It all started with a fortune cookie. About 2 and a half years ago I was in the middle of an internal debate about what to do: Give up a career I’d been dreaming of my entire life, or keep it going but possibly have a hard time balancing the career I wanted and the family life I desired.

I’d been praying, surveying, visualizing my options. I was pretty sure of what I wanted to do. But I was scared. I wanted to be sure it was the RIGHT decision for me. One that wouldn’t be full of regrets. 

I went to Panda Express because they had free orange chicken that night (I rarely go there). Inside that cookie, the fortune sealed the deal and answered my prayers.

“Take that chance you’ve been considering.”

That was the final push I needed.

Since then things took an unexpected turn. The blog, this blog, I started six years earlier evolved into its own career. Blogging in general took off. More blogs, more conferences, more opportunities. I never saw it coming but writing about my life and family somehow became my new job, a new dream, and sometimes it still seems too good to be true.

Like with any career, we all have hopes and aspirations for where we want to go. I think the difference with blogging is there isn’t really a defined route. The sky’s the limit and there is no designated path or ladder to climb. Everyone is going in different directions and it can be hard deciding which road to take.

Sometimes people ask me advice for how to start or improve a blog with the hopes of it becoming a career–I’m drafting a post on that but it’s a more difficult than I expected because I can’t clearly define how I got here. It seemed to just happen, like it was meant to. But I think focusing on what I love most: My family, photography, storytelling, helps. 

I’m flying to California this morning to speak at a blogging conference: Mom 2.0. My topic is visual storytelling and I’m tackling it with LaShawn Wiltz from Everyday Eye Candy. It’s another one of those stop me in my tracks wondering ‘how did I get here’ moments. But I’m happy to be here.

I don’t have any secrets to becoming a professional blogger. Well, maybe just one. But I think it applies to any path of pursuit. Do you. Pursue what you love. What lights you on fire and makes you sparkle? Do more of that! If you have fun doing what you love and do it well, good things will come.

Maybe it’s time you take that chance you’ve been considering. I’m so glad I did.