Eight lessons learned in eight years of blogging
In things that I can’t quite believe: I’ve been blogging for eight years! This little blog domain has witnessed life in three countries and travels to 35 more (!), two cross-country and two-around-the-world moves, countless weekend trips and so many flights, a few job moves and shifts in relationship status. Through a lot of change, C’est Christine has been a constant: a place where I regularly write and share photos, sure, but also a part of my identity and a huge factor in some of the most incredible experiences I’ve had over the last eight years. 
Moving to San Diego was definitely the biggest life change this year. While the verdict is still out on whether it’s a good or bad thing for this blog (perhaps unsurprisingly, people are a lot more interested in travel and life in New York City), it’s unequivocally one of the best things I could have done for my health and happiness. There are definitely times when I miss Brooklyn–my friends, the bagels, the undeniable cool factor–but mostly, I love being close to the ocean, starting my mornings with a long walk through Balboa Park, all of the fresh fruit and the cheap delicious tacos, the sunny and laid-back vibes. It’s been a good year, and as I close out my twenties, I’m looking forward to all of the great things ahead. But in the spirit of blog-aversary posts: a few of the things I’ve learned in the past eight years of blogging.
1. Don’t do it for fame or money
When readers email asking me for blogging advice, the #1 thing I tell them is to blog about something they really, truly love. There’s no guarantee of success, and if you hate what you’re writing about–or you hate to write–you’re not going to last long. And it’s not going to be any fun!
Start writing, start taking photos, start finding your voice. What I’ve learned most is that a) success doesn’t come overnight and b) you have to want to do it for yourself first. All of the bloggers that I’ve seen become the most successful are ones who are genuinely excited about traveling and about sharing their adventures, and who have a particular quirk or thing that they’re weirdly passionate about that sets them apart. Being a good writer comes with knowing the basics and from practice and from putting yourself out there for feedback and criticism, but stories that people want to read are rooted in authenticity and enthusiasm.
2. Disconnect regularly
Some of the best things I do for my mental health are to turn my phone on airplane mode before bed every night, to not buy wifi when I’m on planes, to meditate for 20 minutes every morning as often as I can. Some of my best travel days are when I don’t have internet service and I actively decide not to constantly seek out wifi: it’s nice to experience a place with all of my senses instead of through a screen, to focus on where I am instead of scrolling through all of the places where other people are. Although I live a lot of my life online and feel some pressure (whether real or imagined) to share it for public consumption, regularly carving out phone-free and internet-free time is key for my mental health and my creativity.
3. Accept that the internet is constantly changing
When I started this blog, there was no Instagram or Snapchat or Facebook advertising or Pinterest. One of the tricky parts about making a living–or just having a passion project–on the internet is that there’s always going to be a “next big thing” and you have to evaluate what’s going to last and what will float away. I’m the first to admit that I’m a late adopter when it comes to new technology and platforms, and it’s impacted my success in those places–early adopters are generally rewards. But what I’ve learned is that complaining about changes or ignoring new spaces doesn’t do anything constructive or positive. Be flexible, be open-minded, be willing to try new things–and if it doesn’t work, don’t be afraid to walk away from some and lean into the platforms that you actually enjoy.
4. Listen to the criticism, but don’t get sucked in by the haters
One of the tough parts about blogging is that it’s often a solo exercise: no editors, no one to bounce ideas off, no one to tell you if something doesn’t quite stick. You make mistakes. You get stuck. And because it’s the internet, people will tell you when you mess it up. It can be tough to hear, but sometimes they’re right (and sometimes they’re not). Constructive criticism makes you better, but vitriol only tears you down.
A few years ago, I discovered hateful comments about me on a weird internet forum and it totally shook my confidence and drowned me in negativity. I had to make the intentional choice to not seek out that sort of commentary (because it was too easy to read it and reread it when I was already feeling bad, and it only made me feel worse), and being able to avoid it since then is something that I’m proud of.
That said, I appreciate it when people take the time to disagree with me in the comments here. It keeps me honest, and inspires (hopefully) better content going forward.
5. Your friends don’t have to be fans
I have some real-life friends who read my blog, and plenty more who don’t. I’m forever grateful to my friends and family (hi Katelyn, David, Mom!) who read every post, like my posts on Facebook and Instagram no matter what, tell me if I have a typo, give me feedback or just tell me that they liked a certain post. But liking me the blogger is not the same as liking me the person. I have so many wonderful friends who never read my blog, and that is A-OK with me. I try not to overshare blog stuff in my personal channels, or lean on my blog as the most interesting thing about me in conversation–I usually try to avoid it, to be honest.
6. The stuff that makes you weird is the most interesting
Don’t be afraid to embrace your quirkiness: the strange and wonderful things that genuinely get you the most excited will be what set you apart from the rest of the crowd. I still go through funks of comparison envy, especially when it feels like everyone else is getting bigger deals and crazy trips and encouraging people that OF COURSE you can get all of these wild perks if only you follow your dreams, etc etc. But I’ve found that much of my success has been not in trying to emulate what everyone else is doing, but being passionate about the things that actually get me genuinely excited, like reading and solo travel and encouraging other people to travel (but not necessarily quit their job).
One of my favorite things to hear is when people say that they “recognized” one of my Instagram posts, or when they see a certain shade of blue sky or a cool bookstore or a row of colorful houses or a pug and think of me. I love that people associate me with the weird things that I’m obsessed with, and it’s especially fun to discover other people who share the same obsessions.
7. You can’t be everything to everyone
One of my favorite quotes is “I don’t know the secret to success, but I do know the secret to failure is trying to please everyone.” The older I get, the more I realize that not only can you not be everything to everyone–but you also can’t be everything at all times. As much as I try, I can’t be in all places at once. And the sacrifices I make to be a better employee or a better writer often result in me being a more absent partner, pug mother, friend. I can’t say yes to every blog opportunity–although I still do tend to overbook myself, which ends only in exhaustion. This is still something I’m working on.
8. Never stop being grateful
I realize I say this every year, but none of this would be possible without the people who read this blog. It’s still so wild to me to think that there are some readers who have been around since I was 21 years old bartending in Nice, adventuring around Australia or from the early days of being single and broke in New York City. And here I am, married and pug-owning and on the brink of 30!
I am so thankful and happy that you’re here! Thank you for reading, for following, for sometimes buying the things or going to the places I recommend, for saying hello if you have ever recognized me in public. You are the reason that I keep blogging: every email and comment inspires me to keep going.
I also know that I come from a place of incredible privilege, from my race to my citizenship to my socioeconomic status. And I’ve been lucky enough to create a life–relationships, career, home–that sometimes feels too good to be true. Even though I can get bogged down in the first-world problems that feel overwhelming, not a day goes by where I don’t feel overwhelmed with the gratitude for the life and opportunities I have.
And, of course, a look back: first-ever post, first blog-aversary, second blog-aversary, third blog-aversary, fourth blog-aversary, fifth blog-aversary, sixth blog-aversary and seventh blog-aversary.
