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On a normal day 4 years ago, my husband Michael and I realized we weren’t living the life we wanted to live. We were living a boring life! So, on a hot weekend in July, we started a new life.
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Hi Claudia – I have always admired those folks who have found their voice by blogging. What I love is the relationships that can ultimately be built as a result of doing it. People notice your work, start to follow you and often times you gain a friend in the process. You get a glimpse of what they believe and stand for. You can rally around their cause and help to promote their work by sharing their content with others.
Blogging also creates a platform for personal growth. It requires discipline to come up with consistent content. It requires us to think outside of our comfort zone at times to stretch what we think is possible.
I love to share things that are near and dear to my heart. What is written will resonate with some folks while others may not connect at all. But that’s alright. My desire is that it will reach the people who are supposed to see it.
As for you and Michael – keep up the great work! Awesome job!
Cindy,
Hey, thanks for the encouraging comment here!
I too love the relationships that you build through blogging. I just never expected that at all! We have made invaluable connections and it has led to multiple avenues of opportunity I never would have dreamed of!
I like how you talked about it being a platform for personal growth as well. We have totally found this to be true… I HAVE to be disciplined! And there is something to be said about setting out to do something when people are counting on you. It keeps you committed.
Claudia, about 75% of the time when I mention to people and even friends that I have a blog, they just kinda give me a blank stare. I guess I was in that camp for awhile. Why bother and who really wants to hear my opinion on things anyways?!?! For me, blogging was an outlet to both do something I really enjoy, but never had an outlet for (writing) and learning about websites and the nuts and bolts of it which is fun too. As an unintended consequence, I have met folks like you and Michael as well of a host of other truly wonderful people in cyberworld. Folks that truly encourage one another and spur each other on towards greatness. So, you’re right on! Blogging Isn’t Stupid! 😉
Claudia, about 75% of the time when I mention to people and even friends that I have a blog, they just kinda give me a blank stare. I guess I was in that camp for awhile. Why bother and who really wants to hear my opinion on things anyways?!?! For me, blogging was an outlet to both do something I really enjoy, but never had an outlet for (writing) and learning about websites and the nuts and bolts of it which is fun too. As an unintended consequence, I have met folks like you and Michael as well of a host of other truly wonderful people in cyberworld. Folks that truly encourage one another and spur each other on towards greatness. So, you’re right on! Blogging Isn’t Stupid! 😉
hahaha Michael,
yup, yup… I’ve jumped in with both feet! 🙂 Before I wouldn’t touch it with a ten foot pole…. and I wouldn’t trade it for the world!! Changed our lives!
The blank stare. Yes. I think most people assume others wouldn’t want to hear what they have to say, or that there are enough opinions out there. I’m so glad you have pursued it anyway and are continuing to pursue it. What a great way to challenge ourselves to go deeper and higher and farther!!
It truly has been grand connecting and encouraging and “spurring” one another on hasn’t it!?
*Oh, and the bonus is learning about the “nuts and bolts of websites” as you said! I would have never in a million years pursued that on my own… but I truly love it!
I used to think Twitter was stupid, Claudia…until I learned more about it. I think that we many times just look at things that we simply don’t understand and our lizard brain reassures us by telling us that it’s stupid.
I’m SO glad that you guys started blogging! Not only do I enjoy seeing/reading your content all the time, but I also REALLY get excited about where you guys have come from and where you’re at now because of a blog.
I know that you and Ashley have talked about this some, but I really believe that blogging is a way that we can grow a community of like-minded people. Ashley sometimes feels like there’s no one else out there like her, and I assure her that there are…we just have to find them. 🙂
I just love how you guys are so intentional and focused on where you want to go. You all are very “weird,” but as Dave Ramsey says, “Broke people are normal.” Keep up the great work!
Ryan,
Ahhhh Twitter… yes… I am learning to embrace it as well. 🙂
Yeah, I also thought it was stupid, facebook too and blogging…. Now I have a total appreciation for what they enable us to do!!
Thanks so much for your encouragement… it really means the world to us!! I think you have a gift there 😉
And Ashley… my friend, “NO, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!!!” Ryan is right… just have to find the people, they are out there!!!
I know for me it has been huge just stepping up and putting myself out there. Then people were able to come alongside me and support and encourage me. I never in a million years thought I would find encouragement through a blog!!! Never, but it has connected me/us with people totally outside our normal circles and we would have never found them except through blogging!!
I have encouraging people in my life in person as well, but the blogging and living intentionally was a whole new world to us, and to meet other people that are doing the same thing was amazing! And we have been spurred to much greater heights than we were when we were just sitting talking about how stupid blogging was. hahah silly us. 🙂
Rock on u two! So glad to be on this journey with you!
Thanks for the kind words, Ryan, and for your friendship too.
I feel like the people that we have connected with through this site have often been the much needed fuel for many of the changes we wanted to make in our lives.
Claudia – first of all I love the video and Jude is just so adorable! I agree – while I didn’t think blogs were stupid – for a time before I started my business and website – I had no idea what they really were or were for! I tend to feel as Michael mentioned in his comment – who is going to want to hear my thoughts about – anything? My two sons started blogging first and that was my introduction to blogging. I loved reading their takes on things – my youngest son, Matt, is an athlete and LOVES baseball – always has. So he started blogging about his experiences and about baseball in general and he’s had so much positive feedback that he was invited to be the editor of Rising Apple – a Mets blog! I know I am coming off as the proud mom – and I most certainly am – but I see how it can connect you with people you otherwise never would’ve had access to.
Ann,
That is such a cool/encouraging story! You are a proud mama… and rightly so!!! But I love how you point out that you can connect with and have opportunities you never thought possible through blogging! I have heard so many stories like this, where people just started writing about what they were passionate about and it turned into a business or an awesome connection.
People won’t know unless you share and I have learned that lesson. And we love to join people that are excited about what they are doing. Passion is contagious, especially when it is something someone else is also passionate about!
I never realized that there are a host of people out there that do want to hear my thoughts and could actually find them helpful and encouraging!
I just got really excited there… hee-he 😉
No way I would have connected with Michael and you w/o blogging 🙂
Totally, Kent. And that would be our loss!
Too true!
Yes, you and Michael are doing amazing things with your blog, and it’s because of your intentional, consistent, and fun blog that you both caught my attention, and I just had to see what you both were doing. Now, I’m glad I did! This is a great place to be, and its absolutely awesome getting to know you!
Thanks a lot Rob! Right back at cha 🙂