Most of the time family and friends don’t understand a blogger. I’m not alone as I think you have to be a blogger to know one. I love my blog and it gives me purpose.
Sometimes blogging can be difficult especially if you aren’t always sure if what you are writing is hitting the mark. When I first started blogging 5 years ago, I was like many bloggers out there who thought ‘I was going to make a difference in the lives of Women Over 50’. Maybe even the next big thing? LOL:)
I had recently taken early retirement and was forced into the decision because of one person who made my life hell and management would do nothing about it.
I’ve written about my struggles with this new phase of life called ‘Retirement’. Last week I shared with you a post What does your version of Retirement Look like ? which had a great response.
I have a love/hate relationship at times with blogging as the Mean Girl (who I’ve often written about) in my head, tells me that I’m:
‘Wasting my time”
‘Who wants to read what you have to say?’
‘You aren’t as good as you think you are’
I’m sure we all have these moments of self-doubt and not just in blogging, it can be in any area of our life.
A lovely surprise
I was scrolling through Facebook this morning and a post caught my eye. ‘The Best Bloggers Over 50’. I thought I would take a look as I enjoy reading what other Women in my demographic write about and I usually learn something.
A lovely surprise was that my blog had been mentioned in the list – Yes, Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond was mentioned along with 49 other inspiring women.
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This is how my blog was described by It’s Rosy in their list of Best Bloggers Over 50. It will give you an idea of how readers and other bloggers view my blogging adventure.
“Inspirational and motivational, Sue Loncaric blogs about living well, thriving, and aging well for those in their 50s and 60s.
She shares tips in a step-by-step fashion that’s actually manageable. We like the attitude of this popular blogger. The site feels like you’re joining in on a special over-50 network of like-minded people.
Part of her introduction states, “It is time to embrace an Ageless Attitude and focus on life not the number by being fit, fabulous, healthy and happy.
We agree!”
I couldn’t have described the ethos behind my blog any better and feel so proud and validated.
5 reasons blogging enriches my life
A place to share my thoughts – my voice
Some people journal their thoughts and ideas and for me my blog represents my journal. Sometimes I write about personal issues I’m facing, other times I’ve learned something that I want to share with others. It is my voice.
Connections with my tribe
During the last 5 years I’ve made some wonderful friendships with other bloggers and also readers. For many of us friendships and connections are Cyber friendships and I treasure them as much as my ‘in real life’ friendships. I’ve also been very lucky to actually meet some of these wonderful women in real life. Blogging connections can be made worldwide.
Last year was a highlight as I managed to meet my friend Donna from Retirement Reflections who lives on Vancouver Island. We were docked there for a few hours on a cruise and it was lovely of Donna and Richard to show us the sights of Victoria and also enjoyed a meal with them and Natalie from Natalie the Explorer who had flown over from Toronto. I finally also met my Best Blogging Buddy , Leanne from Cresting the Hill as well as Debbie from Deb’s World who I love! I’ve shared some of my catch ups below.
Leanne from Cresting the Hill 
Deb From Deb’s World 
Donna from Retirement Reflections 
The Strong Healthy Women Team 
Sizzling Towards 60 Readers 
Donna from Retirement Reflections plus Natalie from Natalie the Explorer and our hubbies 
Jan from Retiring, Not Shy! and Min from Write of the Middle at a Modelling gig for Adrift Clothing 
Christine, Savvy Style at Every Age 
Leanne from Cresting the Hill, Jo from AndAnways, Deb from Debbishdotcom, Min from Write of the Middle
A sense of purpose
Blogging grounds me and gives me a sense of purpose. It is my way of connecting with others and keeps my brain active.
Sharing my passion for health and well being Over 50
My blog is a way for me to share my love and passion for health and wellness Over 50. It brings me great satisfaction as I encourage others to look at their lifestyle and offer ways to become healthier and happier.
