Hi friends, and welcome back to Natalie Belle Blog! I hope you had an amazing week and are enjoying this spring weather. My intention for this week was to write about my trip to NYC, but that was before I accounted for all the photos I would need to upload, which just wasn’t possible with my schedule today. I promise it’ll come next weekend though! In the meantime, I want to share with you a quick perspective I’ve been learning this week.
On Thursday, I had my final presentation and oral defense for my AP research project. Thankfully, it went well, but that’s not to say I wasn’t nervous. I worked on my script for weeks, let alone my entire research process, which took a year. Although my job is not yet completely done (I still need to turn in my paper this week), I felt a huge sense of relief once it was over. Not only because I feel like I did well, but it took a huge weight off my shoulders for something I had on the backburner of my mind for over a year at this point.
Knowing that, I thought about where I was this time last year. I decided that I wanted to take AP Research, but a 15-minute presentation at the end of it seemed quite daunting, especially when I didn’t even know what I wanted to study. By October, I had a topic narrowed down and was in the early stages of beginning my research, but I didn’t quite know what it would look like or how it would turn out yet. After a few tweaks, I started data collection (my most work-intensive part) and felt how everything was coming together, finally.
I think the reason I chose to celebrate after my presentation was not simply because I was able to stand up and talk for ten minutes, but because of the persistence I had that allowed me to complete each individual milestone to put a project like this together. In fact, I know it was! I’m much more proud of myself for those steps I took toward my goal than the presentation itself.
Needless to say, it’s the journey that counts, not the destination. You may have heard that phrase before, like I have. I’ve always liked it, but it was hard for me to appreciate it until I had a real-life example of how rewarding a process can be.
What’s the journey for you? What process are you choosing to celebrate and prioritize? Let me know in the comments below, I’d love to hear!
Hello friends, and welcome to Natalie Belle Blog! I hope your week has been amazing and has brought pleasant surprises to your life.
Speaking of pleasant, on Wednesday night, my mom took me to a restaurant for a radio show featuring the beloved head coach of UNC Basketball, Hubert Davis. We’ve always known and loved Coach Davis, and we jump at the opportunity to hear him speak as often as we can, because he is such a wise, smart, and motivated person. What makes him special doesn’t come from those list of attributes, but rather his character.
With his own team, he prioritizes his relationships with fellow coaches and his players, and isn’t afraid to redirect praise toward them and let the world know how much he loves them.
My own brief experience with him this week is yet another testament to the amazing person he is. At the radio shows, the host accepts questions from the listeners in the audience and online, so I chose to submit one. Not only did he mention that he thought it was a good question before he responded, but when I approached him after the show, he said it again, told me it was nice to meet me, and was more than happy to pause to take a picture together.
It may not seem like much to those looking from the outside in (and I’ll admit, I’m slightly biased in this case), but I think this highlights his empathy in understanding that this is important to me, and taking steps to make sure I felt valued. And as the head coach of a Blue-Blood Program, he certainly had more important things to worry about and put his effort into, but he chose to have meanginful, personal interactions with not only myself, but everyone else who came to him after the show.
With so much saddening news filling the media and our world, it’s a more than welcome reminder that genuine and good people like him exist. I’m always inspired when I find people who remind me of this truth, and they challenge me in a positive way to make a difference to those around me.
Coach Davis is only one of the many amazing people I have met, but he is the perfect example of someone who puts others first and has likely influenced many people to become kinder through his own actions.
Who inspires you to become a better person each day, and how? Let me know in the comments below!
Hello friends, and welcome to Natalie Belle Blog! I hope your week has been fantastic. Today, I’m going on a road trip with my family, so I am reposting this weekend. It’s a great read, though, especially considering that today is National Vision Board Day! (You’ll understand why this is important later.) I hope this post inspires you to achieve whatever you put your mind to this year. Enjoy!
