YOUR INSPIRATIONAL REMINDER #1
So I've been thinking (and talking) a lot about inspiration lately. It's a theme that ABOH completely revolves around, and I recently told you in a blog post that I've added it as a brand new category. That's where this post comes in.
I get so much positive feedback from you about this online space and the one phrase that keeps popping up quite regularly is this: "it's so inspiring." I wanted to do more with these words and so I came up with the idea of an inspirational reminder post. I'm hoping to post little messages of blogging and life-related encouragement every Saturday to inspire you to push a little further, work a little harder or simply take time to reflect on each quote.
I'm really excited about starting this new series. Let me know if you like it in the comments and today, we'll kick off with the first one!
This week's reminder can be applied to anyone. And while I realise you've probably come across this quote before, I want you to stay with me.
I decided on today's message as I was looking for a good quote of the day on Pinterest - this was something I'd pinned recently and when I saw it, it really made me think.
Something that I think is really important to remember is that we're all at different stages. We're never going to be running at exactly the same pact as someone else. But I realised that in the past, I've been jealous of how far other bloggers have gone. Some of them have reach tens of thousands of followers in the same time that I've taken to reach a few hundred.
But I also know that I shouldn't dwell on these things and that's where this quote comes in.
Tom reminds me of this all the time - we all do our thing in different ways. But if I'm happy with what I'm doing and I've got the community and interaction I want, then really, speed doesn't matter. Who cares if another bloggers has more time or more resources? Does that really make them any better than I am? No.
It also makes me feel very proud as a blogger. I started this online space, as you probably did, by myself with very little knowledge. But when I walked into my Masters course on the first day, I was the only one with a blog. And it's ABOH that has played a big part in helping me get to where I am today. Just think if I hadn't started this blog. Think if I hadn't started from where I was. Used what I had. Did what I could. Where would I be?
But I did. I started from my bedroom with an old laptop and no knowledge - just a love of writing. I used the experience I'd built up so far and the passion that I felt at starting a blog. And I did everything I could to make sure it was the blog I wanted it to be.
Our industry can become competitive and sometimes, I see comments that make me sad. I was watching a YouTube video the other night to get some beauty inspiration, and there were comments like "This just proves to me how beautiful you are and how ugly I am."
Why are we so obsessed with things that we don't have? Things that can be unattainable. We see someone and we want that success. But it's not realistic. Because how is that your version of your success? You've got to determine what that means for you as an individual. I think we should be more concerned with focussing on what we do have and the positive things that happen in our lives every single day. And we do that by appreciating where we are right now, appreciating what we have and appreciating what we can do.
I hope you liked this first weekly reminder and look forward to the next one.
Leave a comment and let me know how you're going to use this reminder this week. Here's to being inspired.