So let\u2019s imagine we\u2019re sitting at Starbucks (or a coffee shop of your choice), spending some time catching up as friends and sharing our lives with each other. That\u2019s my hope and prayer for this post! So grab your coffee, get comfy, and keep reading for a little heart-to-heart!<\/strong><\/p>\n I’m glad you asked!<\/p>\n So one of my goals for this year is to build new friendships and be part of a community. Sometimes it\u2019s hard to know how to go about that in this season of life (a.k.a. the post college, 20-something, still figuring out how to adult season… anyone else?).<\/p>\n Blogging has been a lot of fun over the past year, since it’s allowed me to express my creativity, but it\u2019s also been a bit of a struggle. To tell you the truth, it sometimes feels like I’m having a one-sided conversation, and I tend to wonder if anyone out there is really listening.<\/p>\n I mean what’s the point of having a blog if it isn’t to connect with other like-minded people and build real, genuine relationships, right?!<\/p>\n Now it’s time for me to ‘fess up real quick. *I know the following thoughts are the result of someone who spends way too much time in her own head and thinks a whole heck of a lot (a little too much) about herself, so apologies in advance, but thanks for reading nonetheless!*<\/strong><\/p>\n Don\u2019t get me wrong-\u00a0I seriously love<\/em> blogging as a creative outlet and a way to share my passions with the world (or a few friends slash people who stumble upon my posts on Pinterest).<\/p>\n But every time I\u2019m working on a post, there\u2019s a struggle going on in my mind. I worry so much and I\u2019m very hard on myself so I spend a lot of time doubting what I\u2019m sharing, if it\u2019s worth it, if it\u2019s good enough, or if anyone will like it.<\/p>\n I know it sounds so silly!!<\/strong> But it\u2019s hard not to worry what other people think when you\u2019re putting yourself and your life out there for the world to see. It sounds pretty self-centered, to tell the truth, which is why I always fight past those feelings and share anyway. Because who knows who I might encourage and inspire that day!<\/p>\n But sometimes I get so bogged down in the fear and worry and self-doubt that I procrastinate on posts FOREVER<\/strong> and don\u2019t post anything for long stretches of time.<\/p>\n Which is so lame!!<\/p>\n Because who cares?<\/p>\n NO ONE!! (Except me.)<\/p>\n I mean how cool is it to have a platform to share about life and God’s love and send encouragement and inspiration to whoever might need it? There\u2019s so much possibility for impact, for doing GOOD<\/strong> in the world through the power of the internet and social media!<\/p>\n But the truth is, it\u2019s hard to share and be open online, when behind the scenes, I\u2019m actually pretty unhappy and stuck in a lot of ways.<\/p>\n When I\u2019m feeling lost or down in my personal life, it can be hard to find motivation to share something inspiring with others. My biggest fear is being seen as a fraud, and sometimes I feel like I am<\/em> when my blog posts are happy but I\u2019m not.<\/p>\n I know for a fact, though, that sharing the hard things, the struggles, and being vulnerable, is where you and I can start to connect and build a real life relationship!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n So friend, I’m showing up today. And I promise to show up every day, here on this blog, as a real human girl who doesn’t really know much of anything but who wants to find other real human friends and also share her crazy passions on the internet!<\/p>\n Basically, here’s the cold hard truth that I’ve learned from blogging so far:<\/p>\n Last week, I almost decided to give up on blogging. Like completely. (Haha my pathetic saga continues.) I’ve wanted to quit a few times before, because it is just SO. MUCH. MORE. WORK. than I thought, but this time it was because of the previously mentioned self-doubt.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve been lacking motivation for weeks now, and I\u2019ve been so lost in some areas of my life. And I just started thinking… “maybe I\u2019m not meant to do this. I don\u2019t love my life right now, so it\u2019s not worthy of sharing.<\/strong> I\u2019m not someone people can look up to. I don\u2019t have a closet full of cute and trendy outfits to share. I\u2019m not always confident in how I look in pictures, and I\u2019m embarrassed to show my face without makeup…”<\/p>\n Not to mention, I don\u2019t live in a pretty house that I can take pictures of all the time. (I mean yes, I live in a nice house with a loving family, but it’s MESSY<\/strong> and real and not Pinterest-worthy by any means!)<\/p>\n But man, does it feel good to admit that and get it off my chest!<\/strong> As long as I\u2019m holding that in, I worry that I\u2019m just trying to fabricate something on this blog that isn\u2019t real. Unless I\u2019m showing who I really am, I\u2019m always going to have that self-doubt. And that connection I really want with people is never going to happen.<\/p>\n And I want you to know the real me, and I want to know the real you too.<\/p>\n So I\u2019m turning this conversation over to you now, whoever you are, reading this.<\/p>\n Maybe you found my blog on Pinterest, or maybe you follow me on Instagram and feel like you know me. Maybe you\u2019re a close friend or family member whose support means everything to me. Or maybe you\u2019re someone I\u2019ve met in the past, or someone with mutual friends but we\u2019ve never actually connected, someone from high school… WHOEVER<\/strong> you are!<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for real relationships, someone to relate to, to encourage and be encouraged by, will you leave a comment?<\/strong> That way I, along with anyone else reading this, can see it! I know we can all make some new friends by letting down that barrier and sharing a little about ourselves, like a real life coffee date.<\/p>\n I hope you know that your comment will encourage my heart and brighten my day so much!<\/p>\n If you would rather message me personally, you can totally do that too! Just go to the contact page<\/strong><\/a> and send me an email. Or feel free to comment on my last Instagram post<\/strong><\/a> or send me a direct message on IG<\/strong><\/a>! Either way, reach out and let\u2019s connect! I seriously can\u2019t wait to hear from you, and to make this year all about creating a community together.<\/p>\n Until our next coffee chat, friend!<\/p>\n Xo,<\/strong><\/p>\n Becka<\/strong> \ud83d\udc95<\/p>\n P.S. – An unexpected lesson I learned from substitute teaching<\/strong><\/a>, and 10 things you don’t know about me<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hi friend! Welcome to the first ever edition of Coffee Chats! Today I’m sharing something a little different and opening up about my experience blogging…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3439,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[463],"tags":[465,467,468,419,21,464,466],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Coffee](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.liveitlovely.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/coffee-chats-1-blogging-graphic.png?resize=900%2C1500&ssl=1\")
\nWhat’s this about anyway?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Real talk<\/strong><\/h3>\n
I don’t wanna fake it<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The truth about blogging…<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
So am I quitting?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
I just don\u2019t feel qualified to be a blogger because I don\u2019t have the perfect \u201cblog-worthy\u201d life.<\/strong><\/h6>\n
Can we be friends?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Here are some questions I have for you, yes YOU<\/strong>:<\/h6>\n
\n