One year ago this week I posted my first blog entry. No one
is more shocked than I am that I completed a year’s worth of entries. I
honestly believed that I had about six stories in me and that would be the end
of that. Each week I was sure that I was writing my last post. Each week,
however, another idea popped into my head and my fingers started typing away.
When folks ask me why I started a blog, I have no definitive
answer. It was certainly never on my bucket list and I knew next to nothing
about the process of writing and posting stories in cyberspace. I guess I just
needed to experience a new experience. The lessons I’ve learned from this process are numerous.
Here are a few that come to mind.
1) Don’t wait until
you are an expert to try something new. Obviously, I am not a professional
writer and I know even less about the world of blogging. Since beginning my
blog, however, I have learned how to begin and end a story in 500 words, more
or less. I also learned that blogging is a fairly safe way to practice writing.
The grammar rules are rather fluid and I have no worries of being red penned
into submission. Practice hasn’t made me perfect, but it has made me more
experienced.
2) Be surprised. I wasn’t sure who would take the time to read
my blog and I thought the only group that might possibly show any interest was
the over fifty crowd, thus the name of my blog site. The over fifty crowd has
now extended all the way down to folks in their 20’s. My overall readership may be small, but I like to think that we are a mighty bunch.
3) Embrace beige.
It doesn’t take long for my readers to realize that I live a dull life. I
do not rappel down precipices, hike into wildernesses, swim with eels or jump
out of moving objects. I teach, read, cook, clean (sometimes), drive to the
grocery store and go to dentist appointments.
None of this makes for exciting blogging material. All of it, however,
is enough for my kaleidoscope and I’m not ashamed to say it.
4) Clueless isn’t the
same as hopeless. Before I began blogging, I did not even know where our
camera was stored, much less how to use it. I am currently at a D minus in
photography, but, as they say in my business, “she’s improving.” I even caught
myself wishing I had my camera with me a few days ago as I gazed upon an
interesting sight. Could that mean that I might actually upgrade to a new cell
phone with digital capabilities? Clueless can also be dangerous.
4) Every party needs a
few guests. I don’t believe in reincarnation, but if I did, I’m pretty sure
I would have been the old lady that spent her day preparing the leg of dinosaur
for the evening meal around the campfire. And once the last morsel was slurped
up, I would be the one with a story to tell. Mumbling away in the cave alone
all day is never as fun as sharing the day’s events with others. You, my dear
readers, have made my blogging an interactive experience and for that I am
grateful.
And now for the good or bad news. I have decided to take a
sabbatical from my blog. I don’t know if it will last a week, a year or
indefinitely. I just know that it’s time to hit the refresh button and see what
happens.
Who knows. I might just take up scrapbooking instead. Choke.
Maybe not.
I do promise, however, to let you know if a new adventure
pops up on my radar so we can board the Happy Day Express together. Toot. Toot.
Awwwwwww.....sabbatical? Good thing I will still have your "beige" life to enjoy at school then. Scrapbooking, eh? :o)
ReplyDeleteIf I start scrapbooking, call 911.
DeleteHappy anniversary! I was just telling Cindy that I love Saturdays because I look forward to reading your blog - especially during the summer when I can't listen to your daily stories at 7 in the morning! :)
ReplyDeleteOh my, 7:00 story time is just over the horizon. Savor the last gasps of summer!
DeleteNO!! Please say you will just switch to a monthly blog instead of making us go cold turkey. We need your perspective on life to give us all hope!
ReplyDelete