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On Blogging (Honest Thoughts One Year In)

Monday, September 24, 2018


Deep thoughts on a Monday... why not?

Instead of the usual weekend recap (short story: it was relaxed and a little rainy), I thought I'd open up to you with some candid thoughts about this whole blogging thing. There are a couple of reasons I feel compelled to share:

1. To address the "what made you start blogging?" question. I am sometimes asked it, and I have asked it of myself, too.

2. I need to work these thoughts and reflections and hopes and visions out by writing them out, quite honestly. It's how I've always worked through things, so I figured instead of journaling I'd share them openly in this space. Maybe it will prompt some feedback on the whole process, which I'd love!

So, to start at the beginning, anyone who knows me knows I've always loved writing. It's how I communicate best, it's therapeutic for me, it's even often how I think. I also love sharing with others in the effort to make a genuine connection. To me, connecting with other people and finding out all of the similarities (and/or embracing the differences) we have is so important. 

I began blogging eight years ago, but it never stuck. Sometimes I wonder, if I had kept going with it, if it would have been beneficial to get my foot in the door early on. Back then, blogs weren't nearly as much of a "thing" as they are today. Believe it or not, most of the blogs I follow along with and read are blogs that I discovered all those years ago. If I had kept some momentum going, would I have stood apart from the millions of blogs there are out there now? The romantic answer would be yes, but I don't think that's true. The plain truth is, I didn't have anything that truly inspired me to blog back then.

Fast forward several years and I'm rocking my second baby in the middle of the night, night after night, alone with my sleep-deprived thoughts. I had long felt like there was this part of me -- the creative part, the part that yearns to write, share, and connect -- that was begging to be fulfilled. But how? And when? I thought to myself, yawning. Each night I pondered it and allowed myself to dream a little, the answer settled into my bones. I needed to write again. I needed to start a blog.

My vision when I started The Lucky Lifestyle just over a year ago, and it remains today, is that it's a destination where people (I picture most of my readers as women, but hey, men are welcome too!) click over to feel encouraged, inspired, comforted, and to laugh a little. I want to talk about all of the seemingly mundane parts of life that are really the best parts. I want to share things I love (style and fun finds) while also being able to talk about postpartum and juggling all the things and the delicious spaghetti sauce recipe I stumbled upon. 

I don't want to simply recap my days or use this space as a journal. First, because as much as I know people love a "glimpse into the life" of others (I do!), most of my days are pretty standard mom-of-young-kids days and it just doesn't seem like very inspired content. But if I can take the lessons learned along the way, the highlights (or lowlights - just as important) of those days and share them with others in a way that makes us feel a little less alone in the world, that's where the sweet spot of sharing is.

What's sharing without... people to share with? I am thrilled (like, beyond belief thrilled) that more than just a couple of people decide that this space is worth their time to visit. I know my readers range from those who know me personally and support me to those who just happened to come across my page and find it resonate with them in some way. I can't tell you how much each and every one of you (yes, YOU!) means to me.

Of course, I want The Lucky Lifestyle to keep growing. I worry that I won't be able to do this because my focus isn't on social media and getting "followers." It never was. I have a personal IG account that I post to frequently (@jenpadrontucker), but because I share a lot of photos of my kids (and other stuff, but mostly my kids) I keep it a private account and personally approve each and every request. I know, what a way to grow, huh? But my kids come before absolutely everything else, and my personal gut feeling tells me I'm doing the right thing (...for me! I know everyone has a different view on this and I respect them all. It is truly a personal decision.). I could make a public IG account just for the blog, but what would I post? I feel like it wouldn't be genuine because the things I want to share are the things I'm already sharing over at @jenpadrontucker.

One of the reasons I chose the word "Lifestyle" for this space is because I want it always to reflect just that: a lifestyle, not a styled life. There are endless beautiful pictures to gaze upon out there -- trust me, I like to look at them, too. But they're not real, gritty, genuine life, you know? Same thing with the word "influencer." It feels like that should be my goal; but the truth is, I don't want to influence anyone. I want to encourage (defined as: to give support, confidence, or hope to someone -- how perfect is that?). Is "encourager" a word? I think I want to make it one.

So, who knows. Who knows where this dream will lead? I hope it will continue to evolve in the ways that feel right, that the people who are meant to find it will find it, and I hope I continue to love it along the way. Because I really do love it. And that counts for more than a little something. ;)

If you made it this far, we are now best friends and you are my favorite. Thanks for reading a girl's thoughts spilled out on a screen. And won't you share what you'd like to see post-wise? What gets you excited to read?

Happy Monday!

