Back in 2005, I started blogging after a few of my friends started blogs. Through their clever writing, my friends shared amusing anecdotes and observations that delighted me to no end. I wanted to join in the fun as well. It started out as an experiment in creative writing for me, and then became much more therapeutic, as I was able to vent about my every day experiences in a safe place. Soon, many of my family members created blogs and it became a way to keep tabs on their lives. Then, all of a sudden, blogging boomed into a business and got kind of crazy. Much of it felt weird and forced and too much. I couldn't keep up with all the reading and commenting and I got overwhelmed. I backed way off.
Today, I still get stressed out by the blogging world and how in your face it is, and many days I want to take a permanent break. Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that my friends are carving out their niche in the mainstream blogdom, and I think it's fabulous that people have enough time on their hands to make blogging a full time gig. For me personally, though, that would be an option with way too much pressure. As I'm writing this one post, I'm thinking of six different things I should be doing. Oh, and the public criticism. Have I mentioned that I prefer it when I think people like me?
I just have to remember who I'm mainly writing for. Not so much the public (although it does feel nice to get a little validation here and there, otherwise why would I leave my comments on?!) I mainly want to have a record for my own little family that may some day be my own big family. Both of my sets of grandparents got married once upon a time and now I can't even count how many people came from those two marriages. Pretty amazing. One of the first things I did when I found out I was moving to New York was take out my grandma's life history and pore over the chapters about their time living on Long Island. I love that I have that connection with her, fifty-something years later. Sounds kind of tangential, but those are the things that give me perspective when I get frustrated with my life.
In honor of my blogiversary, here are some of my favorite posts from those golden days of 2005:
My Little Molly
The Scary Carrot Jungle
Also, here is a link to my most favorite blog, because it is the funniest. Since I don't have much time to read blog posts these days, I gravitate toward the ones that leave me in awe of their sheer wit. I have tried to no avail to find one out there that makes me smile more than this one:
every day I write the book
And if there is someone still out there reading, why do you blog? Do you ever regret it, or am I the only crazy person? Why do you read blogs, if you do?
