I have always loved the written word. Books were my friends from the time I learned how to read.
There is something so special about them: You can dive into another world, forget about your own sorrows, find kindred spirits. Books entertain, teach, comfort, excite, show you the world and worlds beyond your wildest imagination.
Words are powerful: They can build up empires, or destroy them. Make friendships, and break them. The right words can get you almost anything in life you want: you can talk yourself into a job, out of a speeding ticket, endear yourself to your in-laws, get free stuff.
When my sister and I were kids we fought like cats and dogs. We loved each other, but fought constantly. But once in a while, like a rainbow after a storm, we would have times of peace. No biting, scratching, kicking, screaming. Just harmony.
During one of those times we dreamed up our future together: I would be a writer, she a photographer for the same magazine. Something like National Geographic. (Dream big, right?)
We would live together in a big city somewhere, travel the world, and work on pieces together.
It's one of my fondest memories. We talked in detail about our future apartment, how we would decorate it, and the kind of stories we would cover.
I think even then we knew deep down that it would never happen, but it was fun imagining it anyways.
Coming to Canada and learning English opened up a new world for me. I
love the English language. To me it is so much more polished, clever, and graceful than German. And friendlier.
In order to learn it as fast as possible I read a lot when I first came here. And fell in love with it completely. Now I find it difficult reading books in German; it sounds clumsy to me.
Anyhoo. About blogging.
I have come to blogging like "die Jungfrau zum Kind." A perfect German expression, literally translated "like a virgin to a baby", meaning it just fell into my lap.
I didn't know about blogs until about a year ago. Didn't know they exist, what they are, what the purpose of them is. So I obviously never followed any.
Then I found this on
pinterest:
It's an Instagram Canvas, thought up by the talented queen of DIY Elsie Larson. Loved it. So I clicked on it and discovered -
A Beautiful Mess. It was the very first blog I ever laid eyes on! I think that's why they have a special place in my heart, because I found my favourite hobby through them.
Still, it didn't occur to me that I would ever start my own blog. That thought popped up about 6 months later thanks to my cellphone: I'm an enthusiastic cellphone photographer. And I wanted a place where I could put all my pictures. Facebook just wasn't enough any more.
So after about a month of hmmming and aahhing I took the plunge, and Farm Girl was born. (March 15!)
I never anticipated that I would love it SO.FREAKING.MUCH. Why?
Life is better as a blogger. It really is! I find I'm more open, more adventurous, because I want material for my blog. Where I would say no in the past I now find myself saying yes more often.
Then there is the indescribable excitement when inspiration strikes and a new idea pops into my head. Best-feeling-ever! I was never a super creative person, but this hobby allows me to nurture that side of me more. The first few weeks of my blog being born were amazing: I would wake up totally psyched. Like
the first few weeks of being in love in a new relationship. And you all know how amazing that feeling is, right?
I find I live life more intensely. Does that make sense? Where in the past the little moments would pass by without me really noticing, now I see them, document them, and therefore appreciate them so much more.
This summer to me feels like the best one ever! Have we done anything special? Not really.
But it is filled with countless little, precious moments that all add up to an amazing life.
It makes me so thankful.
My memory is awful, and before I would forget from one day to the next what I did the day before. Sad, but true.
But once I have written it down I will remember it so much better. And if not then I can read up on it! Perfect for a forgetful person like me.
Then there is the positive reinforcement. So far this entire experience has been nothing but positive. I have connected with people in new ways: People I know from real life have talked to me about stuff I have written and we had deep, awesome conversations.
Thank you all for coming up to me! I appreciate it more than you can imagine.
Plus there are the online connections: I love reading comments, discovering other blogs, getting to know the person behind them. I feel like being part of something big. It's incredible.
Before, I never really had a hobby. Sure, there were things I liked to do, but nothing I was passionate about. I was one of those people who said that I would get bored just being at home. That I couldn't imagine not going to work. (Yup, I was
that person.) Sometimes I would vaguely ponder about retirement: How would I fill my days?
Not any more! I'm finally,
finally a person with a passion. A hobby that's just mine. My husband has always been a man with lots of hobbies and I was always a tad jealous. And now we both have them and life is good. He is very supportive and understanding, patiently takes photos for me and puts up with my excessive computer time. Thanks babe! ♥
I could go on and on. (I guess I already did hehe.) But I will stop now. Just one last thing:
Thank you all for your love and support. It means the world to me. Love you!!
Love, Miriam