3 years and 611 posts later

It was serendipitous that I started working on publishing my blog this week because I don't think I would have noticed that today it has been 3 years to the day that I started blogging. Man, that sounds like such a long time to be sharing my life on the web.

It's been interesting, to say the less, to go back and reread my entire first 9 months. I must admit so many of my posts I want to go back and edit. I can't believe some of my spelling errors and sentence structures, but of course I will leave them as is (not the spelling errors I will correct those). It's been really cool to see the evolution of my writing. Yes, I know it is still atrocious, but from then till now I see a complete difference in how I write and how much I write. So I have held myself back from fixing it because I love seeing the changes I've made even if they're really slight. Also, there was a time when I disliked writing and since I've started blogging I've noticed how much I enjoy it and how much easier it has become to write posts, lessons, and talks. Definitely a great bonus. Of course I still find I'm not so good at properly expressing how I feel, but maybe that will come too come with time...one can hope.

I never did share the fact that I had a blog in the beginning because I was a little afraid of it and wasn't sure what it meant to me. It can be a scary thing to put yourself out there, share your thoughts, especially when you're giving others the opportunity to comment on your life, but ultimately I have been grateful for the blogging community. It's help me bounce ideas around, solve various problems, and given me insights I couldn't possibly get elsewhere. It's also been the source of some very wonderful friendships. I've meet and re-meet individuals only because of my blog that have made such a difference in my life. I can't count the ways I am grateful for the women it's brought into my life personally and virtually.

This is a screen shot of my blog on April 24, 2006. I wish I had the template of my blog when I first started, but I don't think much changed other than the banner and a longer list of blogs friends (there were 10), oh and I didn't have photos in my sidebar, Jill taught me how to do that. I wish I knew when I switched over my blog to have 2 sidebars. Makes me want to make sure and document all these subtleties in my posts so that I remember, of course I'm sure if I did research the comments would give me a good indication.

I've also noticed as I've combed through my posts that blogging has been a great boost for my creativity. I am inspired by so many of you which constantly makes me want to try new things. And not just creativity, but I've noticed when I say I'm going to do something I'm more inclined to actually do and finish it because now there is a level of expectation. It keeps me in check, keeps me thinking and doing constantly.

I have gone through my to blog or not to blog moments, but ultimately it has been a source for good in my life. After working on publishing my blog I've realized what a treasure I have here...3 years of my thoughts, creations, and words. Yes, I am still seeking to find the perfect balance, but I'm confident it will continue to help me strive to be better and like I said in my "journal" post a way for me to learn and see just how far I've come.