I take on the baton of Blog Love from Pooja the Wanderer Wordweaver Woman and spreading loads of love on this Valentine’s Day. Read Why I love my blogs?

I have been blogging since January 2011. That makes it 6 years. Have I been in love with my blogs ever since? Not really, I have been on and off and lazy like a sloth. But now I am at a stage that I am in love with my blogs Tina Basu and Twinkling Tina Cooks. I don’t think I can stay very long without blogging. I get ideas of blog posts at weird times. Most of these ideas flood my mind when I am trying to sleep or in the shower!

So why exactly I love my blogs – they are my blogs, hell yeah I will love them. They are what I am – free willed, fun filled, vibrant, logical and everything else.

My Blogs are My babies

Yes, I treat them like my babies. I want to know every bit about the blogs, that’s exactly why I wanted to do the change over from Blogger to self-hosted Wordpress myself and learn what happens at back end. Like how I am hands on with my son I am equally on top of whatever happens in my blogs. I have read and read and read the gargantuan amount of resources available on the internet to make my blog better and healthy – I am still learning and still trying to make them better.

I like to make my blogs look pretty

As a mom, I make it a point, my son is always well dressed – even when he’s going to sleep. Though the fashion for baby boys is pathetic! Similarly I like to make my blogs look beautiful and pretty. I hate it when I go to blogs and they look all cluttered with jarring colors, no theme, unorganized posts – if they don’t look pretty to my eyes, I can’t stay on the blog for more than few minutes.

I am preparing more Blog Beautiful Tutorials so that you all can make your blog look pretty. My blogs are my babies – they ought to look pretty.

I like how my baby does in Exams!

Blogging isn’t an exam –of sorts. But life is a competition. So is blogging. There is a colossal amount of bloggers in your niche and you have to be in competition and make space for yourself. I like to keep a tab of my ranks Alexa, Indi Rank, Moz Rank, Domain authority. There are tons of ways to check the ranks – I don’t delve in all of that. But at least I want to maintain a good Indi Rank and Alexa for the time being.

My blogs are my Identity

Yes, they define me – online. Right now I am living an online life. I spend a considerable amount of time online – much to the annoyance of the men in the house – yes my two and a half feet old man also doesn’t like me with the laptop – he even throws it down – thank God the netbook has not given up on me with all the torture! I want to be the first one on Google every time someone searches Tina Basu, as a matter of fact I am the first one in google text search and image search! But my goal is to be in the top ten when someone searches as Top Lifestyle Blogger or Top Food Blogger – that is a long journey – but I will reach that stage – someday. Amen to that!

My blogs are my Sources of Income

After having quit my job recently, I am doing freelance design works – some of my designs recently got published in an interior magazine and the client seems happy – okay I am not boasting, just sharing. Apart from the graphic design work that I do I am doing more freelance writing and people get to know me through my blogs. So they are my source of income – enough to pay all my bills (extravagant shopping and holidays excluded!)

But I have loads of plans with my blogs. I want to integrate design and writing. I want the blogs to look so pretty and functional that people will want to come over and not just read passively. I want to open an online shop on the site. They are all in concept stage – let me not write more on that right now.

So isn’t blogging just great? Yeah exactly – why wouldn’t I love my blogs when they love me back and reward me? Do you love your blog as much I do? Let me know in the comments.

I pass on the baton of Blog Love to Geethica from Spectrum of Life

Love is therapeutic, love is beneficial to your physical and emotional health. Read along to know the 5 Health Benefits of Love.

It is the month of love and everyone in my timeline and everywhere around the world is going crazy over the four letters right now. I am too – but in a little different way. The idea of being in love, feeling the love of a man or woman, the nuances of love, hearts and flowers everything sounds mushy and romantic. But did you know there could be health benefits of love as well?

Love, as the Oxford Dictionary says is ‘A strong feeling of affection’. Love can be between anything or anybody. It doesn’t have to follow a set pattern – though people do follow the set pattern! Love is hope, love is trust, love is happiness. Love is also therapeutic, love keeps your physical and mental health good. And it’s not just me who’s saying it – science has been.

Love Reduces Aches and Pains

No, I am not talking about emotional healing here. Science says, when we touch people we care about the body releases Oxytocin, which is also famous as the ‘love hormone’. Oxytocin helps us reduce stress, helps women in childbirth and breast feeding, it improves social skills in humans.

The more you have a loving connection with someone or with friends, the more you produce Oxytocin. Studies have shown a higher level of oxytocin can reduce pains like headaches, cramps, body aches.

Love Reduces Blood Pressure

Isn’t that awesome? Heart knows what is right, always! A study in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine says people who hung out with their loved ones and close friends had a lower blood pressure level than people who hung out with strangers. The main reason behind this is the emotional support and bonding you get from your partner – where you talk less and feel more.

Loneliness in aging adults is also a major factor in increased blood pressure levels. The lonelier you are the higher the blood pressure. So hang out more with your partner, close friends, family – everyone that you love!

Love helps in Stress Management

Love helps you cope with stress better. When you have extreme stress at work and you have a loved one to support you back at home you cope up with stress better.  Similarly, if you have lost your job and you have a partner supporting you financially and emotionally for the time being it helps you manage your stress better. No wonder some wise man has said “Love heals everything!”

Love keeps you away from depression and Substance abuse

When you are in love and have a steady relationship it is less likely you will get into a depression and consequently keep yourself away from substance abuse. A good marriage reduces depression and it also contributes to the decline of alcohol or substance abuse. You find more people abusing substance and consuming alcohol when their relationship is not working.

Love promotes Emotional and Spiritual Health

According to studies holding hands calms your nerves. High stress and anxiety can result in high blood pressure, increased heart rates. When you have your loved ones nearby holding hands it calms your nerves. Love prevents individuals into getting into clinical depression.

People who have successful long-term relationships are happier souls and they practice generosity. They are more patient and live in gratitude.

This reminds me of an old Beatles song “I just need someone to love.” With such a powerful feeling in itself, we all need to love. It is rewarding, it is wellness, it is a way of life. Readers, here’s me wishing you love, happiness and health.

Linking this post to #MondayMusing at Everyday Gyan. Joining Mel Ford’s Microblog Mondays and Mac Glanville’s  linky #mg