Happy 2nd Anniversary to Me!

It’s that time again.  My sweet little corner of the blogosphere turns a whopping 2 years old today!!

Hanging out here has been a treat.  Sometimes, I feel like I’m still trying to find my voice and my timing around these parts.  I often feel guilty because many other bloggers I follow seem to have this thing down to a science.  They know how often they will post, on what days they will post and what they will post about week after week.  Comparison traps are so easy to fall into, and I tell you I step right in from time to time.

So far, I haven’t synchronized with a certain rhythm yet.  I’ve always been one who writes when I have something to say.  Believe me, it’s not an easy task to try to force words out when they simply don’t want to come.  I’m sure someone reading this can relate.  However, when they flow naturally it is as if they skip and sing their way onto the pages, or in this case, the blog post text box.

All in all, in two years I have seen progress.  In 2009, when I started, I posted once every other month.  In 2010 I almost, ALMOST hit my once a week goal.  There are some “behind the scenes” things happening in 2011, and I’m shifting course a bit, but I’m still here, and I have no plans to go anywhere.  As a matter of fact, you’ve heard me mention that I’m setting up a new shop, so I must be planning on sitting a spell.

So, what has been my greatest challenge in the world of blogging?  That’s easy.  My greatest challenge has been writing my words in a place where other people can read them.  I’ve spent the majority of my life in an affair with my pen and paper and writing in journals just for me and Jesus.  I certainly wasn’t used to writing for others to read, critique, like, or dislike.  That was a great challenge for me to overcome.  As a matter of fact as I sit here typing, I must say that blogging for 2 years is suddenly transforming into an entirely different level of accomplishment.

What lesson have I learned?  The most important lesson I’ve learned is to stay the course.  I can’t lie.  There’s a Monica somewhere inside of me who would have stopped doing this long time ago.  She would have become frustrated or just plain succumb to the evil that is laziness.  She would have convinced herself that it wouldn’t matter, that no one would miss her words anyway.  She would rationalize that there are so many others, far more capable than herself, whose writing will hopefully reach the hearts of those the Lord has actually assigned to her.  Then she would have given herself permission to sneak quietly back into her secret, solitary corner of the world and rest in her comfortable place of anonymity.

But, I’ve learned to stay the course.  I started this blog for a reason, and I know I’m far from finished.  This is just the foundation, and in actuality, it is truly one of my favorite places to be.  Truth be told, this is the first moment all day long that my back hasn’t been knotted with tension.  It’s because I’m doing what I love, and I’ve somehow, by the grace of God, managed to stay the course.  Eventually, maybe I’ll find a rhythm of my own, or maybe I’ve already found it and I just need to embrace it.  I’ll let you know which one was true by my next blog anniversary.  I hope you’ll still be here with me to celebrate.

Completely ME,