If you asked me 12 years ago why I started "blogging", I would just give you a childish snarky "BECAUSE I CAN!" as a reply. I was 11. I had no filter in life AND on the internet (still don't). I can remember countless times where I've gotten in trouble for things I would share or have an opinion on... BUT IT FELT SO LIBERATING. 11 year old Mindy was more than ecstatic.

I've been through all the sites; Xanga, Friendster blogs, Livejournal, Multiply, Blogger (a bunch of times!), Wordpress (that barely touched the surface) and hell, I would even blog on forums. At 11, I loved the thrill blogging gave me. It was somewhat an escape from reality. I loved personal blogging (still do); telling my blog/people about my day, what I was feeling, what my opinion was on Miley Cyrus (I AM DEFINITELY NOT A HATER), what I did at lunch that day. I was/am a "basic" blogger. I am not ashamed at that.

"BUT NO ONE GIVES A SHIT..." is the number 1 reason why I do it. My sisters always give me crap when they see me typing furiously on the laptop or writing in my blogging notebook. "Who would read your blog?", they would remark. I don't even know and I don't really care. I care that I enjoy doing it. Blogging is a hobby. Why do some people paint? Why do some people take pictures? Why do people knit? Because they have a right to do what they enjoy.

I took a long hiatus last year from blogging. When blogging starts to become a chore, it isn't fun anymore. So I stopped. But I love writing. I may not be an eloquent writer but I'm okay with that. I've learned to not take blogging so seriously. I've gotten my fair share of lessons learned with blogging. 12 years of blogging has helped me learn and accept that not everyone is going to agree with what I have to say. It has helped me learn and accept that some people might not care about how I feel about something. It has helped me learn and accept that if you're happy about something, it is okay to share it. It has helped me learn that sometimes it's okay to be a negative BUT not always. It has helped me learn that the only person you need to please is yourself.

I've been told multiple times that I talk too much so blogging is my creative outlet. It sucked so bad when I lost my outlet last year. But lately, I've been feeling like Stella... and I guess I got my groove back. ;)

My advice to people who lose interest in something that they enjoy: Don't stress about it and don't overthink it. It isn't worth it. In time, it'll come back.

I LOVE READING BLOGS! WHATEVER YOUR BLOGGING NICHE IS, I DON'T MIND. IF YOU HAVE BLOG AND WOULD LIKE ME TO READ IT, LEAVE A LINK IN THE COMMENTS.