Why I Started This Blog

I was so inspired by Kim’s post a few days ago about why she started her blog. So, today, I just wanted to step back a little bit and share the reason I started this blog.

Pre-haircut days at the Rodin Museum in Paris. I do miss my hair, just a little bit.

Sometimes I think I was born to be a blogger. I’ve been on the internet since AOL had chat rooms. When Blogger first became popular, I started my very first weblog. I wrote mostly about silly stuff, like my daily to-do list. But, even then, I loved sharing information about everything: hot new bars, good restaurants, and hidden boutiques. I eventually started multiple blogs on different sites: Live Journal, Xanga, and WordPress, to name a few. The pivotal point of my blogging “career” was writing for Weddingbee. After writing about my wedding projects, ideas, experiences, and failures, I realized I really loved sharing information with people.

We live in a digital age where a wealth information is at our fingertips and the amount of data in the cyber world will only increase. In the past, people did not have easy access to information. If someone wanted to start up a hobby that required a large amount of expertise, like photography for example, that person would go to the library, pay for classes, or consult experts. Today, if someone wanted to take up photography, that person could search for “DSLR basics” on Google and find thousands of websites with great information. Of course, it would take more than a Wikipedia article to become a pro photographer. But nevertheless, there is good information out there and it’s free.

The internet, and specifically blogging, has shaped my paradigm of the world. I believe that there is no reason for a person not to have access to information. It should be a right, like clean water or air. I also love that the availability of information is forcing the world to become more transparent.

Take the wedding industry, for example. The dynamics of the wedding industry have greatly changed within the last few years, simply because brides and grooms have access to more information than ever before. The internet has also spurred more competition in the industry, as new vendors are able to access information to sharpen their skills and also reach numerous people to elevate their brand.

So, how does this all connect to my little blog?

Despite what people may think, I don’t consider myself creative. In fact, Martha Stewart intimidates me. However, I do believe that everyone can cultivate and practice creativity, and it’s both healthy and satisfying.

I did not know anything about weddings, rubber stamping, or photography a year ago. But, I’m resourceful and patient when it comes to seeking information. All that I know now, I learned within one year of furious web browsing. While I was planning my wedding, I was exposed to so many fantastic ideas from the forum of women (and men) on Weddingbee. I found myself trying new things I would not have otherwise thought of. I was actually able to cultivate my creativity by gathering ideas from others. As a result, Hubs and I had an amazing, personal wedding that is still one of the best days of my life.

Now, as I’m starting up new hobbies (specifically paper crafts and photography), I’m determined to share everything I’ve learned with others. I’ve found so much satisfaction and accomplishment in creating crafts and photos that I never imagined I’d be able to create. It’s only right to return the favor, since so many people in the blogosphere have been indispensable in my learning.

I write here because I know there is probably someone in the world who, like me, is intimidated by Martha Stewart and all the other creative gurus. I write to empower those people. We might not be Martha Stewart, but we can create some pretty nifty stuff.

So, dear readers, if you’re interested, I will share with you more than you ever wanted to know about rubber stamps and ink. And, perhaps, a thing or two about myself along the way.