How to "Just Do It"

My first blog post! Finallyy!

You might be wondering why "finally?" Well you see, I have been meaning to start this blog for awhile now. I've actually always wanted to be a blogger, having grown up watching beauty vloggers and reading blogs. Starting a blog has been on my bucket list, but it wasn't until a couple months ago during quarantine when I seriously considered finally doing it.

And now here I am after months of hesitancy and indecisiveness, the two things that were holding me back. I went through a lot of back-and-forth in my head, sometimes feeling excited to create content, and other times feeling inadequate to blog. My hesitancy came from doubt--doubt in my ability to be a "blogger" (quoted because I'm talking about that kind of blogger or vlogger that girls tend to look up to, who always has aesthetic photos and a seemingly aesthetic entire life). I didn't think I was worthy because I felt that my life wasn't perfect (which I don't believe exists, for the record) enough and that I didn't know quite enough about anything to share expertise with others. However, I knew that I had to just do it to fulfill a promise I made to myself. Ok, that sounds a little dramatic, but because I've always wanted to start a blog, I didn't want myself to back out. I decided to try and identify why I truly wanted to start a blog, besides it simply being on my bucket list.

I realized that I wanted to do it for myself--to have a creative outlet in getting to make something mine, to be dedicated to something I cared about, to challenge myself in many ways, to learn about things that I only know of shallowly, to simply write (because I'm afraid of forgetting how to write since I've taken my last English class). But there's also another reason I wanted to blog besides doing it for myself: to connect with others. I mean, that's why I chose to blog after all. Blogging is all about community! I also hope that I can possibly help people, maybe by inspiring them to pursue a passion project or in whatever way.

Reflecting on why exactly I wanted to blog gave me a sense of purpose--a reason to work past my doubts and a push to get me going. But then I ran into another roadblock which was my own indecisiveness. (I believe it's the libra and over-thinker in me.) A lot of questions kept popping up in my head like who is my audience?, what blog host do I use?, what am I going to do about photos if I don't have my camera? It kept me from starting the actual blog, which I realized is the most important part. Let me say that again: starting is the most important part. As Adriene of Yoga With Adriene would say, you just need to show up to the mat. As much as I don't like using this phrase because it's so cliche that it has lost its impact, you need to "just do it." And before your mind says well Meileen, that's easier said than done, I'll tell you this: of course it is easier said than done. Diving into new things is scary when you don't feel ready and you don't know where it's going, but let's be real, you will probably never be fully ready, and you definitely will never know where it's going. You really need to just start. And maybe fail. And learn. And keep going.

This suddenly hit me one day after months of trying to decide what to do with my blog. I decided to just start even though I still don't know, as I'm writing this post, who's going to see my blog or what my content will look like. What I do know, however, is that I want to connect with and inspire people in whatever way that may be. I also know one thing I definitely want my content to be, and that is relatable. It's important to play to your strengths, and I believe that one of my strengths is relatability. I don't have a huge closet like certain YouTubers, I am not an expert on any topic, and I still have a bathroom with Hello Kitty decor from years passed. I am keepin' it real on this blog, which I hope is a breath of fresh air in this world of social media.

With all that being said, I am happy to finally be starting my blog and am glad that you are here. Thanks for sticking with me until the end of this 4-minute read that was a blend of me telling you where I am coming from with this blog and me sharing some advice on how to "just do it."

To recap what I think you should take away from this:

Identify why.

Play to your strengths.

Don't overthink it; just start.

Go with the flow and learn (because that's what I'm doing with this blog).