Once the holiday season ends and reality hits, it’s easy to get caught up in the mundane cycle of everyday life. Just trying to get through each day, achieving what needs to be done and leaving it at that. We’re all guilty of that pattern in some way or another, but how will you escape without big dreams? And how will you make those dreams come true through minimal progress?
Every successful person is a dreamer. You can’t wake up one day and create a company that becomes a multi-million franchise on your first try, for example. It takes years of trial, error, money, and talent. That idea discourages some people, though. As humans, we’re impatient. If we can’t get it now, why are we working for it? Then we decide that it isn’t worth it, or is impossible, and convince ourselves that we really are “fine” with what our life looks like. This quote says it differently, however:
“The path from dreams to success does exist. May you have the vision to find it, the courage to get on to it, and the perseverance to follow it.”
Kalpana Chawla
So how do you make your dreams a reality? How do you even create dreams?
Well, that answer looks different for each person. It’s really up for you to ponder individually, but today, I’m sharing some methods on how you can get on that track!
Create A Vision Board
Today is National Vision Board Day (yes, that’s a thing)- so what better time than the present?! In synopsis, they are personal collages of images, drawings, and words (or anything else you can find) to remind you of what you want to accomplish. The one I created includes things like books to represent my goal of reading more, the word “extraordinary” to remind myself that I am extraordinary and therefore can create extraordinary things, and the words “quality sleep”- so I am literally dreaming big!
In September, I wrote a blog post (How To Make Your Own Vision Board In 4 Simple Steps) that includes why vision boards are crucial to dreams and goal-setting, and how you can easily create your own. I strongly encourage reading it and creating your own!
Think About Your Dream Self
On a piece of paper, write down aspects of your ideal life and who you want to be. What qualities do you want to attain? What kind of person do you want to be? What does your dream life have?
Remember that your ideal self and life are not the same thing. In fact, I think being the best version of yourself is more important- you can have everything you want in life but still not be happy. Personal development is key to both.
Set Goals For Yourself
You’ve probably heard this advice a million times, so I’ll keep it short, but it really is effective. Here are a few blog posts I’ve written about goals:
Think outside the box! Dreams are dreams because they seem unattainable. With effort, perseverance, and enthusiasm, you can accomplish much more than you think. You are the only version of yourself to ever exist, so there are things out there that only you can do! Get out of your comfort zone and dream big.
Find The Value In Each Day And Use It
Every day is a new opportunity to work toward success. It’s up to you how you use it- or don’t. The choice is yours.
Going back to the beginning, it’s so easy to just try to “get through the day”. Once you realize the value of the time you’re given, though, inspiration and motivation come with it. You can do this by something as simple as writing down something good that happened or your goal for the day ahead.
Don’t Chase Perfection
Nothing is without flaw- so why lose sleep over lack of perfection? Acknowledge that there may be adversity. Things may not go according to plan. But that’s okay! Perfect is boring. Failures are preparing you for something the future has in store, which could end up being better than you could even imagine!
I hope this post encouraged you to dream big! What’s one thing you want to accomplish most in life? Comment it below!
Hello friends, and welcome to Natalie Belle Blog! I hope your week has been amazing and that you’re staying healthy— seemingly everyone at my school, including myself, has been sick this week. Nevertheless, today’s post is an exciting one that I’ve had the idea of for months! It’s been a while since I’ve posted a “life update,” and as you’ll see, there’s not much of a better time for an update than this week. Without further ado, here’s what’s been happening outside of blogging for the past few months!
I Am Now A Licensed Driver!
After waiting at a DMV forty minutes away for three hours, I passed my road test on Monday, making me a licensed driver! It feels great to finally have that crossed off my to-do list. I’ve only driven with my license twice this week, but what I love most is that I can drive my sister now and pick her up on my own after school! I don’t doubt that she was more excited about me getting my license than I was.
I Bought A Guitar!
For a while, I’ve admired how my friends can play guitar and wanted to try it myself, so this summer I bit the bullet and chose to buy my own to teach myself. The process was surprisingly simple; I hopped on Facebook Marketplace and found a hardly worn guitar that I purchased for $60 and picked up the same week. It’s been so much fun (even though I’m far from proficient) and a great way to decompress while simultaneously building a skill!
