Happy Anniversary to Me!

Image from SheKnows

One year ago today I took the plunge and entered the blogosphere. Unlike many of my future posts my initial foray was succinct and is still fairly accurate. Unfortunately, I hit the blip of being laid off shortly thereafter and got a bit angry (I’d forgotten how angry but that’s part of the healing process, right?). I also turned 50 this summer which has opened up an entire new line of thoughts and writing. Beyond that I’ve pretty much followed my opening credo- if it’s in my head it will end up here at some point.

There’s been the whole learning curve of what to post and when to post and how it feels when there are no comments or worse, when you lose followers. I lost two in one day after my Steve Jobs post which had me stymied. I understand the concept of writing for yourself but at some level I’d like validation as well. The knowledge that something I wrote, whether serious or silly, connected or resonated with someone else out there. Otherwise, it feels a bit like the Alien trailer “In Space No One Can Hear You Scream”. If it’s an empty void why bother?

Philosophical musings aside here are a few of my favorite reasons for blogging:

Will and Kate’s wedding, one of the few times I was happy to be unemployed because it meant I stayed up for the whole event and was fortunate enough to find that my funny bitchy friend Bridget in Seattle was awake as well and we chatted on FB the entire time. It was marvelous fun. No one escaped our sharp eyes (no hat, Prime Minister’s wife? Really?)

I met Sue, the Tweed Librarian, at a professional library organization. We had chatted briefly at events until the day she showed up to a meeting in a sparkly and lovely piece of jewelry. When I admired it she mentioned something about her blog and my mind went “ka-ching, here may be someone to talk to”. Meeting for drinks one night turned into monthly ‘bloggers meetings’ (even though it’s just us) and our collaboration this fall reviewing the fall fashions- some of my favorite posts. Thanks to this process I have a real time friend here in Portland which is priceless.

On the opposite end of the spectrum are the cyber friends. There are those whose blogs I read regularly and share emails (The Rhythm Method, The Style Maniac, People Don’t Eat Enough Fudge, and Sydney Shop Girl are just a few) and then there are the people with whom you really connect. It can start with an innocuous email asking them what their job is like and turn into a true cyber friendship where they send you homemade pretzel candy treats in the mail. That would be Abby who is the best kind of crazy. All that’s left for us is a yoga retreat away from the rest of humanity.

One year and in and, hopefully, many more to go. If I’ve learned only one thing it is that I love to write, that it is a passion, and if I can find a way to make it my livelihood I will be fulfilled. Until then, I hope I can continue to entertain, amuse, and even provoke thought. Thank you to everyone who stops by to see what’s going on Inside Out.