The Man That Blogging Built
Posted by: Roy in Reflections, blog, internet, links, reactions, thought & opinions, tags: benefits, blogging, roy, self-esteem, self-respect, struggling bloggerYes, you read that right!
Not a house, not any structure… but it’s the man himself that blogging has built – a man’s self-esteem that is.
I guess you already have an idea of who is that man I’m referring to. Yes, of course, it’s me.
Prior to blogging, I was a jobless man, who after selling his house to finance his wife’s dialysis sessions, has nothing more to prove for his bachelor’s degree title and a professional license in public accounting.
Our country doesn’t take kindly to jobseekers aged 30 and above.
I was forty when my wife went home. At that age, my 11 years of experience in the bank is no longer an asset, the same with my accountancy license – they were liabilities. I was always overqualified, which I believed is their courteous way of saying “you’re overage.”
Throwing resumes left and right isn’t helping, I didn’t get replies.
I turned to blogging, just because I have a computer from my closed-down internet shop, and an internet connection which is still under a ‘no-termination contract.’
I blog just because I have nothing else better to do.
I was clueless about earning through blogs, although I’ve heard about it.
I blog just because I can.
One year and 13 blogs later, I still have a lot to learn to in this field, and new discoveries never cease – there’s always something new to learn.
But unlike last year, I’m earning now. Not much really, but I am. They still don’t make both ends meet, but just recently I have updated all my bills – electric, water, phone and tuition fees (okay, except the tuition fees), all from my blogging.
For a man who has been living under a “parent’s subsidy plan,” that means a lot!
Aside from the monetary benefits, there is a far more important thing that this blogging has brought to me – it brought me back my self-respect!
Have I lost it?
Do you think depending on your parents after going through college and gaining a professional license is worthy of self-respect? Yes, I’ve lost it.
But blogging has brought it back to me.
I’m doing something that I love to do, expressing myself in the best way that I know… and people listen to me!
Because I express my thoughts, opinions and reactions, in the most honest way that I can.
However, I just don’t say anything for the sake of self-expression. I watch my words. I take into consideration my readers, I take extra care not to hurt anybody just because I have something to say.
Yes, I know some truth hurts. But there’s no reason for me to rub it in.
Freedom of expression is not the right to say what you want to say, it is the right to say what is right to be said.
And because of that, I get respect.
Of course there are skeptics, cynics, naysayers and what-have-you, they’re all part of our lives – bloggers and non-bloggers alike. We have to live with that. In fact, if you would only listen, we might even learn a thing or two from them.
I started writing these two hours before the deadline for the submission of nominees for the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs. Once I post it, the deadline might be over.
Nothing brought out the best in me as far as blogging is concerned, other than this writing project.
Being nominated early and getting ‘exposed’ early has kept me on my toes, and always conscious of my posts because I have to prove that I am worthy of the nomination.
I thought I changed for the better. I thought I had, for the sake of the contest.
But I didn’t.
Why? Because it has always been like that, it has always been there.
The only thing that changed is that, now I have an audience. An audience who reads, believes, discriminates, gets involved, contradicts and everything.
I didn’t become a better writer… I just became a better host.
I always had it me! I just have to believe.
And realizing that is what brought me back my self-esteem.
Whatever happens to the contest now is no longer of utmost importance to me, why? Because I have already emerged.
Yes sir, before you now is the struggling blogger – not a better man, not a renewed person, still the same old struggling blogger who has found his old self… and one who believes in it.
I am the struggling blogger… and I breathe blog.
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enjoy lang ng enjoy, may reason din ang pagblog,iba iba.
pero gaya ng sa unahan,i enjoy reading this..pang patay homesickness!
ganda nung last part I BREATHE BLOG!
Well said, and kudos to you for the effort you have put in. I know there is effort involved, and obviously you contribute the time. I read many of your blogs, I don’t always comment, but I usually read them. I’m happy that the blogging world has given just that little extra to help pay the way for you. Most of all, I’m glad you have your self esteem and respect. I don’t think you really lost it before, maybe just misplaced it in the hustle of reality. Just keep the posts coming, and keep learning along the way.
