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???”
Yeaaaaaa! I am so happy the blog will carry on. Congratulations on making the hard choice. As an actress I know what it is like to realize that you really have no choice but the choose to follow your dream, no matter how difficult it may be.
So cool that you’re an actress!!! I always wanted to be one, growing up, but my mom kept saying that it wasn’t a well paying job unless you got reeeeeaally lucky. So I gave up the idea. Good for you for sticking with it and going for your dream. I kinda wish I had!
Good for you, Katie!! I’ve always been a firm believer in people following their dreams 🙂
Katie, your positive attitude inspires me everytime I click on your blog! Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm for healthy yummy food (sorry if I’m souding lame) but your blog really brings joy to my life, and I hope you continue to stay happy and never regret a thing XD
I think your blog was one of the first I ever read. I really enjoyed it and found it very fun and informative. I too want to develop my own blog and hope to be able to quit working and blog full time (someday). I have worked at jobs I disliked my entire life but my passion is in writing, so I think the time has come to really do what it is I was born to do!! Best wishes with your endeavors!!
I freakin love your blog!
AHHHHH I am so proud of you!!!! Making this decision for YOU is going to warm your heart for the rest of your life, I can feel it. Oh and I think I know what the other thing is all about. 😉
Katie, you are such a wonderful, caring person! I’m sure everything will be fine for you and your blog. I wish you all the best, and keep up with the fabulous recipessss!!!!!
Yayyy!! This makes me so happy 🙂 Congrats on stepping outside of the box and doing what you want with your life. The working world will always be there if you decide to enter it… in the mean time, keep these posts crankin’ out! 🙂
So true! The working world is not going away. If you try something and it doesn’t work out, the world will still be there for other opportunities. The time to try things out is when you’re young!
I’m really, really glad you decided to stick with blogging! The blogosphere just wouldn’t be the same without you. I mean, who else would make delicious, chocolate-covered vegan treats all while being super duper cute?! Only you, that’s who. 🙂
YOU are super duper cute as well, that is for sure!
Avoiding regret is absolutely a valid basis for a decision. I remember in high school, they gave us an essay topic, “Which is worse, dreading the future or regretting the past?” I unequivocally chose regretting the past to be worse. My reasoning is that whatever you dread, it will eventually come to pass and then be over. But regret will linger forever. It seems counter-intuitive, but the future is temporary, while the past is always there. At least… in my mind.
ANYWAY, good on you, girl! Three cheers and all that jazz =D
And if you need/want anything from Japan for your concoctions (like matcha, azuki beans, kinako powder, kuromitsu (black sugar syrup), kokutou (Japanese brown sugar), lemme know and I’ll send ’em on over to ya ^_~
Oh my goodness, you are too sweet! And so lucky to live in Japan… we have an Asian market here, but I haven’t even begun to take full advantage of all the unusual-to-me products they sell!