What I have learned in 5 Years of writing my Blog

While visiting Nigeria in January 2018, I posted my first blog post. At that time, I was very focused on starting to do things that I was afraid of. Looking back on the past five years, I am more than amazed about my journey. I am proud of the over 250 blog posts I have written, the people I have met, the countless stories I have heard, and the path I have built. Over the next years, I look forward to telling stories I have been holding back, providing a platform for others to share their stories, and exploring speaking opportunities.
 
In this blog post, I will share the five lessons that I have learned through my blog.
 
#1: Following your dreams is essential

Starting my blog was part of my dream to create a community of women who support one another on their journey. My blog created a platform for me to share my story, start a conversation and hear people's experiences. The experiences that have come through my blog have surprised me. If I did not take the bold step and followed my dream, I would not have had experience.
 
#2: Doing something bold helps you grow

My blogging journey has taken a lot of bold steps. I sat on my dream to start a blog for over seven years. Once I started, I found this new determination to not stand in the way of my success. For some reason, I talked myself into thinking that I did not have anything special to add.
 
#3: Taking time to reflect is a gift
Someone at dinner asked me what my favorite part of my blog has been. My response was that it has helped me discover myself. There are so many blog posts that I have written about my personal struggles at that time. Planning and writing my blog posts helped me become more aware of my thoughts and stage in life.
 
#4: Overcoming self-doubt is a process
When I finally launched my blog, I thought I had gotten past the major self-doubt I had experienced. Little did I know that I would experience phases where I doubted myself and didn't feel like blogging. I had to keep reminding myself of the results I have seen over the years and believe that I have something special to contribute.
 
#5: Having a solid support community is key
Especially when we work towards our bold goals, we need people who believe in us and support our success. Every time I receive a comment about a post I wrote, I am very encouraged to continue. I have been blessed with amazing people who have been by my side over the past five years.
 
Final Thoughts: Appreciation
One thing that is sure is that I could not have done this without my people. Let me take the time to say a huge thank you.

• To my biggest cheerleader - my twin sister - she has been my greatest supporter
• To all my readers, I appreciate everyone who reads my posts and even goes further to share their stories with me. You inspire me to continue working toward my dream
• To myself - I am delighted that I didn't let self-doubt kill my dream. I'm excited for the journey ahead