As my 500th blog post approached, I was really thinking about the costs and benefits of this project. When it comes to benefits, unloading mental baggage that I had not realized was weighing me down is enough to persuade me it’s worth it. I feel so mentally free that it’s similar to how I felt physically after losing 40 pounds. There are other benefits as well.

I’ve done some things that I might not have otherwise tackled:
* Self-help projects
* Self-reflection
* Made and published hundreds of photos
* Carried on when it seemed impossible

Among other things, I’ve learned:
* I can (sometimes) write quickly when needed
* Many small steps can take me further than I imagined possible

On the down side, a daily deadline can be stressful. It’s not so bad when the words flow freely. When writer’s block creeps in, self-doubt rears its ugly head. Building an audience for a free blog is also way harder than I expected. (If you enjoy the blog, please feel free to invite others to subscribe.)

After all of the time invested and in anticipation of writing the next 500, I came to a major realization. If I wasn’t doing it for me I would stop. Maybe this is the most valuable lesson. If you’re going to invest significant time in your craft, make sure you find it fulfilling. Doing it for someone else is a path to disappointment.

What do you do to invest in yourself?

PS – If you joined the blog recently, check out some of my other milestone posts: Here we go…, 100!, 200!, 300!, 400!

You can also go to any blog post on the site or the blog page and try the random post button. You might find hidden gems.