A Letter to You on Hummusapien's Fourth Birthday

Dear reader,

Like woaaahhhh.

I can't really wrap my head around the fact that this blog is turning four years old. I could write for hours about what this space means to me, how it has changed me down to the core, driven me mad, made me laugh and cry tears of all shapes and sizes, molded me into the person I am today, changed me. It has really, truly changed me.

I blogged in sickness and in health. I blogged through boyfriends, through college, through moves, through graduations, through new jobs. I blogged when my dad had a stroke and when my grandfather died. I blogged when my sister had a baby. I blogged when we created Alchemy. You, this blog, this weirdcrazyamazing internetsphere, it's all intertwined. I've been blessed with the opportunity to let you into my life and expose you to all the delicious food that lies within it. Most of you are strangers; some of you are best friends. Whether we've met once or three times or never spoken at all, I feel empowered to inspire each and every one of you with every word of every post. You give me purpose. And for that, I am beyond grateful.

I've grown considerably since I started this space. I could talk your ear off about SEO and advertising and social media and branding and all that jazz, but what has really inspired me throughout the years is finding the beauty in the creative process behind photography, cooking, and writing. I've learned that taking good pictures means spending a hot dollar on a nice camera and putting a helluva lot of time, energy, and passion into taking the perfect picture. I've learned that you may have to take eighty-five pictures in order to find three that you half like. I'm learned that I love photographing colorful salads and hate photographing dips. Especially boring beige ones. Like, oh I don't know, hummus.

I've learned that like everything else in life, blogging is emotional. So undeniably overflowing with emotions. Happiness, confusion, excitement, exhaustion, betrayal, jealousy, satisfaction, anger, embarrassment, compassion, love. Nothing great in life has ever nor will ever come easy. Easy is boring. Perfect is overrated.

Be real, be your best authentic self. Don't do it for them. Do it for you. Write like you're talking to your best friend that you haven't seen in five years. Be EXCITED. Happiness is contagious. Infect anyone and everyone with your positive energy.

Be approachable, be conversational, be honest. Don't blog to impress anyone but yourself. In big pots of soup and overflowing smoothie bowls, find YOUR happy. Grab it, grow it, and don't let go. Even when you'd rather give up than write three more sentences about blueberries, don't you dare do it. Because time will not stop for you. The world is getting more and more amazing with or without you in it. So when you find what you love, nourish it. Give it water and food and light and energy and an insane amount of passion.

Be ridiculously, weirdly, contagiously passionate.

About your job. Your husband. Your daughter. Your new purple leggings. Whatever it is, give it your all, and do it today.

I've learned that what really makes my life meaningful is inspiring those around me to be their best. I will never be the blogger that creates material based solely on what social media wants to see. I will never be the blogger that changes who they are to appeal to the masses. I will always be true to myself and true to you. Behind the green smoothies and kale salads, there is a real person that laughs and cries and gets stressed and excited and worries about the past, present, and future. I don't have it all figured out. I can't say that I know exactly where I'm going, but I know I want you all right there with me.

When I write my first cookbook.

When we open another Alchemy.

When I find Mr. Hummus Hunk.

And when I have baby Hummusapiens.

I love you and the way you love this blog and share that love with the world. On Hummusapien's fourth birthday, my heart is full. My belly is happy. My mind is clear.  This blog is more than I ever dreamed it could be. And I could not possibly me more happy. Thank you for that.

All my love,

Alexis