Things I Can't Say

Tips and Tales from an Introverted Mom

One Year Later….

It was a year ago this week that I entered the blogworld.

Well, sort of. This blog was around a little longer than that. But, it was just my online journal where I would write when I felt like it- which sometimes meant weeks or a month or two would go by between posts.

I didn’t read other blogs, I didn’t know about following- didn’t have the follower gadget on mine. Didn’t know about blog communities, memes, buttons, any of it. And what? You can do PR on your blog? No clue. I just typed faster than I could hand write and usually misplaced journals, so I just wrote on here, for me.

But, then, last August, I started reading some blogs. And thought, hmmm, look at the comments- what fun to actually have a conversation through a blog. Maybe I could try this.

So, on September 9th, 2009, I joined in my first meme. You can see that post HERE. Yes, it’s totally Shell-esque.

Not having a clue and having so many people who were so helpful, teaching me how to do things on my blog and around the blog world. Offering help without me having to ask or jumping into help when I asked for help. I’ve been doing my best to pay this forward with other blog newbies.

And since then, I have met so many people. Found women that I relate to instantly. And some whom I’ve gotten to know over time.  And some whom I only know a little bit, but who have touched my life through sharing their stories.

You listen to my stories and I listen to yours.

I’ll read a comment and think yes! Look at that, someone completely understands what I’m saying!

It goes beyond just blogs and into email conversations so long that gmail eventually starts the message over in a new one because it has exceeded their limit.

To tweeting, bbm’ing, texting.

Phone calls. Even though I hate the phone.

And meeting some of you in person.

Through this blog, I’ve met people who I know I can turn to when I need to vent, or cry, or sometimes even flat-out bitch when I need to. You offer me advice, agree with me on some things or help me to see the other side of an issue.

I feel like I have an online family.  When I talk about you, I don’t say “this girl whose blog I read,” I say “my friend.”

I never guessed any of this when I took that first hesitant step off my own little space and into the blogworld.

Never.

It’s these friendships- ones that have been around for a while- like some of the girls who commented on that very first post and we still read each others’ blogs- to ones that we have met along the way and formed a connection with- to ones that we have just met recently- we are celebrating these friendships(along with your IRL friends, too, of course) during Women’s Friendship Month.

One of the Friends You Love girls, Kristen at Only Parent Chronicles, is having a Blogoversary Bash for her blog next Wednesday, September 15th. A twitter party from 9-10:30 EST. Sponsored by Eden Fantasys- there are SO many prizes that it has to be an hour and a half to get to all of them! You can RSVP HERE.

Comments

  1. Aweee! This month makes a year for me too!! I feel like you were there from the beginning Shell & I love you so much for it!! <3 It's been a great past year!

  2. Me too – coming up on a year. Look at how far you've come! Great work on your blog – everything, pictures, style content. 🙂

  6. Happy Anniversary. I never would have guessed you've only been blogging openly for a year. You've got a great following here! Awsome job.

    And I suck… ha!

  7. Happy Blog Birthday! I feel the same way about the blogosphere, only it took me about three or four years to realize the power of community 😉 (But better late than never, right?)

  9. Yay! Happy Blogoversary! The year flew by, that's for sure. So excited to have met you and become friends with you! In 2011, let's plan better and make sure we're at the same conference again!

  10. Happy Anniversary to you and your blog. Friends are like gems often hidden in places you never expect.

  11. Happy Blogaverary! I haven't even been reading your blog for a year and I feel like I've known you forever!

  12. So glad you started. So glad I found you.

    Happy day to you! And selfishly, it's a good day for me BECAUSE you started blogging. 🙂

    xoxox

  13. I can't believe it's only been a year for you. You've been so successful in that year!! It feels like we've been "friends" for much longer!

  14. It's shocking to me that you have only been blogging a year!!!

    Glad to call you a "friend" 🙂

  15. Happy blogoversary! When I started a little over a yer ago, I had no idea that blogging would exceed my expectations. I am so glad I found your blog and got to "meet' you.

    I read the post you linked to. I think that was before I found you, but I could have written that myself. Those socks – I had a TON!!! LOL!!

  16. Wow, Shell. congratulations! i would've expected that you'd been blogging much longer than that – 1500 followers strong!

    here's to another fabulous year of blogging 🙂

  18. Very cool! You've done a lot in a year. As a "newbie", I'm still learning, but love blogging! It's an outlet that I didn't know I needed, but am so glad to have found. And I love reading your blog – I feel like we would be IRL friends!

  21. Happy ANniversary. I did the same thing. Started the blog, but didn't really start psoting regularly until this past February. I can't believe the "friends" that I have made through blogging. My friends save my sanity on a daily basis. So glad we have met, my friend.

  22. Well then happy Blogerversary..blogoversary? Screw it. Congrats on making one year! I say the same thing. My friend. I consider my blog peeps (& twitter peeps) to be my friends

  25. Happy Anniversary girl. You have been a great friend to me. You helped me so much when I first started my blog and I'll always appreciate that. Thank you!

  26. It's been about a year for me too! So glad you're here … I couldn't have gotten my real start without you. Thank you so much!

