Why I Blog?

According to Wikipedia, " A blog provides commentary or news on a particular subject such as food, politics, or local news. Others function as a personal online diary." With this definition, anybody can make a blog! And why shouldn't you?

I came up with 8 reasons why I should write a blog. Feel free to come up with your own.

1. It is an avenue to express myself. A blog allows me to share my thoughts and feelings in the world wide web. This lets other people know what a regular person like me is thinking. The human element in it makes it more interesting.
2. It will unravel my creativity inside. Initially, I was skeptical about starting a blog thinking that I do not have enough imagination to write a series of posts. Well, after a few weeks of focusing on it, it became easier and easier. Blogging allowed me to discuss various topics and constant writing will fuel that ingenuity.
3. It will improve my writing skills. Writing daily expanded my word selection, sentence construction and so on. When I read my earlier articles or posts, I observed a marked improvement. Just like any other skill, writing takes practice.
4. It links me to the rest of the world. A blog bonds me to other people through the thoughts, comments or opinions that I share. When I read someone else's blog, I know that I am in connection with a human being and not some corporate website.
5. It makes me a considerate writer. Knowing that my articles can be read by anyone who has Internet access, it made me a bit more conscious with my writing being careful not to offend any race, religion or culture by the issues I discuss.
6. It makes me a considerate reader. Having a blog myself enabled me to be understanding and appreciative of other people's views, experiences & knowledge.
7. It keeps a record of events. Writing everyday about the things happening around me serves as a journal that I can read back anytime I want. It may not be significant to me at present but five years from now, I know I will relish reading my posts again.

Well, so far these are what I can think of. How about you? What's your personal reason for blogging? Let me know your thoughts on this.

Topic Hunting

Imagine this. You start typing a few sentences then after that, a complete stop. Nothing follows. The harder you try to finish this, the more difficult it gets. I think every writer's fear is not having something to write about. I, for one, experiences this from time to time. Having days wherein I would feel that I could no longer squeeze any creative juices out of my mind is not new to me.

I observed that I would find it difficult to write when I am jaded by the day-to day events of living. When everything seems to be ordinary and nothing seems to be interesting. What could be worst than staring at your computer screen and nothing comes out? For bloggers like me, it is but essential to update one's blog regularly and doing this would require effort. So, I'd like to share some of the things that I do when hunting for a topic.

• Step out of the computer. This means diverting your energies by doing something else. It could be taking a walk, talking to a friend, playing with my kids or doing household chores.
• Ponder on the day's or coming events. Often, this could be a good kick start for a topic.
• Ask friends for ideas. You can't think of everything so you can seek suggestions from your friends as to what could be a good topic that to dwell on.
• Experience something new. Routine zaps out the creative juices that we have inside us. Now, I don't mean you have to go bungee jumping or skydiving for you to be able to write. Just try to step out of your comfort zone so as to encounter something new. It is through this occurence that one would be able to fertilize that creativity in us needed in writing.
• Read newspapers. This is a good way to know what's going on around you and writing your opinions about current events could be a start.
• Write your ideas. Sometimes, ideas can come to you when you least expect it. If this is the case, having a pen and notebook with you always will enable you to jot down your idea and not forget about it. You can then go back to it later when you are ready to write.
• Be sensitive to inspirations. Inspirations do not always come handed down in a silver platter. You just have to attune your senses to look for it and work with what you have.

Inadequate or so it seems...

"What have you accomplished so far?"

A simple question yet when given much thought is very hard to answer. An innocent question but when asked in the middle of an argument can hurt so much. In a flash, you will re-examine your life and in so doing, whatever accomplishments you may have achieved would make you feel inadequate.

I know it was not the intention of that person to make me feel insufficient. I was just taken aback by the tartness of the question. But what is the true measure of one's accomplishments? Is it through the grandiose of material things that one has acquired, or through the number of plaques you have on your wall or is it through the number of zeroes your bank account has or the number of organizations you are a member of or the wideness of your network activity?

Accomplishments or success can have various meaning depending on the person being asked. We all have taken different paths, different directions in our lives. Through the course of things, we have prioritized what is important to us at that time. For some it may be career, for others it may be further studies or building an empire or starting a family.

What is important is that you do not compare your achievements with someone else's unless you want to be miserable all your life. Just remember that this is your life and it is only you who will be accountable for it.

