20SB: Looking Back

This post is a part of 20SB’s Looking Back Blog Carnival, and Ben & Jerry’s is awarding free ice cream to lucky bloggers and readers! For more information, including how to participate, click here.

I've been at a loss for interesting blog topics lately, but lucky for me, and all the other blocked bloggers out there, 20 Something Bloggers is having a Blogger Carnival! The topic is "Looking Back" and they want to see what we were like back when we first started blogging. So before I reflect on how I've changed since I first began blogging, let's look at a post from April 24th, 2008, only the 5th post I EVER wrote.

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Thursday, April 24, 2008

Blog Social Skills

My secretary at DSS left my calendar open today so that I would have plenty of time to pack up my stuff, say goodbye to all my tutees, and catch up on the last minute office gossip. Most of my day was spent on the latter, but I still ended up having a lot of free time this afternoon. After finally posting again, I got sucked into the blog world and spent most of the afternoon browsing others' blogs. Two hours later......I found some I like, commented, and have added a link to them on my page.

But, now I feel awkward.....

I guess it's because I don't know the blog world social etiquette. Is it weird to comment on someone's blog if you don't know them? Should I introduce myself before declaring that I'm a "reader"? What are the rules, what are the rules!?!?*

I suppose it sounds pretty stupid, but I feel like I'm back in 8th grade and I'm the new girl at school who is trying to make some friends. It especially hits home since I am moving to a new city in two weeks! I guess I feel like it is strange to try and make (blog)friends because I have always had the convenience of a surefire network of potential friends (i.e. first college roommate, cheer team, grad program, etc.) and this is more open/unrestricted and also carries the possibility of rejection. Does that make sense?

I think this is a nice description of the situ:

Ultimately, I'm sure it's no big deal and people would be flattered to know I find their writing interesting, but until I am comfortable as a blogger, I will fret about my blog social skills!

BTW, I love someecards. They are hysterical and often speak to me!

*Does that phrase remind anyone else of the Betty Crocker commercial where the kid flips out that Santa is going to leave because someone ate the cookies? LOVE THAT COMMERCIAL

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And we're back to present blogger time. Now that you've peeked into my past, I hope we can still be friends.

Obviously I was a scaredy cat when I first started blogging and had no idea how things worked. I have come a long way since then, commenting on hundreds of blogs and reading many, many more. I have also made some amazing friends along the way and am so glad I stuck with blogging, commented, added people to my blog roll, and got out and met up with bloggers once I arrived in DC. With the exception of a few people (and my husband's friends), ALL of the people that I spend time with on a regular basis I have met through blogging. And I couldn't be more grateful for them.

I chose to revisit this particular post because I am sure there are new bloggers out there that may be feeling the same way I did way back when. Even if this post only helps one person realize that they are not alone and that they should stick with blogging, I'll be happy.