... And Therefore I Blog: 7th Blogging Anniversary of My Yatra Diary...


The resting place of the mind is the heart.
The only thing the mind hears all day
is clanging bells and noise and argument,
and all it wants is quietude.
The only place the mind will ever find peace
is inside the silence of the heart.
That's where you need to go.
― Elizabeth Gilbert.


7  years back, sometime during this particular day… I had excitedly plonked myself near the computer to type the words I had written in my diary and hit the publish button.

Yes, 7 years back on this day, that’s 2557 days. As contrived as this may sound, but I can’t believe that I have lived (and survived) so many years in this wonderful space. It’s a feeling that undoubtedly feels gracious and blessed but the magnanimity of it all just refuses to sink in as I sit down to pen down my thoughts today. But then, maybe it’s not that magnanimous as I am making it to be at all!

Looking back at this journey of mine, I feel that God has been very kind to His child to have opened new horizons and paved fresh paths in ways that were not even remotely imaginable for her. Writing, creating, expressing on the canvas of a blank paper has since been a thing of joy that is difficult to be described in words. Especially for a raw writer like me.

What is blogging for me?

It’s been such a great privilege to engage in something that benefits both me and the world at large. To be able to write freely, to share the necessary information on my travels, to sit down with my emotions about a particular place and go deeper into them and perhaps embrace them in the process… I am not sure if I can call My Yatra Diary… just a blog today.  She has been there as a true confidante and a friend who has given me the space to live my life my way and empowered me to dive deeper into issues that matter to me and channel my mind in a way that serves right for me.


When I work, and in my art, I hold hands with God.
- Robert Mapplethorpe.


They say work is worship, and I feel grateful to be living this phrase. Blogging for me is my sweetest communion with God, my purest form of self expression where I look forward to pick up my pen, look within and enter a cavernous soft silent space as if delicately unwrapping a gift I have got from the Supreme Almighty and offering it back in His feet in my own unique way.

What and how much do I earn from blogging?

Oddly enough though, as work and success today is often perceived in the society, for me, my blog has never been about fame, followers, popularity or money (though I do earn from it). It’s always been something I have derived joy from and a better and intimate understanding into myself.

Though the money earned is substantial but the real fulfilment has been in the decision of giving back to the society whatever I had as a pure gift through this blog.


Open your eyes, look within.
Are you satisfied with
the life you’re living?
 – Bob Marley.


After 7 years of blogging, I may not have many huge achievements to brag about but I can certainly say that I feel like I have changed for the better with shift in perspectives and values of living. There are riches of the heart to be accounted for that are much more valuable and priceless than any material treasures, not always visible to the naked human eye.

... And Therefore I Blog.

I am so happy for, through this journey of mine, my faith in The Father (both heavenly and earthly) has grown over the years in the most beautiful way. Though I confess I haven’t had the courage to really be open to many people outside my little circle and a bit lazy also when it comes to socialising especially in the recent years but I take solace in the fact that I always try my best.

Where my blog was a new entrant in my life at one point of time, I realise it’s a sacred part of me now. She is my identity, my voice, my experiences, my hope and my freedom – the start of a long journey whose destination is unclear and uncertain. And yet, I am excited to be walking the way.


All I can do is be me, whoever that is. 
- Bob Dylan.


Having a glimpse of 'who you are' is priceless and there really can be no grasping value attached to it. The derived feeling of content, ecstasy and happiness after creating something on my own is my strength and my motivating factor to continue doing what I do here.

Thank you for coming along, your company matters to me!

I feel incredibly lucky and blessed in my journey to have come across some wonderful people along the way who have loved me for who I am and what I do without any preconceived judgements or philosophies.

Thank you for listening to all that I have had to say, for reading my posts on my blog, taking the time to comment on them, promoting them on Indivine, and liking them on FaceBook, Twitter and Instagram. I thank you for subscribing to my blog and following my stories by being such a support everywhere that you can be. Thank you for sharing all the inspirational content that you share and for making this virtual world alive for me. Nothing would have been possible without you.

I just want to say that your good wishes are the blessings that string the pages of this little diary together. Your comments are my autographs from people that I lovingly cherish and admire in my heart. Thank you for coming along, My Yatra Diary... is so much more happier with all of you.






Post a Comment

34 Comments

  1. What a beautifully woven post, yet again, Arti.

    You haven't just survived in the blogging world; you have flourished. You have made it a better place. You have been an inspiration for many of us by adding something the world needs every day - value.

    Each time you modestly write about your idea of blogging, I'm reminded of Dylan Thomas' line "Do not go gentle into that good night." You may have approached posts with a wave of emotions - positive and negative. But you have never come lightly at a blank paper or screen.

