I have reason to smile, because it’s been 6 months since I started blogging. Unbelievable! I feel like I just started. I remember grappling with, among other things, what I should call my blog. That was the biggest and most difficult decision. I remember finally deciding on ‘One Brick at a Time’ and thinking my battle was won. Once I had the name, everything else would be a piece of cake. I feel like this just happened. I’m only 30 odd posts old and still a babe in the woods.

Yet it feels like such a long time ago. From figuring out how to register my domain name, to using a .pat file for my background… to actually putting up my first post. I have learnt so much, and come such a long way.

And though I haven’t yet decided whether I’m a 6 month ‘old’ or a 6 month ‘young’ blogger, I have enjoyed it all. There are so many ‘first’ milestones I’ve reached, the most recent being my first survey. A big thank you to all who responded. And if you haven’t taken it yet, you can do it right now… It only takes 2 minutes!

 

My most frustrating memory is taking about 4 hours to figure out how to put the Google Adsense code to my homepage header. And right now I don’t know how I’m going to deliver the free printable promised in this post to your mailbox. But none of this discourages me from blogging. This is mostly because of the smiles. So here are a few of the reasons to smile, and some of them have nothing to do with the blog!

(1) Because I Can Do It!

I really knew nothing about blogging. When a cousin suggested I start blogging, I was not even reading any blogs. So having my own blog was totally unimaginable. But once the idea struck a chord,  I just HAD to do it! I started reading other blogs, about interiors and about blogging, and I found it all really exciting.

Then started the long partnership between Google and me. Google taught me everything I needed to know about setting up a blog. I would Google step 1, execute it and then move on to step 2. With every step I became more confident. From being totally unsure about what I’m doing I am now confident that if I search long enough, I will figure it out. Like I’m sure by the time you reach the end of the post and decide to subscribe to this blog, I WILL have figured out a way to send that printable to your mailbox! 🙂

(2) Because Life Is As Special As the People In It

We hear the phrase ‘friends-like-family’ often enough, but we take the opposite for granted. Like most Indians, I too have a big, happy collection of uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces and first, second and many more cousins. And though they are all great fun, and I love them all, it isn’t possible to be equally close to all of them.

Some of them become your allies, your confidants and your companions. They are ‘family-like-friends’. They sometimes show you possibilities you didn’t know existed, and show you new paths you wouldn’t have thought to take yourself. For example, I owe my journey down the blogging path to Neha and Sameer.

And then there are ‘friends-like-family’. They look out for you almost more than you look out for yourself. They push you, motivate you, encourage you, and kick your butt when you’re unsure, discouraged or just downright lazy!

There should be many more pics here of those who encouraged me, gave me guidance, answered silly questions, read endless number of posts before I published them… and commented on ALL my posts after. It’s great to have them in my corner and they are all a BIG reason to smile!

(3) Because Being Fallible is More Fun Than Being Goofproof

You know how all kids for the longest time think their parents are completely invincible? Moms and dads know it all and can do no wrong. They always have all the answers.

When I started blogging, my kids saw just the opposite. Sometimes, mom knows nothing at all! 🙂 I do hope they also saw that the not knowing did not discourage mom. She searched, read, asked, mailed, called and did whatever it took to get the answers she needed, and achieve what she set out to do. I hope that’s been recorded in some little corner of their impressionable minds.

But what I’m enjoying most is being equal partners with them. My 11 year old had made videos for his school presentations long before I’d ever made a Power Point presentation. (Come to think of it, that’s one thing I still haven’t done!) So when I wanted to make my first video, I asked him to help me out. And when I discovered a cool new video making software I shared that with him. We worked together really well on that one.

They also read my posts and are my most honest critics. They haven’t learnt the art of diplomacy yet, so what they don’t like is labelled ‘poop’ or some such, and they are equally lavish with their praise. This new found ‘equal’ relationship with them is a constant reason to smile!

(4) Because The More You Give, The More You Get

I try to get a new post up on my blog at least once a week. Different things come to mind at different times. But once I choose my topic is when the hard work begins. It’s one thing to know something in your head. It’s another when you want to put it in words so that it is of value to the person reading it. This gets me back to Googling, searching, reading and reading more. Which gives me so many new perspectives too… way beyond what was originally in my head. The more ideas I put out, the more ideas I get. There has been so much learning in the last 6 months in terms of both blogging and interiors. I’m loving it all and smiling all the way through!

And in celebration of the 6 months, and the learning and the getting, I’m giving some more too. You guys are the only reason I blog and so the BIGGEST reason I’m smiling. So this one is for all of you. Download it, print it in any size you want and frame it. Use it on your bedside table or for wall decor. Or gift a frame to someone who makes you smile!

Here’s to awesome todays and brilliant tomorrows!

Until next time,