How Did Book Blogging Change My Life?

I was inspired by Bibliophile Soprano's Post on the same matter, and I thought that it'd be appropriate for me to do the same sort of post, since I just came back from a really long hiatus some weeks ago. I rarely do this kind of post, so it's kind of relatively unfamiliar with me. I think I'll also include some sort of progress report regarding my blog! Fingers crossed!

 Why I started, and why ain't I growing much?

Okay. I'm spilling the beans. No more hiding. Well, it's not like I was hiding before, but yeah. 

I've been blogging since 2014.

It all started when I attended a book signing event for Ransom Riggs, Tahereh Mafi, and Veronica Rossi. I was so engrossed with the bookish community, I saw it as an impetus to make my own blog. That time, I was but a meager bookworm, fresh off of my Freshman year at High School (at 14 years old, mind you). I decided to start writing about the books that I loved (and didn't love as well) because of the main fact that the community is such a homey place, and I felt like I was surrounded by the people who understand me. I was just beginning to explore this bookish world, and had little to no friends in such a place. 

Admittedly, I was confounded. But blogging kind of helped me to begin my "exploration" of this bookish community. Even though I wasn't growing much in terms of "followers".

"Why ain't I growing much?" Is a hefty question. But let's back it. I've grown as a blogger so much that I don't think I'd had fathomed back then that I would be like this. But if I'm asking myself why my blog isn't growing, then that's a different matter.

I think, for the most part, that the reason behind my relatively low follow count is inconsistency. I've been through so much hiatuses in the past. Reasons were thrown - school, projects, lack of time, and whatnot. But now all of those seem like reasons I only came up with as excuses to be lazy, to not be committed to what I really love. And that's sharing the joy of reading. I could also say that another reason is me being lost. There was a point in my blogging journey, a LONG time ago,  in which I got so insecure of myself, because I sat there, reading the books I bought, while others were rummaging through boxes sent by publishers. I sat there, watching as others attended forums and other exclusive events. I sat there, watching as some were establishing their tight-knit friendships already while I was under hiatus.

I was so wrong.

Now of course, things are different. I laugh at those kinds of reasons, to be honest. I think they're petty. I've realized that reading isn't about the followers you have, the books you receive, or the perks you get. Those are just bonuses. Reading is simply about reading in itself. To get to traverse worlds even when you're just sitting, to get to sympathize and cry with characters who are fictional, to meet other people with the same interests as you. These things are what make reading the best thing in the world. Blogging is just an avenue to disseminate that kind of thinking. I'd like to project that, actually. The idea that we're just signalers, trying to transmit our love of books by formatting our templates of our posts.

How did book blogging change your life?

My best response to this is that it gave me an entirely new perspective to the world of books. I used to think that reading is just reading a book and closing it afterwards. It never occurred to me then that others might have the same or different opinion about it as I did. The purity of engagement when it comes to book blogging is something that I'll hold in my heart for many years (I hope!), since it made me look at books differently, very differently (in a good way, of course).

Another thing, book blogging enabled me to abandon my shell and socialize. If there's anything I'm good at, one would be socializing (I'd like to think). Blogging made me engage with fellow readers. It opened the door for me to reply to Tweets or Facebook posts, or even comment on other blogs for the sake of it. I met more people because of this entire ordeal. Some are now really good friends of mine. I'm thankful for deciding to blog, even if it's sometimes exhausting.

Lastly, and most importantly, blogging gave me confidence. At first it was the opposite, as I doubted myself with every post. Now posting makes me giddy. And talking to "legit people" also makes me ecstatic. Life lessons are important, and I think this is one of those you shouldn't let pass.

Where are you now? Where are you going?

Right now, I'm at a place in which I'm trying to get back my swing of things, to be precisely consistent with what I do, and everything that follows. I want to grow as a blogger as much as I want my blog to grow. Right now I'm taking a step forward, to the direction which I want.

On par with my earlier response, I'm heading forward! I don't believe that I should dwell too much on my shortcomings in the past. I believe in moving on and forwarding positivity all throughout. No point in being so nega! Fingers crossed - I wish I'll make it to the end.

Hope you guys learned about what I really am as a blogger, and what it means to be one! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to message me! Follow me to be updated for bookish shenanigans!