Seven Hundred Thirty-One Days Later

In some ways, it feels like I’ve had this blog forever, when really it’s only been two years. But there are times, when it feels like those 731 days have just flown by. Was it really just two years ago that I sat down and published the first post here at Life: The Ongoing Education? How much has changed since then…

When I first opened this space, I wanted it to chronicle my life as it grew and moved through the upcoming transitions in my life. I was starting graduate school and becoming a teacher, and I wanted a space to talk about the new challenges I was facing. I was getting engaged and looking ahead to being a wife and mother, and I wanted to write about how viewed the woman I was becoming. I saw where my life was going, and I wanted to keep a record of it as it went.

Since then, my life has become any number of things that I never expected. Instead of talking about the challenges of teaching, I spent most of my year in graduate school writing about the challenges of battling depression and cutting. Instead of writing about wedding plans and honeymoons, I wrote about breaking up with the man I thought would be in my life forever. Instead of writing my life as it moved through all its anticipated stages, I wrote my reactions to a completely surprising life that went anywhere but where I expected. These two years have seen so many changes, and I can’t help but thank my lucky stars that I had this blog on which to chronicle them.

And then there’s you, my lovely readers. You are a mainstay of support for me, and I honestly don’t know what my life would be like without your encouragement and love. You accept me with all my flaws and embrace me in spite of them. You give me the benefit of the doubt when I make mistakes. And you always, always get me laughing when I need it. Have I considered quitting this blog? Many times, of course – I think most bloggers have at one point or another. But in those moments, the relationships I’ve formed with you all have been what’s kept me going. Through two years and 4,600 comments (yikes!), you’ve all been absolutely amazing.

So what’s been going on with me this year? Hmm, let’s look at the highlights…

July 2007: I got a job teaching preschool, visited family in Vegas, was a bridesmaid for Tpiglette, and was not a bride.
August 2007: I spent a lot of time dating New Boy, and I loved every minute.
September 2007: New Boy dumped me, much to my dismay, but I picked myself up and moved on.
October 2007: Unable to take it, I leave the preschool job, feeling a huge weight lift from my shoulders.
November 2007: I participated in NaBloPoMo, celebrated one year free of cutting, joined Facebook, attempted a novel, went to Vegas for Thanksgiving, and posed in my underwear for HotChixDig.com. (Busy month!)
December 2007: The second annual LaBloShoeMo was a rousing success, as were my holidays with family.
January 2008: I started my new nanny job, and generally began feeling good about my life’s direction.
February 2008: I returned to church and started a blog to write about my faith.
March 2008: My mom came to visit me, which was awesome, and together we went to the wedding of another dear friend of mine.
April 2008: Batman and I started dating!
May 2008: On the negative side, my living situation suddenly fell apart; on the positive, my high school named their new gym after my dad.
June 2008: I lost my nanny job unexpectedly, moved to a new house, found a teaching position, and stayed positive and healthy through it all!

(Wow, did you actually read all that without getting bored? If so, good for you! If not, well, hey, I can’t blame you too much.)

Lastly, links to my favorite posts from the last year, in case you feel like getting nostalgic and browsing:

Feels Like Home: June 28, 2007 (Although it was a sad post to write, I ended up loving the way I wrote it. Seems weird, I know, but I think most of you writers understand.)
Not Going Back: August 9, 2007 (This was a great moment of introspection and growth for me, spurred on by having my blog reviewed.)
Toilet Humor: October 15, 2007 (I was laughing so hard at this post as I wrote it, and the best part is that it’s all true.)
Healing: A Work in Progress: March 10, 2008 (More introspection and growth, this time by acknowledging that there is always more growing to do. It was an important step for me, accepting that.)
“Go fall in love with life again.”: April 20, 2008 (This post explains how Amanda saved me from blog exhaustion and renewed my spirit. Go her!)
This Space for Rent: May 8, 2008 (The post that explains how those who need a safe space to write can rent out my blog. I love this post because of how much it’s meant to those who’ve made use of it so far. I’m glad I made the offer.)

So that’s it – the second year of Life: The Ongoing Education. Here’s to another 365 days of posts, comments, and – as always – life lessons.

You will stick around, won’t you?