It’s been approximately one year since I seriously started to blog. I want to thank my friend and fellow blogger, Mitch Mitchell, for encouraging me to jump into the blog pool.
About 18 months ago, Mitch said something like, “You’ve got things to say that people want to hear.” I appreciated the compliment. Though, I kept resisting in spite of his encouragement.
It took another six months before I developed the courage to put my blog trunks on, expose all the imperfections of my writing ability, and jump in. Check that. I more or less, waded into the coaching blogosphere.
During the past year, though it took some time, I became acclimated with the blogging waters. At first, I gingerly walked in up to my knees writing posts slowly but surely. I’m 6’5″ so I have to walk a long ways into the ocean for water to go above my knees. I’d stand there a while, jumping in the air, making futile attempts to avoid the incoming waves splashing against my torso. Every week, I’d put off diving into writing. In spite of my resistance, I always penned a post.
After teasing my body for 15 minutes or so, there’s a point when my inner voice says, “what the hell,” and I dove into and under the next big icy-cold wave. As I pushed off the ocean floor, and sprang above the surface, I looked back at shore with a huge smile on my face after writing a number of other posts. I don’t remember the exact moment, though I realized I finally arrived as a blogger.
I resisted blogging because of the myth I wasn’t good enough.
The whole time, I was living in my monkey mind. Endless chatter without a smidgen of proof, telling me the story I was listening to was in fact, true. Not.
In my first year of blogging, here’s a few things I’ve learned:
- Begin without it being perfect.
- Write something. Anything. You never know where you’ll end up. (Like today.)
- Don’t worry about what others think.
- People are reading my posts even though they’re not commenting. (Sign up for free in the upper right corner of the page!)
- Be vulnerable.
- Writing is not easy.
- Be myself.
- I’m perfect, right where I am.
- I discovered the real reason I’m writing is to be a better writer.
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Myths are 100% true only to the one that believes them.
This quote, from one of the greatest writers of all time, made me feel mucho better about my writing:
“I write one page of masterpiece to ninety-one pages of shit,” Hemingway confided to F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1934. “I try to put the shit in the wastebasket.”
What about you? Are you resisting something because you know it’s true or could it be a myth? Talk to me and please post a comment below. Go!
Photo by Mike Cogh.
Wow, me & Hemingway in the same post; that’s classic! I’m glad you did start writing because I see people reacting well to your words, and I always knew that they would. Heck, you even have me as a consistent commenter as well; what can beat that? 🙂 Keep going; you’re great!
If it weren’t for you, I never would have started.
Maybe this is an idea for a future blog post for you. Ya?
Mitch, thanks for your continued support and encouragement.
What can beat that is having ME as a consistent commenter 🙂 Greetings coach! We have something in common once again. I started blogging and my FRIEND Mr. Mitchell corrected me at one point and said, “You’re not a blogger; you’re a person who sometimes blogs.” I was crushed. About 3 weeks ago, he made a tweet that said, “Now that Kelvin Ringold is actually blogging…” High compliments coming from Mr. Mitchell. This post was EXCELLENT! I’ve forwarded it to several people plus sent to my Twitter and FB lists. You’re doing great! Looking forward to more. Have an awesome day — you AND Mr. Mitchell 🙂
Goodness, look at the effect I had. Not only is he blogging but he’s actually writing blog comments now. My work here is done. 🙂
You’re a man of “influence.”
Thanks Kelvin for stopping by.
Come on in, the blogging water is just fine. 🙂
The challenge has been blogging on a consistent basis. Proud to say, I’ve put out a post every week, for the last 52.
This is a great post. I had (and have) many of these emotions. It is amazing how once you start, one things leads to another… and another… just by beginning. It also fun all the great people you meet. I did not expect that part. So glad to have met you.
Yup, it’s all about beginnings.
Thanks Karin. It’s been great getting to know you as well. I appreciate your compliment. I’ll have to add yours to the two times people told me I look younger this week. 🙂
Hey Steve,
You mean not everyone has thought like this in the beginning? Heck, I remember when I first started my thoughts were I’m not a writer and who the heck will want to listen to me. Yep, that’s exactly what I thought.
Then when it came to commenting I thought the same things. I’m older then most online so I really don’t have anything to share. I finally said to hell with it and jumped in head first. So glad I did because I started learning that people really do just connect with people. When they see themselves in you then that bound starts to form and it looks to me like you have that happening to you all the time now.
Glad Mitch convinced you to jump in and I’m pretty sure that you’re happy about it as well.
Great post and topic, one everyone can relate to.
~Adrienne
I tend to say things people are thinking but are afraid to say. It’s called being vulnerable.
Adrienne, thanks for stopping by!
Congrats on one year of blogging, Steve! Some great observations in this post. The most important thing you can do when it comes to blogging is…just keep blogging. Even when you don’t feel like it. If you can do that, you’ve accomplished more than 95% of people out there!
Oh hi Rian! What a pleasant surprise seeing you here!
You made my day. Thanks for your encouragement.
Great post, Steve. I’ve realized that much of my life has been directed by a few false myths. Breaking through these myths was and continues to be the most powerful learning experiences.
Breaking through the myth wall. Exactly.
What you want is on the other side of the myth.