Happy Anniversary to me!! (My 139th Post)

This is a long one - but I have a year to talk about!!

A year ago today I began an incredible journey. I sat reading a blog post by someone else and I thought, "I want to do this!" So I did. I signed up for my very own blog. I wrote a post (probably about 5 times before I was brave enough to publish) and tentatively went out and began telling people I was alive.

The first person I went to see was the incomparable Alexandra. She had only started her blog a few days before me and I had read some of her comments on other people's blogs and really liked them. So I went to her site and introduced myself as another new blogger and I am forever grateful that I did!!! Not only is she wonderful, but she also introduced me to the incredible Laini. Between them they have spoiled me rotten, shared their writing tips, and become good friends. I was lucky enough to meet them for sushi and treats in November and I look forward to seeing them again soon. (Laini also became my partner-in-crime in our writing venture Sunday Scribblings!) I adore them both. They are magic.

Ten minutes after writing to Alexandra, I connected with Jamie and a little while later, Claudia. Between them they have inspired me to live a more honest life. Jamie doesn't know it yet, but she changed my life a lot. Knowing her and reading her has made me try to be more comfortable moving my body. I have begun to begin each day with a solo dance in the living room. A year ago this would never have been possible.

I won't go into my blogging world person by person because every single one of the people I have met on here have had an impact on me. Since this time last year I have: begun a blog, co-begun a writing blog, finished writing a novel and tried to send it out into the world. (I have stopped doing that for now in favour of writing another one... it will be my third!) I have finished a half marathon, written the rough draft of a non-fiction book, gone to Seattle and Portland to meet some of my new friends, gotten a promotion, lost my Grandmother, and become an Aunt and Godmother to the beautiful Helen (that's her in the photo with me, I got her her first Nalgene bottle before I left - ahhhhhhhhhhhhh........)

One of my bravest leaps this year was that trip to Seattle. I've written about it a lot already so I will just say that the women I spent that weekend with have altered me.

So where do I go from here? Where do I want to be in another year? Yesterday I posted about how bored I was with myself and what I had to say. I am still kind-of in that place. I am struggling a bit with this tonight. But writing this has helped. I have come a long way, baby. I am not alone. I have done some brave and some audacious things this year, and if THIS blogging year is as full of creativity and connections and change and words as LAST year was, it's going to be quite a year. Wish me luck!