We interrupt your regular #thinkingoutloud intro for a special announcement…
Three years ago today, I anxiously (seriously; I was a nervous wreck) hit ‘publish’ on my very first [post-hiatus] post, and here I am 1092 days and 880 posts later (!!!) not really knowing how I got here, but being more than happy that I did.
For real. If you would have asked me even 3 years ago if I ever thought that I’d be including “blogger” in my job description, I would have looked at you like you’re crazy… probably similar to how people look at me now when I tell them I blog for a living. Blogging has become a lot more mainstream in the past couple of years, but there’s still a lot of misconceptions about it… especially when it comes to making an income. And that brings us to the crux of this post…
Oh, and excuse all the random collages littered throughout this post. Easier on the eyes.
Anyways. I was originally planning on using today’s post as an excuse to share some blogging tips with you guys, until I realized that I already did that last year and that I’d pretty much just be repeating myself since all of what I said back then still rings true today. That and there are so many informative blogging articles out there, that I’m not really sure I’d have anything valuable to add that hasn’t already been said 100 times over. So I scrapped that idea and decided to just sit down and write whatever came to mind — pure stream of consciousness style.
Hopefully this doesn’t end up all over the place…
So. Blogging. It’s been one heck of a journey…
I originally started blogging as a way to help me through my eating disorder recovery after finding an online community of girls who were going through the same thing; continued blogging because I fell in love with the creative outlet it provided me with; and began taking it more seriously when I discovered that I could combine my passion for writing, photography, and helping others in what eventually went on to become a slightly unconventional job that ended up being the perfect fit for me.
And the craziest thing is that this definitely wasn’t in my 5-year plan. I finished university with a degree in psychology and a plan to go on to grad school… and then I got sick. I know it’s a little cliche to say that everything happens for a reason, but I truly, wholeheartedly, 100% believe that it does. And that positive things can come out of the worst situations, even if we can’t see them at the time. People look at me like I’m crazy when I tell them that I wouldn’t go back and ‘undo’ my eating disorder if I could… but it’s the God’s honest truth. I’m a better person coming out of it than I was going in, and those experiences have proven invaluable when it comes to my overall mentality and general outlook on life.
So what am I trying to say here? I’m saying don’t worry. Don’y worry if you don’t have it all figured out; if you’re in school, done school, or going into school and you have no idea what you want to be when you grow up. Things have a way of working out despite (or in spite of) our meddling, hence the expression “life is what happens while we’re busy making other plans.” Ask yourself if you’re where you thought you would be 5 years ago, and I can almost guarantee you that the answer will be no. Everything will work out in the end.
And don’t worry if you’re currently going through a hard time. If you’re in a hole so deep that even the thought of taking that first step back up towards the surface exhausts and discourages you because of how far you have to go. Take baby steps. Take it one day at a time. Remember that “this too shall pass,” and that every experience, no matter how painful, is meant to teach us something. Mind the lesson.
I know this is a little (read: a lot) deeper than most of my other Thinking Out Loud posts, but birthdays make me reflective, apparently. I promise to get back to the lighthearted randomness next week.
And because there’s no way I could celebrate a blogging birthday without tipping my [non-existant] hat to the main reason I blog (read: you guys), be sure to check back tomorrow for a special giveaway that I think you’ll enjoy. See you then!
No questions… just tell me whatever comes to your mind! 😀
More places to find me!
E-mail — [email protected]
Twitter — runwithspoons
Facebook — runningwithspoons
Pinterest — runwithspoons
Instagram — runwithspoons
Bloglovin — runningwithspoons
I love your blog. And I’m so glad that you’ve gotten to 3 years. That’s amazing. Your blogs is one of my favorite blogs. You’re upbeat, easy to talk to via the blog, and your pictures always make me hungry (almost inevitably.) Thanks Amanda!!!
Your comment definitely brought the biggest smile to my face. Thanks so much, Emily!
Hey love 🙂
I know I haven’t been around lately, but I just wanted to say I am so glad that you came back to blogging. You’ve been such a great influence to so many people and you are so good for this little community of ours. Keep being you <3
I have to thank YOU for being a huge part of the reason I came back! Don’t know if I could have done it without you. Miss you. We need to catch up <3
🙂
Chapter 10- BFF
I thought chapter 10 was “how to mix business with pleasure?” 😛
Happy blogiversary, Amanda! I started reading your blog shortly after you (re)began it.
I love your conversational writing…& of course your beautiful photos and delicious recipes.
I’m happy this gig has turned into a budding career for you. Great advice here, for blogging and life in general.
All the best. <3
Happy blog birthday!!! I remember when you blogged the first time, so it feels like AGES that I’ve “known” you!
Love your message in this post. There was a time when I had nothing figured out and it scared the crap out of me, but it all worked out in the end. Life has a fnny way of doing that. 🙂
Thanks, girl! It’s been so great to be able to connect with you via blogging 😀 Now we just need to make another meeting happen!