66 Comments
Sue, this is well-deserved recognition. You obviously take time with your blog and present a very professional and inviting space. I like that your personality comes through in your writing and that you live what you preach with regard to health and fitness. Bloggers get bloggers and I am happy to be involved in this unique community of caring/sharing women.
Hi Suzanne thank you for your lovely comment and I’m pleased to hear that my personality comes through in my writing. I want people to feel that I am authentic and that my readers matter to me. We are fortunate to be part of a caring tribe aren’t we? xx
Sue – I’ve only been reading your blog for a month or so, I believe, and you inspire me. I’m 48 and I look to you for guidance and reassurance. I love reading what the other ladies say in the comments too! I’m so thankful I found this wonder, supportive community of amazing women!
FYI, you have made a difference in my life. Thank you.
Allison
Oh Allison, I am so touched by your last sentence. I am continually learning from other bloggers and Women who are on this Midlife Journey. I think that is one of the reasons I enjoy blogging – the connection with others who are like minded and yet with various points of view. I’m enjoying your blog and appreciate the theme – a simple life – I think that is what most of us are striving for. Have a lovely weekend and enjoy! xx
I started blogging five years back too .I think I started to share my voice and now its a good friend
Hello Amrita I agree that our blogs can become our friends and our special place for our thoughts. Thank you for visiting and have a beautiful day. x
So so so well deserved – I’m privileged to be a part of your tribe. As an aside, it was great to see a few other familiar faces on that list too…)
Likewise Jo, you are always inspiring to me and if I had to describe one of our qualities it is your gorgeous smile and zest for living the good life. I know it isn’t always rainbows and unicorns but I admire your positive attitude to life. Take care and have a fabulous weekend. P.S. It was great to see a few ‘Aussies’ in the list wasn’t it? xx
Congratulations, Sue! Your recognition on “Best Bloggers Over 50” is extremely well-deserved. I completely agree with their review. Your blog is incredibly inspirational and motivational. You brilliantly give encouragement in bite-sized, doable pieces.
Your timing of this post was very meaningful for me. On February 22, Richard and I have decided to join thousands of other Canadians and walk 10 kilometres, on the Coldest Night of the Year, to fundraise for the homeless and the hurting in our community. Today I put out a small FB post announcing Richard’s and my plan for this walk. The first two people to contribute were friends whom I met through blogging. Neither of them lives in BC (at least not yet), and one (you) lives in Australia where it would be easy to be focussed solely on their own community’s needs. I was deeply moved by this remarkable generosity and incredible friendship. I remain very thankful for January 1, 2016, the day that I first set foot in this corner of the blogosphere.
I love how we have formed our friendship, Donna and even better was being able to meet you and have a big hug! I’m supporting you and Richard in your walk for such a worthy cause. My blogging friendships are very dear to me and enrich my life. Have a lovely weekend, my friend. xx
Hi, Sue – I too greatly value our friendship. Whenver I feel I may need a permanent blogging break, it is always friends like you who keep me coming back! 😀 #MLSTL
Likewise, my friend. 🙂
Sue, congratulations on receiving recognition. With 5 years of blogging and so many great articles, I am not surprised. Well deserved. Like you I enjoy the blogging community and meeting like minded people here, even if just via the web. Keep writing, inspiring and giving a voice to women over 50.
Thank you Gilda for your supportive and kind words. It certainly helps with motivation to receive genuine comments and to know that perhaps you are making just a little bit of difference in someone’s world. Have a lovely day and thanks for visiting. xx
Hi Sue – we’ve had the “why do we do this?” conversation many times and each time it comes back to our love of writing and the fantastic connections blogging has brought with it. It’s always lovely to be recognized and I’m always excited when I make the list, but above everything else, it’s the friendships for me. You’ve been an absolute blessing in my life with your wisdom and encouragement and we’d never have met if it wasn’t for our blogs. There are several others in our tribe who I love dearly too and these last five years of blogging for me have been an unexpected godsend! So keep on blogging and being my BBB – and we’ll keep cheering our Midlife community on every chance we get! xxx
Hi Sue – back for #MLSTL and to let you know I shared on my SM xx
Thanks, BBB! Have a great week. x
Sue, Happy 5th blogiversary! I always enjoy the work you do here at Sizzling. My next to last post, 2 weeks ago, was about a decision I made about my blog on the occasion of my 10th blogiversary. These periodic looks at what we’re doing and why are very important. Keep up the good work.
