Happy Blogoversary to Me Again
Four years ago, Josh told me to find a new outlet for the feelings I was sharing with him (always beginning at 11 p.m.) and a blog was born.
It is my four-year blogoversary.
I usually like to take this post to reflect on the year and look ahead. In the early years, the growth and change was remarkable, with dozens of new projects popping up monthly. Now, the blog is more like a four-year-old–still learning and moving forward, but more consistent. It sleeps from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. It has mastered the toilet. By which I mean that we’re nearing the 300th Roundup and I’m still writing a response every time Salon tackles the topic of infertility.
Two years ago, I started giving each year a single word to use as a goal. The overall word defining my blog is “community.” But then each year received a word that defined the overarching theme for the year:
- Year One: Connections
- Year Two: Action
- Year Three: Listening
- Year Four: Tune
You can read the lengthy description of how I interpreted “tune,” but at its core, I stated, “delurking is more for the writer to know who is reading her blog than it is for the silent person to speak their mind. So my point is not to get people delurking. My point is to get more points-of-view heard.” And hopefully I did that, perhaps not on the grandest level, but in a minute way.
I then usually give one more word, looking ahead, to help focus me during the upcoming year. And this year, my word is “own.”
This will be my first full year of self-hosting, so that obviously plays into the word “own,” but the idea is much larger than that. I think we need to own our words, own our actions, both when we’re proud of them and when we’re remorseful. I think we need to own our place in community–look at which niche of the ALI community we’re standing in and look at ways to improve our interactions with fellow bloggers. I think those crazy kids in Rent were on to something when they implied the difference between renting and owning in their opening number.
I feel like this fourth year, I am more rooted, this blog feels sturdier. The stability affords me the ability to take chances. Expect more visual mediums this year such as photograph and video since I now own the equipment. And expect that very little will change. The Creme de la Creme will roll around again next winter, the Roundup will continue to be posted on Fridays, and I will continue to try to convince you that there is nothing wrong with 70-year-olds having babies.
I need to thank two entities: my blog and you.
To my blog, thank you for being here for four years. You are my white space, my blank canvas, the receptacle for my ideas. You have given me my work and my friends. You have given me opportunities I never thought would be mine to have. I love you, little blog.
To you, thank you for listening to me. Thank you for wiping my virtual tears. Thank you for allowing me to blow my nose on your virtual sleeve. Thank you for laughing at my jokes (even if you were just pitying me and it was a fake laugh). Thank you for linking to me and participating in my projects and for reading me and for hugging me when we meet in the face-to-face world. I get very teary when I talk about the friends I have made through my blog because just as I never imagined the opportunities that would come my way from writing in this space, I never knew that I would meet such a diverse, interesting, beautiful, wonderful group of people. Thank you for being here, for reaching out, for hugging back. As I have said before, “A good hug is like finding an unopened pack of m&ms in your purse right before a movie begins.” And you guys are the m&ms in the purse.
76 comments
Happy 5th Blogoversary to you Mel! Thanks for making me feel like I was not alone in this vast and obscure land of IF. You do such a great job in gettting us all connected and feel like we are part of a real and wonderful community. Here to many more Blogoversaries to come!!
A very, very happy blogoversary to you! For me and I know so many others, you are my inspiration in this crazy mixed up world of IF. Thank you for all that you do and I look forward to reading many more years to come.
Because YOU have created a place very special to me – a place where I *finally* feel at home.
Thank you, for doing what you do and for doing it so bloody well!
Happy Blogoversary!
Sending you a huge hug.
Happy Blogoversary Mel! Thank you for all you do :).
Happy Blogoversary, Mel!
HAPPY BLOGOVERSARY!
sniffle.
So very proud of you…and all that you do and continue to do! It is truly an honor for me to read your words on a daily–or somewhat daily–basis!
Happy Blogoversary!!
Happy blogoversary, Mel. Thank you for being an inspiration to me and to so many others. Thank you for making me feel like I’m never alone.
Can I be a blue one?
Happy anniversary, again! I’m glad you’re feeling sturdy.
Bea
Sturdy as in well-grounded. Although I’m sure you’re at exactly the right level of physical sturdiness, too. And if you’re not, who cares? Unless you’re unhappy, of course. I mean, you look fine in your photos, not that it should matter. You know what I mean. It’s probably best to just move on…
Bea
Happy blogoversary to you. I remember when you started the Blogging Name Registry and spoke about how difficult it can sometimes be to find new ways to write about all the same events that keep rolling around – birthdays, anniversaries, milestones – and how it gives long-time bloggers an even more challenging feat. Thank you for keeping it fresh and for always giving me something new to think about and consider.
*Speaking of the Registry, for some reason I had it stuck in my head that you had to have been blogging for at least 3 years before you could give yourself a new moniker and add yourself. I just checked and it was 2. I think I was just past my first blogoversary when you originally posted the idea. I was truly in awe of those of you who already had 2+ years under your belts, and I hoped that I had the stamina to continue writing for at least as long. I am so glad that you have the gusto and are showing no signs of slowing down. 🙂 Now I’m off to think of a name….
Happy Blogoversary. And thank you for everything you haev done for this community on the last four years!
Happy Blogoversary! Wishing you many more!
Happy blogoversary Mel! I can’t tell you how happy I am that you’re doing this and constantly pouring your heart into it. You rock!
