Time to talk about the F word.
Yesterday’s f word was frivolous: Healthy Frappucinos.
But today, it’s time to get more serious; today’s f word is “future.” Specifically, my future and the future of my chocolate-covered blog.
The future of Chocolate Covered Katie…
This summer, I had to make a big decision regarding the blog I’ve written for over three years. I enjoy every second of the blogging process—from writing posts to creating recipes to setting up photoshoots to interacting with readers. But keeping up a blog takes a lot of time, and as the blog has grown, so too has the time requirement. Answering the hundreds of daily questions I receive from readers could be a full-time job in itself!
I knew there’d be no way to maintain a full-time job and still focus as much passion and energy as I’d like on CCK. If I didn’t want to give up the blog completely, I would at least be forced to give it less than my full attention.
This was not ok with me. When I do something, I do it 100% or not at all. But I couldn’t imagine giving up all my passions to make room for a job where I’d be miserable. Therefore, I decided to make this blog…
My full-time job.
It seems to easy, now, to write the above statement. Just. Like. That. But the truth is my decision wasn’t just like that. It took many hours of going back and forth, writing pros-and-cons lists, and eating a copious number of chocolate bars to counter all the nervousness. There were many “cons” on the list of reasons not to keep blogging, but I realized that most of them had something to do with security. And when it comes down to it, I’d rather take a risk if there’s a possibility to be ridiculously happy.
With Robert Frost’s “Road not Taken” poem in mind, I’ve decided to not go out and look for a “real” job. Instead, I will be a full-time blogger, at Chocolate-Covered Katie.
Nothing is going to change, except that I’ll now have even more time to dream up—and experiment with—healthy dessert creations like hot chocolate fudge cinnamon rolls or chocolate pumpkin cream pie. If I have a chance to do what I love for a living, I need to take that chance. I have to take a risk and at least try!
The fact that I even have the opportunity to make this choice is all thanks to you. If you’ve ever recommended my site to a friend, shared a link, liked the Chocolate Covered Katie Facebook Page, made one of my recipes, or even simply read one of my posts, I am so incredibly grateful.
Yes, I’m scared about the future now that I’ve made my decision. But I’m also excited because of the people with whom I’ll get to interact every day: you all! (Well, you all and chocolate. I must admit to being pretty thrilled my job lets me work so closely with chocolate.) I think part of my apprehension for the future is unavoidable no matter what route I take. That’s just the nature of getting out on one’s own and defining one’s life. It’s a scary time.
I am so indebted to your support and kindness that makes it even possible for me to explore this path. I hope, if any of you are ever faced with a scary decision requiring you to take a leap of faith, that you go for it! Don’t force your passions to take a back seat to the “shoulds” and “have to”s in life, because you only stand to look back someday with regret, thinking:
“What if I’d followed my dreams???”
So cool!!! Congratulations to you! Your courage is so inspiring! I also want to say that I think you are doing great things for the animals. All these healthy little desserts add up to a lot of animals saved! Very smart.
Yup! You win more converts with honey (errrr agave lol… or chocolate!) than with bees! 😉
Congrats on your decision! I love your blog, and I am so happy to hear there’s more to come. 🙂 Good luck!
Congratulations! You will do great!
Wow Katie! Good for you! It’s obvious as a reader how much you love blogging and I’m thrilled that you’re going to stay with us. That took a huge leap of faith and I know you will be extremely successful.
I know I don’t know you personally, but I am so proud and HAPPY for you. No one should ever have to give up what they love.
And I think I speak for everyone who reads your blog that we cannot get enough! I absolutely love looking at your desserts, attempting to make them, or just admiring how pretty they look! There is definitely a future here, even if you decide to branch out with a CCK cookbook or something. I’d be all over that 😀
I think you’re awesome! And I bet it feels great to get that off your chest. Behind you 100% 🙂
You’ve got guts! That’s something most people don’t have enough of. That’s amazing that you have so much passion to follow your… well, passion. I think that the best career is one that you love, and you obviously love doing this–you’ve been doing it for so long and put so much time and effort into it, and it’s turned into something great! Keep going! And I’d like to say that I fully support you and your blog. I’ll be recommending it to as many people as I can and spreading the word. 🙂 I’d be crushed if your blog had to come to an end.
Me too! I will be recommending this site to EVERYONE I know and sending along links and tweets, to help you “stay in business” lol.
It’s purely selfish reasons I’ll do it, though: I want to keep reading your yummy recipes, so you have to keep writing them! 😉 ;).
Aww thank y’all! I can’t even tell you how much that means to me!!
Dear CCK,
I’m always so inspired by your blog–and you! You fueled my decision to become vegan and your ideas and recipes opened up tons of new doors for me. Your blog also inspired me to start up my own. It isn’t much yet, but I’m hoping that, if I keep working on it, it’ll become better with time. My dream is to eventually have a blog as great and successful as yours! Of course, I know it will take tons of dedication and patience.
I’m only fifteen, so I still have time to figure out what I want to dedicate my life to, but it seems like I don’t actually have that much time to decide. Picking a career seems scary. I’m pretty sure that no matter what I choose to do, though, I’m going to get a business degree–those are always useful. I might even open up my own all-natural business of some sort, or maybe a restaurant. I always wanted to be a writer, but I don’t think I’ll have the patience to write an entire novel or anything. Right now, I’m hoping that maybe I’ll have a blog as a sort of a part-time job? That would be amazing. It would satisfy my love of writing, photographing, creativity, AND experimenting in the kitchen: basically, getting to express myself for a career. <3
Thank you so much for being such an inspiration! I just know your blog will continue to grow and blossom! 😉
NaturalAsCanBe- What is your blog?
I’m happy you’re following your passion! Maybe one day you can open a healthy bakery or be on the food network somehow! But I know I’d be super sad if you stopped blogging. I look at your blog every single day and I love that there is always a new post!
yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😀 😀 😛 *hugs* lol,its safe to say that youd be dearly missed if you were ever to stop blogging,things like the healthy living summit might interest you as a full time blogger 😀
I really regret not buying a ticket now!
Yeah!!!! Congrats, Katie!!!!
katie, GOOD. FOR. YOU.
i am 41 and i this blog post inspires ME! your last paragraph is soooo bang on correct.
i am so happy for you – you go for it!!
Haha I am 52! I love learning things from the younger generation. It makes me feel young ;).