What 10 Years of Blogging Taught Me

Lifestyle

Kate Arends in the snowy woods in winter

It’s hard to escape the past when you’ve written about it almost weekly for a decade. When I started Wit & Delight, I had little to no expectations for what would become of this little platform. 3.3 million followers later, each comment, like or note of thanks hasn’t lost its luster. Even with a thousand blog posts under my belt, I still hold my breath as I put my thoughts out into the world, never fully believing in its value.

 

Last year I knew in my gut the Wit & Delight of the past decade needed to change significantly in 2019, and not just because of a changing media landscape. We outgrow the people we are, shed our skin, and emerge transformed. This website has been the vehicle for transformation for me and I’ve changed in ways I didn’t know possible simply because I showed up and had the courage to share what I was thinking.

This website has been the vehicle for transformation for me and I’ve changed in ways I didn’t know possible simply because I showed up and had the courage to share what I was thinking.

And today, the lifestyle website that began as a self-serving platform has transformed into a vehicle for others to share their experiences. I have discovered the reason I keep this website running is my deep love and curiosity for the human condition. The connections most important to me come not just from what we find in common, but from what makes us different and what makes us uncomfortable. When I think about what Wit & Delight should look like in the next decade, I find myself excited by understanding why we make the lifestyle choices we do and how they affect the way we show up in the world— a world that is more awake to the undercurrent of divisiveness and disruption of establishment than ever before. With all this turmoil, can internal questions help us better navigate the future? What makes us strive to better understand ourselves and what happens when we come to peace with all the questions? What happens to our relationships with others when we see both the dark and light sides of ourselves as equally valuable? Can self-awareness help us move into an era where we treat every human with dignity? How do the little choices we make every day improve or hinder our relationship with ourselves? Could something as simple as a serene space help us heal after divorce? What does our relationship with things say about ourselves?

For every comment we’ve received about “sticking to the light stuff” I’ve taken it as a sign we’re moving in the right direction. Because to me, a lifestyle brand is about showing people how to make room for the whole person they are (the good and the bad) and figuring out how to enjoy life based on their truest self. And that means lifestyle choices will be different for every human. Even the littlest of things.

Thanks for sticking with me for the past decade. It’s crazy to know there are more than a handful of you who remember the beginning of this journey. And please know that you are the reason I keep coming back and pushing to evolve Wit & Delight. We will always continue to grow up, get better, and progress into something entirely new.

And with that, we move into the next chapter.

Kate

BY Kate Arends - January 7, 2019

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January 7, 2019 10:51 am

Congratulations on 10 years! That’s such an exciting milestone and I look forward to following along for another 10. And thank you for always evolving and taking on such interesting and relevant topics. 🙂

-Helen
http://www.sweethelengrace.com

January 7, 2019 11:11 am

Woo, 10 years! I just hit eight years on my own blog this past summer, and it’s definitely been a ride. Congrats on a decade of great content, and cheers to another!

January 7, 2019 1:11 pm

I love everything about this post – and congratulations on 10 years of blogging. I’ve only been following you for 5 but you, the brand, this community, has inspired me every day. <3

January 7, 2019 2:00 pm

Wit&Delight has been such a source of inspiration since the day I stumbled upon it so THANK YOU and I can’t wait to see what future holds in regards to this wonderful blog ❤

Teresa | outlandishblog.com

Dad
January 7, 2019 2:14 pm

Congratulations, Kate and team, on all that you’ve accomplished during your first 10 years of Wit & Delight. May you continue to create meaningful stories and put impactful content out into the world for the greater good…for years to come. Onward!

Susan
January 7, 2019 4:01 pm

Congrats on your 10 years! I have just started following your blog and am looking forward to your upcoming posts.

January 8, 2019 8:27 am

Congratulations on ten years! I look forward to the next year, particularly as you dive further into tough topics.

January 8, 2019 8:59 am

Yay Kate! So excited to see what unfolds in 2019 for you and Wit + Delight! Congratulations on 10 years, and for being the voice inside so many of our heads – bravely showing us the way to live, share, talk, and build community. xx.

Charmaine
January 10, 2019 3:15 pm

Congrats and thank you for sharing your voice! I’ve enjoyed following along over the years 🙂

January 12, 2019 12:17 am

Wow what an amazing blog post. You really grabbed my mind. Thanks for sharing.

January 12, 2019 10:44 am

Dear Kate, thanks for your posts and positive attitude!
I have seen only a couple of your posts but would check much more!
All the best!

January 29, 2019 10:36 pm

Congratulations!! It’s a huge milestone, and I hope you got to celebrate it!

April 25, 2019 7:00 am

now visit krogers to know feedabck winners ….This IPL is very exciting you can follow MSD

April 28, 2019 9:20 pm

I, for one, am absolutely adoring the new editorial direction you’ve take over the past year. Your site stands out. It’s not like all the other big lifestyle sites. Please keep pursuing this kind of content, these kind of conversations!

May 17, 2019 11:09 am

This was a really helpful post, I’m really beginning to get into skincare. Glad to know I already use some of the products she recommended! 🙂

June 8, 2019 4:57 pm

Precious inputs! Thanks for sharing !

June 13, 2019 1:30 am

It is actually a great and helpful piece of information. I am satisfied that you simply shared this useful information with us.
Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.

vex
July 3, 2019 4:59 am

I appreciate it !. I really like it when people are together and sharing ideas. Great site, keep up the good work !. Either way, the web is great and I look forward to seeing it grow over time. Thanks very much.

July 10, 2019 5:06 am

Started writing blog from year 2008, I now continue to write blog for my own business. As a result, I feel same as what you said.

July 14, 2019 10:40 am

Hello Kate,

I’ve only just found your site, but it’s beautiful in every way, especially to the soul.

July 15, 2019 3:53 am

I have read your excellent post. This is a great job. I have enjoyed reading your post first time.
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July 21, 2019 1:38 pm

Well-Written article. It will be supportive to anyone who utilizes it, including me.
Keep doing what you are doing – can’t pause to read more posts. Thanks for the precious help.

July 29, 2019 9:43 am

What a great achievement and milestone…Congratulations

August 19, 2019 9:24 am

on to the next big thing! Greater you!

September 5, 2019 8:47 am

Congrats on your 10 years! I have just started following your blog and am looking forward to your upcoming posts.

September 14, 2019 8:21 am

Precious inputs! Thanks for sharing !

September 16, 2019 2:29 am

Thank you very much for such a nice information provided.

September 18, 2019 10:58 am

Really, very thank full to you.

November 4, 2019 10:03 pm

Article with a deep knowledge and well staged. I have visited your website. It is very interesting and impressive. Thanks for sharing with us such a great article. I want to come again. Please update. thank you.

November 14, 2019 2:05 am

Happy time

November 18, 2019 3:21 pm

I’m kind of new to the Wit and Delight scene but I am so glad that I found this space. Thank you for the content on here and happy 10th birthday! Can’t wait to see what you do in the next 10 years.

December 18, 2019 5:31 am

What a great journey keep inspiring up

January 7, 2020 6:58 pm

Congrats with first decade, Kate!!

September 24, 2020 2:24 am

Congrats on your 10 years! I have just started following your blog and am looking forward to your upcoming posts

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