still, read some more of my posts about blogging and Midlife. Jump in, join the Midlife bandwagon and celebrate with those of us who found our Midlife Mojo and are loving being in our 50s and beyond!
RELATED POSTS:
The brilliance of blogging in Midlife
5 Benefits of blogging for free
Discovering Midlife blogging
Why start a blog when you're over 50?
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Nice positive spirit Leanne, keep it up! So, blogging changed your life and became part of life :-) Happy blogging for many more years to come!
ReplyDeletethanks Mahathi - yes blogging certainly had a much bigger impact on my life than I expected!
DeleteI can so relate to this, Leanne. My blogging has helped me to become more 'me' ! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteso true Corinne - and thanks for being one of those blogging buddies that have enriched my life :)
DeleteAll of this all of this. I'm going through many changes right now. One thing that's not changing is my blogging :-)
ReplyDeleteI know Carla - it's such a positive aspect to life isn't it - somewhere to be yourself and to meet up with other like minded people - lets keep on blogging :)
DeleteA beautiful hopeful piece--I love the energy of this. I find writing to be a very positive force in my life too. I love that you share how it helped you through difficult times. I think that it could be helpful for many women. I know it was a nice reminder for me to pull my writing out next time I'm struggling.
ReplyDeleteI think it refocuses me towards the good stuff in life. It makes me realize that sweating the small stuff is such a waste of energy!
DeleteI love the outlet that blogging gives me for my thoughts. I even enjoy going back to read about hardships in the past; if only for the perspective I've gained and the growth that has occurred.
ReplyDeleteme too Rabia - I think going back and reading the stuff I wrote when things weren't so great makes me appreciate how far I've come.
DeleteIt's seems to be common denominator with us midlife bloggers. I had started my blog last year for similar reason...to put my mind in a better and creative place. Keep it up and thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure Laurie and I love your blog because it is positive too :)
DeleteSo true...blogging completely was a game changer for me as well! For so many reasons...thanks Leeanne!
ReplyDeleteI love that we can follow each other's journeys Pam and to know that we are not out for the count after 50!
DeleteI am glad you kept it up and we got a chance to virtually meet and read together. I have always liked your blog title. If that is off the top of your head, wow!
ReplyDeletethanks so much Haralee - I love that you're one of my blogging buddies and we have the same perspective on life!
DeleteWe seem to be going through some of the same issues especially with regards to adult children.
ReplyDeleteit's definitely the same stage of life Suzi - and maybe we have a similar view of how to handle it - I like that!
DeleteGreat post Leanne and although I'm still trying to find my 'groove' as far as blogging goes I can see that ou have. Always a pleasure having you link up at #WednesdaysWisdom
ReplyDeleteI think your groove is coming along very nicely Sue - your blog keeps getting bigger and better - mine is just puddling happily along and that's okay for me for now :)
DeleteBlogging has been the most positive thing I've ever done, I think. I'm so glad you started so we could get to "know" each other!
ReplyDeleteme too Lana - you were one of my first ever blogging buddies and I love sharing our blogging journey together :)
DeleteI loved this Leanne and it makes me smile. I am going to find that movie and send it to you I bet you'd love it! I'm rooting for you that's for sure. It's funny because different circumstances, but I started for the same exact reason. Depression had taken over my life. I was stuck with mom and going crazy because at the time I was doing it all wrong and everyone was miserable. I had gotten sick and lost my voice for over two months after getting choked on a piece of chicken (I swear true story check out Darkest Days on my blog, very first post.). She couldn't hear, I couldn't talk and my poor husband didn't know which way to turn. Thankfully I got smart and educated myself on Alz and caregiving and the blogging has been phenomenal. I was suppose to go to therapy the Monday after I started my blog, but by then I didn't need it and didn't ever go. Today life is amazing and I wouldn't change it if I could unless it was to make momma better. I'm just blessed that I still have her. It's amazing what writing can do for you!.
ReplyDeleteI know it's awful but I am smiling at the thought of you trying to talk and your mum say "what?" and your husband going slowly crazy! I think blogging should be advertised as free therapy because it is such a good way to sort through your thoughts and then you get the added bonus of meeting other people who support you along the way! I'm off to read your post now and I'm so glad we're both doing better and have come out of the tunnel x
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for joining #tiptuesday.
ReplyDeleteWe had some issues with the post from last week, so I'm relaunching and promoting the posts now.
Leanne Glad you got your groove back. I too feel the same way about blogging, I started about 8 months ago and have been floored by the kindness and support that I have recieved. I am doing what I love after having been a stay at home mom and plan to continue just being creative, through blogging and the projects I work on. I get up every day with a thrist for learning and an excitement to meet new and wonderful people - like you. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, there are so many of us who feel the same.
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