5 Reasons Why You Should Start a Blog

Blogging is a funny thing. I've blogged off and on for the last 4 or 5 years but blogging really stuck about 2 years ago. I may not post regularly or on a schedule but it's become something that I love and just can't seem to give up even if that sounds like a great idea sometimes. I decided to put together why blogging has been such a great part of my life for the last few years!

Forming Relationships 
The relationships that you can form through blogging are incredible. A couple months after I started blogging a bit more regularly I was invited to my first blogging get together. As an introvert it was super intimidating and I was super nervous but it was such a good experience to meet people who shared my same hobby. Now 2 years later I have been to countless blogging events and meet ups and get togethers and they are always so much fun. I love "talking shop" and sharing stories with everyone there. Have I mentioned the most random connections you will make? Someone is always a friend of a friend of someone's relative. It is such a small world. You will definitely come across the blog of the wife of your freshman roommates old boyfriend at some point or something equally crazy. It's a funny world out there.

Therapy
Sometimes it just feels good to write and there is something that feels especially good about late night writing. Hello I am writing this at midnight. Does this prove my point? :) I don't always say the most eloquent words that come right out of my mouth but sitting down and pulling out my laptop and essentially scribbling down thoughts and ideas really gets my creative juices flowing while also being really calming and comforting. There is something comforting about knowing that save button is there and that you don't have to publish anything you don't want to. I have plenty of posts that have been in my drafts for months. They might come out and they might not. And that's okay!

Getting Out 
As much as bloggers don't like to admit it, sometimes we do things so that we can blog about it! It is much easier to sit at home and veg out and watch Netflix with take out on a Friday night but is that going to be memorable? No! I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that. I have spent my fair share of weekends in. Sometimes I just need a little push to get me out the door and trying something I might not have done otherwise. I have discovered some amazing places and done some incredible things because I wanted something to write about. There is no shame in that! I am always down for a little determination.

Working With Products You Love
I have discovered so many great products, shops, and brands. Blogging gives you such a fun ability to reach out to brands and businesses and collaborate to come up with fun and exciting projects. Sometimes brands reach out to you and sometimes the opportunity is fantastic and sometimes it's not. It's okay to decline! It is also a blast to showcase your favorite products to your blog readers. Blogging gives you the ability to market your favorite products in a fun and creative way.

Communicating
This is why many of us started blogging in the first place. To stay in contact with friends and family. While I will admit it is weird to have so much of your life out in the open and you have no idea if your Great Aunt so and so knows this or that about your life because you aren't sure if she reads your blog. I will tell you though that it is really nice to become connected to loved ones through writing. I love my grandma. She is seriously one of my best friends. I love chatting on the phone with her but she has mentioned to me that she feels like she has gotten to know me at a deeper level through my writing. Did I mention how nice it is to have an online journal? I am the worst at writing in a real journal so this has been so nice to sit back and look at months down the road.