There’s a plethora of useful and insightful posts out there that perfectly wrap up the #PBEvent 2014.
This is not going to be one of them.
But don’t click the top right cross button just yet.
While there were invaluable lessons like transforming desire to action and there were new and lasting friendships to forge, they say it’s always the first and last half of anything that people remember.
Hence, Darren Rowse’s opening and closing words resonated with me the most.
Starting the conference with the unlikely metaphor of Emmett and The Lego Movie (and I thought I had escaped my children for the weekend), Darren confessed to facing moments of feeling “just ordinary” and boy, did that make me feel relieved.
I often wonder what I’m doing with this blogging caper. Do people really give taco boraccho about what’s in my head?
Yet, I keep going. I write when I’m loved up. I write when I’m angry. I write when I’m desperately sad and just need to have a verbal vomit.
It makes me wonder: What value do my thoughts and insights have?
I guess, we’re all a little bit like Emmett in that regard. Thinking we’re all a little ordinary but for me, it took the discussions and meet ups with all the other bloggers to realise that each one of us is doing something extraordinary.
You need to be bloody brave to put yourself and your opinions out online.
I told a friend that her online shop for her clothes boutique would be even more remarkable if she had a little blog on her site; something she could share with her customers and friends about fashion, colour, texture and how that all fit into every day life.
“Who’d read that shit???” she cackled.
“Ahem! What do I do for a living???” was the prompt reply while pointing both index fingers to yours truly.
She wasn’t insulting me, or what I did but I figured out that blogging isn’t for everyone.
No matter how creative or passionate you are, you can’t blog if you think you’re going to be insignificant.
Whether you consciously believe it or not we blog because we have plenty to purge about. It does not matter a single iota if anyone or NO ONE hears us. We hold our own value in what we have to say and there is an inner belief that it will somehow benefit others.
Beliefs can only be made stronger when tested and tried. There are days I still go back lamenting what I’m doing with this blogging gig but it always comes back to asking myself:
“Why stay silent when I have this freedom of speech and expression?”
I’m a mum raising two wildfire twin boys, living a pretty ordinary, comfortable life but I know this blog of mine, with the connections made and the chance to be creatively adventurous, this platform is the springboard to the extraordinary.
Shannon @ Oh Creative Day says
What a powerful, powerful realisation.
Thanks for letting me live the PB experience vicariously through you and your Insty feed xx
Shannon @ Oh Creative Day recently posted..Spring Bucket List
Renee at Mummy, Wife, Me says
Well said, Grace. This was one of my take homes too. I also feel like Emmett and wonder what I’m doing. Why am I investing so much time and energy on this? Why was I bawling my eyes out when my blog broke for a week? (Thanks for checking in on me then btw) I’m just an ordinary, boring person. It’s just a blog. Well, no it’s not. It is me, my passions, my dreams. It is everything to me. I’m so glad I went to Problogger. It gave me the encouragement I needed to realise that what I and all of the other bloggers out there are doing is extraordinary. (Sorry, bit of a ramble. I hope you get the gist of what I’m going on about 😉 )
Renee at Mummy, Wife, Me recently posted..Problogger – love and learnings
Lisa says
This is a such a wonderful post. I must admit I was slightly overwhelmed and inspired at the same time in regards to Problogger. Most of the lessons I resonated with were about building community and serving your readers. Ordinary doing the extraordinary.
Lisa recently posted..Things I learnt at the Problogger Conference 2014
Julie @ Off to the park says
Wonderful post Grace. The conference sounded amazing, I wish I was there. I write a lot of posts that don’t get seen or read, so when I do hear someone’s feedback its nice to know that I’ve connected with them in some way. 🙂
Julie @ Off to the park recently posted..My wish for my girls
Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me says
You have summed up what so many of us are thinking since leaving Problogger. I think if we didn’t have these occasional thoughts then our writing wouldn’t be as relatable! Keep doing what you are doing lovely – it’s great! x
Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me recently posted..Confessions of a crappy mum – Part One!
Deb @ Bright and Precious says
Very inspiring, Grace. I often think about staying silent vs. sharing. It takes such courage to share, but it’s where good connections start. And you never know what journey it will take you on. x
Deb @ Bright and Precious recently posted..Dreaming of Michaelangelo
Emily says
Nailed. It. I know that ProBlogger wasn’t 95% about optimising the blog, monetising, and turning it into a SUPERBLOG. But somehow that other 5% got through to me. Your blog can be whatever you want it to be. Not everything has to be supercharged and competitive and the BEST. (Yours is, anyway. But I mean mine. Still mulling over what I’m going to do with mine!)
Emily recently posted..ProBlogger conference 2014 – my top five lessons
Emily says
I typed ‘wasn’t’ in that third sentence. I meant ‘was’. The comment makes a whole lot more sense that way. x
Emily recently posted..ProBlogger conference 2014 – my top five lessons
Kylie Purtell - A Study in Contradictions says
Awesome post Grace. Whenever I have doubts I go back and read the very first post I ever wrote and it’s a good reminder of why I started it in the first place. Lately, I’d been forgetting that, and it’s been really good to get all these reminders from everyone who was at PB.
Kylie Purtell – A Study in Contradictions recently posted..Tosser Trophy awarded on behalf of all the Fat, Lazy Mums out there // Ranty McRanterson
Deborah says
I didn’t go to Problogger this year, but I have to admit the two years previously I left feeling worse than when I’d arrived – inconsequential, insignificant. Like a very small fish in a very big pond.
I sold this year’s ticket for financial reasons but that feeling was in the back of my mind. Not sure why I leave feeling so ‘low’ rather than motivated and ready to conquer the world?!
Deborah recently posted..WW – bathtub reading
WifeSylv says
“A springboard to the extraordinary”. I like that a lot. I’ve been blogging for half my life now, and have been called everything from a “narcissist” to a “writer”. But there is something special about seeing meaning and in the ordinary – an opportunity to reflect on life moments we would otherwise allow pass us by.
Thanks for blogging – I love hearing what you have to say!
WifeSylv recently posted..Three generations
Rita @ The Crafty Expat says
I definitely do feel sometimes like “what’s the point of all this…” But, then, I think I must not be the only one who feels that way… At the end of the day, I blog/write because it gives me happiness and I could not live without doing it. But, of course, deep down inside I hope people will read and love my work.
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Denise says
I loved Darren’s talk too. It was great to be reminded that other people (who you look up to and admire) feel this way too. We have this amazing medium that we can use to connect with people. I wouldn’t have met you and the other girls here without it. Now that really is extraordinary!
Denise recently posted..5 Things I Loved & Learned at Problogger