I have been "blogging" on and off since the 90s (!!!) but only in 2012 did I start blogging with any consistency or conviction. I started with a self-hosted Daemon domain, moved to Blogger, switched to LiveJournal, switched back to Blogger and, after multiple reincarnations, The Private Life of a Girl was created.
So why have I been blogging for so long and why do I carry on?
PERSONAL
I want to document my life
I want to have a digital record of the things I've done, the places I've been, and the experiences I've had. I've never been the sort of person to keep dusty photo albums on a shelf so this is my alternative.
I want to connect with people
Blogging is an amazing way of getting to meet other people; I've made some of my closest friends online. By sharing online we can get to know other people, form friendships, and build support networks.
I want to live a more intentional life
The more I document my life, the more I think about who I am, what I'm becoming, and the direction I want my life to go in. I have become more intentional with my actions, my goals and how I aim to achieve them.
I want to inspire others
I want to inspire others to explore the world, go on adventures, read more, learn more, be positive, and enjoy life.
I want to open up to constructive criticism and debate
It's important our ethics, morals, and ideas are challenged so that we understand why we believe in them, whether we should believe in them, and so that we can stand by our decisions or change them. Constructive criticism offers new ways of viewing situations and it's important we take on board what other people have to say, whether we agree or disagree.
BUSINESS
I want to share my experiences and advice
My business wouldn't have been successful if it wasn't for all the free resources I made use of when starting out; I want to give something back by sharing my perspective and experiences of running a business.
I want to connect to other business owners
Through writing about my business experiences I get to meet other business owners, which in turn helps form a larger, more solid support network. I can engage with, encourage, support, and befriend other creatives.
I want to share as I grow
My business is still young and I still have a lot of stages of development to go through. Sharing that process helps remind me of where the business started, how far it's come, and how much further it has to go.
I want to inspire others
I want to encourage and inspire others to follow and achieve their goals. I want to share my journey and provide support and inspiration for others who wish to do the same.
It's good for business
Blogging is an amazing way of engaging with a target audience and customer base. It allows people to get to know me better as a person but also take a peek behind the scenes and learn how the business is run.
