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???”
YES! I KNOW you can do this! And I know you can do it wonderfully. You’re such a gem and following your dreams and doing what makes you happy is SO important. Being able to know what you want and being able to have the freedom to make that decision is amazing, why let it pass by? I can’t wait to see what else you have in store now that you’ll be able to fully commit yourself to this, and I have no doubt it will be crazy, wonderful, upbeat, inspiring and delicious all rolled into one big dough ball of Katie goodness. Plus, I don’t know WHAT I would do without your mouthwatering desserts popping up in my google reader everyday. It would be sad times, that’s for sure.
Ps – Blog-based bakery? Blog morph into healthified bakery someday? You need to do it, you could start a bakery revolution! Or at least get started on that cookbook of yours, will you? 😉 xoxo
Oh a blog-based bakery would be the coolest idea ever!
I’m so happy to hear that you’re going to continue with this blog. I know firsthand how difficult it is to juggle everything, good luck with it!
Ahh the biggest congrats ever! GO YOU for following your dream!! You’re an admirable 🙂
Congratulations, Katie! You’re the reason I and my mom became vegans 🙂 :). Before you, I thought veganism was hard. But its so easy! Thanks for showing me this. And I’m so happy you’re not ending the blog :).
Oh Katie! I have tears in my eyes (Seriously!!)! This is amazing!! I really cant believe it, and Im just so happy for you! And for me- I would (almost) die without your chocyy blog! Im so excited!
As I write I eat my daily dose of dark chocolate 😀 Ill make sure Ill eat some extra to celebrate you!
<3
As if we needed an extra excuse to eat more chocolate, right? 😉
This is brilliant news Katie – great job!
Really looking forward to all of your yummy recipes 🙂
Congrats on being able to make your blog into your future – when something’s right, it’s just right (and your desserts, my friend, can’t get any more right!)
Katie, major, major congrats to you for taking this leap!!!! I am so happy for you!!!! It’s super scary, yes, I am sure to not look for a “real job” but blogging (as anyone who writes a consistent daily or multi-daily blog) knows…blogging IS a job! It can be as much as you make it from photography to recipe development, writing the posts, handling the comments…this is ALL a job and I know this. You know this. I hope you can make a go of it and support yourself$$ from blogging. You deserve this!!! And gosh, I am thrilled for you!!
I am sitting here at Food & Light in Boulder and I am sitting next to Elana Amsterdam of Elana’s Pantry and she says hi!
We are both giving you a hi right how 🙂 And a ((HUG))
I want to be like you when I grow up!
xoxo
I heard on your blog that you were going to that conference. I am mucho jealous! And you met Elana? Now I am even MORE jealous! If you see this (and then see her again), say hi for me… and then give her a chocolate-covered hug :).
And then maybe come to Texas so I can meet you too??? 🙂
Congrats! I don’t remember how I came across your blog, but I remember when I did I literally read every single post you’ve ever posted. It took me a while, but I did it! And I’m so glad you’re going to continue blogging. The blog world wouldn’t be the same without you!
wow for a minute I thought you would stop blogging and then I read on and I was sooo relieved. I LOVE your blog!! If you ever come out with a cook book i would totally buy it!! This is a big step and I know you will be succesfull, it might be hard at first but it will only get better. you have all of us to support you!
Yes please write a cookbook???!
Agreed!