Blogging: Five years on. Five lessons learned.

Blogging: Five years on. Five lessons learned.

Five years ago I went for a walk. It was a pretty normal walk that I’d take every now and then. I was on a mission to shift the baby weight, and I was finding myself again after becoming a mama. I was exhausted, but hopeful. Inspired, by something {I’m not sure what} I decided that I wanted to start a blog. So, after arriving home I sat down to my computer, Lacey asleep in my arms, and got myself a blog. I thought up a name, and that was it. Fat Mum Slim was born.

I didn’t tell anyone about it, not even Hubby. It was just something that I did. I wrote a few posts, and then left it for a while. I loved the writing but wasn’t really sure what I’d do, or where I’d take it. It was just something to play with. I was addicted to my friend Zoe’s blog, so each day I’d read her posts and be inspired a little more.

I started writing more regularly, and it became a habit. I read lots of blogs, and soon fell in love with the whole community. It felt pretty awesome that there were people worlds apart that were being connected by their love of words. After a while I switched my blog from private to public, and off she went… into the big bad world. Within months my readership grew, a newspaper noticed me and wanted to include me in an article, and I was asked to do an interview on radio. It was surreal but lovely. I still went to work each day, and blogged around being a parent and nanny. It was part of my routine, a juggle but part of my everyday.

I never could have imagined that starting this little blog back in July 2008 would lead to this new life I live. It’s pretty amazing. I loved my job as a nanny, and I miss it dearly {but kids grow and no longer need someone to care for them, so I knew it wouldn’t last forever}, but I’ve somehow created a career that allows me to now live in the country and be with my daughter {and soon to be baby} as much as possible. It also means I get to do something I’m pretty passionate about. It doesn’t feel real, to be honest. Somebody pinch me. I work harder than I ever have before, but I don’t mind hard work {I just wouldn’t mind a little more sleep. Please}.

I know the word journey is overused. But it’s been a ride {a journey if you will!} and I’ve learned a lot along the way. Here’s 5 things I’ve discovered:

One:

Anything is possible.

I’ve always said that there really are no rules in blogging. You can write a few times a week, or just a few times a month. Online is so relatively new, that anything can and does happen. New platforms are being created, new ideas being explored, it’s a fun time to play around. All you have to do is be brave enough to jump on in…

Two:

From little things big things can grow.

It still amazes me that a little concept I can have in my head, can become a big deal. Like photo a day. It amazes me that so many people play along. It’s so much fun. Anything is possible.

Three:

Blogging changes lives.

Having been in the blogging game for 5 years, I’ve seen some pretty amazing life changes in people: babies being born, careers blossoming, dreams being met… I’ve also seen pretty sad things happen too. But it’s not just the bloggers changing and growing, I’ve been privvy to some pretty wonderful {and sometimes sad} emails from people sharing their lives.

Four:

There will be negatives, just like anything in life.

I’m glad I didn’t know about the possible downfalls back when I started. I would have probably stopped. I’m a pretty private person, so to share some of it publicly is something that isn’t natural or comfortable to me, nor is the criticisms from people who believe that because you’re online, you’re fair game. That takes a little bit of getting used to.

Five:

I look forward to five or so years more.

I don’t know where the online world will be in 5 years time, perhaps we’ll be blogging from Mars {or not quite} but I can’t wait to see where it all leads to. I know some think blogging will be dead, but I don’t think so. I think it will still be alive in some form or another. We’ll just have to wait and see…

Thank you for reading, whether you’ve been here 5 minutes or 5 years. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. x

YELLOW-BREAK

photo credit: Aih. via photopin cc

42 thoughts on “Blogging: Five years on. Five lessons learned.”

  1. Parabéns pelo aniversário do blog! Eu adoro esse mundo da blogosfera e suas descobertas tem sido as minhas também. Suas ideias são adoráveis e tenho certeza que irá muito longe ainda com esse espaço encantador. Um abraço!

  2. Happy blogversary! Or blogirthday? Whatever! I’m glad you write and that you continue to do so! 🙂

  4. Happy 5 years Fat Mum Slim blog! I started reading your blog and taking part in Photo A Day back in November and absolutely love both!

    How did you get people to start reading your blog? I started one a couple of months ago and while I love it, I’m not entirely sure anyone is seeing it/reading it. Not that I mind too much, it’s just nice to put ideas and thoughts somewhere but sometimes I will put something on the blog that I would love people to see but don’t know how?

    Anyways, enough about me…

    Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear blo-ooooggg! Happy birthday to you!!! Hip, hip, hooray!!

  5. Happy blog birthday. I remember when your blog was just a baby – hard to believe it’s been five years. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next five!

  6. High five(s)!
    I’ve been reading your blog for (I think) 4 years, and it’s always been a pleasure to visit! Thanks for creating such a welcoming space, and best wishes for the impending arrival of your little one!

