How redesigning the blog can clarify your purpose

Redesigning the blog was a mini-project that involved diving into the hidden recesses of my heart. I had to search deep within myself to find out what I really wanted this place to be. I had to re-look my about page and ask myself who am I and what am I doing here?

Those were good questions to ask myself. Challenging, but necessary.

When I briefed the designer who undertook our blog project, I said I wanted this to be “a place to find inspiration, empowerment, encouragement, grace, stillness and delight”. I said I wanted it clean, uncluttered, reader-friendly, and with lots of white space. I’m glad that she understood me.

While she worked on the design, I worked on the content. I sifted through old posts to made sure they were in their right categories, so that they would appear properly in the archives.

It was a slight pain to go through them. Half the time I was going, did I really write this? I thought about deleting some of them, but decided against it. I wanted to keep it real, and be able to look back and see how far we have travelled. We - meaning the blog, my family, and I.

Indeed, despite having been in existence for only more than a year and a half, it has already begun to show me how much I’ve grown as a person, and as a wife, parent, and friend. The blog has grown too, mirroring the ups and downs of my life. Like footprints in the sand of a faithful friend, it follows me. It listens as I pour stories into it, as I share my joys and sorrows. Through blogging, I get a few steps closer to my dream of writing a book one day. And on good days I think, perhaps I really will.

On this blog, I freeze all the memories and lessons I’ve learnt in my parenting journey, in a wild hope that other parents would find some of these useful. Through this blog, I sow and water seeds of friendships, new and old. Through this blog, I learn to be a master weaver of words and images.

I am still learning and I am still grateful. Grateful to be able to clarify my thoughts, my purpose, and grateful to have made new discoveries about myself, about this thing called parenting, and about God.

In the days to come, we will try to live out those little words that appear under the blog’s title.

“A place for parents to find love, confidence, hope and delight.”

I hope you’ll join me in this journey.

A letter to myself about joining the Singapore Blog Awards

Congrats June, you took the leap of faith by joining the Singapore Blog Awards.

You overcame your fears, doubting thoughts, and pursued what you believed was worth dreaming for.

Not the award in itself, certainly not fame, but something more.

Yes, when you were checking the results, you couldn’t believe it. You thought it might have been a mistake. You thought you better take a photo of your blog’s name on the top 10 list, in case it should disappear in the next minute, and you did.

Then you reloaded the page just to see if you were still there. And you were.

It was you. It was true.

And the first thing you did was to tell the hubby. You whatsapped him the photo you took of your blog on that page, and you went “OMGGG”

And your hubby was totally cool. He said “So expected. Ok, let’s start executing your voting campaign.” Which made you LOL and nearly fall off your chair in the office. (He has a knack for making you laugh that way.)

For the next 20 minutes of so, you were smiling at your computer screen, while hoping that no one in the office would notice. You weren’t ready to break the news at that point. Eventually you did, but not at that moment. You just wanted to relish it for a little while.

Then you shared the same photo with your usual bunch of girlfriends who are always on standby on whatsapp, and they jumped for joy along with you.

In spite of your silly antics, I’m really glad you took this leap. You chose to step out of your own shell, brave the outside world a little.

You chose to believe what the hubby said, about how you should join this Awards, and how you should set your own goals.

I know you’re still on cloud nine, but here are some gentle reminders for you.

It’s not about winning or losing.

It’s not about fame.

It’s about who you are at this moment. It’s about trying your best, and overcoming your fears.

And it’s about the people whom you know will support you all the way.

And about the God who has granted you favour.

And because of all these, the outcome of the Awards really doesn’t matter all that much.

So, keep your feet on the ground.

Keep writing from your heart.

Keep enjoying what you do here.

You’re a mummy blogger. A writer in the making. And you should be proud. (But not too proud.)

Be totally thankful.

Keep trusting in the One who made you, and you’ll be okay.

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