It’s been a few days since the BlogHer conference, and I’ve been letting all the information and thought provoking settle in. The theme of BlogHer was, “How has blogging changed your world?” The answer to that question, I believe, reveals much about the person answering. So, for me, I have actually been thinking quite deeply about my response, and the answer to that question “How has blogging changed your world?” became clearer after attending BlogHer.
Blogging has changed my world in that it has brought out more of my creativity thus opening new channels of opportunity for me, and it has helped me touch and be touched by more people than I could have ever imagined. Here at Back in Skinny Jeans (BISJ), I talk about the struggles in coping with society’s high standards of beauty and body image. I share the personal experiences I have gone through, and what I see and learn from other people. I have met some amazing people in the blogosphere through this blog.
I have started and stopped many blogs (7 to be exact), but from day one, November 1, 2005, I have been consistent with BISJ, writing at least one post a day, 5 days a week. Last month, I took one week off for vacation, but other than that, I have written consistently even when I didn’t feel much like writing. The aspiration to write and develop content for BISJ is driven by passion and the desire to help others. I've had a lot of shitty things happen in my life, and my father actually shared with me that I could hold onto the "poor me" feelings, or share my experiences to help others. He reminds me that there are always people worse off than myself, and that there are others who need help and support in their pain and struggle. Taking the hard and painful experiences in your file, and using them to help others in the same boat is empowering. It also gets you out of feeling helpless and victimized, a very common thing for women to do to themselves.
The content in Back in Skinny Jeans ranges from serious topics like eating disorders, rape, and prejudice to more light-hearted topics like celebrities, recipes, and weight management tips. I get emails from women (and men), I don’t know, thanking me for sharing my stories because it has helped them smile that day, feel less alone, or feel hopeful. The joy I feel in knowing I have helped another human being is one that fills me with bliss, a feeling I have never felt in my entire corporate marketing career in tech. Don’t get me wrong, my whole career wasn’t miserable. I did have many thrilling and exciting times. Getting promoted, making lots of money, traveling to exotic places, and eating at 5 star restaurants was lots of fun and glamorous, but it was never blissful, and the joy was always fleeting. The feeling of bliss is warm, calm, and encompassing. You always end up crying because the love you feel is so immense.
That feeling of helping others on deeper levels also inspired me to finally quit my “ladder” career. I refer to the ladder career as the one where as a businessperson my goal was to climb to the top, and stay there with the other rich, powerful, and “in” movers and shakers. I even started my own business awhile back so that I could have a CEO, Founder title. I didn’t have any fun, or feel fulfilled. I realize now that need to have an important title was driven more by need to be a “climber.” For some, climbing rocks their boat, and good for them. For me, I am happiest when I am creative and producing works that evoke emotions of joy, hope, and relief in people.
Now, I am proud to say that I am an artist, a writer, a blogger, a designer, a storyteller. That was a HUGE thing to say and come to terms with, seeing that I come from a culture where announcing you’re an artist is like announcing that you are going to be broke and living off your relatives. Let’s put a huge “L” on your forehead. The irony though is that if you do make it big and become famous and rich from your art, you then become the star of the family, the neighborhood, the city. Luckily for me, I have scored enough successes in my life, that my family fully supports me in whatever I choose to do because they know I can be successful in anything I focus on, even if it is that “arty” stuff.
I have never felt happier and freer in my life, and along with doing a great deal of internal work over a few years to get there, I owe a big part of that joy to blogging and the Internet. Blogging has opened an entirely new world to me, and I am filled with anticipation, glee, and hope. Writing is healing, not only for others but for yourself. By blogging, you will discover new things about yourself and your life. It will be both an exhilarating and scary ride, but one that is well worth it. Blogging has changed my world for the better in deep and meaningful ways.
