In a nutshell: to change my life, connect with others, and capture ideas I’ve had with a way to share them.
Getting Started
I haven’t written about this sooner because at first all I knew was that I needed to start a blog, it was like a compulsion from deep inside. Some of my best ideas start that way, and then I work out a plan. I’ve always loved writing, and I played with starting a blog a couple times a few years ago and even a decade ago. But this time it’s going to stick; I know I’ve got the passion and the discipline.
After having 4 kids (all boys) in the last 8 years, I feel like I pulled my head out of the sand so to speak and have been flooded with a lot of thoughts, emotions, ideas, realities. One of the fun realizations I’ve had is that I was made for blogging. I have that feeling where I’m wondering where it’s been all my life – and that’s one way to know that something is right for you!
Looking for Growth
I’ve been writing about needing change in my life. My conclusion so far (to my mild disappointment) is the only thing I can change right now is myself. So I’m decluttering, losing weight, using time better, managing my energy, and becoming a better wife and mom. I’m finding that for me writing is therapy, just the activity itself is incredibly helpful for me emotionally. I’ve also found that my friends like my writing, often ask me what I’m reading, and find it helpful when I share, through writing or conversations.
I need some deep, authentic relationships in my life. I also need a way to pour into others, a way to give something of value to those I have something worth giving. I’m hoping that this blog will help me to cultivate relationships with long distance friends and family, and renew friendships that have been neglected during the intense years of early motherhood, and also to make some new friendships by connecting with readers I meet through this blog.
I have some big ideas, largely because I’ve read some awesome books over the years, both in my bachelor’s and master’s program, and since then too. I’ve journaled some over the years because I didn’t want to lose those thoughts and ideas, but was never very consistent and struggled to put many into action, especially consistently.
I’ve always known I wanted to write a book someday. I just learned recently that a blog is really how everyone starts now. It turns out even established writers need a blog and a blog audience in order to work with publishers. Now that I’ve been writing in this blog for three months, I see that what I really want is to write, and to write something that will help people, so I’m really excited that I can do that through a blog, that I don’t need to wait another decade until I find time to write a whole book, and I see how the process of blogging often leads to a book because it helps you write regularly and get feedback to flesh out ideas.
Dreaming
I started this blog to become a better person and a happier mom, and hopefully help some friends and readers to do the same. I’m hoping for community and accountability. When I really start dreaming, and thinking about the ideas I’ve read in non-fiction genres of books such as parenting, motherhood, and fitness, but also finance, history, leadership and psychology, I begin to believe that maybe just maybe, there is a positive sub-movement in our culture that I can join, and help others join – the one that embraces simplicity and balance, producing more and consuming less, and other big ideas about the best way to live life.
I’m especially excited about taking some ideas that I’ve heard in the corporate world (leadership, productivity, time management, core competencies, personality types, etc.) and helping moms apply them in powerful ways with their families.
Alicia Eichmann