Blog in Review

Next week will be my one-year blogging anniversary. In the spirit of remembrance, I looked back at my first post, in which I listed ten reasons why I started the blog in the first place. A year later, here's how well CGS has fulfilled my expectations:

Top 10 Reasons Why I Wanted a Watson Blog

10. I have failed to keep my "journaling" New Year's Resolution for the past 8 years. Maybe this will be the mode of journaling that sticks!
Here I am, one year later! It's a Lindsey Record! Although the blog has become less of a journal than I pictured. I've tried to write posts that are slightly more universally appealing than mere facts about my day, for reasons of privacy (of others) and also because extremely personal blogs don't get any comments.

9. This is easier than mass e-mailing friends and family with latest updates.
This might be true, depending on who is still reading. Based on my comments lately, it seems that I might just be talking to myself around here...which does not accomplish this. But if my lurkers are still lurking, then we can check this off! The down side is that I've already told my great stories here, so I end up with very little to say at family get-togethers.

8. A bunch of people I know have one.
This is true. Three cheers for jumping on the bandwagon!

7. I need something to put as my website on Facebook.
Check.

6. I need another hobby.
Check.

5. Writing is therapeutic.
This is generally true, except whenever my obsession with comments leads me and those around me to think that maybe blogging makes me need therapy rather than blogging being my therapy.

4. Sometimes people get rich from blogging. I'll get on the bandwagon just in case.
We can go ahead and call this one a failed objective.

3. I'm a teacher. I need somewhere to keep up with all my hilarious and/or inspirational experiences so that I can write my book someday.
I did this some, when the story was irresistible. But concerns for privacy made me more cautious about this than I first thought. Even with my very arcane nicknames, I still worried about parents stumbling into my storytime and getting offended.

2. Stephen is a preacher, and we're just starting out at a new church. I need somewhere to keep up with all of those hilarious and/or inspirational stories so that I can write a book about that, too.
Well, as the stories related to the church tended to be less hilarious/inspirational and more annoyed/frustrated, I did not feel at liberty to post those here. You know what your moms always say: "If you can't say something nice..." It's especially true in a public, online forum that keeps archives.

1. I just spilled coffee on my white t-shirt. (Not actually a reason, but it did just happen.)
Blogging has done so much to help me become more aware of the people and situations around me, I do feel that incidents like this happen much less than they ever did before. As I have honed my skills of observation and intuition, I have developed a oneness with the universe in the manner of a Jedi, like my friend Josh. The coffee no longer has a chance of landing anywhere but on my appreciative taste buds.