Friday, January 21, 2011

730 Days

Yesterday I met a few friends at a local restaurant to celebrate the birthday of another friend. Unfortunately the birthday girl friend had to miss her own party because her daughter was sick.

Awww.

Naturally we did what all friends do in circumstances such as these...
we had the party without her.

Sad, but true.

Hey, the forecast was for more snow today and since we fully expected to be housebound AGAIN we saw the open window of opportunity and we jumped.

These are desperate times people.

Anyway, at the get together a friend asked me how I came up with something to blog about every day. I thought that was a good question and I gave an honest answer which was this-

I don't know.

I'm deep aren't I?

Two years ago today I started my blog.
Two years sometimes feels like ten minutes.

You know what else?

A whole lot of life happens in two years.
If I ever doubt that I need only read back thru my very own words.

I started blogging for a variety of reasons and at the time I was completely naive about what I was getting in to...I still make a lot of blog mistakes but I think my reasons for sticking with it have become crystal clear.

I love having a place to put every random thought that enters my head.
I love having an excuse to write.
I love the way memory stirs emotion when I scroll back thru the pages of time.

I love the recorded nonsense of my life.

I love the connections I've made with people I have yet to meet 'in real life'.
I love the people I know 'in real life' who read my blog.
I love the people I know 'in real life' who do not read my blog too
but I have to wonder...why don't they read?

Mostly though, I love the way blogging has opened my eyes to the small moments...the many, many small moments, that when linked together, make a life.

It's not that I missed those moments before I started blogging.
I know they've always been there, making up the days and hours and years...
but blogging has given me a place to set those moments to words.
A place to examine and reflect and truly see the gift of a moment.

I don't need to over think what I'll write about tomorrow.
Life unfolds minute by minute.
And somehow...the words follow.

28 comments:

  1. Yay for your 2 years! I am approaching my 2 years of blogging as well. I agree with your thoughts. I started without a plan and didn't know what to expect. What I got was a place to record our life moments, little and large. I'll add one more thought to your list about those who read our blogs...why don't they comment? Have a great day!

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  2. I would have jumped at the chance too! Talked to my sister in NJ and she said everyone was rushing to the A&P for milk and bread incase the big one came! We were suppose to have a huge one and hubby set alarm for 5 am today....to plow drive....errrrr......no snow and I've been awake since.! See there's a blog right there lol! I never know what to blog about! Rants and Raves I guess! Have a great weekend!

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  3. Very nicely put. I don't often blog daily anymore as I don't feel as though I have as much to say as I first did. I may be talked out! [gasp] But I love the outlet blogging provides me to record snippets of life. Alot of people who have known me forever don't read my blog. Some probably don't know about it but even my sisters don't read it unless I specifically direct them to a post. I'm okay with that. Their loss, right??? I have met and made connections with so many fun people through blogging that I would have never gotten to know before. It's a good thing!

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  4. Congratulations on 2 years! I'm glad you decided to start a blog ... otherwise, I never would have "met" you. ;-)

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  5. I'm on year three and I'm really struggling for topics. I'll have to try your "small things" approach.

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  6. I used to think when I started blogging that everything I wrote had to be "profound" or "meaningful". But then I realized that most of what I say isn't profound or meaningful, and so there was a pretty good chance my blog wouldn't be either. Just everyday life with a little bit of fun thrown in occasionally.

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  7. Having a place where the small moments are recorded - that's definitely the best part of blogging!

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  8. And we get blessed on this end!

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  9. I started blogging 2 years ago this week also. I am not an every day blogger, but I love that thinking about it helps me pay more attention to my life....like my title says, to live more consciously. The friends I have made along the way have been a surprise and a joy to me.

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  10. It's been nearly six for me, and when I first started, I wasn't sure I would be able to keep it up. You know, it was a fad. But, I promised myself, as long as I paid to own my name and host the site, I would write every day. Aside from a few emergency situations (hospitalizations) I have made it. I think I would miss it if I suddenly had to stop.

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  11. Congratulations! Just yesterday my daughter said to me, "I guess now that we are both living here you don´t need to continue your blog.".
    Well I hadn´t even thought of it that way. It showed me, that my reasons for blogging have changed. I now blog for the same reasons you mentioned. I agree, that I am much more aware of my life moments and I want to remember them with my blog.
    I hope we continue our friendship for a long time to come!

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  12. "I love the recorded nonsense of my life" I love this quote of yours puts my blog in place too hehe, random thoughs are the best thoughts!

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  13. I love the way you put this. Thanks for sharing those thoughts. It is neat to look back and see where you've been and what you've done. I'm not as disciplined in journaling as I once was so I'm really glad I have a blog to mark those milestones too.

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  14. Congrats on 2 years! I'm glad I've "met" you and I love "traveling" along with you through all your pictures, etc.

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  15. I'm coming upon my second blogiversary, too. Time sure flies when you're having fun, doesn't it???

    I began bloggig as a way of "remembering" the good old days, hence my blog title. Now I find comfort in knowing that my words will live on, even after I've gone.

    I find it interesting that my husband never reads my blog, while all of my children do. What's up with that? LOL

    Your blog is among my favorites. You are always "witty" and never run out of things to say. :)

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  16. Well, isn't it the truth. As long as there is life, there will always be something for us to write about. I've never really thought about it until this post. I just had my last year's blog done in book form from Blog2Print and I'm so proud of it and hopefully it will be a real treasure for my children one day.

    Happy weekend and always fun to stop by!

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  17. Congratulations on your two years. Mine will be in April, I don't know where the time has gone but I know that I love it. Glad you got to have a lunch with friends. Have a great weekend.

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  18. So glad you blog Joyce - its so fun to keep up with your family's adventures across the miles. :)

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  19. What a lovely post -- some of which rang very true for me as well.

    I'm a new follower :-)

    I'm looking forward to taking part in your blog hop next week!

    Marie
    bonkersinbarnhart.com

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  20. Congrats on 2 years! I'm glad we found each other!

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  21. Congratulations on your two years! Love reading about your adventures!

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  22. I agree. I started almost 5 years ago and it's become a journal of sorts for our life here and the changes we've all made.
    A great way to express yourself in a fun and meaningful way.
    Always enjoy it.

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  23. That was beautiful to read, Joyce, and I blog for those same reasons. If I had more time, I would write daily, but for now, I do it as often as I can.

    I love reading your blog for so many reasons. We have a ton in common and your writing style is perfect. And one day, we'll meet "in real life". :-)

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  24. I'm so glad that you started blogging two years ago,Joyce! I love reading your blog and I'm thankful to have a new friend! Especially one who lives close to NYC so I can read about your adventures!:-)

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  25. 2 years? REALLY? Wow! It is amazing how blogging helps you see the little things that you wouldn't have paid attention to.

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  26. Joyce, don't ever give up writing, you have a natural gift and your readers can all attest to that fact. There are so many reasons to blog and you listed the most important one, "I love having an excuse to write." It is so much better to write with an audience in mind than to write to the documents folder. I always look forward to the "nonsense of your life," as you put it.

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  27. Yesterdy was my third anniversary of blogging, and like you, I love it for many of the same reasons!
    I know they say in the blog world that you should have a specific voice, but I have to say that for me it is a stream of thought. And that can be anything in the WHOLE Anything Kingdom! Congratulations and keep going!

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  28. Congrats on two years. Something I like about blogs like yours: it's like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates--you never know what you're gonna get. And that's a wonderful thing!

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