I read a variety of types of posts. Crafting, quilting, living on a budget and retirement. There is something for everyone in the blogging world. Your blog is always so thoughtful, inspirational AND well written so congratulations on getting the recognition.
I started my first blog as a way of documenting my quilting and family life. I had a bit of a hiatus when the family was hit by a couple of bereavements and I really didn’t want to deal with this in blog land. However a couple of years later I am back but my blog has changed focus slightly. I enjoy the online friendships.
Keep on blogging (please)
Love all those pictures with other bloggers!
I agree with your reasons! I turned 63 last week, (but my profile picture is 8 years old! It’s about time to change it, I think!) To my knowledge, the only family members of mine who know I have a blog are my husband and kids. I always feel, as you do, that you have to be a blogger to understand one. I began my blog in 2011, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop blogging. Congrats on being included in the Best Bloggers over 50!
Yay for you being recognised in this list Sue, it’s great to see you there!! I love blogging and you are a very special person to me. I’m so glad we found each other and the others you mention are all very special to me too. Having met you in person I can see that you are exactly the same as you are in your blog, honest, inspiring, hardworking and super caring. You are just a beautiful soul inside and out and I’m privileged to be included in your list. I blog for much the same reasons as you, it’s my space, my thoughts and my world as I see it . If I can inspire, entertain and make others smile then I’m happy. I can’t imagine not blogging as I’d miss everyone I’ve met here too much. It’s is so true, you have to be a blogger to understand why we do it 🙂 Hoping to catch up with you in Brisbane next month. xx
Back for #mlstl Sue and sharing your fabulous post! The questioning, self doubting and overthinking we bloggers through is enough to make us seem like a weird bunch, but it’s OK as we’re all weird together.
I like the idea of being ‘weird’ together, Deb! Just another reason we are friends. Take care xx
Sue, Congrats of the recognition. I had to laugh at your going in thinking and your regular mean-girl voice… same voices over here. I constantly wonder if I should continue, do I have anything new to say, aren’t others articulating things better… and then I read a series of posts and wonder what I would do without my Cyber-tribe? Yeah, my blogging is connecting me to a world of inspirational and supportive people and that’s the main reason why I keep doing it.
Congratulations, Sue, on the recognition of your blog! Well deserved. Meeting you and Donna and your hubbies last year was definitely a highlight of my blogging and life journey. You’re a caring and generous person with lots of good ideas to share. I’m glad we found each other through blogging. I greatly treasure our friendship and your warm hug. I hope we’ll meet again IRL with much more time to chat and share our thoughts. Have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you Natalie I too value our friendship and yes, wouldn’t it be lovely to meet again for a longer visit? Have a beautiful week my friend x
I’m glad you host the weekly MLSTL so we can touch base and share what’s new. Have a wonderful week Sue! #MLSTL
I agree Natalie. It is a good way to ensure I keep up with reading my favourite bloggers and because you and I have so much in common I always enjoy reading your blog. The #MLSTL community is very special to me. You have a wonderful week and look forward to reading about your next adventures. xx
I’m over at Living in the Gap, I’ve been blogging about four years now, and love the unexpected gifts of connection, and self-understanding that emerges from the words.
Your host a beautiful blog, so glad I found you, thanks for all the inspiration and joy you give to others! And congrats on the well deserved blogging award!
