Here’s Why I’m Blogging…Again.
Life moves quickly. We wake up to the sound of a buzzing alarm, snooze it a couple times, and finally crack open our dry, swollen eyes to a brand new day. We splash some water on our face, throw a comb through our hair, don whatever feels acceptable to leave the house in, and go about our work and daily errands.
Wash, rinse, repeat.
And, before you know it, a whole season’s gone by. And, then, a whole year. A few years. And then decades. The few moments amidst all that time that stand out, for me at least, are the ones that I took the time to reflect on and write down.
So, here I am again…back to blogging. Not for a brand. Not to be picked up and ranked by SEO on Google. Not to peddle products, or establish myself as an influencer of any sorts. But, solely to express myself - to let my racing thoughts find some semblance of structure and a home in which to dwell. Over the last few years, I’ve been sporadically posting pictures with long captions on Instagram as a “quick fix” outlet. Maybe it was the convenience of being on my phone, or simply it felt like a more consistent platform on which to interact with people. But…it didn’t do it for me.
There’s just something about being able to sit here, with my piping hot cup of tea, jazz playing on Spotify, and having a moment to really collect my thoughts - to ruminate about what’s been on my mind, and reflect on it in writing. In fact, when in silent solitude, I’ve often caught myself “thinking” in blog post form. As if I’m talking to myself, or to you. Maybe it’s the romantic in me, or the indelible impression that Nora Ephron-esque 90s movies have left on me. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve loved working on my podcast with Will. I’ve loved creating a print magazine, and even starting a YouTube channel with my team…but for me, personally, this is it - the long-form, written word housed in my own cozy little corner of the internet.
I think of Paper & Coin’s website and blog as me inviting you to hang out at Paper & Coin HQ, where my team and I are creating products and services that uniquely reflect the company. And, when you listen to About That Life, I imagine you pulling up a seat at our dinner table, sharing an amazing conversation and many laughs with Will and I. But, here, I imagine us taking a stroll together along my favourite trail. Or, maybe grabbing a coffee or brunch at my go-to spot, having a much-needed heart-to-heart. This is where I can get vulnerable and real with you. To share my struggles, insecurities, anticipations, and joys. For us to cultivate a real friendship and trust. Or, at the very least, for me to share more of who I am as a person, and hopefully for you to get to know me better, and vice versa.
And, in knowing me, you’ll quickly learn about the things I love - the things that fan the fire in my belly. I’m passionate about leadership, business, the culture of work, money, and travel. I could talk about these topics for hours, with anyone willing to have that conversation. But, I’m also a Christian, a woman, a wife, daughter, friend, and global citizen. So, naturally, I’ll want to talk about those topics at times, as well. Ultimately, all those aspects of who I am interact and intersect with each other. How do you establish a renowned company culture as a female entrepreneur? How does my faith affect my marriage and relationships? How can I show up for my friends during different stages in their lives? Where’s the best macaron in Paris? All these questions and more…it all matters to me. It’s all important, and something I’m excited to dive into here on my blog.
Where we stand right now…it’s Spring 2020. The world is still reeling and rebuilding after the massive global health crisis of COVID-19. Many businesses are still shuttered, most of the events and experiences of the Summer are cancelled, and some of the world’s most prominent companies are announcing they’re going fully remote with their employees. The world as we know it has changed. And, it’ll continue to evolve as we rebuild our “new normal”. So, I figured, now’s as good a time as any to pick up my laptop again, give the ol’ website a fresh facelift, and get back to doing what I love - blogging. I hope you’ll engage with me in the comments and can make this a two-way conversation, not just a monologue by yours truly. I can’t wait to grow and learn with you as we share and journey together.
So, here’s to the “ancient” art of blogging! May we never take you for granted again.
Cheers,
Octavia
