We interrupt your regular #thinkingoutloud intro for a special announcement…
Three years ago today, I anxiously (seriously; I was a nervous wreck) hit ‘publish’ on my very first [post-hiatus] post, and here I am 1092 days and 880 posts later (!!!) not really knowing how I got here, but being more than happy that I did.
For real. If you would have asked me even 3 years ago if I ever thought that I’d be including “blogger” in my job description, I would have looked at you like you’re crazy… probably similar to how people look at me now when I tell them I blog for a living. Blogging has become a lot more mainstream in the past couple of years, but there’s still a lot of misconceptions about it… especially when it comes to making an income. And that brings us to the crux of this post…
Oh, and excuse all the random collages littered throughout this post. Easier on the eyes.
Anyways. I was originally planning on using today’s post as an excuse to share some blogging tips with you guys, until I realized that I already did that last year and that I’d pretty much just be repeating myself since all of what I said back then still rings true today. That and there are so many informative blogging articles out there, that I’m not really sure I’d have anything valuable to add that hasn’t already been said 100 times over. So I scrapped that idea and decided to just sit down and write whatever came to mind — pure stream of consciousness style.
Hopefully this doesn’t end up all over the place…
So. Blogging. It’s been one heck of a journey…
I originally started blogging as a way to help me through my eating disorder recovery after finding an online community of girls who were going through the same thing; continued blogging because I fell in love with the creative outlet it provided me with; and began taking it more seriously when I discovered that I could combine my passion for writing, photography, and helping others in what eventually went on to become a slightly unconventional job that ended up being the perfect fit for me.
And the craziest thing is that this definitely wasn’t in my 5-year plan. I finished university with a degree in psychology and a plan to go on to grad school… and then I got sick. I know it’s a little cliche to say that everything happens for a reason, but I truly, wholeheartedly, 100% believe that it does. And that positive things can come out of the worst situations, even if we can’t see them at the time. People look at me like I’m crazy when I tell them that I wouldn’t go back and ‘undo’ my eating disorder if I could… but it’s the God’s honest truth. I’m a better person coming out of it than I was going in, and those experiences have proven invaluable when it comes to my overall mentality and general outlook on life.
So what am I trying to say here? I’m saying don’t worry. Don’y worry if you don’t have it all figured out; if you’re in school, done school, or going into school and you have no idea what you want to be when you grow up. Things have a way of working out despite (or in spite of) our meddling, hence the expression “life is what happens while we’re busy making other plans.” Ask yourself if you’re where you thought you would be 5 years ago, and I can almost guarantee you that the answer will be no. Everything will work out in the end.
And don’t worry if you’re currently going through a hard time. If you’re in a hole so deep that even the thought of taking that first step back up towards the surface exhausts and discourages you because of how far you have to go. Take baby steps. Take it one day at a time. Remember that “this too shall pass,” and that every experience, no matter how painful, is meant to teach us something. Mind the lesson.
I know this is a little (read: a lot) deeper than most of my other Thinking Out Loud posts, but birthdays make me reflective, apparently. I promise to get back to the lighthearted randomness next week.
And because there’s no way I could celebrate a blogging birthday without tipping my [non-existant] hat to the main reason I blog (read: you guys), be sure to check back tomorrow for a special giveaway that I think you’ll enjoy. See you then!
No questions… just tell me whatever comes to your mind! 😀
More places to find me!
E-mail — [email protected]
Twitter — runwithspoons
Facebook — runningwithspoons
Pinterest — runwithspoons
Instagram — runwithspoons
Bloglovin — runningwithspoons
Happy Birthday to spoons!
Thanks Alyssa!
Happy 5 years, Spoons! You’ve done a wonderful job with your space here on the world wide web. Keep it up, Girlfriend!
Thanks lady! It’s been lovely to connect with you via blogging 🙂
Yay happy blog birthday! Love your pictures, they are so beautiful and detailed!
Thank you, Sabrina!
It has been a pleasure to be along for the ride!
Happy birthday Spoons!!!
Thanks so much, Jessica!
I LOVED this post! So awesome in EVERY way! Happy, Happy Blogiversay/Birthday! I am so glad to have “bumped” into you a couple years ago – You echo the inner musings of my heart when you said “everything happens for a reason…And that positive things can come out of the worst situations, even if we can’t see them at the time” I am a BIG, HUGE believer in that too! Here’s wishing you well today and everyday, sweet lady! <3
Aww well thanks so much, Shashi 🙂 It’s definitely been a pleasure to connect with you via blogging. I still remember you reaching out to me and offering to send me flavoured almonds when I blogged about not being able to find them here in Canada!
Happy blogiversary!! You’ve sure accomplished a lot in 3 years, keep on going!
Thanks Jen!
Happy blog-birthday! I’ve also been blogging for 3 years and part of me can’t believe it. I didn’t know what I was doing but I find it’s a good diversion.