I’m Going To NYC For My Birthday!
I forget if I’ve mentioned on here that I got into my school’s advanced choir, but each year that group takes an out-of-state trip to perform in a choral event among other activities. Not only will our trip this year be to New York City, but I will be there on my birthday! If the itinerary stays the same, I will also be performing in Carnegie Hall that night. Since the trip is still six months off, I’m not exactly sure what pieces we will be performing yet, but we are already building our repertoires in preparation for some other events we have along the way.
Oh, Yeah, I Started Junior Year!
Ah yes, on top of everything else I’m doing right now is junior year. So far it hasn’t been awful, and I’m already an eighth of the way through (small victories!). Individually, my classes aren’t too challenging, but when everything piles together like homework, studying, club meetings, and work, it can be a lot. But as an upperclassman, I can now go off-campus for lunch which is nice, especially considering that I live so close to school that I can walk home for lunch if I want to.
I’m Going To Disney Next Week!
We’re going on a family vacation to Disney next week for my grandmother’s 80th birthday, which I’m looking forward to because this time around I’m a roller coaster fan. When I went in 2020, it was just the small rides for me!
As you can see, a lot happening currently! I’d love to catch up in the comments, tell me what’s been up with you below!
Hello friends, and welcome to Natalie Belle Blog! I hope you’re having a great weekend and drier weather than we have in NC. Tonight, I’m going to “faux-coming” (essentially homecoming with my friends, except we are going to dinner and hanging out instead of going to the dance), so I don’t exactly have ample time to write a new post today. Reposting isn’t my first choice, but the previous post I will be sharing today is a great reminder for this time of the year! With everything school and sports-related starting back up, our calendars get full, and we begin to check things off our to-do list rather than taking time to be present. I need to focus on intentionality and being present this year as well, especially today.
If all goes according to plan, I’ll have a new and exciting post coming out next Saturday, so stay tuned! But for now, enjoy the reminder to stay in the moment and see which of these methods you can carry with you through your week ahead 🙂
Hey friends! I hope you’ve had a great week and start to the holiday weekend! My plans for this weekend are just to relax, but if you’re doing anything fun make sure to comment about it- I love reading them 🙂
Summer can be one of the busiest times of the year between graduations, vacations, cookouts, sleepovers, movie nights, pool days, and so much more. Lots of memories are made, but sometimes it can be stressful and overstimulating. With constant stress and thinking ahead, it can be hard to be fully present in a moment. This is actually really important because it helps your brain focus and take in everything that’s happening, which has multiple benefits. Being present helps you connect, relax, and make better lasting memories. In this post, I’ll give you a few tips to help that!
1. Journaling
Personally, I love journaling. Anything you can do to write down what you’re experiencing (travel journaling, diary, bullet journaling, etc.) is a great way to be present. It can be as simple as writing down what happens each day (normally what I end up doing), but its helped me realize how blessed I am to live each day, and how there’s still beauty in ordinary days. It also helps replay the day in your head and reflect in some matter rather than just going to sleep and forgetting about it. I’ve journaled every day for the past two months or so, and I look forward to it every evening.
2. Mindfulness
Mindfulness is essentially pausing and creating self-observation and awareness of your surroundings. I’m no expert on it, but when I remember to use mindfulness to take a break and re-assess any situation, it always helps. Here are a few examples or techniques I use:
The classic: deep breathes
Name 5 things you can see, 4 things you can feel, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste. If you’re not in a setting that you can use a sense (ex: taste), instead imagine something you would like to sense.
My math teacher taught us this technique where you hold your hand in front of you and slowly trace each of your fingers. As your finger is going up, inhale, and as its going down, exhale. Sounds weird, but it works! Apparently touch with breathing is linked to better stress management.
There are plenty of other ways to practice mindfulness, but those are just the most convenient for me! Here are some links that have other methods and more information about mindfulness: Healthline, Mindful, and The Sowell.