Happy Blogoversary to you!! I can not even imagine a world without you or your blog 😉 although now I want m&m’s for breakfast, those new pretzel ones are pretty amazing…
Happy Blogoversary, Mel!! So glad you’re here and I hope we can have you for many more years to come. Even when you change purses. 😉 P.S. I know they’re not very common or in the ‘original’ pack, but I’d like to think of myself as a pink one. 🙂
Happy Blogoversary, Mel! You do so much with this little blog, we are all thankful you are here!
Happy Blogoversary, Mel!
You know, I think of you and Josh many nights when I’m going to bed. My husband also likes to talk through his feeeelings at the end of the day. I like to go to bed to go to sleep. He wants to talk. I often think “Is there some reason you could not have told me all of this stuff over the past 2 hours when we were sitting next to each other on the couch?” Sigh…Good thing I love that guy, as it is sometimes the only thing preventing me from smothering him with the pillow so I can get some freaking sleep already!
Anyway, Happy Blogoversary! I hope the next 5 years are just as rewarding to you and to all of us out here reading as the past 5 have been…and the 5 years after that…and so on…
Happy blogoversary!! And THANK YOU!!
I feel like you’ve always been a part of my virtual life and can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for me and the IF community. It’s a gross understatement to ask where we would be without you. Lost, wandering and disconnected. You found us, brought us together, connected us in thousands of ways and gave us firm ground to stand on when we needed it most. Thank you for everything Mel!
Happy Blogaversary and thank you!
Happy Blogoversary Mel!! Thanks for being a support system and cheerleader for our community even us non-blogging folks!!
Happy Blogoversary Mel! You have made such an amazing impact with this little corner of the internets! I can’t thank you enough.
Happy Blogoversary, Mel!
Hugs.
This is so much more then a blog. Happy 4th Anniversary! The 4th anniversary gift is flowers. So may all your yards flowers be in bloom.
You have rocked my world since I first found you. I am excited to walk with you as you come even more into your Own.
XOXO
Happy Blogoversary!! You are such a wonderful resource in the IF community. Here’s to 5 more!!!
Aww, I like being an M&M…. right back atcha! Thanks for all you do for us. You are the first resource I give to new-IFers.
Happy blogoversary! And no, really, thank YOU.
HAPPY BLOGOVERSARY Mel.
YOU are the reason I blog, the reason I now have a village of people who listen, understand and laugh with me.
You’ve been the MOST AMAZING GIRL I know since I found you 4 yrs ago…and I call you my friend…
Looking forward to all the Awesome stuff we have yet to share.
HUGS
I still remember early in my TTC journey, stumbling around message boards and other foreign-feeling internet sites, and coming across your blog – so much INFORMATION! And so well organized! And such a big heart beating all the way through every facet of it! There were those wishing stones, and the lushary, and the Blilt… and links to so many, many stories and journeys and voices… This site is THE hub, in my opinion, for all things infertility – and I refer people here any time I learn that IF has touched their lives in some way.
Happy, happy Blogoversary, and many more! I’m lighting those ever-lighting joke candles on a virtual cake for you to celebrate the launching of an amazing Mel-powered community here.
HOORAY!! Congratulations! Happy blogoversary! You are doing an AMAZING job and I am thrilled to be a part of your network.
Happy Blogoversary! And thank you for sharing your time & thoughts with us!
Happy Blogoversary!!!!
Happy Blogoversary! I am so thankful that you decided to do this, and help all of us out here in this community with everything that you do.
Happy blogoverseary, sweetie!
happy blogoversary. Thanks for being so committed to a lifestyle that gives so much.
Happy blogoversary, Mel. We’d be nothing without you.
Happy Blogoversary!
Krystal – ICLW # 92
http://krysttc.blogspot.com/
The M&Ms need the purse to get carried in. 🙂 Happy blogoversary, and thanks for carrying us all with you on this journey, which is both yours and ours!
Thank you for being you Mel, and all that you do. While the ALI community isn’t as big a part of my life as it once was, I always know I can come here to find old friends or get the latest doings in the community. I’m always sending people here for info and support because it gave so much to me. Funny, yesterday I made the pie that launched my blog — and I did it all cause you said it was a day to eat cake. What lovely memories. HUGS!
Yay! Happy anniblogversary!! And thank you for being here for us and linking us altogether! You are amazing!!
Happy blogoversary to you!! Thank you for all that you do for us! I appreciate it.
Happy Blogoversary. You do so much for everyone else out here in the community – It’s very appreciated.
Happy blogoversary, Mel!
xxoo
Man. 4 years. It’s flown.
My 5th anniversary is coming up and I’m feeling verklempt when I think about it.
Happy blogoversary, dear Mel.
xoxo
Happy Blogaversary, Mel! Thank you for your continued hard work and thoughtfulness. You are a true gem.
You gives us the hope to come on our own,
Be lighter and brighter, not some weirdo clone
Of fertile ignorance that just wouldn’t do.
For this and you know it, much, so much more,
Your friendship and guidance and trust galore,
Accept our gratitude forever true,
Lots of embraces and Mel, dear, THANK YOU!
Happy blogoversary, dear Mel! I think most of the times you are too modest to really acknowledge the place you hold in this community and the place you hold in our hearts. Which only makes you so much more endearing. 😉 We are very proud of you and hope all your dreams come true.
Happy Blogoversary! Thanks for all you do for us all!