Three months is said to be some kind of relationship milestone. Isn’t that what people always believe?

Let’s say my blog and I are in a relationship as well. In that case, I am happy to announce that we have reached the three-month-milestone in our relationship. Even after three months, we are still together and going strong. I think we are even more fond of each other now than three months ago, amazing, right?

So, I think this is the right moment for a bit of reflection. Let me tell you a little bit about why I started blogging about nature, and why I still love doing that.

Nature at the Basis
Growing up, being outside and enjoying the outdoors has always been a natural thing for me to do. Not that I was always consciously involved in nature, no, I had a lot of other, more clearly present hobbies and interests. It was more that nature was always somewhere there in the back, a thing to support us and fall back upon.

Study and University
When the time came for me to choose what subject to study at university, I considered lots and lots of options. But in the end, maybe it wasn’t such a surprise when my choice fell on biology, the study of life and nature.

During my first year at university, I was mostly busy with finding my way around Wageningen, settling in my new life. In my second year, though, I started thinking about what I wanted during and after my study. Very quietly, a gentle voice started wondering if I really wanted to become a researcher after finishing my degree. I would much rather connect all of my interests to become some kind of link between science, nature and people.

Europarc Youth Conference
Then I got the opportunity to attend the annual Europarc conference as a participant in the youth programme. Meeting all these professionals involved in nature, it gave me such a boost. All of those bright people who were working to improve nature management or nature communication, and could actually make a living out of that, could that also be a possibility for me?

At the Europarc Youth Conference 2013, Picture source: Europarc.org

Starting a Blog!
Back home, I did not immediately do anything with my newfound inspiration. But after about half a year, an idea started to form. I wanted to connect people and nature, that was something I felt ever more strongly. I was also looking for a creative outlet, and had enjoyed writing when I was younger. One day, walking through a forest, I made my decision: I was going to start a blog!

Almost two months later, after a lot of planning, arranging and waiting, Pure Cottongrass came to life. A place for me to write about nature in a way that would be accessible for everyone, not just a few nature fanatics. Nature is there for all of us, and that is what I would like to share with the world.

During the process of blogging, following a writing course and writing for a couple of other websites, it became more and more clear to me that this could really be what I would like my future to be. Sometimes it suddenly strikes me how incredibly happy I am right now, blogging and writing about nature, it makes me feel complete and alive.

The Future
Of course, you can never know what the future may hold. Maybe someday I will find that I actually do like to become a researcher and that writing will remain a hobby. Maybe I will find a job at a nature conservation organisation. Or maybe I will just become a stay-at-home mom. Who knows?

What I do know, is that I get so much energy from being involved in nature and inspiring other people about it, and I hope to be able to do that for the rest of my life.

What makes you feel inspired and alive?

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