This is my 100th blog, which considering I don’t have time to brush my hair – let alone write, is quite a feat for me. I quickly scrolled through my list of blogs and was reminded of how much I’ve learnt since I’ve started these online rambles. This also gives me an excuse to bust out the bullet points, my favourite thing.

Here’s what writing 100 blogs on caring has taught me:

• Just start. Half the time, I have no idea what I want to write about but starting with just a sentence or even a title I like is enough to give me the inspiration to finish. It might not be great, but it is done. I’m sure there is a life lesson in there somewhere.
• I can do more. It is a struggle and not pretty, but with focus and discipline, I can do more than I think I can. I don’t have a lot of time, that’s true, but I can maximise it to accomplish something other than working or caring.
• I want to do more. This blog has reignited my enthusiasm to do impactful things. It had slowly died the first two years I was a carer as I struggled to adapt to my new reality but now it is back with a vengeance. I’m even co-hosting a podcast now, Care fully considered, thanks to this blog (and the We Care Campaign’s Katy Styles).
• The power of a DM is huge. Apparently most people use DMs for something *entirely* different. Rest assured, I will only slide into yours to interview you, and I have met such wonderful, smart people in doing so.
• I have learnt so much. Through this blog, I have discovered a wonderful community of carers, who are working hard to change things. I have learnt about social care policies, read research papers, and got curious about topics I would not have paid attention to otherwise.
• Free therapy. Writing has helped me crystallise my thoughts and feelings. I wasn’t expecting that, but something about having to type out what you think is therapeutic. I’m still a world-class overthinker, but I now have an outlet for it.
• Messaging is important. My aim is to widen the conversation around caring and make it relatable to those who aren’t (yet) carers. I will keep intentionally doing that, and I think I have found my voice as a result of that. I’ve also found my mission, as an extra bonus.
• What’s next? I’d love to turn these blogs into a book. Does anybody know any good literary agents? I have no idea how but I would *really* to produce some sort of show or docu series on caring that reflects the tone of these blogs. I think lighter caring content is the way to get meaningful attention. Both these goals are highly unlikely to happen, I’m just putting it ‘out there’ or ‘in the universe’ or whatever the Americans say.

Finally, I would like to say a great big THANK YOU to all of you who read and comment on these blogs. I love hearing from you so keep ’em coming 🙂