About halfway through the day yesterday, I realized something:
It was my 1 year Blogaversary.
One year ago yesterday, I posted my first ever blog post, and got a totally awesome reaction from my family and friends. I can’t thank you guys enough for such a great response, as it helped give me the confidence to keep it up. (I won’t lie, it also gave my ego a little bit of a stroking…and it kind of needed it at the time…)
Today, my blogging isn’t nearly as frequent, or as much of a production as those first few posts…and maybe not quite as funny as I (tried really hard to be) was when I first started out…but I’m definitely more honest, and truly appreciative of the comments, shares, and support that I receive from my current blog followers.
I know my readership has dwindled, and I haven’t put a huge amount of effort into finding new followers…but I’m in kind of a recharge and reevaluate mode.
When I first started, I was very unsure of myself and the terrifying world that is Social Media. Luckily, I had irreplaceable help from some truly great people, and if it hadn’t been for them, I probably wouldn’t have gone from, “Hey…blogging sounds…kind of…interesting…” to “Oh, hey there, I’m a blogger. Here’s my business card.”
Like I said, however, I just had no idea of what I wanted, or who I was as a blogger. Now I’m starting to get ideas.
I’m going to ease up on the “features.” This isn’t a blog that is organized enough to have a “weekly this,” or “monthly that.”
Except the Monthly Male. I might make him the Sometimes Male, as he’s got some really good posts and people seem to respond to them well.
Wait. Let me retract that. Sometimes Male probably isn’t the right title, as Paul is Always a Male, and I don’t want to give anyone the wrong impression. Sorry about the accidental hit on your masculinity, Paul. I’m going to stop talking now.
Anyway, I’m just going to stick to the posts. I’m going to continue to be honest, and I’m going to do a much better job of responding to your comments…because comments are the biggest reward you can get as a blogger, and I can’t believe I did such a crappy job of ignoring those rewards.
So, hey guys, thanks. Thanks for being awesome, sharing my posts when you think people would like them, and for sticking with me in my very first year. A whole bunch of people start blogs all the time, and most of them quit after a couple of months. If it weren’t for you guys and your super-cool powers of being nothing but the best, I’d probably have turned into a diaper or a dish-wand by now.