It might not be great for the environment but…

… I’m still going to do it.

I find it easier to write down my words by hand, perhaps because I write quicker than I can type. I can never manage to keep up with myself when I’m writing from my laptop.

The keyboard and screen of a phone, computer or laptop is no comparison to a Biro in hand scrawling away on a sheet of paper in a notebook.

At times the words are barely legible but that signifies the urgency to pour out all the words within.

That feeling is a beautiful thing, it’s one of the things I love most about writing, seeing my handwriting and the words I’ve written.

But I’m also aware of the very present environmental crisis on planet earth, so perhaps I should be more willing to go paperless.

It’s more than what it is

This blog is more than just a blog.

It’s a daily blog.

It’s a writing practice.

It’s a come as you are space where I feel free to write as I please.

It’s a habit.

It’s a commitment.

It’s a hobby.

I’ve been blogging for years and but I never considered how I would feel about having a daily blog where the sole focus was on words. Turns out I love it, I could happily stop writing my lifestyle blog that’s how much I enjoy this blog.

It’s so much more than what it is. After over 7 years of writing online I’ve finally given myself permission to share my words in my own way.

I like a mixture of serious and silly. I can write about feeling afraid, the inner monologue and the importance of exploring yourself. But I can also write about creating a dream life and make up analogies based on cars.

And then there’s references to Seth Godin, someone who has had a major influence on me alongside pieces that are about moments I’ve experienced.

It’s hard to summarise what this is but it’s definitely more than just a blog.

Day 183

When I started this blog 6 months ago I never really considered what I wanted it to be. I just knew that I wrote a lot and thought it would be nice to have somewhere to share it.

The months have flown by and knowing that I’m committed to finding a ‘gemm’ each day is something I look forward to.

Some days I think I’ve written a master piece and other days I think I’m clicking publish on some of my worst work. At times that can be a difficult thing to navigate but I find solace in knowing that I can share something new tomorrow.

I don’t pay much attention to views, followers, likes or comments in terms of keeping track and trying to make them go up because I know that it’ll take the fun out of things and I like that this place is so free.

It’s my ‘come as you are’ space. And each day I think about life and write what comes to me. It’s helped me to think differently because I don’t want to write posts complaining about how the cancelled meeting messed up my whole day or how a relationship has fallen apart.

Instead I try and focus on the lessons I’ve learnt and the growth points in the challenges I face.

Cheers to 6 months and cheers to 6 more!

Alphabet soup

One afternoon I decided that instead of going to lunch at the usual place with the usual people, I would have alphabet soup.

This means nothing more than I sat alone with my headphones in listening to music ranging from The Preatures to Chance the Rapper and The Stone Roses to Amine.

I was sat writing for less than an hour but managed over 1000 words. Despite the fact that I skipped lunch at the end I still felt pretty satisfied.

It could be fun

Last year I wrote a few haikus. I didn’t do anything with them so I have no collection of opinions of how dreadful or amazingly amazing they are.

But I found 5, 7, 5 (the pattern of a haiku) to be a fun and interesting way to express a thought or feeling in a new way.

I’ve written poems before but writing a haiku forces me to think differently which I like.

It’s useful sometimes to try something new or to find a new way of doing something you’re familiar with. You might learn something from it and it could be fun.

Here’s the process

I feel like knowing I have to contribute something everyday makes me a little more alert, curious and introspective but in the best possible way.

I’m not just ruminating and pondering over things for my own sake but to catch the spark of what is worth sharing.

I have specific times of my day where writing has been ingrained into my physiology where I am able to write hundreds of words with ease.

It doesn’t feel like effort, it could be compared to pouring water from a teapot into a cup, or perhaps water down a hill.

And so I’m learning to make the most of my peak writing times so when I go to actually schedule my posts all I have to do is edit for spelling, grammar and clarity and pick what to post when.

My aim is to batch schedule posts at the weekend which means I still have time to live my life without worrying what to post each day so that I’m open to seeing and allowing my curiosity to be piqued.

Consistency, commitment and a lack of heart

There’s a line from an oasis song that goes ‘you can’t get a life if your hearts not in it” It’s funny how a moody 90s band can just totally get you.

I’ve been thinking about how sometimes it’s easy to create things from a place of heart and feeling but other days not so much.

But then I thought, is it always necessary?

Does everything that you do have to be you pouring out from your core?

Or can you just write, create and express without doing so.

I’ve managed to remain consistent and committed to blogging daily which has always been my goal and will always be my focus.

However, I never considered how I would feel towards the things I’d written or if I’d be content with a lack of heart in the words I was sharing.