3. Music
If you find the right kind of music, it can be really calming and centering. What works best varies from person to person- it could be jazz, lofi, classical, or something else- experiment and see what works best for you!
I also recently came across something I found through Instagram called “brown noise”, and I love it! I’m not really a white noise kind of person, but brown noise helps shut my thoughts off pretty well. I think it has to do with the lower frequencies of the noise. Apparently there is a noise for basically every color, so chances are you’ll probably be able to find one you like!
4. Be Grateful For Little Things
This is more of a long-term method, but it helps a lot! If you’re constantly focused on getting to the big moments in life, you’ll miss the beauty in simplicity. Plus, being grateful for little things makes the big things more meaningful! Try to go about your day trying to find things that are just good- someone complimenting you, nice weather, getting to talk to a friend, or even just getting to live another day.
5. Do A Hobby You Enjoy
Setting aside time to pursue your passions or hobbies is important, and they can be used as a great stress reliever when you need them. I’ve heard before that if you do work with your hands (ex: construction), then you need a hobby that uses your head (like reading) and vice versa. But whatever is calming to you works best!
6. Realize You’ll Only Live It Once
Today is the only July 2, 2022 you’ll ever get, make it count! Each day and moment is unique, and no matter how many times you experience something similar (if at all), it’ll never be exactly the same as what you’re living in this moment.
I hope you were able to find this post helpful and gave you some ideas on how to be present and fully enjoy the moments in your life! Let me know which method is your favorite in the comments!
Hello friends, welcome to Natalie Belle Blog! I hope you had a fantastic week as I did. In honor of being accepted into Tri-M Music Honor Society and the advanced choir at my school in the past two weeks, I’m sharing a few ways music has impacted my life!
For context, I’m an introvert to the core. I’ve always hated the spotlight being on me, leading to why during multiple mandatory performances as a kid, I stood in silence. I decided to join chorus in eighth grade, however, and have continued it through high school. I still don’t like being the center of attention, but as you’ll read, I’ve learned to face that fear and grow into it to discover an appreciation for music.
I couldn’t include every way music has shaped me into the person I am today (because there are too many), but I hope this post inspires you to reflect on the ways it has worked in your own life!
Music Has…
1. Created Some Of My Closest Friendships
The majority of my closest friends are in choir class with me. When our teacher showed us a video at the beginning of freshman year of a past student explaining how they met some of their closest friends through choir, I mentally dismissed it, thinking it would never be me because I only knew one person in my class. How the tables have turned! I quickly met some of my best friends I have today that I likely wouldn’t have if I never took chorus.
2. Taught Me That Hard Work Really Does Pay Off
As a teenager, it can be difficult to get the motivation to work hard, because there aren’t many chances to see how it blossoms really until you start getting accepted into colleges. In chorus, it’s easy to slack off sometimes because you can rely on people around you, lip-syncing is simple, and it’s a physically demanding course. I always put in all the effort I am able to, which paid off when it came to audition season. You already know how the story ends, but it’s such a rewarding feeling to see how you earn something directly from hard work, especially since I’m not a strong singer.
3. Connected Me With The People I Love
Outside of friendships, music has created and strengthened my other relationships. For example, songs I hear on the radio can remind me of a certain family member, and listening to music on road trips with my Mom on road trips is one of the highlights of the whole thing. From infancy, I took music classes with my mom as well. My grandfather plays the clarinet and saxophone, and I love getting to listen to his talents at work. (Love you, Poppy!) Also, my concerts are a big deal in my family and brings us all together to celebrate. Last weekend, I had three grandparents in town to attend my spring concert!
4. Created Unique Memories
Every year in chorus, we perform at a Music Performance Adjudication (MPA) to get feedback on our skills, which I already know will be one of the first things I remember down the road when I think of high school choir. Today, we’re attending a choral competition and visiting Busch Gardens. I’ve never been there before, and probably wouldn’t go if it weren’t for the opportunities I’ve had in choir! Next year in advanced choir, I’ll have even more opportunities to travel and perform around the community as well, which I can’t wait for.
