I’ve spent the last couple of days thinking about what I wanted to blog next. I felt I wanted to share something personal or maybe reflect on marriage and love… I have so much in my mind and heart that I want to express on this blog that sometimes I struggle to decide where to start; and, despite the number of visitors going up, the feedback is still relatively limited, so I struggle to get a clear of idea of what you like and what you don’t like reading.
Thinking back to the reason why this blog was created, I realise that sometimes I fail to fulfil the original purpose I had in mind – finding an outlet for my wedding planning passion while my career path slowly takes shape. But, as more and more people read the blog, I’ve also started to find satisfaction in writing things that are useful, interesting and inspiring for you more than for myself. And so gradually, Linen & Silk Weddings has become what I never set out to accomplish – a wedding blog in its own right, aspiring to have hundreds of visitors every day, packed with dreamy real weddings and styled shoots, DIY features, competitions and product/service launches alerts. It is going to take a while before I get there, and please forgive me if you think I’m being overambitious, if you think I won’t succeed, or that I don’t have the skills. Maybe you are right, but I want to believe in myself and push this forward.
I do have one major obstacle, though. And that is – my first language is not English and despite a degree in media and communication and lots and lots of hours writing for my journalism course, I think it is fair to say that my writing will never be perfect. For instance, when, a few sentences ago, I wrote “a wedding blog in its own right” I had to google the expression to check whether it was ‘in its own right’ or ‘in its own rights‘. This type of mistakes puts some readers off, so it takes me quite a bit of time to write a post and then cross check that I haven’t made any major mistakes. And even when I have finally published the blog, often times I find myself rereading it and editing the grammar.
So I guess all I’m trying to say is – my blog is never going to be perfect, but it will be a true representation of who I am:
♥ An Italian girl, living in London, with a passion for all things weddings and for writing.
♥ A wedding planner, a wife and someone who loves God.
♥ A free lance project manager for a design studio and a traveller.
♥ Someone who lives with a chronic illness, but a fighter. Every day ensuring that my condition does not affect my life.
♥ A lover of plan B and C, to give me and those surrounding me the confidence that I’ve got it under control – because I really do, not because I say I do.
♥ A reader of Elle and Grazia and someone who consume a ridiculous amount of interior design magazines.
♥ I love photography but I don’t own a DSLR and I plan to buy one (any suggestions?). I also crave for a Polaroid.
♥ I flirt with fashion, but blisters on my feet terrify me to death, so regrettably I don’t wear heels for more than 2 hours.
♥ I love my hair but I have a constant struggle to keep it under control.
♥ I tweet, but not too much because I spend too much time trying to figure out how to say what I want to say without sounding like a foreigner.
♥ And I live in limbo. I love the UK and I love Italy, but I’m not sure where I belong… possibly, only in my husband’s arms?
So, if you’ll accept me as I am, I think we will have a lovely long lasting relationship. Will you?
What are the obstacles you face as you pursue your dream? Who are you at heart, and what things define you as a blogger, a woman, a man, with aspirations and dreams? I’d love to hear from you!
xoxo Betta
Image credits:
Diaries Moddle Child Complex / Spaghetti Cookbook.com / Polaroid / Living Room House to Home / Elle Magazine Pinterest / Bike SF Girl By Bay / Couple kissing The Becker.com
Oh, cara Betta! Such a sweet post. It’s so funny how we fear how we are perceived. Yes, I just spell checked that word, and I’m a born English speaker. When I began reading your posts I was immediately impressed with your flawless english writing. You remind me of my husband. Although he’s a native Italian, I turn to him when I can’t spell a word in English. I hope that makes you feel better. I also firmly believe that even baby steps are a step in the right direction. I’m struggling with all sorts of things lately: 1. I’m enjoying not going to an office each day for the last year and a half since quitting my job to pursue my photography. But I get lonely, distracted, and even depressed.
