I had some pretty grand plans for this post right here, I swear! I wanted some amazing (maybe even professional?) photos, with some fancy outfit that stood out against the snow. And maybe some balloons? Confetti? Fireworks? Ha. Reality intruded, in the form of the flu, and some sick kids, and another photo shoot that it ended up being too cold to do anything in. But you know what? None of that has really anything to do with the fact that this is the 1000th post I’ve written here for this blog. THE. ONE. THOUSANDTH. POST. Doesn’t that sound insane? I feel like I’ve lost track of how long I’ve been actually blogging, but for the 1000 times I’ve hit publish in this space, it has been a learning experience.
I never thought that much ahead when I published my first post, I just remember being scared to do it. It was so hard to put myself out there! To have other people read my words and to judge me and to open myself up to that? It was frightening. Yet I did it. I continued to press publish 999 more times after that, and each time it got easier and easier. I don’t worry about being judged for what I write here anymore. It’s not scary like it was. I post to share my love of style and shopping with you, but I also share my deepest self sometimes. I’ve learned that I can sort my feelings and empty my soul in a post and feel better for it.
I can share about the loss of a loved one, the lonely days of motherhood, how to diversify your blog income, and my awkwardness in not knowing how to wear a blanket scarf. I can write about marriage and self tanner, bathing suits and athleisure trends. Anything goes, really.
The real deal here that makes it all worth the editing and writing and hopping through the snow for photos shoots, and all the endless behind the scenes work that isn’t always the most fun, is having YOU here to read it. Over the years I’ve built up a core set of readers who I adore. A lot of you have become friends in real life, and I treasure that. I really do! I’ve faltered and wondered sometimes if I really wanted to continue writing here, yet each time I say “just quit already!”, I can’t.
This blog, this tiny space on the internet, is a piece of me. It’s something I built from the ground up and has made me learn so much about myself over the years, I can’t even count the lessons. I’m so grateful to have my readers and this blog, it brightens my days immeasurably to have both. Thank you for being here and supporting me and coming back day after day, year after year. I heart you!
