Two years ago I started a blog. And as I wrote each post, I felt myself come alive. At first, I ignored this feeling and criticized myself for spending time on something that wasn’t making money or moving my professional life forward. I told myself I was procrastinating… using the blog to distract myself from whatever else I was supposed to be doing.
Fortunately, I had reached a place in my personal growth that I finally realized something. I wasn’t created to be miserable. I believe the things we love to do are clues. They guide us on our path. They are gentle reminders of the direction we should take.
So over the past two years, I have embraced an important truth. I wear a lot of hats, but I’m a writer at heart. As I express myself with words, I heal and inspire myself… and I hope my readers walk away from my posts feeling a little better than when they came.
I also realized that when you’ve been blogging for two years… you actually have enough material for a Greatest Hits album! Or something like that.
I turned 34 and 35, confronted my inner perfectionist by revealing my top 3 embarrassing moments, and vowed to Write the Damn Book. One of my essays was published in Moxie, I got pregnant with my second child who took up so much room in my belly I could have sworn he was Yao Ming. Finally, I gave birth to sweet baby Blake. Then, I erased the videos. (I got them back.) But the emotional experience reminded me, once again, to live in the moment.
I started writing for Hybrid Mom. I partied like it was 2009. One of my essays was published on Yahoo! Shine and the haters had a field day. I launched a new blog to support all the other Not So Supermom’s out there.
Over the next month, I’m going to share some of my favorite posts from the early days, back when I had about 5 (loyal) readers.
Today, my readership has grown, and I am filled with so much gratitude. Receiving your comments never stops being cool. You are the fuel that inspires me to do what (I believe) I was created to do. Write. Tell my stories and share them with the world.
The journey is so much more fun with all of you by my side. Thank you.
Angie
Congratulations!
My 4th anniversary of blogging passed quietly while I was on vacation in Washington,DC.
Naturally – now that I’m back – I have just started blogging about that trip.
Like you, I find it refreshing and filling a part of my life that is necessary. I like to share. If you haven’t yet, may I suggest you add a “tracer” program. It’s fascinating to see I have had readers in all 50 states and 112 other countries.
The last one added was Armenia.
Keep on enjoying life.
What a journey, don’t you think? And if it helped you in some way know you’re a writer at heart, then every post was so worth it. Congrats and happy blogging to you
Angie, I love this post. You’ve inspired me once again (to get back to my own blog!). Thank you.
Yay, happy blogiversary to you! Sometimes I am shocked when I realize I’ve been blogging for 4+ years. I’ve gone from posting once a month to once a week to 2-3 times a week & guest posting on other blogs. I love it. I’ve gotten so much more out of it than I ever imagined. Including meeting cool fellow bloggers like yourself!
Happy blogiversary!
I love this post too. I often wonder the same thing about my blog, and decide I should throw it in. But then I come to the same conclusion you do, usually (and then forget that I did, and go through the same questioning process again) – that I like it, and “I wasn’t created to be miserable.” What a revelation!! Now if only I could remember this idea, consistently….
Hope the Damn Book is going well!
Happy Blogiversary, Angie! I’m so glad to have met you, and look forward to reading about where life takes you next!
Happy Blogiversary! I’m thinking you should celebrate by going on a cruise!