Simply put, "Life is what we make out of it."

Working from Home

Working from home is what I've been doing for the past 3 years. I've worked in a telecommunications company before but I knew that the corporate set-up would not suit me. And I was right. I was happy with my job and with my colleagues but I was not happy with the rigidness of a corporate set-up. But most of all, I was not happy that I missed out on some of my family's activities.

I knew I had to choose. And so I resigned. When I did quit, I was excited that I had so much plenty of time, that I can enjoy the day with my young kids while the older ones are at school, that I do not have to dress-up and worry about the reports I have to submit, that I can watch the late morning TV programs that I would normally miss and so much more. I was ecstatic!... at least for the first 2 months.

After a while, I became restless. I knew I wanted to do something, something that could make me feel occupied and at the same time earn extra income. Besides, it is liberating to know that I earn my own money.

So I started a home based business and been doing some freelance writing on the side. This enabled me to dictate my own time and decide my work load. It is a perfect set-up on the outside but working at home also has its setbacks.

You see, it is twice as hard to get things done when you work at home. The enemy mainly is distraction. With writing, it is difficult to be distracted because there would be instances wherein nothing comes out and there would also be instances wherein ideas are racing out of my mind and I am typing very fast. So, you could just imagine how impatient I would get when I am suddenly stopped from my work.

Since I work at home, a lot of things could distract me like my kids, the telephone, the TV, the mailman etc. You really have to be disciplined and allot a time to really just work and shut yourself up from all the things going on around the house. It would also mean training the kids to respect your time when you are working.

But, nothing could be more perfect for me than this present set-up that I have. Despite it's disadvantages, I love it and I wouldn't exchange it for anything else.

Earn Extra Income

Lately, I have been dabbling with Google Adsense and how to earn from it. I've known about this for some time but it is just now that I really took the time to read on how I can wisely add it in my blog. Google pays $20 cents per click. Not much especially for somebody who's starting like me. Doesn't matter, I said to myself. This is extra income for my part and I enjoy writing in my blog.

There is much more to Google Adsense than what I thought. Below are some of the things I've learned when using Adsense:

1. Your ads need to have the right combination of colors and size. It has to be attractive but at the same time it has to blend in your blog or website. This is important so as the reader would assume that it is part of your blog.
2. You have to update your blog regularly. Everyday if possible. This would encourage crawlers to go through your blog.
3. Write quality articles. Not too short and full of pictures.
4. Write something that ordinary people can relate to.
5. If possible, target your readers. Personally, this is something I find it hard to do because I write based on what inspires me at the moment and based on my experiences. Knowing your readers would mean writing articles constantly about a specific topic. This would be an advantage when it comes to your ads.

Google Adsense, given the right focus, can serve as an extra income for working moms like me. It gives me the chance to do what I enjoy doing and at the same time earn extra from it.

Truly Rich

The book by Bo Sanchez "8 Secrets on How to be Truly Rich" was enlightening. It was written with an exact dose of humor, reality, practicality and spirituality. Unlike other self help books wherein the focus is just all about making money, this one mixes it with the essence of being a good Christian.... of how you can be a blessing to others. It inspired me to work harder in achieving not only my financial goals but to be truly rich in all aspects of my life. A book definitely worth your time.

Overloaded Inboxes

Are you one of those who have an inbox full of emails?.... One who keeps at least 2 email addresses? Well, I am. And despite having 3 separate, all active, email addresses, I can't seem to manage to keep the inbox clean. I try to answer all the emails addressed to me but somehow I can not seem to delete them. This is most especially true when it comes to my work related email addy. I do not delete for the simple reason that I may need to refer to it again or that the topic is important.

But since the mailbox is overloaded, it takes some time for me to find the specific email that I need. Ha, ha. It totally defeats the purpose of why I keep it!

Thus, this morning, I started clearing my inbox. Golly, doing this task is so tedious that I totally forgot the time. I need to be religious from now on in maintaining my Inbox manageable.

Good luck to me.

Looking for Statisticians

For those looking for extra bucks and willing to put their free time to good use, we are looking for freelance Statisticians who have excellent writing skills as well. Applicant must be adept in using SPSS & other statistical tools for data analysis. He/she must be able to design research methods and do questionnaires. We offer a competitive rate on a per page basis.

