Thursday, February 4, 2010

Blogiversary (did I spell that right?) Reflections

One year ago today, I began this little blog. And in a post or two, I'll be at one hundred posts.

I have mixed feelings about this blog. I read so many other fabulous blogs, and I feel like my little place here in the blogosphere is inadequate. I post so erratically, I wonder if there is even really a point. At yet, at the same time, I think of my blog so often, even when I haven't posted in months. So why the silence?

So here I am at the one year anniversary of my entry into the blogging world. And I am recommitting myself to blogging. And to writing in general.

A big reason for my silence for the last 2 months is change. The new year brought immense, frightening, exhilarating, and exhausting change. It all started when I got a job. It's a job that I never really thought I'd be doing at this point in my life, and one that I still have mixed feelings about. Nevertheless, I enjoy the work, and know that this is a temporary side-step toward my ultimate career goals.

The job forced me to reexamine and ultimately change my thoughts on what I want to do. And after a lot of reading, writing, reflecting, and discussing, I've become even more convinced that I want to be a writer. I still might want to do other things with my life professionally, but I know now that I want to write. I have a dozen ideas floating around in my head (and periodically landing in my writer's notebook). These are everything from children's picture books, adult novels, children's novels, non-fiction, and essays or articles. And yes, blog posts as well. I don't know what kind of writer I am (or will be) yet, but I know that if I want to be a writer--I have to write!

This job, however, has brought other changes as well. It brought me to a new city, (I LOVE Austin, Texas!), to a new apartment (which is still in dire need of some purging and reorganization), to a new church, to new friends, and to a new way of being independent. The job has given me a very new schedule, which forces me to prioritize my time in a new way, and made decisions about what is most important and how to fit those things into my life.

The move also brought me closer to my boyfriend. For the first time in my regular, daily, every day life (as opposed to summer vacation, spring break, etc), I am spending more than a few days at a time in the same city with someone I am in a relationship with. And it's brought more change that I anticipated. But all of this change is good, and it's forming and molding me in wonderful ways.

Because of all this changes, I feel like I am just now ready to make "new year's" resolutions and goals. I will write about those later today or tomorrow.

So happy birthday dear blog! My birthday present to you is a commitment. A commitment to nurture and put time into you as I would any other priority in my life. It's going to be great!

8 comments:

Ann Marie said...

Wow, congrants! Sometimes I feel the same way you do about blogging, but it is a part of me now, so I keep it up as much as possible. Sounds like good things are happening for you. Change is sometimes unwanted, but can really be good for us. Push us to do things we might not otherwise have done. Enjoy!

Katie said...

Yayayayay! I have missed you! In the bloggy sense but also in the IRL sense.

Kirsty said...

Happy bloggiversary! (I recently also had that spelling query!)

Anonymous said...

I'm glad that you have found such positivity in the face of change. Change is hard for me too, even subtle, seemingly insignificant change!

I'm trying to become a writer too. Well, a playwright. We should support each other in our endeavors!!!!

Good luck Caitlin! Whatever you write, I will always read :)

Caitlin said...

Thanks for the encouragement everyone! It means so much!

Julia-You would be a fantastic playwright! What fun! Have you ever read The Artist's Way? What about Writing Down the Bones? You should check them out if you haven't! Let me know what you think. And I'd love to read what you write!

McB-I miss you IRL too. Do we really have to wait for a certain TBD event in the future for you to come to Texas?

Elisse said...

Welcome back to blogging! I'm so genuinely happy to see new posts from you :) Congrats on your blogiversary :)

The Depressed Yogi said...

Your blog is NOT inadequate! Don't ever say that. In any case, I'm glad you're blogging again, and so glad you found a job in our fabulous city@

Caitlin said...

Thanks Carolyn and Elisse! Your encouragement means so much!!