Sometimes it’s important to look at where you have been to remind yourself that you are going places, or to reassure yourself that you are moving in the “right direction”. This month is the one year anniversary of my blog, so I decided to spend some time reminiscing, not just about the contents of MY blog, but my entire blogging experience including the road blocks or problems that I created for myself. Who knew the experience would prove to be so rewarding?
I officially created my blog on September 30, 2017. In my first post, called “First Blog Post”, (I know how original right?) I attempted to explain what I was doing here. The goals for my blog etc.
Over the next week or so, I read any and everything that I could find about how to set up a blog (yes I now realize that MAYBE I should have done that first?!?!?) I read about copyright laws for photos, SEO, tried to understand backlinks etc. It really was NOT fun, and I ended each day with a migraine and a few of those days in tears. I started comparing my itty bitty baby blog to others thinking there was no way in hell I would ever measure up. But then I asked myself who was I competing with…. The answer was NO ONE but myself. I was at a turning point in my life and I didn’t know which direction I wanted to go next. The context of the next page I made is here under Disclaimer. (Now it looks nothing like the original, but the words are the same.)
During the month of October
I wrote about how and when I was diagnosed with MS, and how I decided to take the disease modifying drug that I am on. I have never been much of a writer, now talker on the other hand…., so I had NO IDEA how therapeutic writing could be. I couldn’t believe how much lighter my shoulders felt after “dumping it all out there.” I joined every facebook group I could find for Multiple Sclerosis and Tysabri. I wanted to help everyone, and be friends with everyone.
During the month of November
Looking back, I can tell you that is the single biggest MISTAKE, that I have made on my journey. I now realize I don’t want to spend my time with negative people!!!! As if dealing with MS isn’t enough, mean people suck! They literally suck the energy right out of you! I felt like I had run head first into a brick wall. I had spent so much time “friending” everyone that I neglected to be selective in the process. Even though, I had “met” and was still friends with some good people, I had let myself get sucked into a world of bitchy, whiny, sniveling people in Facebook groups. UGH!!!!! (Like I want to be sick ugh) People would complain that they were lonely and needed friends, yet didn’t want to do the work. Others would ask for help with an MS symptom, and when I would try to offer advice I literally got “yelled at” because I offended someone by being unsympathetic or condescending. SERIOUSLY?!?! I spent the rest of the month doing more soul searching. I spent less time in the FB groups, and more time seeking out positive people to spend my time with. I created an Instagram and a Twitter account, adding actually learning how to use them to my “to do list”.
The Month of December
I still had a “bad taste in my mouth” from all the cynical people from the Facebook Groups, so I spent less time there, and more time on WordPress. I began sharing what I thought were “funny events” in my life with my posts about Renaming my children and Not winning the mother of the Year Award. I pushed myself to see the positive in every negative situation that came up. In the process, I made some great friends. The kind that inspire you to be the best you. The kind that make you laugh, and are honest enough with you to tell you when you are being a dumbass. This is where I wanted to be!
In January 2018
It seemed like Everyone posted about new year’s resolutions. I didn’t have anything to say about that. I don’t make NY resolutions, for me it’s an everyday all the time “self check”. “Was I being the best ME that I could be?” “Would I be able to look at myself in the mirror in the morning if I had let the toxic thoughts that sometimes invaded my mind come out of my mouth?” NO I WOULDN’T. I felt that I was doing ok there, so I skipped the New Year’s resolutions lists.
When I originally started writing this, I was going to go month by month and talk about my experiences, but I am at 818 words already and since I usually lose interest around this time when I am reading a blog, I feel I should stop. I feel that I have been in survival mode for most of 2018, and I think it will be healthy for me to spend more time looking at where I have been this year, before deciding what my next steps are. Surprisingly for me I have made 148 post to date, and if I am going to reread them all, I had better get started.
Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!
Happy blogaversary
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ty!
LikeLike
I like that – ‘blogaversary’ 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Blogavarsary! Can’t believe it’s been a year already. But it did make me laugh when you said you did your first post before the researching about blogs. 🙂 I didn’t start researching for ages! xxx
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ty Heather! You know you’ve been here since almost the being. I remember that we were reading each others blog simultaneously, and then I had to go fix a toilet… ( funny thing to remember huh) So happy to have met you!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Lol, I remember that toilet! No one had ever posted a picture of a toilet on my fb page before! 🙂 xxx
LikeLiked by 2 people
lol yep I am a strange one
LikeLiked by 1 person
And so happy to have met you too. 🙂 xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congrats and many happy returns.
BTW, I’m back home so chat soon, ok?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Whenever you have time ….glad you’re back home…and hopefully feeling well!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Not really, but I’m getting there…I hope.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m so thankful I somehow came across you on WordPress. You make me laugh and you bring moments of great joy!!! I forget about my troubles when I am engaged in your antics — like a episode of I Love Lucy but instead
I LOVE GRACE!! You are genuine, funny, honest, silly, curious and a fighter. My kind of girl!!!
I love what you do and I thank you for being there.
CONGRATULATIONS 🎊🍾 💐Dear Sweet Friend!!!!♥️💕 💜
LikeLiked by 3 people
Congratulations! I’m not nearly as close to my first year here, but a year is a huge milestone in my book! The time, the work, the heart that bloggers put into their posts is amazing. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
So glad you are here Grace………..I love your blog and so appreciate your take on life and all that it throws at you. So appreciate your encouraging words!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Congratulations Grace, so glad I found your blog :O) xx
LikeLiked by 2 people
The feeling is mutual!
LikeLiked by 2 people
One of the true joys of the blogosphere, right here! Glad you started, glad you stayed, glad we met. And I hope I’m one of your positive FB experiences, too! 😂
(FaceBook, I mean, though I’m happy to be a positive FootBall experience, too. 😉 )
I’ve been meaning to go back and re-read all my posts (and all my journal entries, which are a bit more prolific) because, from time to time, it’s nice to see where we’ve been to see where we’re going (or, in some cases, should be).
Great stuff, keep it up. Cheers, Grace!
LikeLike
Yes Tom, you definitely bring positives into my life, so glad to have met you!!!
LikeLike
A couple months ago, I told you that I don’t like “showing my ass”, I found one of the first posts I had written today in which I think I kind of did…well I was very angry when I wrote it…if you want to check it out https://msgracefulnot.com/2017/10/18/why-dont-you-work/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy one year of blogging to you! I hope to one day be as successful as you in the blogging world.
LikeLike
Make sure to have fun and that is successful in itself!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Blogiversary! It’s such a pleasure to follow along with you both here and on FB. I really enjoy your writing, your wit, and your candor. I’ve been a terrible blog-friend lately as I’ve been tackling health crap but I’m always watching and cheering you on from afar (or email :0).
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad to have you in my life, even if it is from afar! I hope you know that you have a positive influence on my life… I cant tell you how many youtube videos, but I have made 4 successful baby blankets, numerous hats for me and the girls (because I havent quite got the sizing right for newborns) one set of booties, and one set of scratch mitts….did I mention you are an inspiration?!?!? Sorry to hear about the health crap going on, on your end…hoping for brighter days for us both
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! I’d love to see your work. There’s a group on Facebook called Chronic Creatives where people show their crafts and get advice along the way. Very positive and upbeat group solely about crafts. 🙂 Go Grace! It’s relaxing, isn’t it.😁
LikeLike