5. Taught Me Teamwork
Singing in a choir is different than a group project. Since it’s an elective, the majority of kids actually want to be there, making us on the same page about what we want to achieve. It takes everyone in a choir to be successful, and it’s fun to celebrate each other’s wins that lead to our own when we accomplish our goals.
5. Given Me Appreciation For Music Creators
I don’t know what my life would be like without music. Between the radio, choir, church, and more, I’m always tuned in. Realizing how much I am impacted by it makes me recognize and admire how much work goes into creating much as well.
6. Connected Me To God
I love worship music, and it truly brings me closer to God and evokes feelings that can’t be found through anything else. It also reminds me that God gave us the gift of music- making me all the more grateful!
In what ways has music impacted your life? I’m interested- let me know in the comments below! As always, thank you for reading my post, and I hope you’ll join me again next Saturday!
Hello friends, and welcome back to Natalie Belle Blog! With the school year coming to a close and final exams coming up, I wanted to reshare a post I wrote last year about mental resets! Studying and test-taking can be stressful, so the methods below are a few ways I like to take care of myself during this time. They only take a few minutes or seconds, which is perfect when you are pressed for time. Enjoy and happy studying!
Hi friends! I hope your week was excellent! I’m trying to savor these last few weeks of summer break and relaxation before school starts again. This time of year brings a lot of changes, like new schedules, schools, sports seasons, the transition from summer to fall, and more. It’s super easy to get overwhelmed by everything happening or even just thinking of it, so today I’m sharing a few quick ways you can de-stress throughout the day! It’s really important to prioritize your mental health, but sometimes just getting started on it is difficult. All the methods listed in this post can take five to ten minutes each, so you can use them at any point in your day. Let me know what your favorite is in the comments below!
1. Step Outside Your House/Move
A change in environment and some fresh air for even just a minute can clear your mind. It can be as simple as taking a break from whatever you’re doing to walk to the mailbox, feeling the grass on your toes for a few seconds, or you could take a walk around the block and look at the flowers. Nature is always such a healing remedy! If you can’t go outside because of the weather, any movement in general will also probably help.
2. Deep Breaths
In my mind, I always think deep breathing is overrated until I actually do it. Closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths eases stress, lowers your heart rate, and makes you thankful that you simply have breath in your lungs if nothing else. There are also many apps/YouTube videos for guided breathing, and some have music or nature sounds too!
3. Organize Something
I don’t know about you, but having things in order makes me calmer and more motivated. It’s nearly impossible not to feel better after you organize or clean something. My favorite way to get a productive, quick clean in is to set a timer for any amount of minutes and try to get as many things done as I can in that window.
However, what you choose to organize doesn’t have to be physical- it can be a grocery list, a colorful to-do list (not to add more stress, just to have everything in one place. Add color to make it happy!), or a “brain dump”- just jotting down whatever comes to mind when your pen touches the paper.
4. Have A Conversation With Someone
I’m sure you can agree with me that conversations with some people can do more harm than good (😂), but relationships are important. Conflicting schedules and just being “busy” makes it harder to connect with the people around you. Just texting a friend and asking how their day has been or catching up on FaceTime for a few minutes is beneficial to both you can them. Having someone who listens to you and offers advice is great for when you feel down or “stuck”.
5. Listen To Music
Everyone has a few favorite songs or music genres, and it can be used to bring a few minutes of happiness into your day. One of the great things about music being so diverse is that you can choose whatever vibe you want to feel. Different songs and genres channel different feelings, so if you wanted something to calm you, you could listen to jazz or instrumental, or if you just want a mood boost you can make a playlist of all your happy songs! And you don’t even have to stick to one type of music, my playlists are all over the place,
6. Self-Care
Sheet or peel-off facemasks always put me in a better mood! Splashing your face with cold water, putting lotion on, taking a shower, using a facial cleansing brush, etc., always leave you feeling fresh afterward and are good sensory breaks.
