Blogging and Bloggery, at age 5

I didn't make a big deal of it - or mention it at all - but Bluestalking celebrated its 5th anniversary over the summer. That's five years of writing at least weekly, if not always daily. It's been both fun and great discipline for me. Five years of mulling over books, sometimes (okay, OFTEN) veering into the personal,  sharing some of my photography, a bit of crafty this and thats, and frankly I don't even remember what else.

To the best of my ability, I've tried to avoid topics of a political or religious nature, though a couple crept in when I couldn't contain myself. As far as outrageously opinionated, snarky or even downright aggressive posts, those are in here, too, mostly regarding books I felt very strongly about, those I resented making it into publication in the first place, when there are so many better unpublished writers out there. And I wouldn't retract a thing.

Going back over the books I've read, would my opinion of all of them still be the same now? In lots of cases, probably not. I'm a firm believer the time and place you're at in life has a very big impact on how you feel about what you read. Some books I read and loved now leave me scratching me head, wondering what on earth I was thinking. And for others, it may be the reverse. But whatever I said was what I felt at that moment. That's the important part.

Blogging for five years has been an overwhelmingly positive experience. I've met great people, read a lot of books I'd never have otherwise, gotten a great deal of respect from amazing people, and shared camaraderie with other book bloggers and all-around rabid readers. There just is no better company than readers.

Have there been negatives? Aren't there always? I've often put myself under too much pressure to perform, to blog when I don't feel like it, or read everything I'm sent whether it deserves mention or not. All this pressure I put on myself for a voluntary endeavor? It's a little nuts. Because everything I write is going to have a huge impact on the world, right?

Uh-huh.

Still, I hit the five year mark. What do you know? Something I started on a lark (at roughly the same time other bookish friends decided to try it) has turned into something I've kept up - for better or worse - for five entire years. I guess that's something to feel a bit of pride about, even if I'm not equally fond of all the writing and/or content, or all the incarnations the blog has gone through. I don't know if I'll still be here in another five years. That depends on life, on how much time I have to spare for "free time" endeavors, etc. Meanwhile, Happy Birthday to me. And, to all who've ridden along with me, thanks to you all. It wouldn't have mattered without you.

I'm here now, and assuming I can stave off that inner critic who keeps telling me I could always do better, will be for at least a while. We'll see how it goes.

Comments

[Bluestalking]

Thanks, Rebecca! :-)

[Rebecca Reid]

congrats on 5 years, Lisa!

[Bluestalking]

Andi, awwww shucks! :-)

[Andi]

A very happy bloggiversary to you, Lisa. You're always one of my faves.

[Bluestalking]

Suzanne, that's great dedication. I doubt I'd get to a written journal as much as I do online. I get hand cramps when I write that much now... It's becoming a lost art.

[Suzanne]

I've been at it only about a year and a half ....

[Bluestalking]

Liz, thanks! By the way, the other day I saw a decal for a car that said "My other car is a TARDIS." Too funny.

[Bluestalking]

Thanks, Suzanne. How long have you been blogging?

[Bluestalking]

Thank you, Peder. :-)

[J. Peder Zane]

Happy Birthday and Thank You for your very fine work.

[Liz]

Happy Blogiversary!

[Suzanne]

Congratulations, Lisa!