Wow, what a story! Same here, I have just been doing what I love and had earned money too. When I retire, I will surely love to be a full time blogger. And yes, blogging really does something good.
nice story…. hehehehe same tayu …. struggling blogger…. heheheh and a Noob Blogger… :p
@ever
hello ulit ‘pre! salamat ulit sa pagdalaw! ang dami ko na utang sa ‘yo hehe… buti na lang isa lang blog mo, madali makabawi
salamat sa pagbasa mo sa mga post ko… tama ka, talagang nag-e-enjoy ako sa ginagawa ko
@Eric S.
Hi! I know you’re visiting, I can see your picture at the sidebar (mybloglog and blogcatalog)
we actually have the same style, we don’t always comment. I liked what you said ‘not really lost - just misplaced’ maybe that’s it… unused and kept at the corner
Thanks for reading my story
@madz
Hi madz! I can see you’re really enjoying yourself. I would too if a have beautiful blog like yours. I can see you’re into basketball (PBA), I haven’t followed the sport for a long time.
oh please, unless you really have a valid reason, don’t quit your job. you can always blog in your spare time.
thanks for reading.
@Blogfornoob
I’ve been to your blog and I’m impressed. I can see you are a techie. I always envy techies, I really don’t think I’ll ever be one.
thanks for reading my story.
wow, that was a plateful roy…what can i say?
thank god there is blogging. and there are lots of blogging buddies. i felt the same way too at some chapters of life…low self esteem and all, but blogging reanimated the person in me.
kudos bro!
lets just always sing jai ho!!! ehhehe
Me, I blog but do not earn. But I’m observing how the big guys like you do it. I will learn. I will get there. It’s nice that you earn doing what you want to do.
@elmot
jai ho! hahaha!
there goes the ’spiritual director’ myth hehe…
@Luke
don’t worry, you’ll get there
Enjoy blogging lang at express your feelings sa blog…Yan lang naman ang dapat na ginagawa ng tunay na blogger eih…:)
Wow! I was moved there! But good for you, you are now earning through your blog. It helped you a lot… small as it may seem but it did! I commend your bravery and honesty and I wish your wife well… Yes, things may sometimes be rough on you but it all has its own reason… So you see, you may be blogging by accident but now you know, and others appreciate, that you and your blog is really influential… Congrats and good luck in your future endeavor.
~I was forty when my wife went home. At that age, my 11 years of experience in the bank is no longer an asset, the same with my accountancy license – they were liabilities. I was always overqualified, which I believed is their courteous way of saying “you’re overage.”~
You know kuya roy that term ‘overqualified’ is such a big ‘gasgas’ world talaga sa HR practice no. To be honest, I don’t like the thought that an age is a hindrance to a job. Only in the Philippines I guess…tsk..tsk…
@7 Day Weather Forecast
Thank you very much for dropping by and leaving your comment, ‘appreciate it very much.
@xprosaic
Hi! Thanks for dropping by. Yes, everything has a reason… it just takes some time to sink in
thanks again
@Snow
Yes, I think it’s becoming a ‘cliche’ and I think it’s only in our country that overaged are discriminated
Great post, Roy. A couple of things occurred to me as I read it: First, I believe “freedom of expression” is a right to be jealously guarded, and to do that, we have to exercise it bravely and regularly. Whether it means “saying anything you want to say” or “saying what is right to say” depends on your definitions. If what you want to say is libelous, profane, and hurtful - no, that’s not the intent behind recognition of the RIGHT to “free speech.” If you want to criticize your own government, or express your values and opinions honestly and without fear of reprisal from the government, then yes. That’s what it’s all about. And in between, we would all do well to be thoughtful and consider our words carefully without censoring or belittling ideas, whether we agree with them or not. I think that what is “right” to say isn’t just polite and pleasant and courteous small talk - that’s not what “freedom of expression” means (and it has never been threatened by extinction, anywhere).
As for being overqualified, I think it’s not just about age. It’s about salaries. Kids straight out of college are young, hungry, ambitious and carrying shiny, newly-minted credentials that can be had for a fraction of what experienced professionals are accustomed to earning. If you argue that you just want a job - that you need to eat and pay the bills - then they think either you’re lying (and would leave them for the first really decent offer thrown at you) or that you’re entirely lacking in ambition. In today’s economy, that’s just unfair and unrealistic, but there you have it. If you’re a woman of childbearing age, it can be even worse: They think you’re just in it for the insurance, and will leave to take care of the kids once the medical bills are paid.