Hi Cheryl! I love the name of your blog and will pop over to visit. Thank you for your kind words about my blog. I love the connections I have made within the blogging community and some have developed into long term friendships. Have a beautiful day and thanks for stopping by to comment. x
Thanks Sue, this post really resonated with me and has provided some well timed motivation to give a bit of languishing blog some overdue love. So glad I stumbled across your website.
Hello Serena and I’m glad you stumbled across my website too! I know how you feel regarding motivation and blogging. If we aren’t making a living from blogging it can be easy to question ‘why’ we are doing it. For me, it certainly is the interaction with others and the blogging community is very supportive of each other. I love your blog name so will pop over to visit. Have a great week and happy blogging! xx
Congratulations, Sue, on ‘The Best Bloggers Over 50!’ Well deserved! I agree with Rosy’s description. Your blog is very polished and professional looking. You are a role model to me and many other women. You are also very relatable and candid. Your stories resonate with every woman on some level. Your passion for health and wellness is palpable. As you know by now, I am a fan. xx
You are so lovely Erica and yes one of my most supportive readers for sure! I am always surprised at how others view me and my blog and comments like yours certainly help me validate why I keep going. Like many, I have self-doubts – ‘am I hitting the mark?’, ‘will my posts be inspiring or informative?’ and then I read a comment such as yours and I know I’m on the right track. I value your friendship and blogging connection, Erica and who knows one day if I can get back to V.I. I might be able to have a catch up with you and Donna, wouldn’t that be wonderful? xx
Sue, I am returning from #MLSTL. I love this post! I am sharing on SM. xx
Thanks for sharing Erica and returning for #MLSTL. Have a fabulous week. x
When I started blogging, I was going to make money and run it like a business, but when I looked at what I needed to write about and the structure, I just got too bored. So I just decided I’d do it for me – it’s a good regime to make me write (the structure of the link ups and the prompts) and it’s a lot like therapy (as you may’ve noticed) so I don’t bore my friends and husband with every inane thought and philosphy I want to explore. I have also noticed because of the photography aspect, I’m appreciating the little things in the street, in nature, and around the city. Things I suspect went unnoticed. I get a lot of joy from blogging, both in the creation and the interaction. It costs nothing and it’s ‘MY’ time. 6 to 7am each day. Glad you showed that MEAN GIRL a thing or two!
Hi Lydia, I’m so enjoying the comments from other bloggers in response to this post. I love your attitude because you know why your are blogging – not for money but for Joy which is a very satisfying reason to blog. I’ve not thought of my blog as ‘MY’ time but you are spot on. I usually blog early mornings when the house is quiet and the day is starting. It is a version of ‘MY’ time and one that brings satisfaction and connection. Have a lovely week and thanks for stopping by to leave your thoughts. x
I would agree with all of your reasons for blogging. I especially love meeting people from all around the world, even if I have never met them in person. Blogging can be very enriching! Congratulations on your over 50 blogging award- it is well deserved!
Hi Michele, from the comments I believe that most bloggers share the same reasons as me. Lydia suggested blogging was her ‘MY’ time and I guess that is what mine is to me although I’ve not thought of it that way before. The connections are wonderful and meeting IRL is a bonus. Have a lovely week and thanks for your good wishes. xx
Sue congratulations on this recognition. It’s very well deserved. You’ve caught up with many blogger. I’m hoping that one day I’ll be able to have time for catch ups. I agree with all your points #MLSTL Sharing
Hi Jen, yes I’ve been very lucky to enjoy meeting some blogging friends IRL. I would love to catch up with you one day. Perhaps we should organise an Aussie MLSTL event? LOL:) Have a lovely week. xx
Dear Sue, Congratulations and best wishes for this wonderful honor. You deserve it. My number one reason for blogging is to help others benefit from my knowledge and research about using colors and self-care techniques to feel, look, and be vitally alive. Sure hope to meet up with you some day, as I admire you. Thanks for hosting #MLSTL and bask in the glow of this award.
