A Post Where I Pretend Blogspot is Livejournal

a silly old Photobooth pic to set the mood 

Remember doing little surveys like this? It reminds me so much of Livejournal, and especially the ones Sarah and I would always fill out. Those were the days, right? At least my favorite "online" kind of days!

Anyway, I know I always love reading things like this on the blogs I read, so I figured I would do it too. If you're a long time reader everything below may be old news to you, but maybe a few of you will learn something new about me that we can connect on. I've seen this around a lot lately, but most recently saw it on the darling Cam's blog. Here we go!

1. When did you first start blogging and why?

I started officially "blogging" here in November of 2008, although I had been online journaling (via Livejournal) since 1999/2000. That is SO crazy to me, to think I've been part of an online community for such a long time. In fact, I still am friends with some of my LJ friends from back in the day. It's pretty amazing.

2. Have you had any past online presence?

Yes, Livejournal like I mentioned above. I started the whole online thing though back in middle school in the 90s with AOL, then of course AIM in college. Friendster. Myspace. Etc.

3. When did you become serious about your blog?
I never started this blog with the intention of being a "blogger," or gaining an audience. That happened the more I wrote, but even when I had just a couple of readers I always took it seriously, because writing has always been a big part of my life and I would have continued to write, audience or not.

4. What was your first blog post?

My first blog post was almost five years ago to the day, just kind of talking about why I was making the switch over to a blogspot account.

5. What have been your biggest challenges blogging?

Challenges have come in waves, and changed a lot as a grew as a person, which also meant I was growing as a blogger. I think the biggest challenge for me was really getting to a place where I'd be writing and sharing, regardless of who was reading. And more so, truly not caring about negative comments, nonconstructive criticism, whatever...and really not caring, not just pretending not to care like I had for so long. When I got past that, it was like I had a renewed love for this space, and I haven't looked back since. Now my biggest challenge is making sure I'm protecting my children and their privacy, while at the same time documenting and sharing our life. It's tricky. I wrote more about that here.

6. What is the most rewarding thing about blogging?

Two things: one, that I am able to go back and read my thoughts from any given day- having this space as a time capsule of my life. That's really the coolest thing about having a Livejournal from so long ago- being able to ask myself "what was I doing on this day, in say...2001?" And knowing the answer. And two- the community. I've met some of my most favorite people and a number of close friends from blogging and I'm so grateful for it.

7. What is the most discouraging thing about blogging?

Nothing really. And this might be a weird answer, but I think it makes sense because it wasn't always my answer. Now, more than ever, I appreciate this space so much and I look forward to coming here. I don't feel discouraged by it in the least. But if you would have asked me a couple of years ago I would have said I felt discouraged when I compared myself to others or something in that vein. Now I just remember that this is my story, and I'm the only one who can tell it. That's a pretty powerful thing.

8. What is your lasting inspiration or motivation?

I get inspiration from everywhere, but I always feel most motivated and inspired to write after I read a good memoir or a blog where the writer really writes.

9. What is your blogging dirty little secret?
I don't know if it's a dirty little secret, but every single blog post you see is done either during naptime or after the kids go to bed. People often ask me how I find the time to still blog regularly with two little people running around, and really, I just make the time once they are asleep. Writing is my outlet, so I have to do it. And it's really as simple as that. It's a big part of my "me" time, and similarly to working out, it's how I de-stress and feel like I'm using my brain.

10. What is your current goal as a blogger?

My biggest goal right now is to continue to write things that are true to ME. In 2014 I really want to focus on telling my story, because that's why I started this space and have continued to share here. 

11. Have you learned or become passionate about anything through blogging that caught you by surprise?

Totally. The biggest thing would be photography. I absolutely love taking pictures, and although I enjoyed it before blogging ever was part of my life, it really allowed me to explore that interest a lot more.

xoxo

p.s. if you decide to fill this out too, be sure to link me below!