Today marks my 5th blog birthday. That’s right, five years ago today, I published my very first post on this little blog, which at the time was called “On a Lighter Note.” My original goal was to share the little things that made me smile each day. I tried to post every day, which got exhausting, and I eventually stopped.
My, how things have changed.
It’s hard to believe that I’ve been at this for five years. Who would have known that a tiny little Google Blogspot site I started in my dorm my sophomore year of college would have turned into my biggest passion project and side hustle? I certainly didn’t, but I am so glad and proud that it did. Maybe it sounds silly, but starting this little blog is one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself.
So in honor of my 5th blog birthday, here’s my birthday thank-you letter to my blog.
Dear blog,
Five years have gone by really quickly. It feels like only yesterday, I sat at my uncomfortable dorm desk, fall semester of my sophomore year at Virginia Tech and clicked the “Publish” button on my very first post. That first post was about not having to wait in line at the Chick-fil-a at Hokie Grill at peak lunch time, and how that made my day infinitely better, because it meant I got to eat my sandwich and fries that much sooner. I laugh now thinking about how that was my first post, but I’m sure it was important at the time.
You were there for me through the next three years of college and everything that came with them: classes, academics, boys, friends, football, basketball, graduation, the future. Thanks for sticking with me, even when I maybe-kinda-sorta neglected you at times. Please forgive me.
Thank you for giving me this fantastic space to write about whatever I feel like writing about. Sure, I call myself a Southern lifestyle blogger, because I was always told we need to have a “niche” in our blogging. Turns out I can blog about whatever pleases me. Maybe I have my favorite topics (blogging, Chattanooga, travel and life itself) and I definitely have topics I avoid (looking at you, fashion). But I’m not restricted by a niche. And I like it that way.
Thank you for keeping me sane during grad school. I don’t know how I managed to post two or three times each week, but I did.
Thank you for teaching me about social media before I knew I could have a career in it. I attribute a lot of my love for social media (and basically anything related to digital/online media) to my blogging experience. Four or five years ago, I never would’ve thought I could make a career out of social media and connecting people online. Started from the bottom, now I’m here? #thanksDrake
Thank you for getting me through my move to Chattanooga and starting my first “big girl” job (even though I hate it when people call them “big girl jobs”). Thank you for giving me a place to write about that transition and put my stress into something productive. Some of my best posts came out of that time.
Thank you for listening when I vented about my quarter-life crisis and the other crazy things that have happened in the last year. Thank you for listening when I talked about why it’s okay to get help, and other more personal posts. You really helped me be more open in the last year, and it made a huge difference in my anxiety management.
Thank you for connecting me with some other fabulous bloggers and people, many of whom I can now call sweet friends. Who says you can’t make friends online? Y’all know who y’all are.
Thank you for every single opportunity you’ve brought my way. From writing for PrettySouthern.com to covering the best events in Chattanooga, you’ve helped me grow as a writer, a blogger, a young professional and more. Five years ago, I would have been terrified pitching myself and my talents to a marketing or events coordinator, just to cover an event. It wasn’t my personality. Now I do it almost like it’s second nature. And I can’t think you enough for that.
I guess it’s true what they say, that time flies when you’re having fun. Thank you for being there for me. Always. You’re the real MVP. Here’s to five more years. And maybe more.
Love you, blog.
Photos taken by the fabulous Desirae of Tennessee Rose Blog (before the balloon broke loose and floated away).