Celebrating a Milestone.

When I was at BlogHer a few weeks ago, I was often asked how long I’d been blogging.  That was a difficult question to answer.

I had a blog on MySpace back in 2005 and 2006.  I don’t mention it much because it was terrible.  My writing was terrible, filled with unnecessary swearing.  The subject matter was boring at best, offensive at worst.  I came off as a miserable, rotten woman, not the fun-loving, happy-go-lucky mom I am here.  OK, well, I’m not really that either, but at least I hopefully come off as respectable, if not sometimes morose.  You won’t find, I don’t think, the F-bomb or the C-word on this blog and the old one was peppered with such expletives.  It’s not that I’m prim and proper, I just prefer not to use them in my writing unless they really are necessary.  Usually, for me, they are not.

I began writing here under the title Things I’m Thinking About (or something like that) on August 20, 2008.  My writing was inconsistent and again, frankly, not very good.  I had one of those rambling ones where I complained about mystery people who didn’t love me and I had plenty about purging my belongings so I could prepare to sell my house.  I detailed my grocery purchases and money saved, my over planning of everything and how boring I am.  I blogged about starting over with my blogging, cooking, cleaning, couponing, etc.  Those blogs were boring.  No one read them and I’m glad.  I’m not linking to them, they’re still here if you want to find them.  I suggest that you don’t.

Last August, I wrote this post and things took off from there.  I’ve already talked about this recently so I won’t rehash again.  I’ve learned a lot this past year.  First and foremost, I need to write because I love to do it.  So whether I continue here or elsewhere, I will write.  I’m not giving it up again.  I’ve learned to write in my voice and to be me.  Sometimes that voice is nostalgic or even maudlin.  Sometimes I’m angry or gossipy or just plain pissy.  Sometimes I’m happy and funny.  Those last two don’t come easy to me so I write it less often.  But it’s all my voice and it’s true to me.

I won’t lie.  In that first post in 2008 I said I didn’t care if no one read this, but that’s a lie.  While I am writing for me, I want you to read it.  I want you to want to read it.  I want you to comment and interact and have conversations with me.

I participate on Twitter and Facebook.  I wish I could hang out online more, but you know, day job and family and whatnot.  I link up with Yeah Write as often as possible (OK, so I haven’t missed a week since I started in March).  I am trying to build and be part of communities that matter to me.  I want you to join me in them.

I think I have a lot to show for my last year.  I think my writing has improved and I certainly have more followers.  I have written more in 12 months than the previous few years combined.  I have pages of a memoir that aren’t ready for anyone to read but they exist.  That project is slow-going and that’s OK.  This is not an immediate gratification sort of thing and realizing and accepting that is part of my growth.

I’ll close by thanking each and every one of you who has read, shared, commented, supported and encouraged me in any way.  None of it goes unnoticed.  From my Twitter and Facebook friends, to the bloggy friends, to my in real life friends who know this is important to me and have treated it with respect, I thank you.

So how long have I been writing?  All my life.  Blogging?  On and off since 2005.  Blogging here at The Journey in a serious fashion?  One year ago yesterday.

Happy Blogoversary, Me.  Here’s to another year.

~~~

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8 thoughts on “Celebrating a Milestone.

  1. Kerstin

    Happy Blogoversary, You!
    I am sure glad I found your blog. Because you are real, and that’s the best kind of good.

    You are definitely using a few words in this blog that I had to google, but I’m just gonna blame that on me being German 🙂

    Here’s to more years of blogging and writing, my friend!

  2. Stephanie B. @B4Steph

    Happy Anniversary, Michelle. Your ‘Journey’ has taken you far and wide plumbing the depths of who you are, finding your voice, determining that you will not stop writing. And as readers we are happy to hear it. I look forward to happy-go-lucky, morose, and anything in between. Cheers!

  3. Stacie @ Snaps and Bits

    Congratulations, I was waiting to read this post! You have quite the blogging history. I still am not sure where I’m going to land most days so I think the whole evolution things is totally normal. You’re rockin’ it now though!

    1. Michelle Longo

      Thank you! And so sweet of you to be waiting for a post 🙂 If you had told me a year ago I’d be here, I don’t know that I’d have believed you. But I’m so glad things worked out as they have because I’ve met such great friends.

    1. Michelle Longo

      Thank you, Yeah Write has brought me so many great blogs to read and so many new friends. It sure does take a while to find a groove, but find one is a wonderful thing. Thanks for reading and commenting!

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