So, yes.....I have officially reached the one year mark. It's been one year since my very first post went live, and I've been hitting that publish button ever since. There have been many times when I hit that button and was scared to death of how my posts would be received. There were times when I hit that button and wondered if anyone would even care about what I'd just written. Whatever the emotion behind each post, I've never regretted anything that I've written, and that's a great feeling.
I just wanted to send you all a HUGE thank you for supporting me in my first year of writing! I don't think I can explain to you how honored I am that you all take time from your lives to read my words and to comment and share your thoughts and encouragements with me. I am still learning (blogging has a serious learning curve!) but plan to continue blogging and, hopefully, get better and better!
A lot of bloggers will, on the anniversary of their blog, make a list of their most successful posts and publish it for their readers as sort of a virtual trip down memory lane. It also helps them get more page views as those posts include links to several other posts on their site. I chose to go a different route. Rather than give you a list and have you reread my posts, I simply want to share with you the biggest piece of truth that I am taking away from this past year of blogging, and it is this: Be bold. Use your voice. Tell your story. You don't have to tell it all (some things should remain private), but don't leave out the ugly parts just because they're ugly. Tell them too.....tell them especially. Tell the truth - even if it's hard. We are all living, breathing stories, walking around this earth, experiencing many of the same things, but afraid to share the heartache we've felt and the lessons we've learned for fear of judgment. Hear me when I say this: Tell your story. Boldly. Your story is unique.....someone needs to hear it......and there is freedom in sharing.
This blog is now part of my story, and it continues to be my honor and privilege to connect with you all in this way. I started this as a way to inspire and encourage others as well as express myself. I didn't get into this for recognition or money-making, although if that ever happens, so be it. Just know, that at the root, this blog will always be first and foremost about me striving to encourage, and uplift my readers through sharing truth.
THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart! Here's to many more years of story sharing!
SOLI DEO GLORIA!