There is a reason they call it the 7-year itch. It is just about long enough for a person to want to start exploring new things, but yet not long enough to decide if it’s time to up sticks and move on.
My Women Stuff turns 7 in 2 days and believe you me, that itch set in well and good some time last year. So I have this draft post where I say good bye and thank you for all the fish, but I haven’t yet hit publish on it. The simple reason is that I couldn’t bring myself to. It was like cutting off an appendage and I realised I’d really miss my arm.
So I talked to a couple of friends away from the blogging scene and they helped me put things in perspective. Incidentally, I received an email recently, asking me how I kept up my passion for blogging and it made me stop and think.
And you know what? I don’t know how I’ve kept it up for 7 years! 😀
In an effort to understand how I’ve lasted this long and why I still keep at it, I thought about how I’ve kept at this for the past 7 years, and I believe it’s a combination of a few different factors, that I’m sure those of you who blog will recognise:-
- Interest in the fast moving world of makeup trends – 4 seasons in a year mean 4 seasons of makeup to look at, not to mention the different smaller innovations, releases and re-releases of various beauty items. My interests come and go depending on the different trends I see emerge and some attract me, and others don’t. But it’s always interesting to see what’s new out there even if it all feels a bit same-same after a while.
- Interest in skincare – I’ve developed a greater interest in skincare and it means I’m now a lot more discerning in what I dabble with, but it also means I’m more open to trying new routines and products and documenting them, because I’ve realised just how helpful they are to others who may experience the same or similar skin issues, or who have a similar skin type and want to have an idea of the efficacy of a particular product. If I find it useful, I’m sure I could help someone too.
- Honing my writing skills – I write a lot and I write long rambly posts but I’ve worked out it’s just how my brain is wired. Summary isn’t my strong suit and I’m more of the essay type so I’m not about to change myself. And writing (for fun) allows me to practice turns of phrases and figures of speech I might never have the chance to use otherwise 🙂
- Reassessing priorities – I love what I do here on MWS but I have also realised that I don’t want to do this full time. Talking to friends helped me understand that I could keep a work-life-blog balance, but it also meant that I’d have to reassess my priorities. Could I give up a day of blogging and photography to live life, if I had to? Could I take a day off if I wanted? Can I break out of the rigid schedule I’d put myself into? My answer was yes I could, and I have. I’ve started to let go, and take days off randomly and I’ve taken back my weekends for myself. I have a huge project coming up that’ll take up a lot of my time and I want to make that a success so that is my priority for now 🙂 Reassessing my priorities and managing expectations has made me enjoy blogging again because I now do it for myself, knowing I can stop whenever I want.
- Do what you love – Enough about pleasing others, please yourself. If you love what you do how you do it, then just go on doing it. If it pleases you to mix in lifestyle snippets into your blog, do it. If you want to talk about food, do it. Who’s to say it’s not right? Doing what I love, sharing what I want, even if it isn’t always about beauty keeps things interesting for me and that keeps me going. Restrict myself and I get bored quickly and turns a fun activity into a chore done to please someone else instead of myself.
- Learning to say no – Knowing my limits and being aware of my personal interest levels in things have helped me say no. People are rude, I say no. Something doesn’t interest me, I say no. I’ve said no so much, that saying Yes is now the exception rather than the norm but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
The most important reason however, for me to keep at this is all the readers and friends I’ve made. Could I have kept on at this without the support of the readers i.e. YOU! ? No, I’d have given up because it’s no fun talking to yourself or shouting into the wind 😀
So as MWS turns 7, I take this opportunity to thank every single one of you reading this for spending those few precious minutes each day with me to read my ramblings, to contribute to the comments and ask questions and help answer others. I don’t think your boss appreciates it, but believe you me, you have my everlasting gratitude!
If I didn’t have your support, we wouldn’t be here celebrating 7 years on this home of mine on the internet. I’d like to think of blog years like dog’s years so yes, it does sort of feel like I’ve been doing this for 49 years! LOL 😀
Thank you, you and of course, YOU for giving me the passion to keep going 🙂
xoxo
Paris B
Congratulations!
Thank you Jackie A! 🙂
You’re welcome 😀 Hahahahah! Thanks for doing what you do. I’ve been tossing up whether to write a blog (not just my tumblr which I’ve had for about seven years as well!), and have finally jumped into the fray. It’s a good way to exercise my creativity in something that’s not my every day work. Pleasing yourself first and foremost is really good advice. Cheers Paris, and may the next seven years be just as fun!