Whatever comes to my mind? You’re awesome. And brilliant. And I wish I could meet you. 🙂 I loved this post; it was exactly what I needed to hear. When you said to ask myself if I was where I thought I would be five years ago, I had a mini aha moment. I could almost get it. I still don’t understand why I am where I am right now, but you encouraged me to take a deep breath and keep going. Thanks Amanda! (And I thought the collages made it look extra cool! 🙂 )
It’s something I didn’t understand for a long time either, Abbie, but it’s definitely gotten easier as I’ve gotten older and seen how things worked out. Thanks so much for your kind words 🙂
Happy birthday, Spoons!! And I love the beautiful message behind this post. So much positivity! Congrats on how far you’ve come, lady!
Thanks so much, Sarah 🙂 It’s been great being able to connect with you through blogging!
Big happy Blogiversary hugs and love to spoons! 🙂
I am totally with you on how life turns out – I wouldn’t go back and change me having an ED either and really do believe 100% that I am a happier healthier person now having gone through that than I ever was before.
Today I graduated from IIN – I would never have dreamed 5 years ago that I would be a health coach, living in Australia with the opportunity to live my dream whilst in this big adventure. Life really does have a way of working out 🙂
!!!! EEE! I was zonering when you were going to finish! Congratulations, Jen! If you ever have any questions, or just want to chat and bounce ideas around with someone else in the field, definitely let me know!
Happy Blogging Anniversary. I just celebrated my first year of blogging yesterday! It’s nice to see the evolution of our blogs huh? Wishing you all the best!
Thank you! And happy blog anniversary to you as well 🙂
Thanks for this post, inspiring 🙂
N
Happy Blog-Birthday! How does it feel to still be going strong (and stronger!) after all this time?
xoxo
Pretty darn fabulous 🙂 Made the fight and the hard times more than worth it.
Happy blogiversary! I never thought that I would stick with blogging for this long but it turns out that I really love to have the outlet. Here’s to many more wonderful years of Running with Spoons!
I honestly wasn’t sure I’d stick with it either, but it’s kind of hard to imagine life without it…
Happy blog anniversary! I just had my first year a week ago. It’s definitely been a great experience. Cheer to many more for both of us! 🙂
Definitely! Happy blogiversary to you as well, Daisy!
Happy blog birthday! <3 <3 <3
Thank you, Victoria!
I am in this post! #happydance
Thank you for having started your blog back in 2012 (just about 1 month before I started! Yay).
It is the reason why you became part of my life and I will forever be thankful for that.
I wish you were in more of them! We need to make it happen more often — kk? And I still remember your blog with the bright pink background 😆
Happy blogging anniversary! Yours was one of the first blogs I started reading when I began recovery 🙂 It’s crazy how quickly time flies, isn’t it?
You are so right about finding a way to be okay with where we are in life. It’s easy to get caught up in comparison and feel like we aren’t doing enough or being enough, and it is helpful to remember that we are okay right where we are, and we will get where we want to be!
Thank you, Erin! I still follow a good handful of the blogs I first found in recover — super sentimental about them <3
Happy blogiversary! I’m considerably older and I’ve come to the conclusion that we can make plans and goals and do our best, but real life is always going to happen. So, you just revise the plans, revamp the goals, and keep on moving. And sometimes we end up no where near where we thought we’d be, but it’s exactly where we need to be.
That’s definitely something that’s been proving more and more true the older I get. It’s oddly comforting to realize that we -can’t- necessarily control everything, and that the best we can do is go into it with a good attitude.
Happy blog birthday! Thank you for all of your wonderful posts; they make me smile without fail!
Thank you 😀
Happy Birthday Spoons. It’s lovely to see you celebrate another year, especially since you work so hard for it, and it shows ten fold.
I love this stream of consciousness post. A post doesn’t have to be angry or angsty to be genuine. It just needs to be open, honest and a topic the blogger feels passionately about. I see Amanda in this one, and I like it.
Awww well thanks, lady <3 You know how much I appreciate you saying that 🙂
Happy Happy Birthday Spoons! Thank you for hosting TOLT every week, but especially today – it was just the brain dump that I needed 🙂 One of my TOLT thoughts today was Fall – and I can not wait for you to start posting those pumpkin recipes you were teasing last week! Thank you letting us join you on your journey in blogging, recipes and wellness!
Thanks Brandi! And thanks for joining in 😀 I’m literally going crazy waiting for fall…
First, happy blog birthday! Second, thank you so much for this post today. Right now I am at a time in my life where I feel lost, like I am failing, and like I am not much good. It’s not a good feeling! I am usually a ‘silent reader’ but just wanted to thank you today for offering encouraging words and perspective. I love your recipes and your quirky style of writing, so I am glad to see your site has no sign of slowing down anytime soon 🙂
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, Brit 🙂 And believe me when I say that I’ve gone through plenty of times in life where I’ve felt lost, and I imagine I’ll go through plenty more… I think the most important thing to remember is that things -do- work out one way or another, and that sometimes the only thing we can do is control the attitude we go into a situation with.
