THE IMPACT OF TRAVEL & BLOGGING : THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY
For as long as I can remember, travel has been my medicine for life and so it was the natural course that I should start a blog primarily focusing on my global jaunts! Pondering upon this month’s travel link-up topic has really consolidated that my blog and travelling, whom I hold equally responsible, have made a huge impact in many aspects of my life. They have introduced interesting twists and turns in the journey of meaningful survival and opened up so many opportunities that I could’ve never imagined, whilst I was climbing the corporate ladder!
Here I share some of my personal experiences of the good, the bad and the ugly with respect to the impact travel and blogging have had on my life.
THE GOOD
INCREASING CONFIDENCE
Believe it or not, in my day job I appear very confident and capable but in my blogging life I am the complete opposite. Jaunting the globe and visiting and seeing new locales has pushed me to encounter new experiences to increase my confidence.
PUSHING MYSELF TO LIVE OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE
My travels have pretty much taught me to live life to the fullest. The chances you’ll be in that same place again are pretty slim so do whatever you like. For me I’ve embraced my adrenaline junkie side and love partaking in crazy activities. In the same way my blog has really thrown me into the lime light and I can now confidently write about personal experiences, such as a recent anniversary photo shoot, my love of wanting to visit East Africa and a year of blogging.
CONSIDERATION FOR OTHER CULTURES
One of the reasons I travel apart from meeting people is to educate myself about other cultures and civilisations. To me this is so important in order to understand fellow humans and how we all live so very differently in terms of traditions and customs but yet we are so similar in every other way.
POSITIVE APPROACH TO LIFE
Travel can show you fabulous things around the world but also the harsh reality of life in a locale, where things are less fortunate than back home. It consolidates just how lucky we are and that being positive is the key to happiness and well being. If you’ve read my blog post on six things that have had an impact on my travel, you will know that I invest a lot of energy into giving back to communities, in terms of supporting the local economy, social issues, animal welfare, education and volunteering. This is the power of being able to travel.
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE
In my year and a bit of blogging and about 12 plus years of travelling, the inspiration I have personally received from others has been mind-blowing. The kind comments, the motivation, the support, the love is astounding and really does make me believe that anything is possible if you work hard and put your mind to it!
FINDING NEW FRIENDS
For me travel is all about meeting new people and forging relationships. The few days you spend together with a guide, a local habitant, a business owner, can lead to life changing and life long friendships. I am so thankful for my travels that have given me some of my dearest friends who are like family. Similarly blogging has introduced me to lots of like-minded friends who have been immensely supportive through this journey.
YOU ONLY GET ONE SHOT AT LIFE, GRAB IT WITH BOTH HANDS
Most of you know, my biggest travel challenge is that I have Type 1 Diabetes. You can read all about the curve balls it throws my way here. It challenges me every day of my life ever since I was diagnosed with it 30 years ago. But, this will never stop me from following my dreams of seeing the world and nor have I ever let it. I use my blog (it has a (‘Type 1 Diabetes section’) as a way of inspiring others who may have the condition, to never let it get in their way. Anything is possible and the sky really is the limit.
A LOVE FOR INTERNATIONAL FOOD
It was actually travelling that got me into food and being more adventurous with trying different styles of cuisine. Who knew that one day I’d actually be reviewing restaurants on my blog?! Read all about my private Tuscan cookery class, one of my favourite cuisines in the world.
THE BAD
OPEN TO NEGATIVE COMMENTARY
Having a voice and blogging about your passions can sometimes make you open to all kinds of criticism and online hate. A few sarcastic comments on a blog post or on social media can get you down and are cruel and cut deep. I’ve figured these guys are just not an issue. The problem is theirs and I am thankful to my loyal, supportive followers and friends for everything they give to my dream, be-lavie.
SOCIAL MEDIA CURFEW
I’m going to be totally honest between having a full time job, running a blog and the umpteen things I have to do in a day, social media has been pretty overwhelming. Especially when you see other bloggers are constantly pushing through posts etc. I’ve just learnt that I can’t do everything and if I don’t have a huge social media following then so what, PR’s seem to be edging away from this concept anyway. I have set myself up with time slots of allotted time to spend on each platform.
THE UGLY
I recently have had a bad experience of my content being copied including my photography (something I find quite personal to me). It was upsetting, I put a hell of a lot of work into my blog and I pride myself on my storytelling style. I figured that I can always be creative with ideas and my originality will always shine through so that’s the stance that I’ve taken and low and behold all’s quiet on the western front!
Travel and blogging have definitely had more positive, more good impacts on my life than the bad and the ugly. I have a very positive attitude and will continue to focus my efforts on this and am forever thankful that I have the opportunity to travel and to share my passion with you all.
It’s over to you now, tell me how has travel and/ or blogging had an impact on your life?
À Bientôt…
PIN FOR LATER
Mackenzie
I love to travel too Bejal, it makes my soul happy and I think blogging for me has had some similar impacts on my life to yours in terms of confidence/ putting myself out there. xx
Bejal
MackenzieThanks for reading and commenting Mackenzie. That’s so great to hear fellow traveller. Here’s to many more adventures and growing in the future. xx
Binny
Ah I can resonate with so much of this! Fab post xx
Bejal
BinnyThankyou Binny and yes I can only imagine it affects us all xx
the Curious Pixie
You’re so right Bejal! With the good always comes the bad. How you manage it is the most important thing. Loved reading about the positive impact. It truly believe it helps to make a better version of you.
Bejal
the Curious PixieThanks Sima. Exactly dealing with the ugly is part and parcel of blogging but the positives far out weigh the negatives for me at least.
