I won’t lie: I am thankful for my life almost every hour of every day. But that doesn’t make Thanksgiving any less special. In fact, I like to use the holiday to think about the “random” things that I am grateful for, aside from the obvious: health and family.
There’s the sound of the railroad horn in the distance. The laughter of a girl. Cherry Garcia FroYo. And there is blogging.
Call it a hobby. Call it a career. Call it a passion. Here are some of the reasons why I am thankful for freelance blogging.
– Blogging Reignited My Passion to Write. Early this century my journalism degree was gathering dust. Caught up in a world where I was trying to establish a “career” for myself, I found little reason to write. But blogging opened up a door to a world of writing…without an editor. Freedom! My grammar might not be perfect, and spelling errors, well, yeah, they happen. But removing the hurdle of having someone change what I want to say…a huge score!
– Blogging Builds Relationships. They may not be part of my inner circle, but I have formed some valuable and fulfilling relationships thanks to blogging. I hear from people all around the world. Some are insightful, others are opinionated, but all are engaged. This feeling of connectedness is important to me in a somewhat disconnected world.
– Blogging Is a FREE Hobby. With no equipment necessary, no entry fees, and no expensive “collectibles,” blogging is an economical hobby, one that fills time in a positive way — without draining your bank account. The coolest part is that blogs are like “manly” diaries, with your thoughts archived for life. For virtually no cost, I can look back on this post in 20 years and laugh or cry about it. That’s priceless!
– Blogging Puts Me on the Path to Self-Employment. It won’t happen overnight, and it might never come to fruition, but blogging puts everyone on the path to potential self-employment. The greatest part is that you can transition as slowly (or as quickly) as you like. Whether or not this is a goal for you, it at least lets you cast a hook into the self-employment pond. Hey, you gotta be in it to win it, right?
– Blogging Lets Me Tap Into My Creativity. I live for creative vision; it keeps me young, happy, and feeling alive. From layout to imagery to making money, a good blogger must be a quick thinker – someone who is willing to let their creative juices slop all over the floor. Somebody get me a mop!
– Blogging is Therapeutic. And it costs less than therapy. As a blogger, you get to air your grievances publicly and have the world comment. This dialogue can help you blow off some serious steam. And for the days when blogging isn’t enough, I always have the heavy bag to hit in my basement.
I am grateful for so many things, and this year, blogging makes the list. If you’re reading this, I’m grateful to you too.
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