Hello Nancy! Thank you for your good wishes and I would love to have a party with all of my blogging friends attending. Maybe we should organise an ‘Live’ online party! I love the angle you have for your blog as colours and self-care techniques are and interesting combination. I think many of us who blog want to help others and that certainly comes through in your blog. I always find something useful to enrich my life when I visit Colors 4 Health. xx
Dear Sue, I saw your achievement on Facebook and I felt so proud for you. Five years ago I remember you saying to me that you had submitted one of your posts to a retirement website and they rejected your post on the grounds that it was not relevant to that age group. HOW WRONG they were, you are just what we all need to give us energy and inspiration.
We have valued your input to the Blogger’s Pit Stop in the past and love seeing you back here. We are trying to develop and give attention to our bloggers by displaying features in Categories. We are going to FEATURE this post in the next Blogger’s Pit Stop. Congratulations for staying with it and working through the hard times.
Kathleen
Hello Kathleen! So lovely to hear from you and yes it felt good to be back and linking up at Blogger’s Pit Stop after such a long time. I dropped out of many link parties as I couldn’t keep up with the commenting and other things in life (such as my Fitness Course) had to take priority. I always remember you being so supportive of me in my early blogging years and I had completely forgotten about that incident where my post was rejected. Thank you for the honour of being Featured in the next Blogger’s Pit Stop and I hope to be back regularly. I hope you are keeping well and so pleased to hear from you. xx
I have been writing for my whole adult life but have only been blogging for about 8 years, on 3 different blogs. My midlife blog has been up and running since October last year. I love writing and expressing myself. Any feedback from my audience is a bonus. Since I found MLSTL I feel I have found a group of people just like me which is an amazing feeling. I’m not in the same league as far as number of followers but that hasn’t deterred me yet. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my blog with other people in this group
Hi Christina, I can’t imagine trying to write more than one blog and you have managed 3 different ones! I’m so pleased to hear that you have discovered #MLSTL as it is a wonderfully supportive group. It is difficult sometimes not to compare our blogs to others and how many followers they have, isn’t it? Lydia mentioned in the comments that blogging is her ‘MY’ time and I think that is a perfect way to describe it. As long as it brings us joy and connection with like-minded people blogging will enrich our lives. Have a lovely day and would love to have you as a guest if you are interested. xx
Congratulations, Sue! I’m not surprised. You put in so much work into making your blog informative and meaningful!
I loved looking at all the pictures of your blogging buddies. How wonderful that you can meet in person.
Hello Corinne and thank you for your good wishes. I do try my best to be informative and meaningful as I enjoy helping others and hopefully inspiring them to achieve their own goals and dreams. Meeting my blogging buddies was wonderful and I hope to meet more in the future. It was just like meeting old friends even though with some I’d actually never heard their voice before meeting them. Have a beautiful day, Corinne. x
Congratulations and well deserved. I sometimes think how did I find your blog…then I say who cares I love it and would love to meet you in person. I have been blogging for nearly 4 years and Im surprised when people say “why on earth do you blog and who reads it.” to which I say – I share my travel overseas and home and also a bit of education on my chronic illness etc. To which they say why would you want people to know about your chronic illness. To which I say – if just one person learns about these rare diseases…then I have done my job. If one person takes interest in the places that i visit then I have done my job. i love writing love taking photos and love reading others blog…#MLSTL
Hi Bree, I’m always interested in your blog posts and especially the travel ones. It is funny how people think isn’t it? There would be many who have a chronic illness perhaps the same as yours who would find comfort in reading about others and their experience. It also helps those who aren’t affected understand and perhaps be more compassionate. Keep doing what you are doing and I would love you to be my guest one day if you are interested. Let me know! xx
You exude kindness and care for others. I so appreciated your thoughtful gift when I was diagnosed with cancer. Your words help many and I congratulate you on your deserved achievements. This link up is one too. Thank you so much for having it here for us to share our stories.