When I first read this, I thought it was your actual birthday!! HAHA! Well congrats on 3 years, that’s awesome. Also, thanks for hosting this weekly link-up, it’s one of my all time faves! xoxo, ganeeban
😆 Not for another 4 months, thankfully. Thanks for joining, girl!
Happy blog birthday!
Thanks Shannon!
Happy Blogiversary! It’s crazy for me to think I’ve been reading your blog for at least two of those… and you’ve been killing it since you started!! xoxo
Aww thanks, Cassie! Hope you’re having a great weekend!
Happy Bloggiversary!! You should definitely be proud of what you’ve built and accomplished here! I’m just sorry I didn’t find your blog sooner! Like when I was still living in Edmonton…haha. By the way, which high school did you go to? (You don’t have to answer that, but I’ve been curious to know if your school days paths crossed 😉 )
Aww definitely too bad! It’s hard to come across any local healthy living bloggers. And I went to Archbishop MacDonald… but that feels like forever ago 😆
Beautiful post, Amanda. The hardest part of life is figuring out that… well, you don’t have it all figured out. I always have a hard time dealing with uncertainity. However, often the things that I didn’t have planned are the ones that affect me the most and help me become a better person or show me a new path to take. That’s the curse and beauty of life.
So true. The control freak in me definitely had a hard time accepting the uncertainty of life, but there’s something oddly comforting about realizing that you can’t control everything, and that the best you can do is control the attitude you go into things with.
This was beautifully written Amanda! Happy birthday to the spoons ;). I really felt as though you were speaking to me directly in this post and I can resonate with so much of what you said. Thank you for your lovely advice, and I wish you many more years of happy blogging!
Thanks Niki 🙂 I know you’re in the process of trying to figure things out as well, so let me know if you ever need to chat!
Yay Happy Birthday Spoons!!!
I’m so happy your blog exists. And that you exist. I miss you & want to hang out with yooouuuuuu
I’m thinking another get-together has to happen soon. I hear the mountains are gorgeous around this time of the year 😛
My daily dose of happiness come in the form of Spoons. Happy happy birthday to your wonderful blog, your voice that reflects your beautiful spirit, and your courage to confront your eating disorder with the whole (potentially) world at your side. I’m not a blogger, and truth be told, yours is the only one that I follow. For sure that whole thing about where you’ll be in five years is a giggle to me. If my five year plan had bloomed, next spring I would be graduating law school. Instead, I found a most amazing job working for our county public defender in the juvenile division, and that then lead me to my new position, which I start on Monday, as an assistant to a judge. Maybe one day I’ll think of law school again, but for now, I’m right where I need to be. Keep doing what you’re doing while it works. You are wonderful at it.
Happy Blogiversary, Blogabirthday!
Thanks so much for taking the time to leave such a wonderful comment, Gracie! Totally brought a smile to my face 🙂 And congratulations on your new job! All the best come Monday!
Yay! Congrats! My two years is coming up at the beginning of Sept. I totally agree w you on not changing the past. My addiction was a really shitty time in my life, but I have everything I have now because of it. It’s made me a better person and I wouldn’t change any of it!
Your story is really inspiring, Erin. I’m sure you’ve touched a lot of people by sharing it 🙂
Happy blog-birthday! I always look forward to reading your posts and I’ve loved watching the blog evolve over the last few years. And I love your reflection that you don’t have to have everything all figured out… because I totally don’t, and I’m certainly still learning to be okay with that! I’m excited to see what the future holds for you and Spoons! Have a wonderful day 🙂
Thanks so much, Ellen! It took a while for me too, but you really do get to a place where you finally see that things have a way of working out no matter what. It’s more about our attitude than anything else. Happy weekend to ya!
Happy Blogiversary! As usual I am loving all your beautiful pictures this week!
Thank you! 🙂
Happy blogiversary! I went back to read the tips you posted last year and found it super helpful. It is nice that you keep things real and share that blogging doesn’t always come easily. I am glad that you’ve found so much creative outlet through your work and have been able to connect with so many new friends!!!
Thanks Emily! I’m glad you found it helpful 🙂
Oh my goodness. Just to add to everything everyone else has said – Happy Blogiversary!! Like many, I found your blog yearrrrs ago and it has been one of the few to remain a complete constant in my life. So much inspiration and smiles (not to mention a fellow Canadian – hollah!!!).
Actually – thanks to a few women like you – I JUST started my own blog (after a long time of debating… just a little wordpress guy at the moment, to see how it all feels). I hope it is okay I linked your site in one of my first posts. I’m excited that I’m finally “introducing” myself to you – you really have been a wonderful inspiration and motivation in all aspects of my life. So – THANK YOU! Now treat yourself on this wonderful celebration!!
Thanks so much for your kind words, Lilly! And the name of your blog is just too freaking cute <3
Happy blogiversary!! <3 <3
Thanks, Annette!
Happy birthday to your bloggie! I love what you talked about in this post and can relate so much. I am super grateful for my struggles as well, but it’s a lot harder to be grateful of them while going through it. I’m so happy for you and the place you’re at in life and with your blog being part of your career <3
Thanks Hayley 🙂 And I’m super excited to see where your blogging takes you!