Interested applicants may email their resume to cecwritingtutorialservices@yahoo.com.

Are we almost there?

Half of the year has passed and I think it is good time to start assessing if the goals we have set upon ourselves for the year 2007 has a fair chance of being achieved. At the start of the year, most people would have set their own list of what to do's and not to do's. Often, we would fall short of that list for reasons or excuses that only we could know. But, it is still not too late if we are behind in meeting our objectives this year. Let us make use of whatever time left in attaining our own dreams, may it be big or small.

Stress Busters

"Oh my God! I'm so stressed! What should I do?"

Often, I would hear my friends tell me this. But in reality, who isn't stressed? Everybody experiences stress, even children. But do you know that there is good stress and bad stress? Stress can be good for you when you experience it in moderation and forces you to excel or do your best. However, when stress is given in long periods of time and your body can not handle it anymore then that stress becomes bad or excessive.

As a working mom with 4 kids, I am often under stress. The chaos of our house with little boys running everywhere, the sound of the TV, the task of managing the household & the demands of my work really transforms me into a witch. My husband would always tell me to take it in strides but it is easier said than done.

Thus, I decided to write this to help others & also as a reminder to myself. It may or may not work for you but who knows?

1. Learn to recognize your stress. Most of us would just say "I'm stressed!" but it would help if we determine the cause of our stress. Often the cause of our stress is just in our mind and when we analyze it, it shouldn't cause so much worry. Also learning to distinguish what is good & bad stress can help alleviate the situation.

2. Can I do something about it? Ask yourself first this question if you are stressed about something. If you can do something to correct the situation then do it. However, in most situations, it is out of our hands. Example, you are stressed that you turned down an invitation by your mother-in-law for a lunch over this weekend. This is a last minute invitation and you have made plans earlier for the weekend with your bestfriend whom you haven't seen for a long time. You start to worry that your mother-in-law will take your refusal negatively. So how do we handle the situation? First, see if you can fix your schedule. If no arrangements can be made, choose and decide. Whatever you decide, stand by it and do not think anymore of what the other person will think. It is futile and a waste of energy. You can not control what the other person will think but you can control your decisions.

3. Organize, Prioritize & Delegate. Nothing beats proper planning. This will spare you from the stress of cramming & rushing. With all the multitude of tasks we have to accomplish, knowing what is important and what is not will make a big difference. Delegating the not so important tasks will ease the burden you have on your shoulders. Remember, you are not Superman.

4. Do something you ENJOY. Get a breather, anything that will take your mind off your work or responsibilities.

• Take up a hobby - It can be cross stitch, collecting items, gardening, beading etc. There are countless hobbies that you can start. I recently discovered Scrapbooking and I really enjoyed it. Start a project that you can work at your own pace.
• Watch a movie - This will relieve you of your worries for at least 2 hours. It's cheap and you can do it with your friends or loved one.
• Read a book - Reading feeds our imagination. It enables us to experience life vicariously. So, set aside time each day to read a book. It can be just a few pages but pretty soon you'll be surprised that you have read the whole book already.
• Pamper yourself - If you have the money, go to your fave salon and be treated like a queen. If you're tight on the budget, a DIY pampering will work as well. There are lots of beauty products available that you can do on your own. Shut yourself in your room, put on a soft music, light scented candles for that special effect and give yourself a hair spa, manicure & pedicure.
• Move that body - One sure way to cure stress is to exercise. When we exercise, we release "happy" hormones. It doesn't have to be in an expensive fitness center. Just take a walk around the park or in your neighborhood or play badminton with your kids. Before the game is over, you will be in a good mood already.
• Keep a journal - For some, writing what transpired helps ease the stress. It can be a diary or a blog. Whatever your tool is, it doesn't matter. What matters is that you were able to express your thoughts.
• Feed your soul - Stress is brought about by worries. And what better way to let go of these thoughts but to talk to God. Pray and talk to Him, tell Him your woes and you will feel better. Prayer does not always have to be in the church. It can be anywhere as long as you feel at ease.

The list could go on and on and you are welcome to add your own stress buster technique. Do not be afraid to try. Finally, put stress in a different perspective. We all need stress in our lives. Life would be too bland if everything is working out just right. It's not life anymore and stress is part of being human. In the end, it all boils down one thing.

Love yourself, Relax and leave the driving to God.