Finding the Courage to Change Your Life

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Nine months ago, I hit “LAUNCH” on a new blog and created a business account on Instagram. This was the result of an awakening I had a couple of months prior while on a plane to Florida. I had read Rachel Hollis’s book Girl, Wash Your Face while on the flight and, for some reason, this book slapped me right across the face and woke me the heck up!

I have so many reasons to be fiercely grateful. I can genuinely stand back and look at my life in this season and say, “Wow, I am truly blessed.” I am married to my very best friend and we have the most loving and supportive marriage a couple could ever dream of. I have raised a son who is remarkably passionate, kind, driven, and intelligent and who makes my heart feel like it might explode when I think about who he is and who he is becoming. I have parents, siblings, and nephews I adore and feel lucky to have a very close relationship with. I am surrounded by a circle of friends who lift me up and make me want to be a better person. I have experienced many impressive achievements in my career and feel humbled and inspired every day when I think about the impact these achievements may have had on others. I love my job. I love my family. I love my friends. I love my life. I was also BORED!

I realized that January day as we descended into Fort Lauderdale that there was no longer a fire burning in my belly. I was just busy doing life. I felt like there was something more waiting for me I just hadn’t discovered what it was yet.  I had this voice inside of me begging to no longer be silenced. I needed to do something that would help me uncover what this purpose and passion was that was trying to escape.

I shared this awakening with my husband and he immediately connected with what I was saying. We spent the following week floating around the Caribbean on a cruise ship dreaming and envisioning what our future could look like. We talked about building our Lazy Spoon Farms brand and how we might do this. We listed all the things that we love and feel passionate about. We both agreed that what we were currently doing in our careers was rewarding and we are good at what we do but how could we evolve into something more?

I don’t think the idea of blogging had crossed my mind while on that vacation. The inkling surfaced weeks later when I was researching blogging to support my son with his sports blog and podcast. As I read articles and blog posts for beginner bloggers, I was reminded of how much I love to write. How I love to share, teach, and inspire. I had written a blog many years ago while on my infertility journey and I remembered the feeling I had when other women would comment saying my experience had helped them in their own journey. Was there something I could share with others like me that might make their life better?

That was the beginning of a journey that has brought me here today. In the past 8 months, I have taught myself about SEO, plugins, widgets, niches, affiliate links, the list goes on and on. I have committed at least one hour per day outside of my career to create content and build my tribe. It has been a struggle at times but it has also been incredibly rewarding.

There are many days I question whether I know what I’m doing or what exactly my niche is but I feel myself getting closer every day. My engagement could be higher and my website isn’t perfect but all of this doesn’t matter. What does matter is that I had the courage to start. That I had the courage to follow my dream and see where it will take me.

The first goal I set for myself when I launched my blog was 1000 followers on Instagram. It’s a small number and it probably took me longer than it should have to get there but any forward progress is a victory in my mind. My second goal was 10K blog views, a goal I’ve smashed.

I am beyond grateful for the followers who have joined me and supported me on this crazy journey. I have learned so much from you and many of you inspire me to keep going without even realizing that you’re doing so. I’m still working on finding my voice and my niche and what it is I want to put out there into the world that might help and inspire others but I appreciate that you’ve stayed with me. I would love to hear from you the topics you find the most inspiring or would like to hear more about because while I am doing this for me, my ultimate objective is to inspire and help other women just like me.

In the big scheme of things, the numbers are irrelevant. What IS relevant is that I had the courage to do all of this in the first place. To be brave enough to put myself out there and risk failing or worse, criticism. I chose to honour my heart when it spoke out and I hit the launch button.

I refuse to miss out on a chance to live the life of incredible possibility that lies ahead of me. We were all born with limitless potential to do great things. Having the courage to live fearlessly, love passionately and experience uninhibited joy is the greatest gift you can give yourself and the world. You only get one shot, so take it. Now!

I have done a lot of growing this year with the help of many inspiring authors. Here’s what I’ve read. You can click on the images to read the book summaries on Amazon.