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6 years. It’s pretty hard to believe actually. But Thursday (April 14th) marks my SIXTH year of blogging! Woah.

It simultaneously feels like I’ve been blogging forever and like I just started. I really think it’s taken me about 5 of those years to figure out who I am as a blogger and decide the direction I want this little corner of the web to go in.

This past year I think I’ve fallen into my own much more. Needless to say, I am happy with where I am right now. Sure, I could be a ‘bigger’ blogger after putting so much time and effort in. But what I’ve gained over these past 6 years in connecting with all of you is invaluable. And I wouldn’t trade 100,000 more page views or post comments for it.

Today (along with a KICK ASS giveaway!) I want to share 6 Things I’ve Learned in 6 Years of Blogging. I hope you enjoy reflecting back with me on our time together!

The world is much smaller than we think.

And we all have social media and blogging to thank for that! I know it’s cliché, but I truly have met some of the most incredible, inspiring, passionate people in my life through blogging and my work online. I have fostered amazing relationships, formed incredible bonds, and forged real friendships all because of my love of writing and sharing on the web. To think that none of this would have been possible just a few short decades ago is mind-boggling. I am so thankful for the people I’ve connected with through my blog. Each and every comment, share, email, text, and virtual hug I receive reaffirms why I do what I do.

Photography is KING QUEEN!

I am so disappointed it took me so long to learn this, but it really is true. The best way to grow your blog and really start engaging with people is by improving your photos and graphics. I am nowhere near where I want to be in terms of quality yet, but I am learning everyday and I think I have improved quite a bit since I started. Photography is tough, folks. But it’s also incredibly rewarding (and frustrating…but worth it! 🙂 ). It’s has become a major passion of mine and I love that blogging has opened up a whole new hobby for me to dive into daily. I am definitely one of those ‘life-long learning’-types.

The time you’re most afraid to press “publish” are the times you most need to.

Blogging is all about sharing. Sharing what you love, sharing your thoughts, sharing your successes, sharing your defeats, and most importantly sharing the authentic, real you. The most difficult posts I’ve ever published are those in which I am being 100% my genuine self and speaking from the heart. Sometimes they’re on a controversial subject and sometimes they are of a more personal nature. Either way, even those these types of posts are always a little majorly scary to publish, they are so worth it in the end. They help your readers relate to you more and you don’t know how many people you’re helping by sharing your own story. People feel less alone in the world when they know there is someone else experiencing or thinking the same things as them!

Don’t take the easy (cheap) way out.

When it comes to design, tech work, or anything that you’re paying for someone to do for you that has to do with your blog, DO NOT go the cheap, easy route. Spend a little money. The old saying “you get for what you pay for” could not be more true in the blogging world and I have lost way too much money trying to cut costs and ‘be frugal’. In the long run, it’s better to spend a little more to begin with for high quality work and services, then you waste money and time on things that end up having to be redone anyways.

Help others, help yourself.

This more like a life mantra for me, but it applies to blogging too. It’s simple…the more you help out other bloggers and promote their work, the more reciprocal love you get in return. Blogging is not something where people can stand alone. It may seem like an individual task/job, but in reality you need to work with and support others on a regular basis if you ever hope to find true success. And success to me is building a community of people who I can connect with, grow with, and share with on a daily basis.

Balance is TOUGH.

No sh*t Sherlock, right? 😉 But seriously, it’s hard to manage family time, work, rest, community service, exercise, school, AND blogging all at the once. No one can do it perfectly and once I realized that (and started cutting myself a little slack), I found that things naturally found a (unique) sort of balance. Striking a healthy balance in any of these areas is easier said than done…but I’ve found that at least striving for it in each is good enough and leads to long-term fulfillment and success.

And now for the REAL celebration! My EPIC Blogiversary Giveaway!

I’ve teamed up with 5 of my favorite brands to bring you one of the biggest giveaways in Healthy Helper’s (6 year-long) history. Here’s what’s up for grabs…

From Crazy Richard’s…

1 Jar each of Crunchy and Creamy Peanut Butter + a Box of PB Burst Single Serve Packets (1 winner)

From RxBar…

2 Boxes of Chocolate Mint RxBars (2 winners)

From Thunderbird Bar…

1 Mixed Box of Thunderbird Bars (1 winner)

From Wrawp Foods…

1 Variety Pack of Wrawp Raw Vegan Wraps (1 winner)

From Nakd…

2 Nakd Nibbles Sampler Packs (2 winners)

So in total there will be SEVEN winners! 1 for each year of blogging and an extra for good luck.

This giveaway will run for two weeks! Enter below…

Healthy Helper Blogiversary Giveaway

Thank you thank you thank you to all of you who have been here since the beginning, those of you who are just coming here for the first time, and everyone in between! I am so grateful for all your support and love on a daily basis. Here’s to 6 more years of sharing with each other! 🙂

Good luck to those who enter the giveaway!

Do you have a blog? Have you ever considered starting one?

What’s one lesson you’ve learned through your job?

Which prize are you most excited about?

Stay connected:

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Linking up with JillConyers and TOL.