Getting Back to Basics: A return to documenting who I am + what I do

Well, hello there! It’s been about 3 weeks since I last published something here, and to tell you the truth, I thought I had decided that I was taking an undefined, long (like months long) break. Of course, I hadn’t communicated that here, but over on Instagram and in my weekly letters (mailing list), I’ve been pondering + sharing my thoughts about taking a step back from blogging. But, today, I was overcome with the feeling that it was time to start documenting here where I’ve been + what I’ve been up to.

So, get ready for a lot of thoughts on blogging sprinkled with a ton of photos from my life throughout my little hiatus. The words + photos may actually have nothing to do with each other, but I thought it super important to share them both at the same time.

To catch you up, in case you don’t know, I had been feeling a bunch of things when it comes to this space on the internet. At the time of my last post, I had been feeling uninspired. I mean, I wanted to blog and I had tons of ideas actually, but I just couldn’t get them out. And then, there’s the weekly letter I send out. I was really, really inspired to write there, but I felt like I was being pulled in two different directions. Trying to put out inspiring posts AND letters was just too much.

Now, after having this little unexpected break, I realize what I had been missing here. I’d been missing simply documenting my everyday life. I had truly gotten sucked into the idea that I had to create “how to”, “10 tips on…”, “why you should”, and all other kinds of posts that everyone else seems to be doing. At least those people who seem to be influencers, coaches, and business-y people. Because, honestly, I’d give anything to blog and Instagram and travel and be a spiritual guide every day all day long. So, I started trying to be like everyone else. Without even realizing it.

And it is literally only now that I can see that I had gotten caught up in what I thought I should do and I stopped doing what I loved. Or, I loved all of the posts I was posting, but I lost the heart of this blog somewhere along the way in my dreams to make money + work for myself.

So, what is the heart of this blog? Well, you tell me. Dear long term reader, what do you think the heart of this blog has been for the past 7 years? Seriously, share with me in the comments below.

In the meantime, I’ll share with you right now what I think it is. It’s my everyday life. No freaking super pressure intentions to squeeze anything inspiring out of my everyday living. Just me. Living everyday.

Sharing my photos. My thoughts. My adventures. My regular moments. Exciting time. Boring times. Life as an American in Sweden. Life as a spiritual contemplative soul. Life as a photographer. Life as a traveler. Life as a homebody. Life as a craft beer + coffee lover. Life as a slow living, star-gazing, taco-eating, cactus-loving, mountain, beach, roadtripping, playlist-making, meditating hippie soul. Life as a bi-national, same-sex married, still in love after 8 years woman. Life as… well, me.

Just me. Documenting my life. All of it. 

That’s what’s been missing. I got all caught up in trying to make something happen, that I forgot to just be me. I mean…. I was truly me in all of my posts, they are all authentic and real; but I had left behind the simplicity of just documenting my life.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t think I made a mistake. I think I needed my blog to shift away from its original intentions for a while. I think that I naturally evolved from documenting the happenings of of my life to documenting the happenings of my soul. It has been part of my spiritual evolution for the past year or two.

It was a necessary evolution. One that simply unfolded. But, it also became a stressor after a while. And so I took a break. Which actually scared the shit out of me.

Three weeks ago I decided to only focus on my mailing list, which is no where near the amount of followers as I have here. So, I kept writing + sharing + seeking to inspire through my letters. And I let this space go. And it actually felt damn good. I needed to focus on only one thing, instead of trying to be everywhere doing everything. I mean, I do have another job that I go to during the days, you know.

But, this past week, and especially this weekend, I found myself craving communication with you. I found myself craving that simple act  of documenting my life again. Photos, thoughts, and sharing for the sake of sharing. And, when I felt that craving creeping up within me, it was then that I realized that basic documentation of my life is what I was missing.

So, here I am. Not trying to re-create anything that anyone else is doing. Not trying to copy or invent or find some secret magical formula for making my blog become some sensation so I can quit my job. Not focused on numbers, gimmicks, formulas, fads, or the latest thing. But, instead, setting the intention to just be me. To just document it all, as I’ve done before. No secret answer to it all. Just a relationship between me + my keyboard + my photos + my words + you.

That’s what my blog, my website, is here for. To share my stories. And, should anyone, anywhere, connect to , enjoy, or be inspired by something that I share… well, then, I’d say that that makes me a success.

Do I still want to live off of blogging, traveling, taking photos, writing, and being a spiritual guide? Oh hell to the yeah. But, I can’t do what I dream of if I don’t strip it down, focus on me, and get back to basics. It may sound old school to you. It may not be the “in” thing to do. But it is what my soul craves. It is where my passion lies.

Sure “they” say that bloggers should find their niche. And, what’s mine? I sure as hell don’t know. Documenting my stories is the best way to describe it. Sure there are oodles of books, blogs, articles, and whatever else out there claiming to give advice on how to do this blog/website thing. But, what I’m choosing to do is to focus on being me + connecting with my community. Here, online, and in real life.

Nothing but raw, real, simple documentation of my life. In fact, no more secretly wishing that I could be like so-and-so. The pressure is off. The search for the key is over. Screw the business. I just want to share + document. And I already know how to do all of that.

So, with that, I hit publish and put myself back out there. Into the cosmic web. Open, authentic, and ready for interaction. It’s so good to be back.

 

blessings, blog community. xoxo. liz.