Yesterday was a rather rotten day. Instead of ranting about it to ya’ll, I decided to clear my mind from my restless thoughts, run to the Red Box, rent Dear John for $1, and curl up in my bed with a sweet, romantic movie and tub of granola my mama made for me. It was a wonderful escape while it lasted, but, unfortunately, movies don’t last forever. When I turned the movie off, my life turned back on.
Normally, this isn’t such a horrible thing; however, when you’re feeling lost in your own world – you don’t have a map, Google directions, or a GPS telling you what turn to make next [in an Australian accent] – your uncertainty increases and the smiling decreases.
Those who know me well can tell those of you who may now be just learning of my existence, that I do well with a plan… and not so well without one. I organize obsessively, think about the future unnecessarily, and prefer each day to have a purpose. That being said, I’ve been out of school 16 days now, and for those 16 days, I’ve been working on mapping out the rest of my summer – dispersing my resume as if it were Halloween candy, chatting with friends about travels – and I still have no sense of direction. It makes it more difficult when I am not even entirely sure what I want to do – oh bother. This is the point where a map of Hillary’s Life is suppose to fall from the sky and direct me to my next destination. I know… far fetched.
The dilemma continues: My mighty special birthday is in two weeks, I have a pretty little party dress hanging patiently in my closet, and no job to get me to where I’d like to go. I have a feeling I’ll be headed West this upcoming week, to a place that seems to settle almost anything. It is there I will find the golden road… come with me, won’t you?
* * *
On the topic of being lost, directionless, and blatantly unsure, let’s talk about my blog. I love my little corner in cyber space, I love writing, I LOVE food, I love learning [about food], and I love you all for embracing my passion(s)… BUT, I’m at a place where I feel as though I’ve sort of gone off tangent from the thesis of my blog. Wait… what thesis? My point exactly. If you read my ramble above, you know I function through order. I have hopes that this blog of mine will bring me opportunities. I want to establish myself in this healthy living community that I am so fortunate to have found; I just haven’t decided what route I want to take – the Carrots ‘N’ Cake/Eat Live Run/KERF method, the Joy the Baker method, or something unique all of my own that hasn’t dawned on me yet.
“Thesis” Thoughts:
(a) Daily Eats/Exercise/Healthy Life Blog
(b) Culinary Photography
(c) Nothing but nutrition.
(d) All of the above.
(e) None of the above.
(f) I don’t know.
Because I don’t know much of anything at the moment, I’ll tantalize your taste buds with yesterday’s breakfast:
(2) coconut carrot quinoa muffins + coconut butter
Well, my mental writing capacity has reached its limit for the evening. I’ll have to leave my eats [and recipes!] for another time. I’ll be back… hopefully with a cheerier attitude and a few more pieces to the puzzle of my life : )
Goodnight, friends.
#makeitcount training plan.
pb {& banana} snack muffins.
sunshine in a jar.
{vegan} almond apricot quinoa muffins.
chia cherry oatmeal.
First of all, I just found your blog today and i really love your food philosophy :) I definitely sympathize with you feeling a lack of direction for the summer – I am also (to no avail) job hunting and it’s taking a toll on my sanity haha, but you’re obviously a very talented writer and your birthday dress is gorgeous so you have those things going for you! good luck xoxo
I think most of us in the blog community are inspired by each other, but in the end it’s best to blog the way YOU want and make it completely unique to you and your lifestyle. This is what makes your readers interested in reading, and what allows your creative juices to flow. :)
Jenn
I agree with Jenn completely. I think that authenticity is most important and it doesn’t matter if your blog doesn’t necessarily go on a certain path. I’ve blogged about lots of different topics and think it just expands readers. If someone isn’t interested in a particular post, it doesn’t mean they won’t come back for the next!
I remember when I left uni and had no job and didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. I applied for endless jobs – a task that was so depressing. I too function with a plan so having endless days without purpose wasn’t the best. But a job did come along and it is a great job. I wish you so much luck with your search – somewhere out there is a job for you.
Also, I love your blog; you appeal to so many different readers. If you want to focus on one thing, that has to be your choice.
blogging can be confusing, intimidating, exciting, creative, and a lot of other things. don’t worry about feeding a certain niche… blog about whatever makes you happy and that’s what your readers will love you for :) i feel the same way about my blog lots and lotssss of times… in fact, i think i want to switch to my old domain name/have a bloggy makeover sometime this summer when i have time. there’s so many things i’d like to do to it, but right now is not the right time i guess.
i guess we just gotta get the creative juices flowing and hopefully some day soon we’ll have an epiphany :) but lemme just tell you, i love your blog! it is crisp, refreshing, positive, and a breath of fresh air. keep up the great work my dear! <3
I’m sorry you’re going through a rough time. It’s so hard to feel like you’re just treading water without any direction. I actually just came out of a period like this so I can completely empathize. The only think I guess I can say is to hang in there! It will all come together piece by piece.
In regards to your blog, I can echo what others said above. Of course you want to have a thesis and a direction for the blog, but the one that is unique to you will be the one that keeps people coming back. I also struggle with finding my own unique niche, but I think ultimately you just have to figure out what makes you excited to blog every day (or every week) and just write about that.
Good luck with everything! I hope today is a better day! :)
Hillary, I know EXACTLY how you’re feeling right now! I, too, although just started blogging, absolutely love it and everything about it. My original field of choice for a career has completely changed, and I’m now completely diggin’ the field of health and nutrition. While I don’t have the time or money to actually go back to school full time for this, I’m hoping that somehow, my blog will afford me some future opportunities as well!
