9 years old this Sunday. August 27, 2008 was my first blog post. Since I don’t blog on the weekend and haven’t had many exciting things to share lately I figured I would write my happy blog-day to me post a couple days early. Usually it’s late, or forgotten (oh, hello wedding anniversaries, real birthdays, doctors appointments, etc.) but this year I decided to pay closer attention to the date to ensure I self-loved myself and the blog in proper form. Re-reading that is a bit awkward, but you know what I mean.
I feel bad for 9 years. 10 years, the decade, is often a big measurement – a decade! (See how important that sounds? Feels?) The big 1-0 is recognized as hugely important and a big milestone. Not 9. It’s the “well, if you make it one more year then maybe you will really be something!” year. I think many of us feel stuck on the year 9 as a general life theme. Always around the corner from the next big milestone that in terms of time and importance isn’t really that special. After all, tomorrow is just the next day.
Every anniversary I do reflect if this is the year I stop blogging. I believe many bloggers do this. This is also the pressure of the anniversary, the reflection of what has (or hasn’t) been accomplished, where current interests/emotions lie, Â the pressures of ‘real life’ and the nagging thought of what I should be doing with this time anyway. I normally blog at work, so in essence I can probably claim that I get paid to blog. Through that lens, quite well, actually. Which is something most bloggers can’t claim. Of course, credibly, that doesn’t really count and is quite the stretch, but I just wanted to say it once out loud – that I am a highly paid blogger. There, done.
(I own my own business, so any time I steal to blog I end up having to make up otherwise anyway) – so don’t label me as a slacker on the company dime. I am only costing myself. Completely shattered the minor joys of faux income AND the possibility of being a rebellious slacker with those parenthesis. I can finally admit that I am just not that cool.
I’m going to continue blogging, at least for another year. I mean, have to hit that decade. Then maybe I will be.
Thank you for being on this journey with me. Maybe silly to call it such, but there are people on my blogroll that I have read for more than the 9 years I have been here, still plugging away, creating content and often stimulating discussion and enjoyment for a hobby that I dearly love, no matter how much it changes.
Cheers,
Chris / Isey
Grats!
I thought for a moment there that you maintained the company blog as part of your job, not that you did your own, personal blog on company time (albeit your own time and company). Blogging on behalf of the company is a job that exists where I work, both as something people do as a small part of their role and, for a handful of people, as a more significant aspect of their employment. I have always kept *very* quiet at work about my blogging experience for that reason.
I actually thought about that part as well, especially after I post I made here about an EA company blog. But no, you caught on correctly. Faux-pay for writing =)
Aw, yay, happy day!
Wow, huge congrats on the milestone. 9 years may not be 10, but it’s nothing to snuff at! Keep going!!
Thanks Aywren =) Always enjoy reading your posts!
Happy blog anniversary!
Thanks Jeromai! You are post-decade long blogging now, aren’t you?
Nope, I started blogging pretty late in 2012 with one of the NBIs. I’d just been comment lurking before that.
I racked up a decade of blogging myself recently. Nine years of regular output is a solid achievement. Well done. I hope you continue to do so because we need independent voices, providing an alternative to generic press releases and marketing blurb.
Thanks Roger. I find it much easier to blog during the times I am enjoying a specific game and/or have a strong opinion (good or bad) about something. I need to get back to the opinion part – simply reporting about games I am playing is “ok”, but not really having me think critically or deeply about a hobby a truly enjoy.
Happy blogoversary!
Thanks Rav =)