Harpreet
Loved your take on this Bejal…the positives far outweigh the bad and ugly and I do resonate with so much of what you have said. The Ugly is unfortunately just despicable but it happens all the time especially with creative ideas. I have had a travel agent steal content and thanks to them, the text on my blog is now uneditable – you cannot copy paste directly off the blog. If they want to steal, they will but I have just increased their workload for them! I have also had creative ideas and styles copied and at first this really bothered me, but now, instead of spewing haterade I look at it as a compliment: you only ape what you like! I guess we overcome these niggles the best we can because the passion we have for what we do keeps the fire burning xoxo
Bejal
HarpreetThankyou Harpreet and thanks for your lovely comment. I have just decided not to concentrate on the negatives and just keep on producing the great content that I can. Really very sorry to hear what you had to go through with the travel company. xxx
londonkirsty
I can’t believe someone copied your blog!! How awful! Great post Bejal, and definitely lots in here that I can relate to! I’ve actually started using screentime to limit my social media usage. I set it to turn off all my apps from 8pm to 6am. It’s definitely helped!
Bejal
londonkirstyThanks Kirsty for your lovely comment. Great idea about the screen time and have often pondered on using this. Infact may trial that out! Thanks for the tip x
1dish4theroad
Loved hearing about your reflections on travel, blogging, and well, life generally! Thanks for sharing your experiences, Bejal! It got me thinking about my old backpacking days in my late-teenage years and ’20s, and how travel with kids is now quite a different kettle of fish, although still rewarding in its own way, with starting to show them the world out there..
Bejal
1dish4theroadThankyou Aaron and glad you enjoyed the read. I can only imagine that travelling with kids is so rewarding. Showing those inquisitive minds the world and re-living the places with them in tow. It’s great that you are able to take them to see this amazing world we live in.
ndsouza2006
Lovely post and some great points raised here! It’s all a constant journey but at the end of the day if you are happy all your followers will be too.
Bejal
ndsouza2006Thankyou Neha and yes it’s definitely a journey with amazing support.
Miriam @londonkitchendiaries
Travel and blogging had a huge impact on my life too. It is so much fun sharing my adventures with like minded people. It is amazing how you travel with type 1 Diabetes – very inspirational post! Have a wonderful weekend ahead!
Bejal
Miriam @londonkitchendiariesThankyou for your comment Miriam. Absolutely, it’s great to be in a community with everyone who shares the same passion! Type ! DM is my life so had to try and make it fit in with my passion! Have a great weekend too lovely.
Tanja
yes, there’s good and bad in blogging!:) travel has taught me so much, I haven’t had any bad experiences while travelling
Bejal
TanjaTotally agree and that’s great to hear. Good luck with the travelling and adventures.
Tanja
BejalThanks
Angie Silver
Hi Bejal, I really think you and I are on the same page about travel and what’s it’s given us in terms of confidence and education.
Bejal
Angie SilverHi Angie, you;re right there. The educational aspect is just phenomenal. The world really is an amazing place.
Tori Chiarello
I didn’t realize you do all this traveling with type 1 diabetes – even though I saw it on the blog, it didn’t even cross my mind how hard it must be. Dang, girl, your travels are awesome – you really are showing people how to let nothing stop them from traveling the world! I’m so impressed with you. Had you never started on social, I would have never “met” you and that would have been so sad, so I’m glad you keep on with that even though you’re not getting huge numbers. You have true interactions with your followers, which I appreciate. <3
Bejal
Tori ChiarelloWow Tori, thankyou so much for your fantastic words. I am so touched. I’ve had Type 1 Diabetes for 30 years and I kind of just get on with it as that’s life adn I don’t know life without it! Blogging and particularly the social side is all worth it when I have lovely followers like you who are so supportive. I truly believe it’s not all about the numbers xxx
Louise
This was one of my favorite posts from you so far! I love your honesty and I love your kindness! I can not imagine you getting any kind of “hate”, since you are such a sweetheart and always attentive to me and my posts! I’m so happy we are virtual “friends”. Would love to meet you one day!
Louise X
Bejal
LouiseOh gosh Louise, you are really so so kind, I am blushing! Honesty is the best policy! We will definitely have to meet one day when I’m down in London. You are also very supportive to me and its’ so lovely that we met on here. xxx
Dominika
Really interesting post ❤ Sorry to hear your content was copied, how did you find out? What did you end up doing? I don’t think I’d know what to do if that happened to me!
Dominika | http://www.quirkydom.co.uk
Bejal
DominikaThanks Dominika, that’s very kind of you to read and comment. Yes unfortunately it’s the sad reality of blogging! I just decided to point out calmly a few things calmly but then I decided to focus on the positive and improve what I’m dong. You can’t change other people. A friend once told me ‘imitation is the highest form of compliment’.
Simply Rasha
The good far outweighs the bad! There is so much to learn and appreciate from blogging and travel. Love all your photos and storytelling Be 🙂
Bejal
Simply RashaAbsolutely agree Rasha! Thanks for your support throughout this journey xx
Anna Parker (@aeparker81)
I agree whole heartedly with all of these
Bejal
Anna Parker (@aeparker81)Thankyou Anna. I have to say though that the good most definitely out weigh the bad and ugly and I’m so grateful to blogging for so many things.
Kerry LifeandLoves
Ohhh Bejal I loved reading this post, and what a positive impact travel has had for you. I only “met” you a few months back, but you have fast become one of my favourites. in part that is because of your positivity that shines through in all of your photos and words. Im glad to have discovered you xxx
Bejal
Kerry LifeandLovesThankyou so much Kerry. I am speechless after reading your comment. Thankyou so much, that is so so lovely to hear. I love speaking to you too and getting to know you through social media has been fab. I hope we can meet one day xxx
Caitlin Golder
How lovely is this!!!
Bejal
Caitlin GolderThankyou Caitlin, that’s very kind