Hello everyone!
I’m beginning to resign myself to the fact that my 30 Days Wild vlogs will be sporadic, it was difficult for me to accept this as I’m a perfectionist; but it’s been an important lesson to learn and I always love to learn from experience – it’s how I grow.
Here are my two most recent videos:-
https://youtu.be/UJYm9F-qTBE
https://youtu.be/k1cF2xx_Ej0
On this day two years ago, I started writing my blog and I honestly cannot believe the amount of connections I’ve made and the experiences I’ve had. The best thing for me, is having people come back time and time again to comment on my posts and travel a little bit of my journey with me. The next best thing is the online connections I’ve built up on Twitter. The natural science community online is incredible and very welcoming. I have learned so much; the feeling of growing up with no one outside my family to share my interest and passion for wildlife has certainly diminished. I sometimes wonder if everyone who has said a kind word or shared knowledge or shone light on my darkness or put even a figurative hand on my shoulder…I wonder if people realise the positive impact and the impression they have made. I get emotional when I ponder on those elements. I hope you all know how much joy you have brought me. How my self esteem has grown. I feel like I have grown up so much and my voice, both written and vocal, have grown more confident and constantly challenged.
Another blog I wrote about some of my experiences so far –
https://youngfermanaghnaturalist.com/about/
Thank you all so much for all your support and encouragement, I couldn’t have done it without you all! I’m excited for the future.
Stay Wild
Dara
31 Responses
You’re doing great Dara. It’s a fantastic blog
Thanks Alex!
I am subscribed to u and Dara’s channel, and they are great! I have only just started my blog, and I asm 9 yrs old. https://theurbannaturalist.home.blog/
Hello, welcome to the world of blogging! Wishing you success, it’s a wonderful way to express what we’re learning and can lead to many great things. There are lots of girls your age over on Twitter with accounts managed by their parents (as mine was when I first started). I would really recommend it! Good luck ☺️ Dara ????
Thanks so much! Good luck for you too!
I have just followed you back.
Great blog, I hope you enjoy blogging as much as I do
I only recently discovered you wonderful blog via twitter – I really enjoy it reading your posts and watching your videos. congrats on 2 years blogging!
Thank you so much ????
Onwards 🙂
Our lives are built on connection with all those (natural and human!) who share this funny, precious, unexpected old world of ours. Very glad we live in an era where a tool exists to help you find your voice, and looking forward to hearing more 🙂
Cx
Thank you, Catherine. ☺️
Happy 2 years, Dara! Tom and I have so enjoyed following your wildlife adventures. We’ve loved your recent video blogs, too. Keep up the fantastic work! We’re looking forward to the next installment. 🙂
Stay wild,
Emma
Thank you, Emma and Tom! Ditto! I love your blogs, such interesting places and cool species!
Congrats on your 2 year bloggiversary Dara! Keep up the great work – but most of all, continue to enjoy it and grow 🙂
Thank you, Sandra ☺️
As a perfectionist myself, I understand your problem with not being able to keep up with what you want to be doing. I have, in the past, given up, simply because I could not keep up. But we all have to accept that life is not perfect, and that it will not fall apart just because we cannot fulfill the standards we set for ourselves. You’re doing a wonderful job with your blog and vlogs. Just do what you can and don’t beat yourself up when it doesn’t work out perfectly. Keeping a blog going for two years is no mean feat, so well done you.
Meanwhile, I’ll attempt to catch up with my own 30-days-wild postings on https://rushmoorphotos.wordpress.com/
Hello, Annie. Yes the scourge of perfection is very real but my parents are really nurturing guides, they help me so much to navigate those dark spaces.
I’ll check out your blog. Thanks! Dara
Just seen your latest video blogs from your garden and enjoyed them immensely. I think it was good that you left the froghopper in its ‘coccoon’. As a child I was fascinated by them if they landed on me, then catapulted off if you touched them. I can see that you will be an inspiration for many young naturalists, and hope you go on to great things in the future.
Thank you so much, yes, I don’t like to disturb so I left it alone. I thought I would, for the purpose of the video – but I just couldn’t!
Just discovered you- wonderful
Congratulations on your 2nd birthday, Dara… if you see what I mean! You go from strength to strength, inspiring people young and old along the way. Thank you for the pleasure and knowledge you share.
Ah, thank you so much, Mairi. I’m so glad that you have continued to comment on my blogs. I really appreciate your encouraging words.
Congratulations Dara!! I very much enjoy your blogs and vlogs. I appreciate the challenge it has been and courage it has taken to put yourself out there. Well done you for taking the leap. I trust you will keep growing into your true self as a naturalist and nature writer. We need young voices who in their turn will become the old voices. It is a joy to follow you blog. Thank you so much for sharing your insights and experiences.
Thank you so much for your very kind words! I’m delighted you enjoy reading my blogs.
Congrats Dara you are an inspiration.
Thank you so much ????
New to the blog and can’t believe I didn’t find you until now. An absolute credit to young people, I love your insights!
Thank you so much ????
@lizziefoot, I am new to blogging, too. I started it last week. Check it out here: https://theurbannaturalist.home.blog/
Yay, Dara! Why not check out my blog inspired by you! You are my inspiration! I don’t think I will get as good as you, though! https://theurbannaturalist.home.blog/
Watched you on Country file tonight , really impressive , you should be proud of what you have achieved ????
Thank you so much! Dara