Why You Should Start a Blog: 2 Years Later.

Yesterday marked two years of blogging on this little space. To celebrate, let's talk about 5 reasons you should definitely start a blog.

1. It will force you to write. I adore writing. But sometimes, when the only writing you have to do is between you, a pen, and a notebook...it can start to feel boring and pointless.

Having a blog forces you to write pretty often. It gives you an excuse to spend time writing, and it gives you motivation when you're just not in the mood to write.

2. It will open up a really creative side of you. When you first start a blog, you aren't really worried about running out of things to write about. But a few about me posts later, and you have to start to scramble.

There are only so many common things you can blog about, so you're forced to start being really creative. A normal work day turns into a chance to find some blog content, and suddenly, you're looking at things through a much more creative lens.

3. It's a space that's just yours. What you have to say (or write about) is worth listening to (or reading)...and you don't have to wait around for anyone else to start to think so. You can create your own space and put your words out there. And you can write about whatever the heck you want.

Want to comment on the huge political scandal that's happening, but don't want to be the annoying person on Facebook who everyone blocks? No worries, you can blog about that. Feeling super happy and sentimental and want to talk about how much you love your life? Write a blog.

It's your space. You can write whatever you want. And that's really just fantastic.

4. You "meet" a lot of wonderful people. Like-minded and diverse and opinionated...having a blog opens up the door to build relationships with all kinds of other writers.

It reminds me of being an English major and being constantly surrounded by people who loved to read and write and had strong opinions.

5. It builds your confidence. This may be shallow, but it's true. Having people choose to spend part of their day reading words that you wrote builds your confidence.

Before blogging, the only person who ever saw anything I wrote was my mom. I love her, but she is a  dirty liar when it comes to criticism. I really could have gone my whole life writing horrible essays on the purity levels of drinking water and, if I only listened to her, thought I was the absolute best author to ever grace this earth with my presence.

But when a bunch of strangers read your words and say nice things...well, you can take their word for it a little bit more.

Blogging is weird. You put your heart and soul into writing things that you're not even sure anyone will read, much less comment on. You throw your words out into the internet to be picked apart by total strangers.

It is weird. It is nerve-wracking. It is exhilarating. And it is so, so worth it.

So cheers to two years on this little corner of the internet. I'm hoping for quite a few more.

Why do you blog?