Why I do this blogging thing

Blogs are everywhere and you can find thousands on just about every niche you can imagine with a few clicks of your mouse. But what about me and Oui In France? Why do I blog?

Here are 6 reasons why I blog…

Why I blog

I started Oui In France almost 3 years ago and I never expected it to grow to where it is today. I originally created my blog to keep friends and family back home up to date with my life across the pond but it’s become so much more. I’ve expanded my focus and have written over 330 posts to date. I never imagined Oui In France would mean so much to me.

So here’s why I blog:

I like helping people.

Really, truly I do. I’m that reliable friend who’s always there to help you out in a jam and talk you down from the ledge, so to speak. But this extends to people I don’t know and I’m a firm believer of paying it forward — in all areas of life. So if I can help you by writing about what life is really like in France and provide some practical tips along the way for future expats and visitors (and maybe entertain you here and there), it makes me feel good to do so. Have questions about life in France or anything I’ve written? You can email me and know I’ll always get back to you. 😉

It gives me a sense of purpose.

Feeling fulfilled and like you’re on the right path are two things I think about a lot – in terms of career and everything else in our lives. But one thing that grounds and motivates me is this blog. Oui In France has become something I can rely on to give me a sense of purpose. No matter where I am, I can open up my laptop and share a little bit of what’s on my mind with you. It’s always here and waiting.

It holds me accountable.

In a country that’s not your own where you don’t have a ton of family and friends, sometimes it feels like you don’t have much to be accountable for. My blog has become more than a hobby and is something I look forward to that will hold me accountable – to all of you. I do my best to post consistently twice a week (sometimes more) and have done so for over 2.5 years. If I don’t post, I feel like I’ve let myself down because of how important this blog is to me.

I like learning.

I never thought I’d be able to set up my own blog and was sure I’d have to hire a friend to figure out server issues and plugin issues and this and that on the technical side of things. But nope! Aside from designing the logo, everything here was done by me. Having a blog forces you to solve your own problems and get better at things like SEO, photography, coding, etc. Don’t underestimate the power of a little googling mixed in with handy YouTube videos. You can learn anything. I also really enjoy learning about my readers and what’s going on in their lives. So along with that…

To connect with all of you.

This one is HUGE. I’m so appreciative of all the connections I’ve made with bloggers and non-bloggers alike both online and off. If I never started a blog, I’d be an anonymous face just living life in France. But my blog has allowed me to go so much further. From your emails and comments to in-person meetups and more, I’m so grateful for the connections I’ve made with all of you out there. So thank you.

I like writing and doing so on my terms.

I’ve always enjoyed writing but I enjoy it so much more when it’s for my own blog. I decide what I write about, when and how to go about it. Writing college essays always stressed me out because even if I liked the subject matter, the format and deadlines were always dictated by someone else. Here, I do what I want. No stress, no pressure and that’s the way I like it.

Can you relate to any of my reasons about why I blog? Why do you blog?