Sitting around the concrete slab of a bar at Hucapoos, over a year ago, my girlfriends and I were having an in depth discussion on life and what brings happiness to each of us.

One friend said they had a relative that would always say “I’ll be happy when…fill in the blank” when I get a new car, when I get married, when I get a new job, when I leave my husband, when I get a bigger house, when I move, … you get the picture. This person’s perception of happiness was always based on something happening or material possessions to cause them to be happy. I realized years ago, that I alone am responsible for my own happiness, not the circumstances and belongings (or lack of) that surround me.

I am usually guilty of “pun-ishing” our group with a play on words… so I quickly jumped in and said… “I’ll be happy WEN!”

For days that followed that night, this phrase kept rolling around in my head and I liked it. It just seemed to stick and I couldn’t set it down. I felt like I needed to do something with “Be happy Wen”. I was not ready to commit to writing a book, so I decided to at least register the domain www.behappywen.com

Before this time, I had been blogging sporadically for my business website at www.wenmcnally.com but I felt compelled to share much more of my personal story that was irrelevant to people looking for a photographer during their vacation. So instead of always finding a way to make it fit with my business, I decided to tackle a separate personal blog.

Once the new year rolled around, I needed to set a new personal writing goal and stick to it, so during our travels to Costa Rica in March, I was able to blog daily from my WordPress app on my phone. I then realized I could now write anywhere and anytime. I usually write from my bed at 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning. Blogging from my phone has helped me to write consistently and get my thoughts and ideas out as they come to me. Not just waiting on inspiration to hit at a specific time.

I have to rely on technology for my business. Everything from digital cameras, radio controlled studio lighting to photo editing programs and high speed internet for uploading thousands of images every week, the last thing I wanted to do with my “spare time” is learn another piece of technology. But phone blogging has been an amazingly simple process, as I can combine words and images online, all from this little 3×4 inch piece of glass and plastic that fits in my pocket and is always with me.

This project was also intended to be  a place to explore the writing process. I had journaled for years, but nothing for anyone else to read. I was hit and miss with my writing, sometimes setting it down for years at a time. This project was something new with no pressure, other than my self imposed goal of writing twice a week and making it public, giving a sense of accountability to my actions.

But as most things happen in life, stuff unfolds and turns into something completely different than what was originally intended.

I thought I would wrestle with the common writer’s block. And there have been a few times that I sat down to write and I had nothing. But somehow, I usually wake up with an idea and just dive right in. I wanted to write with an honest voice and a sense of transparency, as that is what I am most drawn to in the writers I read.

Aside from the personal satisfaction of committing to a goal and sticking to it, I have been most surprised by the feedback I have received.  Emails, comments and messages I have received of people telling me their stories and sharing their life with me. I have had people I’ve never met before ask if I would meet with them to discuss their plans of making a big life change, or need clarity in mapping out their goals. I certainly don’t have the answers for other’s lives, but I am flattered to be able to encourage someone else in creating a better more meaningful life.

Thank you for reading and thank you for the encouragement to keep writing. I still have a long way to go, but it has been a year of personal growth for me and I appreciate you being a part of it!