Seven Years of Blogging

March is my blogiversary month because it was March 7th, 2005 when I made my first entry into this blog. I didn't post regularly at all at first and basically had no idea what I was doing, but seven years later and I'm still around. I can't even imagine my life without blogging now, though it's not as intense an activity as it was for me for awhile.

Blogging has brought a lot of benefits into my life too numerous to really list completely but here are some of the ways in which my life has been made better through blogging.

Blogging expands my world.
Through connecting with others over the things I already liked I was introduced to even more great stuff. I regularly take the advice of blogging friends about books, movies, and music. The way in which my reading world has changed is truly amazing. I was so limited in what I read before I entered the world of book blogging and now I read books in many genres for many age groups. And that in turn has only been good...giving me insight into different ways of thinking and living and increasing, I hope, my own empathy and intelligence.

Blogging challenges my assumptions.
When I think I know about something there is always someone with a different point of view and a lot of times they are smart and articulate and even kind. There were all sorts of ideas I didn't know about and problems with my thinking that have been challenged and hopefully somewhat reformed through blogging.

Travel
I've gone to New York, different parts of California, Washington DC, and Nashville for various events and activities related to my blog, books, or the friends I know through blogging. I've loved it all. I know it might put me on the nerdy side, but I don't really care.

Blogging clarifies my thinking and gives me a record
Often I don't really understand how I feel about something in specific terms until I've had a chance to write it out. And comments and interaction help me further sharpen my viewpoint and understanding. It's incredibly valuable and I don't know what I would do without it. And I have a public record of how I felt about books, films, and even some television as a result. It's fantastic.

Friends ♥
I have met so many wonderful people through blogging. As strange as it might sound, I truly can't imagine my life without having met some of you! People downplay internet relationships all the time, but I don't care we're all still people even if the way we met is a little different. The friends I've made through blogging are of course the best part of blogging itself and I'm so thankful for all of you. Thank you for making me see things differently, thanks for all the conversation, thanks for reading my ramblings and leaving me comments, thanks for sending me unexpected emails when you see something that makes you think of me, thank you for remembering me when I think I've been forgotten, thanks for writing your own amazing blogs that I look forward to reading, thank you for meeting me in person, hosting me in your home, talking about books with me, talking TV with me, helping me with some of the crazier projects I've done over the years, being patient with me when I figure things out--basically just thank you for being your wonderful selves. I love you all!

So...yes. Blogging. I can't imagine my life without it! Here's to another seven years.