Safia Iqbal - My Cross Border Marriage Intrigued Many People About Certain Things

My cross border marriage intrigued many people about certain things. I was questioned about my story, experiences, travelling, and the visa process to both countries. 

Being an anxiety patient; writing worked as a mental therapy for me.

Tell us about your background and journey.

I’m Safia, an Indian living in Dubai for the past 9 years. I’m a blogger. I am also a content creator, educator, writer, and a whole list of other things that I not an expert at but learning about every day.

After completing my Masters in English Literature, I opted to pursue a teaching career. I moved to the UAE after getting married to a Pakistani man and continued my a career as an educator for 6 years.

My cross border marriage intrigued many people about certain things. I was questioned about my story, experiences, travelling, and the visa process to both countries.

Being an anxiety patient; writing worked as a mental therapy for me.
During my job, I started writing articles on an unpublished blog on WIX.

Right before the pandemic, I left my job and started writing about three major aspects of my life: motherhood, anxiety, and my cross-border relationship and published my blog named "In My Words" at www.inmywords.info.

Where do you find your inspiration to churn out content?

When I decided to start my own blog and documenting my own experiences. The ideas and thoughts were all raw and genuine. My teaching experience benefitted me in writing and creating meaningful content. 

I didn’t necessarily think it would become what my blog is now but I was just enjoying the challenge, to begin with, and I still do. I also began on Instagram and then it evolved into an Indo-Pak couple blog as a kind of natural evolution. My posts are all about my personal experiences. 

I get inspired more when my posts help people in some or other way in life and when I get a positive response.

Is it financially stable to have blogging as a full-time career option nowadays?

Bloggers nowadays are earning more than an average job. However, that is only possible when your posts start influencing people in your niche, your blog acts as a portfolio and produces a lot of opportunities.

In my case, I did not leave my job for blogging, so there were no monetizing intentions behind. It was just a passion for writing and I am still working towards it without any monetary expectations.

Blogging is like a business, which needs an investment of time and money for backup in the beginning. Once a person is successful, they can start pursuing it as a full-time career.

Do you think that a supportive family is a compliment in this profession?

Support from family is always needed, especially for a new venture in life. I dropped, my job to look after my kids. My husband took all the financial responsibilities. When I started the blog, it required a maximum amount of time in the beginning. 

I received immense moral and physical support from my husband. Whether it is taking care of kids, helping them in education, or doing house chores. I take my hats off to his support and indeed it is a big compliment in this profession.

Who is your favourite artist/ blogger and why?

I don't have any particular favourites, as I get inspired by many bloggers in different phases of life. However, I use to follow Huda Kattan, Owner of Huda beauty cosmetics. Being a successful entrepreneur, she did not give up on her blogging career.

In the beginning, when I found it extremely difficult to deal with kids and blog at the same time. I was at my wits' end in creating content, editing, posting, and fixing issues regularly. Her active posts and stories motivated me a lot. In the end, it is always necessary to be consistent and motivated to follow your passion.

Interviewed by - Mukund M