What’s the point?

I’ve been putting this post off…not because I haven’t thought about it just about every day for the last few weeks, but because I sort of didn’t want to deal with it. If I don’t write it, it’s not real, right?

I like watching shows like HGTV’s Design Star and the FoodNetwork’s The Next FoodNetwork Star, for the entertainment value, the creativity, and the fierce competition of course. But I realized the other night, there is another reason, one with a bit more to bite into.

In both shows, the contestants are constantly challenged to have a clear point of view – what do they bring to the table to offer their potential viewers if they win the golden opportunity to have their own show?

The lightbulb went on and I realized that I face the same dilemma.  Thankfully, I don’t have producers and famous celebrity guest judges sitting three feet away constantly reminding me of this. But, I have myself. Sometimes we are harder on ourselves than anyone else could ever be.

So, what’s the point here? What am I getting at?

That’s the point. Having one. Finding one.

First, a little backstory. I started this blog soon after I opened my Etsy shop last fall.

I started my Etsy shop becuase I wanted needed a positive, creative outlet.

I needed a positive creative outlet because I needed to balance some workplace struggles and challenges that all on their own were something to reckon with, but I also found that my creative soul was taking the hit too.   This left  me with a void. There’s so much more, but that’s probably better left for another day.

So, with my Etsy shop open for biz, and all the amazing resources and advice on how to do that successfully, it suddenly came crashing upon me,

I gotta get a blog!

So, I did. Normally I think and over think these things, but in this case, I just dove in.

I have a few blogs I had started in prior years,  that are just sitting on the sidelines [ideas, ideas, ideas] so I  knew how to get started, get set up, you know, the basics. The mechanics of it all.

So, I started.

I wasn’t sure exactly what I should be doing, but I jumped in with both eyes open and a Nike-like committment to just do it. I was nervous, I was shy. I felt funny ‘putting myself out there”. But I  did it anyway.  It wasn’t long before I started realizing how much fun it could be when things I had never thought of before were suddenly thoughts I had to write down.  I started to realize there is a place for everyone.

So I kept going and well, here we sit.  I am still working on defining, clarifying, finding the point and I certainly know what I am not.  It’s a drag, because I can so easily get derailed when I cruise around blogland and see so many awesomesauce bloggers, and come up short. And then, I circle back with myself and try to remember this

Just like with anything we do, we get nowhere by comparing ourselves. I intentionally limit my ‘comparison thinking’ and instead, try to refocus my thinking on learning from all the awesomeness I see every day. When I think of stopping, I realize that what I do know for sure  is that I enjoy { and perhaps even need? } blogging because…

…it keeps me thinking

…it keeps me creative

…it keeps me connected

…it keeps me learning

…it keeps me challenged

…it keeps me working on my photography

and perhaps the most important,

…it keeps pushing me beyond my comfort zone.

And, those are all good things. Why would I question something that gives me all that?

But wait, there’s more.

I find that I view life a little differently, more clearly. The thoughts and ideas that merely passed my mind and then quickly exited as I multi-tasked my way through my days, have more velcro these days, more stick-to-it-iveness.

I find that I appreciate the small, [easily regarded as insignificant], moments so much more and remember that they are often the punctuation in our story. They are what makes the big picture make so much more sense.

And the bottom line?

I realized that I just kinda like it here. I have that feeling of having found a new friend, when I least expected it.  I try not to put too much energy into site stats; is it necessary to have numbers tell us it is ok to do something that we just like to do? I didn’t think so. I like all the hip, personal, friendly, kindred, stylish, bold , and insightful yous { I hope you all know who you are!} that I have connected with here in bloggity blog world. And what about all of the “youwhos” I haven’t even met yet?

And I realize that it works both ways; that because I have this here little blog, I have come across fresh perspectives, some great humor, provocative thoughts and insightful twists on things I see and think about every day. Y’all are contantly stretching my mind.  Having this blog leads me to bloggy pastures that are green, and rich and insightful. Sometimes just funny, and always creative and fresh.  I want all of that.

So, in short, I’ve had some days I’ve questioned it all, and wondered more than once,  what’s the point? What’s my point? Should I even be here?  The best part is, I finally realized that I don’t have to have the answer right now.  I’m going to stick around, take a few more leaps, perhaps play interior decorator around my blog house and throw a fresh coat of paint on the walls,freshen things up a bit; I’m even pondering a switch to a slightly different name…a little ways down the road. In other words I am going to

I am glad to be here, and glad you are too.

Cheers!