How Blogging Changed My Life

November 19th, 2007

It’s now been just over a month since my first post and the launch of OrganicMania. As a mother of two, I’m very concerned about building a healthy environment for my children. OrganicMania was started as a way to share my research and opinions about when it truly makes sense to go organic. But OrganicMania is turning into so much more than that – it’s turning into a community, and it’s become my passion.

Thank you to everyone who supported my fledgling steps – especially the bloggers who’ve offered advice or found my site and left comments. This means the women – WhyMommy of Toddler Planet, Sher of Wrekehavoc, Gift of Green, Rejin from Urban Botany, Beth from Fake Plastic Fish, MC Milker from Not Quite Crunchy Parent, Margaret from Whirlwind, Mama K from Non Toxic Tots and mama k nj, Emily from Wheels on the Bus, and Jessica from Surely You Nest. This also means thanks to my “token males” — Jeff Steele, the father of DC Urban Moms and Dads; the megablogger Geoff Livingston; Nicholas from The Place of Dead Roads and Dean Hua from Sachi Studios, who got my blog up in no time. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to post comments or simply to visit the site. And most of all, thanks to my wonderful DH who encouraged me to start OrganicMania. He’s now calling himself “a blogging widower.”

My life truly has changed since I began blogging. How? Let me count the ways. I have:

1. Realized that organics and green living are more than simply an interest of mine. I want to find a way to make these passions fit into my work life too. This is obviously a huge change, and I’ll be blogging more about this as I explore what new doors may open for me;
2. Met new friends, deepened existing relationships and even talked with some in “real life;”
3. Had more fun writing than I’ve had since my days as a newspaper reporter fresh out of college;
4. Learned a lot about the organics industry and the green movement;
5. Taught myself to do a few technical things on my WordPress blogging platform, boosting my technical self-esteem;
6. Moved from observing the blogosphere for years to feeling a part of it; and I
7. Feel incredibly happy about all of this.

I feel more alive as a blogger. Connected. It’s odd, because here I sit alone at a computer, yet I know I am plugged into a huge community. It also sounds trite, because I have known about this phenomenon for more than a decade. But it’s one thing to know about something as an observer – it’s something totally different to live it.

Perhaps these feelings are hitting me especially hard, because as a Mom, I’m not accustomed to taking much time for myself. All of my friends are asking, “How are you finding time to do all this blogging?” I think the secret is that I’ve just about given up housework! ☺


6 Responses to “How Blogging Changed My Life”

  1. WhyMommy on November 20, 2007 10:48 am

    Awesome, awesome, awesome!

    I’m so happy that you’ve found your niche and that you’re enjoying it! I’m enjoying reading you … tons!

    Thanks so much, WhyMommy! Always great to hear from you. And a very happy thanksgiving to you, too! — Lynn

  2. The Not Quite Crunchy Parent on November 20, 2007 4:01 pm

    Thanks for the mention, Lynn. I’m looking forward to seeing your post on what to do with lead free toys…let me know when it is up…I’ll link!

    You’re welcome, MC, and thanks! Happy Thanksgiving! — Lynn

  3. Gift of Green on November 21, 2007 10:34 am

    What a nice idea to recognize your commenters. Keep up the good work!

    Thanks! Everything I had read about blogging indicated that I would launch my blog and nothing would happen, but that hasn’t been the case…so I really felt the need to thank everyone. To top it off, we’re heading into Thanksgiving! — Lynn

  4. Jessica on November 21, 2007 8:16 pm

    Aww, so nice, Lynn! And I am so in agreement with your post, I am *so* enjoying not only the writing (former English major here) but also the dialogue with other people in the blogosphere since I launched. When I taught I used to say that I learned about something 1000 times more in prepping lessons and discussing them with kids, and now I feel that same way again. Like I am really learning so much and engaging with ideas I care about. I was just thinking of you this morning after tapping into EWG’s Skin Deep after a long hiatus and realizing I need to overhaul our beauty products/soaps etc beyond the “no parabens no fragrance” mantra I’d been using. I was hoping you’d do a feature on products (baby, makeup, hand soap, you name it) you’ve found that are organic and uber safe as I know this is an interest of yours that you’ve researched. And finally, ROFL about the housework! You should see the pit we occupy — but it’s the hovel of a creatively challenged, happy blogger these days (smile). Happiest of Thanksgivings! J

    Thanks for touching base and happy thanksgiving! Hmm….I will definitely write about those products in the new year. Thanks for the suggestion. — Lynn

  5. Nicholas on November 22, 2007 5:39 pm

    Lynn,

    A short correction, my blog’s name is not one word, it is ‘The Place of Dead Roads’, the title of one of my favorite books. Written by the late great American author William S. Burroughs. Thanks for the Whuffie.

  6. sher on November 25, 2007 3:59 pm

    …and i have always enjoyed hearing what you have to say, LA :) i’m so glad your blog is out there!

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