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Thursday, December 31, 2009

365/365 A Year in Blogging

2009. A romance, a life and death story, a plot full of twists and turns.

With the completion of Project 365 I have an archive of random moments, thoughts, and major life changes coming from each day of this year. Resolving to do something, and actually following it through, this project proved to be easier than other new year resolutions. Starting out last January, I'd assumed that a couple of cat photos and repetitive posts about the running trail would fill the space when nothing else surfaced. But 2009 proved to write its own story, creating an archive of an important year in our lives. The pain, the joy, the struggles, were these unique to 2009? Or by recording these thoughts have I simply created a collage of the drama of living? Completion of this project seems like an occasion to wax poetic and break out my philosophical, reflective side. Impossible, though, because the drama continues. The career uncertainty that existed at the beginning of the year continues in new form. Wellness and health, greater concerns than one year ago, will never again be taken for granted. The joys of family and friends, the struggle and uncertainty of parenting, the incessant movement of the clock, all themes from 2009 that continue to 2010 and beyond.

Looking back over the posts, some days I sunk my teeth into the meat of the day, and other days my mind struggled to sort out the meaning. Some posts were intentionally frivilous, and in others I worked hard to develop understanding through my writing. Most days I wrote only for myself, yet sometimes I imagined my floating, virtual audience and was encouraged by the steady flow of comments and personal reflections. Did this make be a better writer? Better thinker? A more grateful or reflective person?

A fellow blogger recently posted about her dislike of the phrase "Live Every Day as if it were your last." Her sentiment is that the knowledge of the last day might make us live differently, succumbing to all the gluttony available in a 24 hour period. I'm not a fan of that phrase either. I wouldn't want to live Every Day with a feeling of the end looming nearby. I perfer to "Live Every Day as if it were your best." Sure, we will still have to go to the dentist, attend traffic school, change the cat litter, do laundry, go to work, sit in traffic, or sometimes have surgery, but there are moments in Every Day that we can make the best. Looking back at this trying year, and looking forward to the years to come, I think I've stayed true to this belief, living the best day I can, and thriving in the great wealth of family, friends, music, and good fortune.

Project 365 complete. More daily blogging in my future? Probably. More thriving? Definitely.

9 comments:

SJR said...

This post brought tears to my eyes. I'm grateful that 2009 brough you and your family into my life!

EJG said...

Thank you for documenting this strange year in the life. I found it useful to look back and remind myself that so many people cared about me. It made me want to be a better person, to live up to all the love and prayers that were sent my way.

May 2010 be a healthy one for all my family and friends!

BJNR said...

I have a fortune taped to my monitor: "Everyday in your life is a special occasion". Thanks for inviting us to the parties! Again, you are an inspiration to me.

Beth said...

I have loved following along in 2009 and hope that you will still post, if not daily, at least regularly in 2010. Your blog reflects the amazing woman that you are!

MJ said...

2009 brought us closer, in workday proximity, but luckily the blog was here to help us stay connected. I love that you write daily and know the chore that it can be. But it's worth it to us, your floating virtual audience, and I'm sure to you as well. Cheers on committing to another year of writing--in whatever frequency it comes.

LJ said...

Congratulations! I know how simple yet difficult blogging every day is.

Liz said...

I may not have commented often but I read daily. You have become part of my daily routine. I hope to be as faithful blogging this year as I have been following yours.

Kathy Zeigerson said...

Thank you for sharing so much of yourself every day. You're an inspiration.

Larry Linux said...

Congratulations on your milestone! I know there is no way I could have pulled that off. For me its usually only about once or twice a month, normally when someone or something really gets under my skin. I guess that makes my blog kind of the opposite of big bro's OGJ.

Hope you and yours have a great new year.