Lets Talk About Blogging and Support

from my bridal shower in cali. One of my bffs, Emily, who I met originally through blogging. (Images of the whole shower coming soon..i swear). 

I have had this post saved in drafts for almost a month now,
and after going over it again and reading some recent posts by other bloggers,
 I finally feel like it is time to share it. 

Over the past year or so,
even more recently over the past few months,

I have noticed a lot of posts about blogging:

How to be a successful blogger,

How you should "blog if you want me to read it",

How to make your blog a business,

How to sponsor or be a sponsor,
or how you shouldn't sponsor at all,
or have sponsors,
or promote your blog.

A lot of people telling a lot of other people what to do is pretty much the gist of it,

and a lot of it is super helpful information coming from a genuine place
(like these posts from my friend Jenni)

and some of it seems a little cutting/judgmental. 

When I first started blogging,

over 3 years ago,

I honestly do not remember there being so many posts like the ones mentioned above,
or maybe there were and I just didn't notice them because I was too busy meeting cool people
to pay attention to whether I was finding these bloggers through a sponsored post,
guest post,
or giveaway.
I just loved it all and went with it.

For me,

and I think most people,

blogging starts out as one thing:

Keeping a daily journal for friends and family who you might be separated from,

or you want to share baby updates with other more distant family members. 

Then something happens...

you realize that there are a lot of other people doing this blogging thing too,

and hey,

you can make your blog look really cool too?

And wow,

look at their photos, I need a new camera!

Then snap,

I am sorta obsessed with what this chick is wearing, must buy new clothes and photograph them with my new camera.

And omg,

 now I have online friends, lets take this affair to skype and maybe have a blate,

and then you can be my bridesmaid! 

(okay that last part might just be me)

Then lastly,

hold up,

you can make money and write about what you love for people you love?

During this likely progression,

people seem to get annoyed or upset,

because the blogger is changing.

Don't get me wrong,

sometimes change can be negative,

but I believe most of the time,
and I think in the case of blogging,

change is just a natural part of a human being evolving and finding their way.

I am all about bloggers switching up the way they do things,

I don't need to read a "well thought out" post every day,

It's okay.

You want to make money off of your blog?

Then I want to empower you to do that so you can do what you love,

stay home with your kids,

eat for that week,

pay down your student loan,

pay your rent...

why not?

Is there a right or wrong way to do it?

Maybe...

But I won't  knock you for trying.

I have seen a lot of my favorite bloggers start their own businesses
 (ie: wedding planning, photography, clothing stores)
and part of the reason they were so successful at the start
 is because they had grown their blog first,
and their readers supported them.

I think that is so incredible and I have loved cheering them on,
 watching them grow,
and do the things they love.

There are a lot of ways people are making money off of their blog that you may not know about,

and some are more obvious,

in either scenario,

I support them,

because they are women like me,

and as long as they are kind, genuine, and are doing the best they can and being honest along the way,

then I want the best for them.
I will respect them.

If I have learned anything this year,

it is that love and support go a long way.
That life is better and easier when you want the best for others,
accept others for their differences,
and help them to achieve their own idea of happiness.

That is what I have always believed this community is about,

helping others grow, lending support, building relationships, and patting each other on the back

even when we mess up from time to time and blog while we are pmsing.

That's all I have to say.