I realized today that by the end of July, I will have been at this blogging thing for two years already. What started out as something I did for me, as a way of recording the meaningful and interesting experiences of my life and making sense of my thoughts and feelings, has blossomed into something bigger and more rewarding than I ever imagined. I watch visitors arrive on Pocketfuls, both from places where loved ones live and from places where I'm sure I don't know anyone at all, and it amazes and inspires me that people other than my family members and close friends find what I've shared worth reading. While I don't know who many of you are, I am really glad for your company here, and for whatever little connection we share that drew you to my site.
In my day-to-day life, I am really more of a private person by nature. I may not show it outwardly, but I am often nervous in large groups of people, and it takes me a while to feel comfortable enough with someone to share my true thoughts and feelings. The safe walls of the spaces I know well and the familiar faces of the people I am closest to are usually the only ones who see what I'm experiencing inside. Over the past two years, my notebooks and my computer have also become a comfortable place to share who I really am, and through having the courage to publish my stories, I have grown both as a writer and as a person. It's scary sometimes to write from your heart on a page that the whole world can read, but doing so has made me realize that the world is often a much smaller and much friendlier place than it sometimes seems. Though we may be strangers, so many of us are connected to one another through our common human emotions and experiences.
I can't tell you how much it has meant to me to read or to hear your kind comments about how my blog speaks to you in some way. Whether you've tried one of my recipes and enjoyed it, or could relate to one of my frustrating or funny adventures as a parent, or were moved or inspired by my reflections on life, love, grief, or beauty, it has made me so happy to be able to reach you, and to know that there are so many others out there who find meaning and significance in the same things I do. I am grateful for each and every one of you who comes to share this space and these stories.
You may notice today that my web address has changed; yesterday I switched over to my own domain (www.pocketfuls.ca) to make this space I love more personal and to make it easier for others to find me. (Thanks to fellow blogger Summer over at Running Chatter for the technical how-to tips!) I have also recently registered for my first blogger conference, to be held in Toronto in the fall, which I'm very excited about! I'll continue sharing the people, moments, and ideas that are important to me for as long as writing them down continues to bring me joy, and I hope that more of you will share your personal voices in the comments section from now on -- I would love to know more about who you are and what really matters to you.
I still have lots of pockets left to fill -- I hope you do, too! Please do come again soon.
When he was small, my youngest son had a habit of filling his pockets with treasures he encountered in his daily adventures. I didn't always understand the value he saw in his chosen objects -- really, how many rocks and sticks could one boy keep? In his eyes, though, each one was beautiful and important. Life is just like that on a larger scale, isn't it? We gather up the precious bits of our experiences and save them all to learn from and enjoy later. Perhaps you'll find a little something here that you'd like to keep in your own pockets. Thanks for visiting.
I'm so glad I've discovered your space. I truly am. The way you describe yourself here is exactly how I describe myself as well. Your writing is so, well, genuine and I dig that.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new URL!
It's funny, my blogger anniversary is in July (two years). . . we started around the same time. Very cool.
Thank you! I feel the same way when I read your blog, Summer! Your stories seem somehow familiar to me, even though we've never met -- I think writing from the heart has the power to make people feel at home within words.
ReplyDeleteThat is really cool that we started blogging at the same time, too! :)