17 comments:

  1. Congrats on one year and hopefully many more to come! I'm coming up on my 5th year of blogging which is crazy!

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    1. Thanks so much! And congrats on your upcoming 5 -- that's a big one, and a great accomplishment! :) I love reading along. xo

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  2. Thanks, Kayla! So glad you enjoyed it and perhaps resonated with it. Happy you stopped by! :)

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  3. Congrats on one year! I love your distinction between lifestyle and a styled life. I feel like over the years blogging has shifted from blog what you live to living to blog about it. The blogs I most love to read are the ones that are real and genuine like your focus here. Happy blog-iversary.

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    1. Thank you so much Elizabeth - that feedback means a lot to me! And I absolutely agree. Those are the blogs I most love to read, too. So glad you stopped by, and hope your week is off to a good start!

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  4. This was beautiful to read. I've been enjoying the genuine nature of your posts lately. I'm excited to see what what brought you to blogging is what brought me - just simply a calling, and a desire to share an unfiltered honest life with the hopes that it will bring peace to others.

    Best to you and your family,
    A. Rose

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    1. Thank you so very much for those words! You summed it up perfectly -- and I'm so happy to read that others feel the same way. Thanks from the bottom of my heart for reading, A. Rose. I hope you have a wonderful week!

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  5. You took the words right out of my mouth. I've definitely done this same mental dance around blogging and what it means to me and all that. Still figuring it out. In the meantime, I'm with you, I'll keep doing it because I do enjoy it and that counts for a lot. Happy one year blogging anniversary!

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    1. It's comforting to read you feel the same way, Alex! I love how you keep it real and that you genuinely love blogging -- that always shines through. Thanks so much for your support and wishes!

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  6. Congratulations on the one year mark! I feel like the first year is always the biggest hurdle. I'm so glad we've connected through this blogging community and I enjoy visiting your space. I think it's all about balance which isn't always easy to do. I can completely relate and respect your decision about your accounts. I used to have two IG accounts and then it just got to the point where it didn't feel like the things I was sharing on my blog one were me or related to our family. Switching to just my blog one was one of the hardest things for me, and I still try to be careful with what I share. As weird as it sounds, the hard part is, seeing the potential earnings coming in and being able to put things into a college fund for the boys for the pictures they're in. I still question each campaign and hope we are doing the best for them and making the right decision. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your heart for your space. Sierra Beautifully Candid

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    1. Thank you so much, Sierra! I so admire you and your blog, and I've thought many of the same things it seems like you have. I think with my IG, it's not so much the photos -- it's that my IG was started years before my blog, so there are photos from their births, possible identifying information, etc. since it was kept so private for so long. I completely agree that two separate accounts seems so difficult to manage! It seems like you've managed to find a great balance, and that's something I definitely strive for. I'm so glad we connected through this community, too! xo

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  7. I couldn't have said it better. That is who I feel about blogging. It is a struggle on what to share. Sometimes I love writing about what happened during the weekend and other times I feel like others don't care. I struggle with what I want to share and where I want my blog to go. I love to write, but sometimes the stress of just putting a post out there is awful. Thank you for sharing these thoughts. I am so happy to know others feel the same way as I do about blogging and sharing.

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    1. Thank YOU for letting me know I'm not alone in my thoughts, feelings, and hopes for this space. It's comforting to know others who I admire are feeling the same way. :)

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  8. Congratulations Jen! I assumed you'd been blogging longer as it seems to come so naturally to you - you write so confidently and eloquently. I realise now it takes a lot of commitment to blog frequently so to get to one year is a great achievement! You have a distinctive blogging style - like a 'writer' and I love that. I think you'd be great doing review pieces on films, books, products, travel etc. The piece you did on your birth was one of the ones that really stands out to me. You really come across so genuine and I appreciate the fact you so obviously are in this for the writing and the connections and friendship and are open to people across the other side of the world! As you know I am an avid reader of your blog and consider you a true blogging buddy and friend. J xx

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    1. Thank you so much, Joanne. That means the world to me! I admire you and your blog so much, so for you to continue to come back to this space and to engage is just so cool. I often talk about you and will say "oh, my friend Joanne said/posted..." Even my hubby knows who you are! :) I appreciate your kind words more than you know and send them right back to you. xo

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  9. Jen, It's a great read and you know, we have similarities. I have been with few bloggers for last 8 years as well and I guess that's how we met on Megan's blog. I never thought of starting my own at that time as I found it bit boring. May be I had other things to at that point. But Now, I don't feel blogging is boring but I agree with about the social media. I am not that active either. Seems like I am reading my own mind here. Your writing skills are great and I am so glad that you started your blog to share with others. BTW, I love to see your kids pictures. Take care,

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    1. Thank you, friend! It's really nice to see others feel the same. I absolutely love writing and sharing, and I don't think we need to bend to what everyone else is doing -- if we're enjoying it and it's genuine, that's what matters and what people will resonate with! xo

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