So for now, let’s just keep “doin’ what we’re doin'” and hopefully something good will happen! :-D
I’m sorry about your dilemma girl. I just went through this period, and I just ended up going with the flow. Wherever my life goes, my blog will follow.
Thank you for commenting on my bog. I really like yours as well. :) Did you use Alton Brown’s muffin method? Because it looks familiar. ;) The picture is tempting!
That muffin was an awesome way to end the post. And don’t be upset, I think everyone lacks direction every once in a while. You’ll find your way and when you do, I’m sure you’ll be great at it (:
What a lovely and thoughtful post :) MY advice is to blog about whatever YOU love! Don’t worry about what other people are doing!
i’m similar to you in some ways. i like to know what to expect & i hate feeling like i have no direction. still, i love your blog & feel like if you write what you are interested in, you’ll find your place, maybe without even trying. i’d love to hear more about your everyday life & thoughts! but I mean, i’ll be here no matter what.
xoxoxoxo
Oh – don’t worry girl! You’ll figure it out and everything will work out!
And I like your blog the way it is! So what if it’s sporadic some days – that’s what gives it character and keeps your readers coming back for more!!
Cheer up!! :)
– Lisa
I have to agree with everyone else. Make your own path for your blog. The reason we all love KERF or Eat, Live, Run is because they are unique and have their own voice. You’ll find yours. But just keep writing in your style. Write about what you’re interested in and what matters to you. It will become clearer over time.
I am just like you in how I feel sooo much better when I have a plan. I get serious anxiety without one. Try your best not to stress about the direction of your blog, just do what you enjoy with it. It is just for fun after all, right.
I know what you mean about wanting a plan. But if you don´t know what your blog is meant to be right now, and you choose something just to have a plan and then end up realizing later it isn´t the direction you were meant to go, you might end up regretting it. Sitting with uncertainty can kind of suck, but I bet you will find your “thesis” organically when you are meant to. :)
You’re not alone :) I am still trying to feel out exactly what I’d like my blog to be, but then again, figuring it out is part of the fun. I think you should stick to writing what you truly feel like writing (instead of what you “should” write) and it will figure itself out. The frustration you’re feeling means that you’re growing… it’s uncomfortable, but you’ll end up in a better place :) Hang in there!
I totally understand what you are going through right now. I learned a few weeks ago that I didn’t get accepted in Kinesiology… I’ve been preparing my return to school for a year and a half and it won’t even happen. I feel totally loss right now. I need to rethink everything. I hope you can find somebody who can help you see the big picture like my sister does with me. When I just feel like crying and getting into bed, I call her and she makes me realize that everything happens for a reason and that, at 25, everything is still possible. I hope you feel better soon!
I think it’s always best to follow your own heart for your blog. Although others could’ve been inspirations, your blog needs to find it’s own uniqueness. I’m still working on the same for my blog as I don’t necessarily have a said “thesis”. I think the best thing you can do right now is enjoy living in the moment. The job market sucks and it’s even worse for those of you who are recent graduates. I would suggest just finding something you really like doing and you’ll be surprised at the opportunities that will open up for you. Take risks! Now is the best time in life to do so!
Not sure what your favorite part of blogging is… (that should be your “thesis”)… but from a reader’s perspective… I love your photography. My favorite blogs in the food blogging world are those with really amazing photographs, and I enjoy checking in with yours to see what new pics you have up. Whether or not you pursue that route… you definitely have a talent in that area. Good luck with deciding! I’ll be tuning in to see what you choose… Have a wonderful day!
Looking and waiting for life directions is a hard place to be! I’m sure some great opportunity will come along that will be great for you! Good luck with your blogging decisions…I understand trying to decide the next blog move, where you’re really supposed to be going with it, and do you take a leap of faith to see if you can make it something big?!?! All questions I’ve asked myself. Good luck girl!
Hang in there honey! I think you should make your blog yours. Don’t try and copy someone else. Just be Hillary and it will all fall into place and be exactly what it is supposed to be…a reflection of you! :)
I’m sorry you had a rotten day :( I’m just like you – I need organization & control otherwise I feel helpless and anxious (type A thing?). I think it’s ok to not have a direction with your blog. It’s your space that can be used for anything you want whether it be ranting, relaxation, teaching, cooking, etc. That’s sort of how I’m approaching my blog :)
I think when it comes to blogging, everyone who doesn’t fit into any one niche feels lost – but that’s ok! No one person’s blog is the same as another’s, and they shouldn’t be! I think the “college and post-grad feeling lost and confused about my life and my blog” is a new niche growing by the second… :o)
I totally understand. I am sort of in the same place, in my own way. It’s no fun, but things will get straightened out and fall into place with a little bit of time.
In other news, that breakfast looks phenomenal!
What a wonderful and supportive group of ‘virtual’ friends you have, Hill. I hope you can take their advice and relax about your blogging – it should be enjoyable, not stressful, so just do what feels right.
love you, mom
I haven’t read a lot of your blog yet, but I’m starting to. Personally, I like blogs that have variety. I know for my personal blog I never want to just limit myself by saying “I focus on nutrition”. Sometimes I don’t want to talk to nutrition, I’d rather talk about finance or eating cake or exercising or my pets.
Just keep it YOU and keep your voice in and everything else is gravy :)