    Kudos to yet another year of stellar blogging!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am a fan of ur blog,always loved your post.
    wish you write for lots of seven years.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Heartiest Congratulations Arti:) Nice to read your post. Keep Blogging.Best wishes. ~ da

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Arti: Wishing you the very best for the coming years. If I may say - you are one of the few bloggers I read that have remained " True" to what you believe in and each post reflects your personality and comes from the heart. Keep blogging... :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Congratulations, Arti! Look forward to many more lovely stories from you.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Heartiest congratulations, Arti. 7 years and here's wishing you hundreds more. I can truly understand why you love her so. I love reading you and your travel tales. Keep shining.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Writers get excited when they see their maiden work in print. It's like a first drop of rain for them. Wishing you many more laurels

    ReplyDelete
  8. Nicely written.. loved reading it.. Wish your blog a many more successful years like this.. all the best..

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hey Arti, Congrats. Great to know you for the last 2 years and I must say i have learnt a lot from your blog. You have been an inspiration to all of us who have started late and are newbies. Keep blogging and keep inspiring us

    ReplyDelete
  10. Congratulations on the 7th Blogging Anniversary. Keep going...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Congratulations on the seven years of blogging, Arti. Your achievement is excellent and your profile is high in the blog world. Keep on inspiring us with your heartfelt words and photos and giving us useful information. I’m thankful to your blogging which bounds us together otherwise we never came to know each other. I like your illustration.

    Yoko

    ReplyDelete
  12. Heartiest congratulations my dear Arti! :) :) :) So happy to read '7 years' at the beginning of the post. 7 years of consistency in bringing beautiful yatras on the blog through beautiful words, is truly remarkable. I am feeling, wow! how long I have traveled by reading about different places here and it's such a great feeling. As I always say, I really love the positivity you share in your posts. Loved the doodles as well! May God bless you with the happiness you deserve, always! Keep creating such amazing positivity.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Heartiest congratulations! Many more years to come. Have seen you since last so many years.
    You have created a niche and now it's time to let it flourish more. May you grow many times.

    ReplyDelete
  14. A beautiful post, Arti. I can resonate with your words on blogging. After completing three years, my blog is now really a 'sacred' part of me... :-)

    Wish you many more years of achievements, dear... you are always an inspiration... <3 #HappyBlogging

    ReplyDelete
  15. Congratulations Arti. I loved this piece. May you have many more successful years of blogging.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Congrats Arti. Though we have minimum contact only through comments on posts but it feels so wonderful to have known you through this medium. Your Yatra Diary is simple and very elegant.
    Wishing you more beautiful experiences and happy traveling.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Congratulations Arti! You surely can brag about the followers and friends you have earned thru this wonderful diary. To be honest, you have inspired many of us who were not into blogging earlier and more than that who were not aware of so many beautiful places across India. I always feel that there is something very unique and kind in the way you describe your travels and even the non-travel posts. You're an amazing story-teller and a wonderful person at heart (which anyone can figure out from your writings and the way you present your perspective).

    Congrats again on this remarkable journey! Wishing you all the very best for coming years! More power to you! :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. सातवी सालगिरह की बहुत-बहुत बधाई, आरती! आप इसी तरह आगे बढ़ती रहे, यही शुभकामनाएं!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Heartiest congratulations and wishing you all the best for coming years. Your blog is always an inspiration. Happy blogging!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Congratulations Arti on the 7th Anniversary and wish you many more years of Happy Blogging!! :D Keep travelling and blogging :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Congrats Arti! I share your emotions very well and agree totally on the account of blogging. I am blogging for more than a decade and what I am today is not what I was before blogging and so was the transformation happened in me and the thing about socializing happens within me incredibly where I never thought I could openly write anything.

    The sketching is very cute and apt to the post. Like the smiling girl :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Congrats Arti on another blogging year... cheers for many more to come :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Lovely post Arti. Congratulations.
    I always follow your blog. I have seen many places through your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Wishing you many more years of happy blogging, Arti

    ReplyDelete
  25. Happy bloversary Arti! Always love what you write and looking forward for many more awesome post from you..

    ReplyDelete
  26. Yaaaaaaay for you dear Arti.-) 7 times 7 times even more to come:-) you rock, my friend, the blogosphere and all over""! Looove to follow you around - wherever the road may lead, my friend:-) Huuuugs

    ReplyDelete
  27. Congrats on the milestone Arti! Wishing you many more laurels!

    ReplyDelete
  28. What a lovely post. In today's world of 'me and myself', your attitude is so refreshing Arti. God bless that beautiful spirit of yours.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Blogging is the new poetry. I find it wonderful and amazing in many ways.

    ReplyDelete

Delighted you stopped by... Your suggestions, feedback are really appreciated. Thanks a lot :) Hope you visit again!

If you have asked a question, please give me at least 2 days to reply back. Thank you :)