Haha Thank you Teresa 🙂 You know what they say – you never know till you try and I’m glad you took the plunge and started your blog! I like it as a nice creative outlet too from the regular humdrum day job. If I were doing beauty writing or were involved in beauty in my day job, I seriously doubt I’d be this passionate 😀 Thank you for reading, Teresa and all the best with your blog! x
Fantastic post, thank you for sharing your tips Paris! Also… HAPPY BLOGGIVERSARY!
Thank you so much Monika! It’s been lovely getting to “know” you during this time too! x
Congratulations! I love how hardworking you are with a new blogpost practically every day. My day is not complete without reading it. I pray you continue to be blessed with energy and inspiration to continue doing what you do extremely well. Take care and may God bless you!
Thank you Cecilia 🙂 I do try and I’m so happy that there are people who actually enjoy reading some quite random ramblings day to day 😀 Thank you for the support and for contributing to the comments too!
Dearie Paris B, I am still reading your ramblings (even though most of the time I didn’t leave any comment here :P) MWS turning 7 soon means we have all known you for 7 years!! 😀 Do you know that we all so blessed to have you talking to us everyday? 😀 You have our everlasting gratitude as well 😀 muacks!~ muacks!~ muacks!~ (LOL, hope it’s passionate enough to keep you going :D)
Omigosh, sorry for the typo error, it should be “…we are so blessed to have you..” LOL apologies for the mess here! 😀
Hello AnT! 😀 Thank you for still reading, I truly appreciate it! How are your studies going? Or have you already finished? Gosh, time sure does fly by doesn’t it?! I’ve seen so many readers “grow up” in these few years, it makes me feel old HAHA!
Wow! You remember well!! 😀 Just received my results last month and truly Praise the Lord that I have passed with distinction!! LOL! Time sure does fly, it’s good that you only feel old because you are maintaining your youthfulness so well. You have truly inspired me in many ways especially your sexy-licious lips 😀
Yes! I love when you guys share the bits and pieces of your life with me so I remember things like these. It would help if I fill my head with less trivia but then life is more interesting with trivia right? 😉 Congratulations on passing with distinction no less! Praise the Lord indeed 😀
LOL! Yes indeed, with a bit of trivia to spice up your life! 😀
Thanks dearie! Am truly blessed! ~muacks!~ 😀
A toss for 7 years and more to come!! Tee hee!! 😀
*tosses lipsticks* 😀
*tosses blush* yay! 😀
Congrats Paris!! *champagne toss* Your blogpost is my daily read everyday – just like how I read newspaper! You’ve came that far and keep up the good work!
Thank you so much Cynthia! 😀 I like being likened to a newspaper – except with less doom and gloom eh? 🙂 Thank you for the support through the years & all the best with your blog too! x
Congratulations on your 49 dog years of blogging, PB 🙂
I’m happy for you that you’ve found your happy balance. Hope to read more great stuff on MWS!
Haha yes, dog tired too! 😀 Thanks Lily! x
it also means that we have been friends for 7 years? XD
respect for keeping it together for 7 years! and here’s to many more to come!
Indeed we are! Gosh now that’s putting things into perspective 😀 It’s been a real pleasure! x
You’ve done well, you’ve created an amazing blog which I adore reading. Thanks for sharing your personally life with the world!
Thank you so much Kassie! It’s been lovely meeting so many lovely people along the way! All the very best with your blog too! x
NUUUUU I’d be devastated if you stopped blogging! I really rely on your honest and clear reviews and I am so happy to have tried out Shiseido’s Perfect UV protector that has become my failsafe sunscreen (even when I cheat on it with others, it still saves my poor skin!) thanks to your recommendation.
I like how your posts are balanced and not just rants/laudatory ones. I guess it’s because you are a more mature blogger, a lot of the younger ones have very immature writing that I cannot stand! Plus, we seem to be skin twins so always helpful to read your reviews.
I’ll second that — so many with poor writing that make it hard to read!