No matter how much I feel like I know about blogging, I always find something new to learn. Oi. But at least it keeps things interesting? 😆
Happy blogiversary! Here’s to 3++++++ years more! You’re so right about things happening for a reason. Sometimes we have to be patient and trust the journey.
Thank you, Marcia!
Amazing journey dear, congratulations! xoxoxo You are one stellar blogger and recipe creator!
Thank you, Rebecca!
Congratulations on well… everything! I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. God definitely had a bigger and better plan for you. You have definitely blessed my life with your blog! Happy birthday!
That’s such a sweet thing to say! Thanks so much, Alison.
Yay happy birthday! And love the journey you have been on – so brave and honest:)
Thanks so much, Kezia!
Great reminders here! 🙂 I certainly am not where I thought I’d be 5 years ago. Going through a major career change helped me realize that anything is possible in life.
Definitely! And that it’s need too late to make a change, even if the thought is a bit terrifying at first.
Awww, that’s sweet of you to open up a bit. 🙂 I remember pre-hiatus Spoons, and I’m glad you’re back. I’m also glad you’ve found a groove; you’ve got a good thing going. Muah!!!
I still remember stalking your blog pre-hiatus! It’s always nice to stay in touch with people who have been around for that long too 🙂
Happy blog birthday!!! <3 <3
Thanks Bri!
Happy happy Blogiversary! I have been a secret reader of your blog for so long now and I can tell how much good you have done for so many people!!! Thank you for being open and honest with your readers! (PS when I tried to link up it said I didn’t have a back link but I do. In my first paragraph. So I said please post anyway! Ack!)
Thanks Smitha! And I honestly have no idea why it does that to some people, but I regularly go through it and approve all the links. Sorry about that!
Happy Blogiversary! It’s amazing what you have accomplished in three years.
Thanks Lauren!
Happy Blog Birthday!! Congratulations. It’s amazing all the opportunities and amazing people you meet through blogging.
It really is. Thanks so much, Julie!
Happy Birthday, Spoons! This is a wonderful post, Amanda! It’s very inspiring to all of us and just shows that when we let go of focusing on the outcome of everything we do, our lives can take wonderful shape! Congrats on the milestone! 🙂
Thank you Erin!
Happy bloggy birthday Amanda! As cheesy as it is, I alwaysssss say and believe that everything happens for a reason. Cheers to blogging forever and ever 🙂
Ha! Forever and ever? Can you imagine still blogging in 40 or 50 years? I wonder if it’ll still be a thing…
Happy Blog Birthday! Your posts have always been a bright spot in my day (and always make me hungry). Congrats on a great accomplishment!
Hehe! Thanks Emily. I have the same problem with blogging — can’t read on an empty stomach.
Happy Blogging Birthday! I know that birthdays tend to make me more reflective as well (I will be 33 on Sunday!!), but they also make me appreciate all the good things I have in my life. The past doesn’t define us, but it does make us who we are today. I am so glad that your journey brought you here. <3
Thanks so much, Heather! And happy [slightly-early] birthday to you!
Happy Blog Birthday! I agree that everything happens for a reason. Usually its the tough times that lead us to something great!
Happy Blogoversary! Three years is a huge accomplishment. I never thought I would have a blog or lose 80 pounds or fall in love with food in photography. Life sure has its surprises! P.S. I’m still thinking about health coaching and would love to hear how that’s been going for you!
Food photography was a surprising one for me as well, considering I hated it when I first started. And I’ve been meaning to do a post about it, but it somehow keeps getting stuck on the back burner. I’ll get around to it eventually, or you can email me and we can chat!
Happy blog birthday! Your blog s a stream of bright light in the blogging world. I love your writing style, your openness, and your obvious interest in your reader’s lives. Here’s to another year, hope it is even better than the last.
Thanks Kate! Hope you’re having a great weekend.
It sounds like you have had such a great time blogging and everything happens for a reason. I could not be happier for you Amanda.
Thanks so much, Hollie!
Happy birthday to Spoons! I think you should be overwhelming proud of what you have accomplished and created. Truly one of the best of your kind!
Aww well thanks, Susie 🙂
Happy blog birthday! I love reading your recipes and blogging tips—thanks for sharing the awesomeness : )
Thanks Jess!
I am so glad you started blogging Amanda and I am glad I found your blog a couple years ago. Happy blog birthday! I love the reflection posts as well and thank you for your words today. 5 years ago I definitely couldn’t picture where I am today and 5 years from now, I hope to be in a different place but can’t say where that is yet. I’ll just let life take me there to finding where I should be.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Alicia! And that’s pretty much my approach to life as well — take it as it comes and make the best of it 🙂
I whole heartedly agree that things happen for a reason, even when we can’t figure out what that reason is & that good things come out of the bad.