I hope you enjoyed this post and found some good ways to de-stress this week! Also, comment some suggestions for future posts you’d like to see on my blog. I’m open to anything and everything!
Hi friends, and welcome back to Natalie Belle Blog! I hope you had a great week and are enjoying some beautiful spring weather where you live.
As some of you may already know, less than two weeks from now I’ll be sixteen. Isn’t it weird that your age is the number of years you’ve completed, not the number that you’re starting?! I saw that thought online a few weeks ago and it still makes my brain itch.
In honor of nearly completing my sixteenth time around the sun, today I’ll be sharing some of my thoughts on the past year. They’re a little bit all over the place- observations, lessons I’ve learned, reflections, and memories- but that just shows that it’s true to me! 😂
1. Each year I can feel my brain and life becoming more complex, and this year was no exception. It was filled with lots of highs and lows, and I developed a lot personally. 14-year-old me feels like a different person!
2. I had so many great travel experiences! I visited Savannah (Georgia), Washington DC/Maryland, Delaware, Williamsburg (Virginia), and next week I’ll be flying out to Arizona!
3. If I had to geuss what others would list first if asked my likes or passions at fifteen, they would say UNC sports. I could talk anyone’s ear off about it if they would let me. This year, I’ve been to more UNC sporting events than ever, and my love for the programs has only grown.
4. As a coninuation of #3, the love hasn’t been without its hardships. UNC basketball lost the national championship just hours before my birthday, and the following season was disappointing. But maybe 15 is just an unlucky number for the program- after all, they did lose a national championship during the 2015-2016 season. Who knows, maybe the day I turn sixteen, the switch flips and the team could pick up a legendary transfer.
5. Who I’m friends with and what my friend group is like is completely different than when I was 14.
6. Babysitting has been a big part of this year. I’ve babysat more than ever, added quite a bit to my savings, and it’s a job I genuinely enjoy.
7. I’ve largely grown into my hobby of writing. I challenged myself to start journaling every day in May, and by now, it’s what keeps me sane. I’ve started to do some creative writing as well.
8. I’m working on taking it day by day and cherising every moment. When I do, it’s well worth it and very rewarding.
9. I’ve experienced some unprecedented and unique experiences, especially in the sports world. My high school basketball made it to the Final Four in the state tournament. In the UNC world, the baseball team made a great run in the tournament to the Super Regionals, the basketball team was ranked Preseason #1, and the football team gained an insanely talented quarterback. I’ve gotten to meet some of the players from each team, previous and current, which have been some of my best memories.
10. One day as a fifteen-year-old I had never been behind the wheel of a car, and the next day I was driving on the local roads.
11. As an introvert, spending time alone is still my favorite, but I’m beginning to sometimes enjoy the company of others rather than tolerate it.
12. Despite reflection #11, people are still weird. Really, really, weird.
13. Enjoy the journey and be present.
14. I still stand by the belief that following Jesus was the best decision I ever made, and it gets better every day.
15. Life is all about balance. Which is much harder than it seems.
16. Don’t take life, yourself, or what others think of you so seriously; it makes everything more enjoyable!
I hope you enjoyed this post! What’s one thing you wish you could have told yourself at sixteen? Leave it in the comments below!
Hi, friends! I’m taking the weekend off from writing because (1) it’s the first days of March Madness, and (2) because I’ve been sick for a few days. Although this post is not new to me, it may be for you! I encourage you to read it for hopeful reminders and things to look forward to as we transition from winter to spring. Enjoy!
Happy Spring! Is it just me, or did winter seem to last longer than normal? Besides the pollen (that’s why it comes in 2nd place for my favorite seasons), I can’t get enough of spring! Today I’ll be sharing a quick post about just a few reasons why I get excited about spring every year.
March Madness
For me, March Madness is always the first sign that spring is near. Filling out brackets (although, mine was busted this year. At least I’m not the only one), watching history be made, and “One Shining Moment”.