Aww thank you Firn 😀 Yes, I did notice we had quite similar skintypes and you have me curious about mandelic acid now, which tells you that I learn so much from everyone who shares their comments and experiences too! <3 I try to balance things - life is after all about balance and taking that middle road and I'm glad it finds it's balance amongst everyone reading 🙂
I have to be honest-there’s VERY few blog posts I read all the way through. But yours? ALWAYS. You’re style of writing is what I love, and I hope you never stop. Slow down, yes. I am trying to as well. Life SHOULD be lived! I think those of us that blog sometimes forget that. But I love your voice, your blog, and am SO SO grateful for our friendship! It’s one I really cherish! Happy 7 years birthday! And here’s to many more! xoxo
Aww Tracy I’m so happy we found each other on the interweb! 😀 Thank you for the lovely kind words and for reading my ramblings even though I erm… ramble 🙂 I agree with you that so many of us forget to live our lives but it’s there and it can be lived, even as we live our online life. We just have to find that balance and slowing down is great 😀 I highly recommend it hehe… Thanks love! x
Congratulations Paris! I am glad your passion for blogging is still so strong and as a reader, I can only say thank you so much for being part of my life. Here is to many more years of MWS 🙂
Thank you Victoria 😀 I stumble off and on but I’ve slowly learned to take it in stride and back off when I do stumble. Thank YOU too for being a part of mine – I love the thought provoking questions you ask sometimes. Helps me think! 😉 x
Haha you turning 7 also means I’ll be turning 7 in May! 😛 I was going to say “how the heck did we do it” and your post is just spot on. You’ve given us 7 years of enabling and that is one heck of a fun job.
Happy anniversary love xx
Hurray for turning 7 and thank you!! I’m so happy we found each other in the wild wild west of blogging back in the day Tine! Gosh, those were good times weren’t they? I’m glad you’re still here blogging because as you say, 7 years of enabling people? No better “job” out there LOL 😀
hey Paris…wow!! that is a really long time! I have just turned 4 in december and i feel so old 😀 all the best and cheers for many more years to come 🙂
Hi Swati, congratulations for turning 4! 😀 There’s still a long way to go and look how far you’ve come already 😀 Thank you and all the best on your blogging journey too x
7 years WOW Paris B, congrats. Many more to come.
Thank you so much Shivani! 😀
I got the FEELS reading through this entry, PB. I admire you so so much because 7 years blogging with a full-time job? That’s no easy feat! I hope you continue doing what you love – if it involves living life and toning down on entries… you deserve it! Your readers will always be here no matter what! And I agree with all your points above, especially coming from a veteran blogger with a strong, honest, non-conforming yet unpreachy voice 🙂 Congratulations on 7 strong years and I wish you more and more to come!
Aww Shari thank you so much for your very kind words! I have to especially thank you for saying that I have a “strong, honest, non-conforming yet unpreachy voice” because it’s what I’ve been striving for and I’m so happy that it does manifest itself even if I do preach a little sometimes 😀 I will try to hang in there and continue to not conform even if it will mean taking little breaks here and there to preserve sanity 😀 I’m happy to have “met” you and all the best too on your blogging journey! x
Whew, I was scared for a second that you were planning to quit. Thank goodness you’ve decided to keep writing. Yours is the only beauty blog I follow.
Happy 7th Anniversary!
Hi Ayuri! Thank you for your kind words and I’m honoured that you’d follow my blog 😀 The thought of quitting did cross my mind but I’ll keep it on ice for a while and we’ll see where this road leads 🙂 Thank you again for the support.
Congratulations on turning 7! and hopefully many more to come.
I am with the others on your writing style – I just love it cause it really ‘clicks’ with me. I don’t follow other beauty blogs other than yours (the other being ChloeAsh, hi Lily!) diligently. It would be such a waste if you don’t continue honing your writing skills here. A million times, I’ve wished I could write as well as you 🙂
Cheers and see you at 8!!
Thank you Honey! It’s quite fascinating how I’ve seen readers’ lives change in these 7 years and in your case, even relocating countries! I hope you’ve settled in there nicely 🙂 Thank you too for the kind words – I’m sure you can write, everyone can with a little practise 🙂 x
Dear Paris
I live in London however I love to read your blog even though I can’t often buy the products here. I recently spent two months in Asia and Australia and it was exciting for me to visit Watson’s to stock up on the sheet masks, pre cleansers and sunscreens I have read so much about. I would also like to say a massive thank you for recommending teh Bai Pai cooking school. It was one of the most memorable days my husband and I had.
xxx
Hi Bhav, you know you made me tear up just a wee bit right there! I’m so happy that you enjoyed your time at the Bai Pai cooking school because I had such a great time there I just had to share! Thank you for reading my blog all the way in London (a city I love and hope to revisit some day soon!) and thank you for all the support too! x