For the first several months of blogging, for understandable reasons, I kept a pretty low profile.
I didn’t tweet (I was loathe to jump on the Twitter bandwagon), and I didn’t have any links up on my Facebook page to my blogs.
I guess you could say I didn’t want to be defined by my “problem” … so I figured I just wouldn’t let anyone know about it, unless they knew about it directly from me.
But then a funny thing happened.
Instead of finding myself isolated from coming “out,” about my food/body issues, once I opened up and put myself out there — really out there (i.e., posting links to new posts on my Facebook page, putting my full identity on my blog profile, adding the URL to my Facebook profile, joining WeAretheRealDeal.com) — I found I’ve connected with lots of real-life friends and actually have an even stronger support network than I thought.
And that feels amazing.
Today, I’m proud to be an advocate for women and body image/disordered eating issues … something I didn’t necessarily see myself as only a year ago. I mean, sure I envisioned it, but it wasn’t at the forefront like it is now.
In a way, this advocacy role I’ve created for myself means that I’m more cognizant of my decisions. Knowing I’ll be blogging each night helps me keep myself in check (OK, except when an over-dose of PB Loco was involved yesterday!) and I think that accountability is one of the strongest attributes I’ve experienced with respect to blogotherapy.
It’s priceless.
Just yesterday I got an e-mail from a dear, dear college friend (who had heard about my blog from a mutual friend who had seen my blog’s URL on Facebook and had also contacted me about it months ago) … anyway … I read her sweet words, and found myself choking up.
While I love knowing my words/experiences can impact people I’m meeting along the way, I have to say, I love knowing they can impact people in my real world, too, even people without food issues.
Today, my blogging experience has helped me professionally, too. I run our agency’s Twitter feed as well as our blog (also done in WordPress), and have been helping one of our clients with their Facebook presence.
And I know the social media lingo now, which helps me make decisions. I like that sense of empowerment, and I owe much of that to blogging and this entire experience.
How about you? If you blog, how has blogging helped you personallyand/ or professionally?
Let There Be Light 
I haven’t “come out” with my blog yet. I publicize it within a certain circle, but it is nowhere to be found on facebok and my extrended family do not know about it.
Since gaining a larger audience (“larger” meaning more than just me and my hubs!), I have definitely been impacted for the better through my blog. There are some downsides, but they are outweighed by the connections, support system, and friendships I have made.
I am glad to read that “coming out” has empowered you, and helped others in the process!
Thanks, Lara!
My blog is annonymous because I am not ready to have everyone know my every thought. I treat mine like a journal though and I feel too personal to have people know about. But with my friends I am a pretty open book. They know all about my issues with food and body image. Best friends, kinda good friends (women), and family.. they all know. It`s just too big a part of my life to not talk about.
Susie, that’s good they all know about your issues; it helps to have it out there, even if your blog is private.
My blog is anonymous as well, but after reading this post I really do need to put myself out there that little bit more – I am so much like Susie above. I am going to make myself accountable and just put it out there – what’s the worse thing that could happen?
Thanks for the inspiration – YOU ROCK
With warm wishes from Perth, Australia.
http://carolynwantstoshrink.wordpress.com/ – so here I am out there (she types nervously)
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