A Blog All About the Heart

A Cup of ShuGar: Blog Happiness

July 11, 2013

I haven’t been blogging for too long, but I’ve been dreaming about writing ever since I was a little girl. I can remember writing short stories in elementary school and feeling immensely proud when my pen was moving across the page. I recall writing one story about a bear on that elementary school paper with the handwriting lines and feeling on top of the world. My mom still has that story.

I have been asked many times why I blog by my family and friends. Even though it seems like everyone is a blogger these days, this is a valid question since it may not sound appealing to some or it just may be really intriguing to others. My answer to this consistent question is always the same: I write because it makes me happy. It’s simple, direct and profoundly true. When I write, I feel whole.

I stumbled upon an article in Hello Giggles, which discussed the life of writers and presented some really rad motivating writer quotes. In response to this article, I’d like to share my blog happiness with my lovely readers so that I can spread the joy I feel when I write.

Question: Why did you start blogging?

Answer: Although I started blogging just recently, I have contemplated doing it for many years. The task initially seemed daunting because I was going to graduate school, getting married and changing careers. When my life began to have some semblance of normalcy, I decided to take the blog plunge once and for all. At first, I wanted to start blogging because I had a desire to chronicle my love for Mr. ShuGar and our journey to hopefully have a ShuGar baby. Ever since my first entry, my blog has evolved into so much more of my heart and passions. It is now a complete reflection of what I love in life.

Question: When do you have time to blog?

Answer: I don’t, really. I blog any free minute I have, mostly early morning, late night or weekends. Blogging takes up a lot of time and dedication. It is not easy. I try to squeeze it in whenever I can because, for me, it’s not a chore. It’s my heart. I am also lucky because Mr. ShuGar is an artist, so he understands what it means to pursue your passion. From the very beginning, he has been my driving force in my blog.

Question: Don’t you feel pressured to keep up your blog?

Answer: Yes and no. The pressure comes within to continue writing more and more about what I love, but on my own terms. The key is to not compare yourself to others, but to blog my way and on my time. With a full time job, I cannot be a full time blogger. However, I dedicate myself to writing fresh content whenever the inspiration calls. No pressure to feel inspired. I don’t blog out of obligation because then it would sound inauthentic.

Question: Don’t you feel exposed to share your life with the internet world?

Answer: Definitely, but that’s the point. Blogging can be really scary and I remember staring at the “publish” button in sheer horror after I wrote my first entry. My inner dialogue was something like this, “This is it. Once I click ‘publish’, strangers will know who I am and what I think. Am I ready for this?” Of course, the answer was yes and I took a leap of faith. I blog from my heart so I expose bits of myself in every entry. It’s my own style and personal choice and I love every minute of it, despite my fears and reservations. When you love something so much, you do it regardless of the risks involved. The pleasure is a million times greater than the pain.

Question: What have you learned from blogging?

Answer: To trust yourself and be happy. As I already mentioned, writing is who I am. It’s what I was born to do and this has been confirmed by blogging. Yet, on occasion I struggle, like most writers do, with self-doubt. I am learning to believe in my inner voice and train it to be loud enough to drown those pesky self-doubt whispers out. I have also learned that comparing yourself to others kills your inspiration. I will always find someone who may appear better, more clever, more creative etc. Why torture myself? I am Me and I am learning to just do “me” and no one else. Finally, I am still learning how to be patient. I cannot expect to have an uber-successful blog overnight. I may have fantasized about it many times, but it’s just not realistic and, frankly, it’s besides the point about why I love blogging. Patience is key; Pursuing your dream is not a simple path. I have to continue writing, even when it feels daunting or no one is reading. It’s the opportunity to have a platform to write that is the root of my happiness. Anything else that comes from blogging is a cherry on top.

Finally, I’d like to thank those who have supported me from the beginning and those who follow me on my blog journey. I appreciate all the love and support. It brings me great joy to share my heart with you. Thank you for reading, commenting and being so sweet. It brings me big smiles to be connected to each one of you through my words!