Benefits of Blogging~**

It has been about 3 months since I jumped on the blogging bandwagon. I remember really well how clueless I was at the beginning of this whole blogging thing. I had no clue what to write, what my blog's focus would be and who would read it other than me. In real life, I was as confused as my online life. Motherhood turned my world upside down, I just couldn't find the right balance between motherhood and my "just me time".

Nineteen months ago..the day I gave birth to my baby, it was a major life chaning moment. I literally "gave up" everything I used to enjoy to care for my baby around the clock. I felt "obligated" to be there for her and do everything I could as a mother. I simply added stress and pressure to myself without realizing it. My daily routines were all about baby, chores, cooking along with my full time job at the office, no time for leisure. Period.

My thought was that I fail as a mother if I ask someone for help. Someone had to really pull my teeth to get me to spend my alone time. It was a stupid thought..they are my family and they are there for me. More importantly I NEED a break more than anything else. Taking care of a baby is no easy task, I have a high respect to all stay at home moms and single parents out there. I don't know how they do it. One year and a half later, I EVENTUALITY realized "I have to be happy as a person..as a mother in order to raise a happy child".

So I decided to start this blog as a journey to learn about myself and discover things that I loved to do before my mommy life. It is ridiculous how I totally forgot what my life (without a baby) used to be. Blogging is a like a self therapy, I get to express my thought, stress and whatever I want. Blogging has benefited me in several ways so far.

1) I am having a "me" time here. This blog is all about things I love and what I discover along my journey.

2) I have discovered things I used to enjoy and I am having a great time. It is like getting to know my long lost friends all over again. I am so excited and happy to start my favourite good old time activities such as craftmaking, web design, shopping, gardening, reading (something other than children book!), listening to jazz music, spending more time to bond with my husband, having fun with clothes and make-ups. In addition, I see an opportunity to turn my passions into $$ (cha- ching).

3) I find tons of reading materials and inspirations.

4) I get to know some of the sweetest people in the blogging world. Some ladies who seem very genuine and I surely enjoy frequent interactions with them.

5) I wish to improve my writing skills and organize my thought process. Writing is a powerful and sentimental way of communication, you can touch someone's life in a very profound way.(thanks to you who endure my poor writing skill - I am not a native English speaker, you probably notice)

6) Blogging has changed the way I look at people. I admit that I used to be someone who "judges" others without taking the time to know them. I am sure most of us are that way, in real life or online life. Blogging only represents a small piece of our lives, what people share on their blog does not reflect their entire self being. A girl who owns a beauty blog may be a very successful career woman offline, not just another girl who piles layers of makeup on her pretty face online. We can be whoever we want here and people blog for so many different reasons. It is like a hobby (for some it is a work). It is amazing how much I have learnt and come across so many different type of bloggers within a short timeframe.

7) I am happier. My husband and I have noticed that I have been in a better mood nowadays. My spirit is up because I learn to let my obligations go, enjoy myself and am better at balancing my life as a mom and a "me".

Now...What I have learnt from blogging:

1. It is so darn addictive that I start putting a limit on myself!

2. Gaining followers is like a hunting game. That is not a good thing for me personally. At the beginning of my Blogging experience, I was so excited everytime I gained a follower (I still am these days). I tried to think what would attract readers other than what I really wanted to share. I also came across some bloggers who added me and politely asked me to return their favors. There are some that I am really interested in and visit their blogs on regular basis, the rest I only visit once in a bluemoon . These blogs are ones I followed as a courtesy (do you do that?).
At one point I realized, it is my blog and I should write about whatever I want. I am not going to write to please or attract more readers because I will soon lose interest and fun. I would rather gaining readers who show genuine interest in what I share than having hundreds of followers but only one person reads it. However it is different for bloggers who conduct their business through social networking and nothing is wrong with it (honestly), I know numbers are very important especially if you are selling or in a persuit of sponsorship but please do not do it excessively on my blog. Please be courteous.

From now, my goal is to blog with one focus in mind "blog to learn about myself and to discover inspirations along the way". I hope that one day I can come back and find the fond memories about myself and my passions here.

Last but not least, special thanks to Jean at ExtraPetite, Sydney at PetiteLittleGirl, PetiteXXS, Sydney at PetiteGorgeous and ReallyPetite for your warm welcome to the Blogging world during my early days and your continue support. You ladies make a significant difference in my blogging experience.

What about you? How does blogging benefit you? :)