Month: August 2024

Triangle about the reason why I blog

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triangle about the reason why I blog
Made in Canva by me

Why do you blog?

Daily Writing Prompt

Picture it (that’s what Sophia from Golden Girls started a story). It was 2013, and I started my 2nd blog on WordPress. I had one before, but I didn’t continue with it. I’ve been signed to WP much longer than I’ve blogged. But I digress. I only posted 5 posts in 2013. My mother had cancer, and she died the same year, so blogging was the last thing on my mind. It wasn’t until 2014 that I began to blog more often. The Daily Post was the reason why I continued. Oh, the Daily Post, those were the days. Zero to Hero challenge was the name of the game at the time. Blogging was and still is a way of sharing thoughts with other people. The triangle of my blogging is fun, learning, and sharing. Those are the biggest reasons why I blog.

When I started writing this blog, the posts did not include images, and I didn’t think many people would find or read the blog. Sometimes, I was frustrated, and I didn’t know if I would continue with it. But I didn’t give up. I thought I would write for myself and simultaneously learn to write in English (in British English spelling). Blogging is about learning; you get better at it when you practise. I started to put images on posts randomly in 2015. Now, there are images on all of my posts. It does look better instead of only text. This is what you learn during the years you blog. Just like in real life, you live and learn.

Blogging is fun and even better when you can share your thoughts. I’m glad people have found my blog. This is my 10 years of regular blogging. The most active traffic to my blog was in 2020. I don’t know why since I have 965 followers, but not very active ones. Maybe I’m losing my touch. The truth is, blogging isn’t the way it used to be. I’m not that into it, but I still will continue with it. I love writing, and I do it as a hobby. Business blogging is different, and this is not one of those. I have read about it online and have been taking free courses. This blog is about my personal opinions and experiences. I’ve written so much English I don’t think I can write a blog in my own languages, Finnish and Swedish. It’s taken a long time to get where I am today in the blog world. I’m glad I didn’t stop blogging. I’ve got lovely comments and likes on my post. I shouldn’t forget why I started blogging in the first place. It wasn’t to get as many followers, comments and likes as possible (even if they are always welcome). It was about having fun writing, learning new things and sharing thoughts. I won’t understand those who “brag” about how many followers they have on social media. It’s not about quantity; it’s about quality. Those “followers” might be bots or glory hunters, not real followers. If you’re only starting out blogging, don’t give up. It takes time to hit it off. Starting a blog is easy, but updating it regularly and keeping the blog ideas rolling is the hardest. Getting followers to your blog might look impossible, but they will come to you with patience. It also depends on your blog and how much you promote it. The most important is that it keeps you motivated to blog. Don’t do it because everybody is; blog because you enjoy it. That’s how I keep blogging. It’s a bonus if someone else shares my views. This was my triangle as to why I blog.

Won’t feel blue when I get excited

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Made in Canva

Tell us about the last thing you got excited about.

Daily Writing Prompt

My excitement doesn’t show on the outside, so people don’t see it. Sports events are different, though. If a Finn or a team succeeds in a competition or a game, I cheer for them. Unlike other people, I don’t even need alcohol for that. I never liked that stuff. I don’t feel blue when I get excited. Especially when it’s about getting more confidence. Too many things have put me down in the past. I got excited at first, but the feeling faded. If it’s been in schools or workplaces. I haven’t found the right way that makes me feel comfortable. But now it might be different.

I’m taking part in two courses. The first is about taking photos with a digital camera and posting them on social media. I’m in its third week. It has 8 modules on different subjects related to photography. You get better photos with an SLR (single-lens reflex camera) than a mobile phone. Learning to take pictures with a camera with all the manual settings takes a while. It’s been a while since I did that, which is one of the reasons why I’m taking this course. But also because it has a Facebook group where you can share your assignments and contact other students. You can get help from the group or the organizers. It’s not only photography but also how to post regularly on Instagram. I participated in a free webinar about taking photos in one day, and the course was mentioned. After thinking about it for a while, I decided to join the course. I’ve taken pictures with my iPhone lately because it’s easier to carry. I might get excited again to use a camera. So far, I have no regrets. The teachers are professional photographers, and the FB community is fabulous. In this course, you get feedback on how to become a better photographer. When I studied photography from 2014 to 2015, we got feedback on our assignments, but I didn’t get any comments afterward, so you didn’t know if you improved your photos. Different people have different methods to teach others, so it’s nice to see another perspective.

