While today is Memorial Day, I am choosing to selfishly write about my own memories of this past year of blogging.
Tomorrow marks the one year end to my goal to blog (write something, anything) every single day for an entire year. Make no mistake -- make up posts were necessary; however, go back and check and you will find a post for every day of this past year.
This was NO easy task. Writing something every day sounds much easier than it turned out to be. Trust me! Also, it wasn't easy to write when you feel like you have nothing to say. This happened quite a bit.
Photo: Corbis Images
Some things I have learned about blogging for a year:
My real friends and supportive family read my posts (and would comment via Facebook) more often than I thought they ever would. I love them for this. I feel like I was able to open a window into my soul for them to see me in a different light. I appreciate my people for reading what I had to say...even when I had nothing to say at all.
On the flip side, I learned that some people (maybe even YOU) stalked my blog just to find something to complain about. I had parents of students (even long after these students were no longer my students), co-workers, etc. spend their time finding reasons, within my blog posts, to hate me. To these people I say get a fucking life. This blog was NEVER meant for you. This is who I am, and until you put yourself out there for a year, in an honest and public way, shut up and go find something else to do with your time. If I ever gave you something to talk about (behind my back) you're welcome. PS. I know who you are, and you can rest assure that I don't like you either.
I learned that everyday I am learning something new. It was these moments of learning that I tried to blog about. From an observation at the car wash to telling the story of Gabriel, the sweet man who cleans my classroom, I noticed how observant I can be which I hope to pass on to both my daughter and to my students. Observation -- it's a beautiful thing.
I learned language is powerful. While I already knew this to be true, I learned this on a more personal level. There was a blog post that warranted THREE visits in one day...all about my cussing in a post. I was told a co-worker (who NEVER said anything to my face) was offended by my language. Again, my blogging was never about offending anyone. My posts were honest and true to who I am. Thus, language is important. Some people are so afraid of language that it cracks me up. Language prudes!
Documenting is cool especially when you have a little one. I blogged about my three year old daughter, Audrey, often. She is my life and this was clear if you ever read my posts. I hope to print these for her one day to share with her when she gets older. To capture a year in writing is pretty neat and something I will never regret. I would like to write to her...a year in letters (writing her one letter a month for an entire year).
I learned to stand my ground. There were people who suggested I not blog or that I take certain posts down. I never complied. While I understand the reason for some of these comments, I decided to stay true to myself and not back down just because someone thought I should filter myself. It's amazing how often people wanted to censor me in one way or another. Let's suppress voices...because this is historically good...NOT!
I learned that some people were taken aback by my honesty...it was as if because I am a teacher, I should not say certain things. Dude, I am a person who happens to be a teacher! I am human. I make mistakes. I do cuss. I am imperfect. If I was ever judged by what I said, I HOPE that EVERY post was read to understand the complete person instead of focusing on one sliver of who I am. Just because I am a teacher doesn't mean I shouldn't have a voice. I am not teaching my students to suppress their voices, so why would I suppress mine?
I did some cool shit this year. No lie. I traveled a bit, spoke at a national conference (which I am doing again this year), I won a poetry contest, read some great books, made lasting memories with students, and so much more! I am proud of the year I documented. If you know me on a personal level, you know the year before was a difficult one for me. This year was an upswing kind of year which is evident in what I blogged about. Writing proved to be therapeutic on many levels.
Writing taught me to keep my eyes open. It's easy to be a passive participant in your own life...but when you know you will be documenting something each day, you tend to look for the opportunities in the least likely places. This year of blogging has made me see the world differently which I am probably most grateful for.
So...tomorrow marks the end of a year long journey. I am actually meeting up with a small group of friends and family who have supported me throughout this journey. It is with them that I will publish my final post. It is with them I will celebrate. I am looking forward to tomorrow!
Tomorrow marks the one year end to my goal to blog (write something, anything) every single day for an entire year. Make no mistake -- make up posts were necessary; however, go back and check and you will find a post for every day of this past year.
This was NO easy task. Writing something every day sounds much easier than it turned out to be. Trust me! Also, it wasn't easy to write when you feel like you have nothing to say. This happened quite a bit.
Photo: Corbis Images
Some things I have learned about blogging for a year:
My real friends and supportive family read my posts (and would comment via Facebook) more often than I thought they ever would. I love them for this. I feel like I was able to open a window into my soul for them to see me in a different light. I appreciate my people for reading what I had to say...even when I had nothing to say at all.
On the flip side, I learned that some people (maybe even YOU) stalked my blog just to find something to complain about. I had parents of students (even long after these students were no longer my students), co-workers, etc. spend their time finding reasons, within my blog posts, to hate me. To these people I say get a fucking life. This blog was NEVER meant for you. This is who I am, and until you put yourself out there for a year, in an honest and public way, shut up and go find something else to do with your time. If I ever gave you something to talk about (behind my back) you're welcome. PS. I know who you are, and you can rest assure that I don't like you either.
I learned that everyday I am learning something new. It was these moments of learning that I tried to blog about. From an observation at the car wash to telling the story of Gabriel, the sweet man who cleans my classroom, I noticed how observant I can be which I hope to pass on to both my daughter and to my students. Observation -- it's a beautiful thing.
I learned language is powerful. While I already knew this to be true, I learned this on a more personal level. There was a blog post that warranted THREE visits in one day...all about my cussing in a post. I was told a co-worker (who NEVER said anything to my face) was offended by my language. Again, my blogging was never about offending anyone. My posts were honest and true to who I am. Thus, language is important. Some people are so afraid of language that it cracks me up. Language prudes!
Documenting is cool especially when you have a little one. I blogged about my three year old daughter, Audrey, often. She is my life and this was clear if you ever read my posts. I hope to print these for her one day to share with her when she gets older. To capture a year in writing is pretty neat and something I will never regret. I would like to write to her...a year in letters (writing her one letter a month for an entire year).
I learned to stand my ground. There were people who suggested I not blog or that I take certain posts down. I never complied. While I understand the reason for some of these comments, I decided to stay true to myself and not back down just because someone thought I should filter myself. It's amazing how often people wanted to censor me in one way or another. Let's suppress voices...because this is historically good...NOT!
I learned that some people were taken aback by my honesty...it was as if because I am a teacher, I should not say certain things. Dude, I am a person who happens to be a teacher! I am human. I make mistakes. I do cuss. I am imperfect. If I was ever judged by what I said, I HOPE that EVERY post was read to understand the complete person instead of focusing on one sliver of who I am. Just because I am a teacher doesn't mean I shouldn't have a voice. I am not teaching my students to suppress their voices, so why would I suppress mine?
I did some cool shit this year. No lie. I traveled a bit, spoke at a national conference (which I am doing again this year), I won a poetry contest, read some great books, made lasting memories with students, and so much more! I am proud of the year I documented. If you know me on a personal level, you know the year before was a difficult one for me. This year was an upswing kind of year which is evident in what I blogged about. Writing proved to be therapeutic on many levels.
Writing taught me to keep my eyes open. It's easy to be a passive participant in your own life...but when you know you will be documenting something each day, you tend to look for the opportunities in the least likely places. This year of blogging has made me see the world differently which I am probably most grateful for.
So...tomorrow marks the end of a year long journey. I am actually meeting up with a small group of friends and family who have supported me throughout this journey. It is with them that I will publish my final post. It is with them I will celebrate. I am looking forward to tomorrow!
Prompt: When was the last time you accomplished a LONG goal? What was the goal? How long did it take to accomplish? How did you feel when you reached the finish line?