Denyse #mlstl
Thank you, lovely Denyse. I feel I inherited the kindness gene from my Mum. Even when Mum had cancer she would still be always thinking of others and how she could help them. She was a very special lady. I remember how I felt sending you the gift and was excited for you to receive it. I wanted to try to brighten your day and let you know you had support from afar. I must have achieved that as you have mentioned it several times now. I love the link up and the community we have built and I thank you for being part of that community. xx
I enjoyed the photos of your many connections with some of the blogging community. I already follow a few of these lovely people and will check out some of the others. I primarily blog as an outlet for myself and if I inspire a few comments I am thrilled! Thanks for the opportunity to my thoughts with others. ❤
It was wonderful to be able to meet my blogging friends in real life, especially as I hadn’t even hear some of their voices. It was like meeting up with life long friends and felt so comfortable. I think that part of blogging is also about supporting others and that is why I love the #MLSTL link up as it is a way for us all to share each other’s thoughts and work. Have a lovely week and thanks so much for the comment. x
Hi Sue, I can relate to the ups and downs of blogging, and periodically question what I’m doing and why I’m doing it. But in the end, I have a passion for inspiring and encouraging women in midlife to live healthy, natural, engaging lives. I’d like to think that I’ve inspired a few readers along the way! Congrats on your latest mention…you are a very special lady and it shows. xo
Hi Candi, I believe you and I are very much alike in the way we think. Passion can overcome our ups and downs can’t it? It brings us back time and again because we want to continue to inspire and encourage. You certainly have inspired your readers and will continue to do so. I love that your posts are always so informative and well researched. They certainly provide useful and valuable information. I’m happy to count you as one of my blogging friends and wouldn’t it be lovely if we could meet in real life one day. I’ll even take Skype as an option! Have a great week. x
Well done Sue on making the list, it’s a sign that you should be proud and carry on sharing your thoughts and ideas. It’s great to meet up with other bloggers there’s a great community out there. I’ve just started a coworking group and a bunch of us met up & will meet regularly to motivate each other.
#MLSTL
Thank you Lorraine Your coworking group sounds great. I believe if we build our ‘cheerleaders’ who support us, then it is so much easier to achieve our goals. I run with my friends each week. We call ourselves the Saturday Sisters and have been running together for over 10 years. We enter long distance fun runs and help to motivate each other to train and prepare for them. Have a great week and thanks for linking up to #MLSTL. x
Congratulations on the award Sue.
The reasons why I started blogging have expanded and now include those and much more. It’s not all about travel and housesitting now I love sharing information and my thoughts on whatever takes my fancy.
I am just me or here with no pressure or expectations from others, also enjoying connecting more with other bloggers in my own “neighbourhood” as in Australia and New Zealand. Most all like other bloggers, it is my space to enjoy interacting with like-minded women.
Sue,
Congrats to you!! A well deserved recognition!! I started to Blog 10 years ago as a means of relieving the stress in my life from working full time in an extremely toxic environment. I also do it to showcase my passions which are decorating and crafting. I feel it provides a means to journal my life that my family can read about and hopefully, learn who I am and after I am gone , can go back and remember me. Now that I am retired, I have no idea what direction my blogs may drift off to at times but I now have more time to spend blogging and I am enjoying it. I intend to keep blogging as a personal journal and not as a means of making an income off it. I never wanted to do that.
Thanks so much for stopping by and for taking the time to let me know that you did by leaving such a sweet comment!!
Hugs,
Debbie
Love this post Sue, it encapsulates all that’s wonderful about blogging and I have to agree with you, it’s the connections we make through blogging that make it truly special and unique. Congratulations on being featured and recognised as well, a recognition that’s well deserved. Happy March and happy blogging into the future. xx
Thanks Miriam! I agree the blogging community is such an important by-product of having a blog. I hope that March brings you joy and thanks for stopping by to say hello. Have a great week xx
Thanks Sue. You too! xx