What I've Gotten

What with my blogiversary happening tomorrow I've kind of been thinking about the things I've gotten out of blogging. It seems like a silly sort of past time and I'm still kind of embarrassed to admit to people that I'm a blogger, but I can't deny that blogging has been very good to me.

Here's what I've gotten out of blogging:

• Friends Probably the best thing I've gotten out of this little site. When I first got married I was really lonely. After years of living with female roommates I just really missed the companionship of other girls. And then I got stuck in Primary where I didn't really even have a shot at making friends with the girls in my ward. Then Bethany found out I had a blog. And then she linked to me. And then the other girls in my ward found me. And then we all became friends. And it was a total lifesaver. And then there are the long distance friends who I've met or gotten to know better through blogging. And people from high school and college who I have come to love through their blogs and their comments. And there's just lots of friend love floating around here. It makes me really happy.
  
• Fun with Writing I have always loved writing. I always pretended to cringe when teachers assigned essays, but inside I was like, YAAAY! Blogging is even better than essays because I can just assign myself a topic and go to town. And I don't have to worry about things like grammar or punctuation or excessive use of the word "like." Blogging is a lazy writer's heaven.
• Loving Myself This was a really surprising gift I got from blogging. A few months ago I realized that I am really really happy with who I am these days. I'm happy with my looks, my personality, my life, everything. And when I tried to figure out where this love and confidence came from I realized that it stemmed, in large part, from blogging. I put myself out there (I mean, REALLY out there. You people know that I drool in my sleep) almost every day and people liked me even when I was kinda spazzy or judgmental or weird or whatever. Heck, one time Becca said she wanted to be like me, which, hello ultimate confidence booster. But I also feel like blogging helped me really figure out who I wanted to be and then helped me work toward it. I wanted to be outgoing and creative and kind and blogging about those things helped me to get there. I'm still a work in progress but I like who I am and I like where I'm headed. It's a good place to be.

So happy almost anniversary, little blog. Let's go have some cupcakes! What's what? You don't have a mouth? Oh fine. I'll eat yours for you. The things I do for you...