  27. Congratulations on your blogoversary! The sense of community was an unexpected bonus for me when I entered the world of blogging, too.

  28. Happy Blogerversary! It's hard to believe, isn't it, the journey you've made… hopefully, it's put to rest the uneasy you've felt as the support and love has come your way… looking forward to future posts… come visit when you can…

  29. Aw Shell – a year. Look at you now. One of my fave bloggers to read, and you help others [ahem, me, ahem] and you're sweet to boot.congrats, woman. you deserve it all

  30. It's simply amazing, isn't it? It's a great community full of great people.

    Congrats on your anniversary!

  32. It's over a year for me, but I get ya. I totally feel that friendships in Blognia are real, and the ones we make as time goes on stick with us. I thank YOU for sharing a part of your world and yourself with us, out here, in the rest of it! :>

  33. happy blog anniversary! you are definitely a one of a kind blogger.

    i to call my blog buddies friends!

  34. Happy Blogoversay!! I can't believe you have only been doing this for a year and you're already a pro…with over a thousand followers!! Congrats my friend!! (And yes, I'm a little green with jealousy right now!!)

  35. Congratulations! I love reading your blog and think you are a fantastic writer. So happy I got to meet you in person, hopefully we will get to meet again!

  38. It's amazing how quickly a year flies by, and how fast friends are formed in this forum! I am so glad to have met you, and had the pleasure of chatting with you everyday via bb messenger! You are a great friend Shellerific!

  39. I am so impressed by how far your blog has come if you've only been around a year!
    Wow…you blog gives me aspirations for my own…as well as some fun things to read. 😀
    Keep on blogging girlie!!!

  40. I have been at it for a year and a half now, and I feel like I have made some pretty amazing friends a long the way. You are so lucky to have met some IRL. And I am so glad I found your little corner in the blogging world!

  44. Congratuations on this milestone! All that you said is so, so true.

    I started blogging about six months ago as a much needed creative outlet. I never dreamed that I would also wind up making friends along the way.

    It's been a wonderful surprise.

  47. Happy 1st year! I didn't know you'd been blogging that whole time. How cool! Just think, in about 2 weeks we'll not only be blogging friends, but IRL friends too!!! Woohoo, Asheville, look out!

  54. Happy Bloggiversary! 🙂 I do the same 'my friend' thing when referring to people I've met on blogs. Isn't it great to make those connections?!

  55. Wow, just a year? Congrats! I would have sworn you have been doing this for awhile. That's fantastic! I have to say, you have been really great about dropping by little bitty blogs like mine, and making me feel special with your comment love. Happy Blogoversary!

  56. Happy Birthday to Things I Can't Say! Shell, you are one of the best bloggers around. I know I've been very lax lately, but I feel like I've know you for so much longer! I know what you mean about learning so much. Our friends are so helpful. XOXO SSM

  57. You have achieved so much in a year, you should be very proud of your blog and all you have accomplished. Congratulations and Happy Anniversary.

  58. I just met you yesterday, but it kind of sort of looks like I'll be around for the long haul…thanks for stopping by, commenting on my story. It makes me feel so less alone….really it does. Which is why I blog also. The amazing women you can met, friendships you can form, and just being able to get shit off your chest without being judged.
    So, thanks again. 🙂

  59. Congrats on your anniversary!! I also can't believe it's only been a year for you. The amount of comments you receive per post is a true testament of how far you've come. Best of luck to you and thank you for sharing your journey with us 🙂 I hope to meet you too someday!

  60. Love this post … I"m glad I'm not the only one who was slow to figure out this whole blogging thing! I'm still trying to get my act together. So glad to have met you and so many other awesome mamas over the past year. You are one of my favs! ;0)

  61. Wow, look at all you have done and all the connections you have made in just one year. That is awesome.

    I for one an glad I know you. 🙂

  62. Well, I am so glad you entered the bloggy world. And you "pay it forward" better/ more than anyone else I know. Your blog? Is my goal…

  64. Ack, I'm so sorry I didn't comment on this yesterday!! Reading your blog and connecting with you has been one of the highlights of my blogging experience. I only launched my personal blog in February of this year, but have found so many amazing people because of it- and you top the list! Congratulations and I can't wait to see what the next year brings for you (and look forward to meeting you one of these days too!)

  65. Hi Shell! I'm back and so very glad to be here in my beloved blog world. Your line about "When I talk about you, I don't say, 'this girl whose blog I read' I say 'my friend'" was so touching. I didn't even realize I did that too, until you mentioned it. I have made so many valuable friendships through this blog world. It is an amazing place to be and I feel privileged to be here. Congratulations on your anniversary.

  66. I love that you don't say "this woman whose blog I read" because I say that sometimes when I'm feeling insecure because what I really want to say is, "Oh my gosh, my friend told the funniest story about her son, a fire hydrant and a pair of pliers!"

    Congratulations on being all up in the blogging world for a year!

  67. Congratulations! Found you through Just Another Mom of 2. I hope that I have accomplished as much as you when I reach my 1 year anniversary.

  68. I didn't realize you had started just a bit before me. It'll be a year for me in November.

    I've missed you these last few days of crazy…..time for me to get back to my friends.

    ♥