For instance, I had 2 cats – brothers. We lost Simba to lymphoma 2 1/2 year ago. Although I still miss him, of course, I can see 2 good things that came out of it. It would have been so hard to take care of 2 seriously ill animals at the same time – although I’ve done it before; I seem to attract the sickies. And Gizmo is actually a much happier cat now because he gets soooooo much more lap time. He actually adored his big brother, but Simba was also a terrible bully
Happy blogaversary!
Thanks, Judy! And I love that you named one of your cats Gizmo 🙂
Happy birthday, Spoons! What an amazing ride!
Thanks, Brynn!
Happy blogiversary!! Your blog is legit one of my favs (it seriously ranks up there…waaay up!). Keep doing what you do because you’re awesome!
I totally get pretty deep during birthdays as well. It’s one of my reflective periods during the year and I get to evaluate things.
I have two blogs and I started my other blog (a Christian and words of encouragement blog) over 6 years ago while recovering from a breakup (I did the breaking up) that left me heartbroken, shattered, tired (cos the relationship took a lot out of me) and well emaciated! While I was hurting, I was encouraging others, digging deep into the Bible and helping to soothe other people’s pain. It helped! As I encouraged others, I was encouraged and the rest as they say is history. The blog still exists and is going from strength to strength. You are right, everything does happen for a reason!
Hope you have a fab blogiversary celebration! God bless ya!
It’s amazing how much inspiration we can get from trying to inspire others, eh? The community of like-minded people is definitely one of the best parts of blogging.
Congrats on another blog birthday, or blogiversary 🙂 I completely know what you mean by never dreaming you’d have a blog. I’m late to all things modern and didn’t even know what a blog was until just months before starting my own. It makes me wonder what else I don’t know about right now! Very glad we all found blogging and then found each other 🙂
Oh I’m horrible with all the latest social media trends too… which is why I still haven’t hopped on Snapchat, and why this whole Periscope thing is just way over my head.
Your blog has been a continual source of inspiration for me, and for that i am forever grateful. You have such a way with words and seeing you blossom before our eyes has been a privilege. i only wish the best in the world for you!
I have also used a blog for recovery on tumblr, although my main blog is more lifestyle based. What struck me most was the people i met – if there was ever a counter to the stereotype of eating disorders, this community will do it. It isn’t a group of girls obsessed with having model figures, it isn’t people who are selfish or vain. It’s people with dreams. Hopes for school, relationships, future but most importantly FREEDOM. Girls who are talented and creative, boys who are passionate and full of potential.
I would never wish an eating disorder on my worst enemy, but i do believe my experiences have made me a stronger and more compassionate person. I hope my recovery can continue and give me the freedom to embrace this.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Sophie! And as difficult as recovery can be, it really does get better over time and the freedom becomes a source of motivation in itself. Wishing you all the best!
Telling you whatever comes to my mind? Not a good idea today because it’d possibly turn into me getting slightly rambling/woo woo-ing about how I found you/your blog waaay back in the days of ‘seek’ already and have been following your journey ever since. You were one of the very first bloggers I followed and are one of the very very few I’ve stuck with all throughout the years. Honestly, I could go on about how you inspired me to start blogging myself, challenge myself in terms of food, … but also how – now that you’re mainly blogging recipe – one of my favourite sources for the latter. So I guess we’ll cut it off here and pretend I baked your flourless cherry brownies a few days ago in celebration of Spoons’ birthday. Yes? Because everybody raved about them and one of my parents’ employees asked for the recipe, too. Winner, winner, Amanda … brownies.
Happy [blog] birthday, lady! Keep up this occasionally weird but definitely wonderful habit that is blogging <3.
I still can’t believe you’ve been with me for so many years! And seeing you make the progress you have has been wonderful as well 🙂 Now you just need to take a vacation on this side of the pond 😉
I am so glad you started blogging because if you didn’t, we wouldn’t be friends! I totally agree that happen for a reason and good things come out of what seems like bad situations. I feel that way about my divorce. I wish it went down a different way but part of me wouldn’t change it. I am a better and stronger person and really really really like where I ended up 🙂
Well on that note, I’m super happy that you decided to start blogging as well 😛
Firstly happy blog birthday! I think this reflective post a great way for you to see how far you have come and without wanting to sound patronising at all I hope that you are really proud of yourself from turning a difficult illness into something so positive.
http://www.emmainks.com
Thank you so much, Emma!
So glad I found your blog over a year ago and just a few months after I started mine Amanda. 🙂
Runningwithspoons has been an inspiration to me, and I’m sure to a lot of other people too.
I always look forward to your recipes and updates, the Thursday “thinking out loud” where I can read so many other great bloggers blogs too, and the Sunday “link love” containing those all too valuable “blogging” links which for me have proved to be invaluable!
Happy blogiversary, here’s looking forward to many many more years from you! 😀
Thanks so much for your kind words, Neil! And for joining the linkups and providing tonnes of delicious recipes of your own 🙂
Happy blogiversary! It definitely seems like you’ve had such an amazing journey and I can’t wait to see where you go next!!
Thanks so much, Morgan!