2. I knew the business aspect would be more difficult than the creative aspect of my pursuit. I hate to say I told myself so, but I told myself so! The bright side is, I’m making good friends in the industry and they’re kicking me in the butt. I need them. 3. I’m sassy. One might say, so what or oh, well. But no, even with my clients, I’m sassy, direct, and to the point. I don’t know how to be any different, and recently I’ve decided not to try. I’m also very warm and compassionate, so I can only hope that this side of my personality shines brighter than the other. 4. My dreams are muddled. I don’t know how far I want to take my business. Or maybe I do, but then I can’t imagine how I’ll still be able to cook dinner and spend quality time with my husband, because those are things I value and don’t want to give up. 5. I’m a bad blogger. I need to reign in my whole business outline. And I will. I need to remember, too, that I’m still new and I’m still learning and as long as I’m committed to growing despite the painful mistakes, I think everything might turn out okay. Big hug to you from San Fran….. I just totally empathize with you, devi essere orgoliosa di te! XXXX
Sandra thank you, as usual. I love connecting with you. Your beautiful comment deserves an email. Would you give me a couple of days to email you, Hun? Xx
Thank you so much for this lovely little glimpse into your life and personality! I feel inspired and hope to find time to write a similar piece about myself today! I can see how it can helps us connect with one another. I’m sure brides would love to know more about me before allowing me to play a role in their most special celebration!
In terms of the fluency of your writing – please don’t worry, as so many native speakers, including myself, often struggle with that! Thank goodness for google!! Sometimes the longer you look at an article, the harder it is to see the flaws or errors, so it’s best to come back to it later or just take a chance and hit the button! Besides, I have never thought you sounded ‘foreign’ in any email or post, yet!
And regarding the hair and high heels – I hear ya!
All the very best, keep up the great blogging and thanks a million for your support 🙂
Lesley
Lesley you made my morning! I’m glad my post served to inspire at least one person to do the same. I definitely want my blog to be a reflection of who I am so will continue to write little personal posts every now and again hoping my future clients will be drawn to me and my personality as well as my skills.
Thank you so much for your comment! xx
What a lovely post. Despite the struggles you describe here, I think you write beautifully. If it’s any consolation, English IS my 1st language {and I even have a MAsters degree in the subject} and I still find myself checking my blog posts make sense! I think it shows you take pride in your work and care about the finished product.
This has been a wonderful insight into your passions and interests, subjects that always make for great reading in my opinion.
Loveaudrey xxx
Thank you for your comment, my dear. I love writing and surprisingly I now actually prefer writing in English than in Italian. It’s funny how after 10 years in a different country you lose the fluency of your mothertongue (luckily, though, it does come back after about a week in italy!).
Hope your wedding planning is going well, and if you need anything, just give me a shout. Happy to help!xx
Elisabetta, You write beautifully {don’t think otherwise!} and I totally resonate with you with so many points you had written in this blog post. When writing a post, I have to think long and hard as well as double-triple check as English was the third language I had to learn before I was aged 7 {along with some other Chinese dialects!}
Google is one of my best friends and even so, at times, I have to get to page 5 of the search results before I find my answer…
When I first started tweeting, it took me a long while before I could press the ‘tweet’ button as I had to analyse after working out if it is actually the correct English, grammar etc or does it sound offensive or wrong in any way {I find texts and tweets can be a problem when people don’t know you well!} And… only having 140 characters doesn’t help!
I gathered through time I’m not English, Chinese or Dutch {where I was born} as I’m a mixture of all 3. Through time and age, I accepted that I’m unique {as we all are} and I learnt to accept that I can be all of them without feeling like I’m some kind of alien. It took a long time, as it took some time for the village I was growing up in, in the UK to make me feel ‘accepted’. Without going into detail… it felt like a lifetime before I finally knew my family and I were totally welcome.
You’re doing amazing at what you are out to achieve and well done for keeping strong despite the circumstance and the illness you have. Keep aiming high and you will get to that very top of the mountain. One of my favourite quotes is:
‘I’ve learned… that everyone wants to live at top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it’
I hope my personal experiences helps you to know that you’re not on your own… keep working hard Elisabetta – you’re doing great!
Oh Carmen, thank you so much for the lovely comment! You are so kind and sweet! I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels this way about twitter. I really love it, but it’s so easy to misunderstand or write something meaning one thing, when in fact it reads another! Thank you for your feedback. I really appreciate it! xx betta