The other course I’m taking starts on September 2. It’s about stepping into Instagram marketing. It’s for small businesses or those who are planning one. It has 8 modules with different subjects, such as social media strategies and building confidence in front of the camera. It sounded interesting when I took part in a webinar about the course. It isn’t cheap, but it might pay in the end. Both courses are in Finnish and females. They all sound like great people, too. I’m excited about both courses and know I’ll learn something. Anything new I learn is like that. I’ve put things off with becoming an entrepreneur for different reasons. Maybe I’m getting closer to it because I’m bored with my job search. I have people who can support me and help me get forward. I’m glad I don’t need to network on events when I can do it online. I feel blue when I hear or read about how to call or meet people at events. For an introvert, it’s hell. There must be other ways to market your business or when you’re only starting out. The courses I’m taking will help in a lot of things.

I hope my excitement will last a little longer this time, or I will feel blue again.

My motivation is not fiction

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Photo: Openverse

What motivates you?

Daily Writing Prombt

It’s easier to say what doesn’t motivate me because it depends on my mood. Feelings are usually controlling my life. Sometimes, I don’t feel like doing anything, but other times, my motivation is high. I like those days because then I know I’ve done something. When things don’t go the way I wish, I get frustrated. I don’t like doing things that are done in vain. I’ve studied things where the money went down the drain, even if I did learn something from those times. I didn’t get a job, which is the biggest lie ever. “Get a degree and the doors to heaven open” – kind of thing. It doesn’t work for everyone. Education is not the only factor that gets you a job. You also need luck and good connection skills. I only have the feeling people have something against me. That’s only fiction in my head. Maybe my motivation is not getting into a position some people are. People in the world have more significant issues than I do. The way things are going in the world, it would be no surprise if worse things could happen to me, too. Be happy with what you have because tomorrow, they might be gone.

I should know. All my family members are gone, and only me left. No one can take their place. When I go outside, I see why I want to go back inside. No one will give me the same security as my family did. What I miss the most about them is having someone to talk to. It’s not the same with other people. The only relative I have some contact with is my cousin, but she has her family and business to take care of. The last time I met her was at my dad’s memorial service. But if I wanted her help or something, then she would. I’m motivated without relatives. Most of them didn’t keep in touch after my sister died in 1983. I have managed without them, so I don’t need them either. I’m not part of the Modern Family TV series, after all. My dad was in contact with his half-sister, but he didn’t get in touch with her when he was in hospital. I couldn’t get any contact with her either after Dad died. She was over 90 years old, so maybe she didn’t live at home anymore, or perhaps she died. Her kids didn’t inform us about anything anyway. Nice relatives there. Who needs a relative bothering you all the time. It’s better to be estranged from relatives you were never close to anyway than trying to connect with people who don’t care anyway.

I can stay motivated as long as I can do it in peace. If too many distractions distract me, I don’t get things done and don’t like to rush things. Getting support from others keeps me motivated. My parents, especially my mother, were good at that. She told me I should do the best I could and that I could do anything that I put my mind to. My parents didn’t pressure me into any occupation, and I could make my own decisions. That’s what every parent should do, let their kids become anything they want. You don’t need to be the best. We all have our strengths, and we should focus on them. It’s a shame the world has become the way it is today. Defining success with how much you make or how many followers you have on social media. If you haven’t, you have failed and aren’t worth anything. There is so much greed and selfishness that it’s not funny anymore. If you don’t fight it, you’re part of the problem. It motivated me to be different from others. I hope I never become the person some people are. I could never be cruel intentionally because I have a conscience and sympathy for others. It comes from past experiences and a good upbringing. I wish I could do more than blog about the wrongs in the world, but that’s the closest I can get. It might not reach the world, but at least my motivation is not fiction. These are my genuine thoughts about this. I blog to share my thoughts with others, and when someone likes a post and maybe leaves a comment, I feel motivated to go on. Even if I don’t get any, I can still keep the mood on good terms. Worse things could happen like AI writing my posts instead of me. Then Terminator movies might come true. As long as I’m not a robot, things will be fine.