I’m glad that your blogging is bringing you some income. That’s great - and of course it’s good for your self-esteem. But as for your real worth, that has always been there - it just took a while for you to see it.
Thanks Holly!
Aside from the salary, there is also the ‘insecurity’ factor, there is always the ‘expectation’ that older subordinates are harder to manage (w/c is true most of the time unfortunately)
Good thing there is blogging. A medium of expression and a means to earn a living. Even if there are pessimists out there who think they know better, you still have your integrity and it shows in every post you make, in every title you thought of to catch the attention of your readers, in every word of every letter of each sentences. Blogging is a profession.
What makes it better than the other jobs out there. You control your own time, content of what you write, and meet interesting people who may in one way or another contribute to your blogging ideas.
Z
‘Pre… isipin mo kung hindi ka nagba-blog ngayon… I don’t want to think the worst..pero tama ka…nabigyan ka ng pagkakataon na i-express mo ang sarili mo.
… ang dami mong dinaanang business pero unti unting naglaho… pero dito sa blog…lumalaban ka, you’re a conqueror with a big vision.
… and I think nandito sa blogging true calling mo
…and one thing more, sa dami ng pinagdaanan mo…parang nawala na ang hinanakit mo sa mundo
@Z
you know what? that sounds like poetry to me… if it was written in stanza form, it is a poem!
Thanks Z!
@Eric
‘pre, naisip ko rin yan e… kung hindi ako nagba-blog ngayon, nasan na kaya ako? kaya malaking bagay ang nagawa sa akin ng PBO pre, hindi man sa business side… but something better ‘pre.
at siyempre, hindi ko makakalimutan ang laging pagsuporta mo ‘pre. isang tawag lang, andyan ka! Maraming salamat Kabalen!
Kuya Roy, congrats for being one of the influential bloggers Gusto ko sana pumunta para makita kayo at makapag pa picture at autorgraph din syempre kaso walang kasama ang junakis ko. Hindi ko naman sya pwedeng isama dun dahil for sure disaster aabutin ko dun.:D
Regarding ‘overage’ oo nga bakit ganun dito, samantalang sa ibang bansa kahit 65+ natatanggap pa sa work.
wow naman! sana mag-dilang anghel ka Amor!
salamat ulit sa iyong pagsuporta!
pabantay mo kay hubby hahaha! o kaya, isama mo tapos isama mo rin si hubby para mayroon siya yaya
thanks ulit!
Hello Roy,
Patience and dedication did it for you. Now you’re one of the Top Ten influential bloggers..Yehey!!!
Hardwork pays off, slowly but surely you got to where you are now. Just remain humble and sustain your dedication and passion for blogging and you’ll still reap more success in the future. I am certain of this. Good luck and all the best.
I mean : “…sustain your dedication and passion for blogging and you’ll still reap more SUCCESSES in the future.
he he he, keypads? he he he
Hi Jena!
Of course, that would not even be possible without your consistent support… thank you very much!
whatever challenges that comes our way, let us thank God for the strength he gave us. You’ve come a long way Roy! you’re an inspiration to many.
thank you very much for those kind words Novz!
[...] to visit me… read me… and join me in my struggles, as I try to deliver and share everything of what blogging has done for me… and we are just [...]
Sad but inspiring Roy. Keep moving forward, sabi nga ni Dory sa Finding Nemo “just keep swimming”
I’m sure your wife is proud of you. Congratulations Roy!
God Bless.
uy! nabasa mo hehe… thanks Rey!
Stumbled upon your blog after reading up on the wonderful Ms. Toral’s Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs of 2009.
Great work! I wish I had your patience and perseverance when it comes to blogging regularly. :p
Cheers!
[...] But really, do I feel influential? Frankly, no. But fortunately for me, there is a qualifying word to the award, and that is ‘emerging’ which means I am still on my way out, and with a potential to be influential… an emerging influential blogger. [...]
[...] Two years of blogging has brought me more fulfillment than what my more than 10 years of corporate before has given me. I was able to find friends, gain humble successes, some hits and misses in-betweens, but most of all, it has brought me back to my real self. [...]
The very inspiring blog post I’ve ever read. Kudos to you sir. You really are a good blogger. Please continue inspiring other bloggers out there. Your page has been bookmark because I read and I feed.
thank you very much for appreciating the post Boffill.
[...] am the man that blogging built… I am The Struggling Blogger, and I breathe [...]