  8. Chantelle Ive followed your blog for about two years now and Ive been in awe by how much it has grown just in that time. Your blog was one of the first ones I followed religiously when I first started blogging. Your blogging tips have definitely helped me out when I first started and had no clue. Congrats on achieving such success, I can only hope that one day I might be even 10% as successful as you. My dream is to be able to do blogging as my primary job so I can stay at home with my kids as well, but I realise that is a long way off. For now its just a fun hobby and good distraction while on maternity leave.

  9. Happy 5th birthday FMS – the blog is a ‘big girl now”. I love this blog Telle. It was my introduction to blogging and the first blog I ever read as I too held my baby, the same age as Lacey in my arms. Now I have my own blog and a fierce passion for blogging and the online blogging community. I hope that FMS continues to grow ever more wonderful and beautiful.

  10. Happy Blog Birthday with hopefully many more to come!! Love your blog and thanks so much for sharing xx

  11. I think we must have started about the same time, Telle. I’m so glad you did. I bought your first ebook back in the day! I do have been reflecting a lot and am going to post about it next week – we don’t know what it will be like in 5 years time but I’m so glad I took a chance 5 years ago. I’ve never felt so alive. x

  12. Thank you! I’ve been reading your blog for three years now and it’s a constant source of inspiration – it’s what made me up and start mine. And even though my blog readership is teeny, creating it has changed my life – because it keeps me feeling happy and inspired and connected in a way I never thought possible.

  13. I often wondered how and where it all began, I am sure this is a very shortened version of how it all began though 🙂 Happy Birthday to your blog !

  16. Yay for 5 years! I’ve actually been thinking a lot about blogging myself but I just don’t know if I will do it on a consistent basis. I’m not even sure how to get started lol

  17. Happy birthday! I love reading your blog. I often think about blogs and how when you read one all the time you feel like you really know the author when in reality you’ve never met.

  18. Well, you were my first! Thanks for being here and for sharing so much of your private life with us! I found you though a friend who was doing a Photo a Day. I loved her pics and wondered how she got the inspiration. Now I know and I love being challenged by the prompts and learning from you and others who gather here. I can always come to FMS for a smile and a lift! Can’t wait to see what the future holds!

  19. Congratulations, you’ve worked really hard and it has definitely paid off! Keep doing what you’re doing lovely lady 🙂 P.S I now have “from.. little things.. big things.. grow” stuck in my head. Gonna be walking around singing that and doing the little hand action all night now, ha!

  20. Happy Birthday to one of the best in this country! You should be so proud of all you have achieved and shared…you are so generous with your skills and knowledge and life and I for me am very grateful for that. Blogging is a gift, that should be point 6 x

  21. Happy birthday Fat Mum Slim…I discovered your blog via my daughter and photoaday. I really enjoy reading you words of wisdom, seeing your photos and thinking about how yummy your recipes look. Your energy, enthusiasm and positivity amazes me and I wish you luck for the next 5 years. I fully intend to be around to help you celebrate a decade 🙂

  23. Happy Five Years, looking forward to many more years of inspiration from you….I am sure that I have told you before but you were (and continue to be) my biggest inspiration for stepping my blogging from what is was, is and will be in the future. It’s taken time to find my feet (and niche) properly and I finally feel like I am starting to move forward but I am doing that with a whole wealth of knowledge collected along the way.

    Whenever I need a little blog inspired pick me up, Fat Mum Slim is always my first stop 🙂 xx

  26. Thank you. Chantelle. You have created a worldwide community . Love it that it’s Australian. It is nice to be able to tell the world about what we have in this great big land downunder. It is also nice to learn from others through their pictures and stories. Keep up the good work 🙂

  28. To make it to 5 and to be still loving what you do is a huge achievement. Congratulations on finding your groove and making a difference to so many. Here’s to 5 more and more. All the best with your new bub too. Wonderful. xx

  29. Five really, truly fab blogging years, Telle. You are one of the originals and certainly one of the bests. x

  30. Congrats! Thanks for sharing your lessons. I started my blog a little over a year ago and have come to find out it can be very time consuming, but I love it. I feel like I’m learning and growing, and I’m continually inspired by other bloggers like yourself.

  31. Happy 5 years. I remember when I first discovered your Photo a day and I could totally absorbed in your blog. My wife and I have only been blogging for 18 months and already our lives are changing. It’s a crazy world blogging. But I love it. Thanks for writing such a gorgeous blog.

  33. Congratulations & happy birthday. I love your stories & your honesty & love the photo a day challenge on Instagram. It’s allowed me to think outside the square. I’ve also just started a blog & hope to inspire others too xxx

  35. Love this reflection. I have to tell you that your blog was one of the ‘ones’ that inspired me to start my own. Along with Retro Mum and Baby Mac, your blog is one that I avidly follow. My own blog – http://www.happyellaafter.com is one year old now. It started much the same way as you. It’s been a lovely ‘journey’ 🙂 so far, and hope it will grow and continue, like yours has. Thanks for everything! Kate @ Happy Ella After

  37. I remember reading your blog back in 2008 when my son was a baby too! Congratulations on your achievements, you deserve it!

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