It also helps when the Tar Heels win😁 Since they won last night, I’ve been on edge all day about the next game tomorrow. Distracting myself with other games helps, which is exactly what I’m doing right now. I probably shouldn’t be dividing my attention between basketball and my blog, but I can’t give up either right now 😂
Plants Blooming
There aren’t many flowers in bloom where I live yet, but I know they’re coming soon because all the pollen just started this week. I always look forward to seeing them come back- they’re so refreshing and make everything outside look so much happier and more alive!
Warmer Weather
I don’t look forward to the hot summer weather, but I love when it warms up a bit in spring. Neutral temperatures and low 70s are my favorite, and I just want to sit outside all day long!
Lent/Easter
When many people think of spring, they think of Easter. I just love the season of Lent and celebrating Jesus’ resurrection so much! (Plus the chocolate, of course 😉)
My Birthday
Probably the first thing that has always come to mind when I think of spring. When I was younger, it was the most anticipated event since Christmas. I also think it’s really neat that my birthday is only two days after my dad’s, so we always have a fun time celebrating.
“Home Stretch” Of School
Next week starts the first day of the last quarter of the school year for me! 2nd semester is going by way faster than 1st semester for me, and of course I like my classes this semester better. Oh well. Once you get to 4th quarter, it’s practically the home stretch of the school year (besides finals).
Pastel Colors
I don’t know about you, but I love pastel colors! To me, they just feel happy and light. It’s just a small aspect of spring, but I couldn’t imagine the season without it.
What’s your favorite part of spring? Leave a comment below!
I hope you have a great week filled with hints of spring! 🙂
Hi friends, welcome to Natalie Belle Blog! I hope you enjoyed your week and are having a restful start to your weekend. Although I post on my blog every Saturday, I haven’t discussed much about how I got my start at thirteen years old. Today, I’m sharing that story in hopes that you learn a little more about me, and are inspired to just start- anything you’ve been avoiding.
September 2020 was an interesting time. School was online, I’d go weeks or months without seeing my friends in person, and pretty much the only times I stepped out of the house were to walk my dog. There was nothing to do, which was hard for my “go, go, go” kind of brain that desires productivity. As I was scrolling through Pinterest one day, I came across a post that was titled “How to Start a Lifestyle Blog for 2020 – Simple Guide for Beginners.” It immediately caught my eye. I had never considered creating a blog, but it intrigued me. I’ve always been a good writer, but I didn’t know how to keep developing my skills outside of occasional essays in English.
Over the next few days, the idea didn’t leave my mind, and I became quite fixated on it. I then asked my parents if I could create my own blog (who, spolier alert, thankfully said yes) and spent a few more days brainstorming names, topics, and doing research on how exactly to create a blog.
On September 12th 2020, I officially did it. Well, part of it. I created my WordPress account. For seven days, I continued to research the elements of a blog post and decide what to include in my inaugural post.
Then, on September 19th, I really did it- I published my first blog post. It was just an introduction about who I am and what my website will be about, and at the time, I thought it was so good. Looking back, it’s not bad, but it really shows how much my writing style and skills have grown.
Once I developed a running list of post ideas, I hit the ground running and haven’t stopped since. I started posting weekly beginning in January 2021 and haven’t missed a Saturday of posting since.
It hasn’t been easy. At all. There have been more weeks than not that I haven’t come up with an idea for a post by Saturday morning. Some posts I’ve hardly finished before the end of the evening. I’ve published posts in airports, and brought my laptop along on my travels for the sole purpose of making sure a post is written and published while I’m away. But I make it work every time, and it’s so worth it.
What started at thirteen as a hobby to keep me busy during Covid, give me something to consistently look forward to, advance my writing skills, and give me a creative outlet has not only fulfilled those purposes, but turned into some of my proudest work approaching sixteen.
I tell this story to encourage you that you really can do anything you put your mind to. Do what you love, and love what you do!
Leave any questions or comments below- I’d love to read them!
Natalie Belle Blog 