Ellen ES Ceely

When I was in my early 20’s, I blogged regularly. Topics mostly centered around my faith and what I was learning because that’s the type of blog I chose to create. I needed a place to process and share with the world, even if no one listened. I blogged because I needed to, not because I was popular or influential.

Somewhere along the way, my voice got quieter. I stopped blogging. Then I stopped journaling. I stopped writing altogether. Not because the noise inside me got quieter, but because I no longer felt able to share what was happening on the inside.

After a few years, I gained back my voice, but I’ve never fully regained my confidence. I’ve been so focused on what will “land with my audience” or “what others want to read”, that I haven’t dug into what I need or want to write about.

Blogging isn’t and shouldn’t be that complicated.

So here’s my challenge to me: just write. For the next 31 days, just write. It doesn’t matter how long. It doesn’t matter what the topic is. It doesn’t matter if it’s polished and formatted to fit SEO standards.

Just write.

Here’s to new beginnings. Here’s to finding yourself in your 30’s as a baby, self-published author. Here’s to discovering and honing your voice once more as a completely different person who still remembers that 20-something dreamer.

Most of all, here’s to the challenge to get words on the blank page with absolutely no agenda other than writing. Here’s to uncomplicating your life and rebelling against the constant societal urge to make everything we produce perfect.

I would rather write a hundred imperfect words than continue to live in limbo, too afraid to write something because it might not be the absolute best work I have to offer.

It’s time I said goodbye to that desire for perfection and returned to the embrace of my carefree 20’s when I didn’t care if my blog was perfect.

I just wanted to write.

Let’s get back to that.