Well, folks, it’s been a year. One year of writing, reflecting, and sharing – one full year of blogging! Allow me to gloat for a moment, would you? Sticking to anything for 365 days is an accomplishment, especially when you have a million excuses to quit. And, trust me, I had a million. Of course, none of them were as pressing as the need to keep going. You guys, my readers, had expectations, and I am thankful for those expectations because they forced me to sit down and write. They were, and continue to be, my weapons against the excuses. So … kudos to you.
I can’t turn off the teacher switch. Every time I create a post, I’m not thinking about what I want to tell you; I’m thinking about what I want to teach you. I’m an educator, and I attempt to impart wisdom even when I don’t intend to. (I’m sure my poor children would love for me to just build something with the stupid blocks instead of discussing the colors, pictures, and letters they display.) This blog began as a way for me to share – to teach – what I know, but after a year of writing I must humbly succumb to the cliché: I learned more than I taught.
Lesson #1: This blog is pivotal. I write because it’s necessary. It gives me the power to manage stress, fear, and anxiety. It empowers me by reminding me of what I can do and of who I am. Because of it, I speak more kindly to myself. Look what you’ve created, Kara. Look what’s been inside of you this whole time. Carry on, warrior. It allows me to create future goals that enliven me, such as expanding the blog and creating a novel. I hope, my lovely readers, that your passions do the same for you.
Lesson #2: This blog transcends me. One of the reasons I opt for writing a blog rather than a journal is so that I can communicate my thoughts. If what I have to say can help other people, I have a selfless obligation to share it. Of course, making myself vulnerable is scary, but I know based on feedback from several of you that it’s worth it. When my words reach out and touch others, I know I’m doing my job – as a writer and as a teacher.
Lesson #3: This is more than a blog. A few days ago I was reading through several past posts and it occurred to me that what I’m creating isn’t just a compilation of daily reflections, but an invaluable collection of life lessons for my two precious daughters. Someday they will be adults, possibly mothers themselves, and these words may help them create their own definition of what that means. This is the ultimate reward for my perseverance, knowing that one day this blog could help them as much as it’s helped me. Savannah and Molly are, after all, the pulse behind this endeavor – the rhythm behind every word, thought, and revelation.
Because what I see now that I didn’t see a year ago is that I haven’t really been writing for you or for me at all. Who I’ve really been writing for is them. Here, then, is to another crazy year of blogging. For me, for you, and always – always – for my children.
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