Why I Started Blogging

I'm taking a break from the May challenge today to link up with Samantha and Neely to talk about why I started blogging.

And there are a few answers to this question. (We all saw that coming, right? We know I have to complicate everything.)

I've had a blog in some iteration since high school. (Xanga WHATUP?) I always enjoyed putting my thoughts out onto the internet and opening that dialogue. I love the release of writing my thoughts out, but I could never stick with a paper-and-pen journal. 

Anyway. I started blogging for real in 2009 on Tumblr because one of my good college friends started one (I've always been a follower like that) and I was curious. For a while, my blog straight up sucked. Like, it was awful. It was all pretty dresses and Glee reblogs and blurry webcam pics (this was also before I had a Mac). Gah. When I scroll through my archives now it's a constant "really? wait, REALLY? What was I THINKING?" 

But eventually, my blog started to grow. I started to make friends and find my niche. I got funny (kinda) and more people started following. Then I started meeting people in real life. I've met four people so far from Tumblr... two have been great - they're people that I consider my closest friends. One was kind of a dud.. not good or bad, but we were just so different, so nothing really grew from that. And then one.... one was a disaster. One girl is the reason that when I bring up blog friends now, Garrett gives me The Look. The look that says "this one isn't going to be a crazyperson is it? Are you sure? ARE YOU POSITIVE? I'm skeptical" 

Oh, he of little faith. Bloggers are the best. 

After 3.5 years on Tumblr, I wanted something a little bit more.. grown up. I still update my Tumblr blog because it's a place I can just throw up random funny pictures or thoughts or quips. Also, I curse like a sailor in real life and on that blog, and it's nice to have a place where I can go and complain and curse if I need to. 

But I wanted a blog I could show people. I feel like I've learned a lot in the last few years about the internet and blogging and social media in general, but when people would ask me why I knew so much, I was embarrassed to show them my Tumblr. That's kind of ridiculous, right? So lo and behold, this blog was born!

I'm forever blown away by the opportunities that blogging can provide. I mean, I can talk about mojitos with Lauren in Houston, wedding planning with Stevie in Northern Virginia, and Happy Endings with Kelley in Corpus Christi all while I sit on my own couch in North Carolina. It's SO CRAZY, right? I wish I had hopped on the Blogger train a lot sooner. I know I say it all the time, but I love it over here. It took me a while to pull the trigger, but I'm so glad I did.