How A Year of Blogging Changed My Life

Here I sit in a coffee shop in downtown Brisbane marveling at the artwork that is my cappuccino. I absolutely love foam artwork, probably because it’s both beautiful and delicious. This is such a perfect moment.

As I survey my surroundings, I start thinking of all the steps I’ve taken to get to this particular place, at this particular moment, in this particular region of the globe. It’s been a long journey and isn’t anywhere near done. But really, how did I get here?

I mentally rewind the moments in my head, backing them up through the preceding months. I watch myself walk backwards on the plane, unpack my suitcase, repack my suitcase, fly backwards in time to the Northwest, skip my way down the steps of Montmartre, slide up the side of a volcano, and perfectly seal all the rejection letters from the psychology graduate programs and place them back in the mailbox. Wait. Play. I watch myself cry and use the envelopes of the letters as tear-catchers. I watch myself log onto WordPress and write my very first blog post. Wait. Pause. Has it really been a year since I began this unconventional journey?

No… couldn’t be.

I immediately log into my account and take to my blog archives to view that fateful first post I wrote last summer. Well I’ll be damned… There it is: the official confirmation.

So now I sit back in my chair deep in thought. Since joining the blogosphere, I’ve traveled to the four corners of the globe, created unbelievable memories and friendships, and realized dreams I never knew I had. And to think this all started as a way to make fun of myself.  Huh.

I mean, I had wanted to blog about my unusual Vegas life, my failures, and the impulsive decision to go to Nicaragua (after all, it was kind of ridiculous). If nothing else, a blog was a great way to record my moment of insanity. Plus my detailed notes would later benefit whatever shrink responsible for my recovery from such a lapse of judgement. With my carefully recorded emotional breakdown and following list of behaviors, he could properly determine how to assimilate me back into society. Of course, that crossed my mind. But I never thought blogging would become my thing.

365 days later, I have thousands of subscribers and readers in 143 different countries. I have been Freshly Pressed twice in three months and featured on hundreds of fellow blogger’s sites. I’ve gone surfing with a legend, cuddled koalas, trained lions, worked on movie sets, and had so many other unbelievable adventures. I’m no longer just a girl looking to process her failed dream. And I can feel a bigger dream forming.

I am forever changed because of a blog. I sit here laughing at the concept.

What started as a joke turned into a lifelong mission. I realized I wasn’t the only one in the world who wanted adventure, who wanted to be a part of something more important than themselves, who was looking for something to inspire them. And suddenly I am connecting with people and ideas that I otherwise never would have.

Each of you has inspired me and motivated me to continue on this absurd journey. I look to your comments, messages, and ‘likes’ for validation particularly during the, “What the hell am I doing with my life?” moments. Most of you are strangers and yet, I feel so close to all of you. And what’s more is that you’ve taken time out of your life to read about my not-so-glamorous journey. It’s one thing to write for yourself. It’s another to want to share those moments with others. But it’s really quite something for strangers to want to share those moments with you.

And what swells my heart more than feeling supported on my journey is learning that I have inspired many of you to pursue your own adventures. For what is life without loving and encouraging others? I hope I can continue to do so (even though the truth is I really have no idea what I’m doing).

Thank you for an amazing first year. Life has never tasted so sweet and I wouldn’t have gotten this far without any of you. This moment is both beautiful and delicious, and I hope to be blessed enough to continue to savor it.

The Year of the Blogger is not over. In fact, I have a feeling this is just the beginning. I mean, I still have a few more countries to visit before I realize what it’s exactly the beginning of, but I hope more than anything you’ll join me.

Okay. Play.