How Blogging Saved My Life and Became my Job
I’ve long had health issues, I’ve touched on the some of it in previous posts (such as this one about my mental health issues).
In my early 20s after getting myself back on my feet after some abusive relationships, I started to get myself back on track.
I had started Open University studying Criminology and Social Policy, I was able to volunteer with my local Wildlife Trust, both as a youth range and with school visits.
Then I caught swine flu.
I thought the worst part would be the fact I was unable to go to Malta, after being grounded by my doctor, little did I know that I would still be suffering almost 8 years later.
I remember making it to my parents and not leaving the sofa, the energy zapped from my body, while it hurt all over.
I thought that would end, but it didn’t.
The pain never left and my fatigue got no better, in some ways, of course, I was better, my nose no longer ran, but on the whole, my body never recovered from that episode.
It took a long time to get any diagnosis, at first the doctor thought I was just suffering from post-viral fatigue, which can last for a long time after a bad viral episode.
However, as time went on it was obvious I wasn’t going to recover and I was sent to a specialist.
It was decided after looking over my history I had probably suffered with ME since my early teens, after a prior bad flu episode and the latest one had kicked off Fibromyalgia as well.
Until that point I had been hanging onto a small thread, that there would be a cure, I would get better and everything would be as it once was.
In that moment though my world shattered. It would never be better. I let my mental health get worse, I gave up on life.
It came to a head a few months later, I needed to get myself a bit better, I needed to do something.
My old past times were ruled out, it hurt to hold a pen for long so I could no longer write to pen friends, and shaking hands meant I couldn’t do jewellery making.
So in December 2010, I started a blog, this blog. I wrote about rubbish, some silly throwaway moment that happened in the day but had made me smile.
From there it evolved, my brain while suffering from fibro fog often, was kicked into working a little more. Idea’s formed, I made friends, I had a purpose again.
Blogging had saved me.
However, I would never have thought how far my blog would take me, how now in 2017, it is my full-time job, I am earning enough to live on from it.
You see I thought perhaps I would never work again, not only did my mental health suffer when I worked (I got obsessed with working, threw everything into it until I broke), my fatigue means I never know how I will be from day to day.
I thought I would never be a contributing member of society again, paying my own way. However, here I am.
I guess what I am trying to say, is sometimes taking that leap and doing something, may just open doors you never knew existed before, so go on, give it a try.
You might find that small step, leads to a big change.
Has blogging changed your life in any way, or have you taken a step and found it offered something amazing?
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I can totally relate to this post. Am.so gl you have been so courageous and achieved all this fighting against adversities. A role model !
Aww, thank you so much, I sort of wake up every day wondering how I got here still lol.
Hats off to you for being so open and honest. You will never know how many people you have touched and helped. I’m so pleased for you that you can earn a living through blogging and hope that your health improves in time.
Thank you – I do hope it helps some people as it can feel so useless as though you aren’t going to be able to do anything.
Wow loved this post. What a great journey and we are super glad you are now making money from your passion 🙂
GR
Blogging is such a powerful thing. It really changes peoples lives. I love that it allowed you to work and use your voice when you were ill.
Thank you so much it really does help me every day – it has given me a purpose again.
I think it is so awesome that you’ve been so successful with blogging! This is such an inspirational read!
Aww thank you so much that means a lot to read.
Blogging is sure therapeutic. For the longest time I had a journal kind of a blog. Over a period of time I started a food blog and now that it what I do full time. Love it.
It is great isn’t it – I love how it helps so many different people in so many different ways.
I wish I would put more work into my blog to make it my full time income. I just slack in batches it seems or life gets in the way.
You never know you might get into the flow – it took me a while, or try and make it so you even just do one post at the same time each week / fortnight / month etc.
Hi Sarah,
Thankyou for sharing your story. I have commented on quite a few of your posts, but I didn’t realise how you got into blogging and about your health condition.
It’s so amazing that you help other bloggers through the facebook groups as well. I really appreciate it.
x
Hi Rachel,
Thank you so much. I think it often surprises people when they hear about my health, which is odd as I feel like I moan about it a lot haah!.
xx
This is great to read, and I’m sure your story will go on to inspire so many people reading to take that leap. Thank you for sharing your story x
Aww thank you – I hope it does as well, it has made me feel more human and purposeful again.
Whenever I read something like this, I wonder if this is an eye-opener for me. If God has let me see and read what other people do to overcome it. My dark past bugs me, creating a wall of confusion on my mind that stop me from writing – my own voice. Now, I think I’d write and share what keeps me up and about. Thanks for the inspiration. You are a strong woman! *hugs and kisses
I’ve found it helps to get it out there sometimes and you know if it helps one person as well that is amazing. x
Wow! Thanks for being so open and honest about your conditions Sarah, I had no idea that that was what had lead you to full time blogging. I’m glad that you’re not letting the illnesses hold you back from being creative though 🙂 x
Aww thank you – I’ve tried to open up a bit more about it this year, and talk about my issues in the hope they will help another.
Glad you found something to keep you going and get you through we all need something to pull us through sometimes good that you found it ?
Most definitely it is a huge boost when you find something you can do.
thank you for sharing your journey x
Love this and it’s amazing how blogging has changed so many peoples lives! Congrats on making it your job!
It really does seem to have helped so many people get through so much, it is an amazing thing.
I think it’s great that blogging has allowed you to feel a part of something again and it’s amazing that you’re earning enough to do it full time x
It is fab, ok I’m not rich but then you aren’t living on benefits either I muddle through and I’ve earned the pennies which is amazing.
I remember reading your past posts on your abusive relationships and how strong I thought you were. I very much admire that you took your past and had the strength to overcome everything that had happened to you. That truly took courage and you should be very proud of yourself for writing this post. So happy that you are a blogger and I want to personally thank you for the helpful communities you have created. You really rock x
Aww thank you so much <3, my life as it was once described to me could be something you have read in a magazine, but you know it made me who I am I have to try and take the positives from it as you do yourself 🙂 x
Love you xxx I’m so glad you decided to start this blog x
Love you too <3 thank you for all the times you have been there for me, means the world. xx
Anytime, you know that x
It’s wonderful that you are able to make an income out of your blog; let alone a full time career!
Thank you – I sort of still have to pinch myself every morning 😉
What an amazing journey! Suffering from any form of mental illness is awful, I know from experience and also from being a carer to my son.
It really is hard, it still kicks my behind sometimes, but the plus side of blogging is I can take some time off when I need it, no matter if I don’t know that until the day comes.
I admire your stamina to keep at it despite your illnesses and I am so glad that blogging has given you back your livelihood. Its so easy to give up yet you did not. Well done for that and a real good example to people who maybe feel that if they have an illness they can’t bounce back.
Aw thank you so much. I hope it can help people know there can be a light, someone said to me at 17 how does it feel to be on the scrap heap already. I can now say I wasn’t.
Loved this post. It’s funny how things can happen for a reason isn’t it? Blogging was my lifeline when I first moved abroad 7 years ago. It helped my family get some idea of what we were up to and where we were too. Now we are back in the UK for a while and I still find stuff to post about! ?
It really is isn’t it, I’m glad blogging helped you so much as well and that you can still do it back home here in the UK <3
❤️
Thank you <3
I wish I had starting blogging way back when. I was told I should and never quite made it,I didnt feel I had a niche. Now there are so many blogs I would be lost in the crowd so I dont bother.
I am so glad you got into blogging when you did and am so happy it has helped you through so many obstacles!
It really is never too late honestly, we see people starting up daily in UK Bloggers and many of them as long as they get their head down and work for it can really make it.