Tuesday, March 27, 2012

An Apology and An Announcement

I've spent the last couple days thinking about this blog: reflecting on what it originally started out as, reflecting on what it's turning into, and I've come up with the following.

This blog is officially 10 months old (ok, almost 10 months old). If you'll remember my first post, it was a proclamation of sorts. The week prior to RISD's creation, I had quit a miserable job. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made, but not entirely expected. I found myself without work, without money and without a plan.

A month later, my husband received a job offer and we scurried ourselves from frenetic and harried Los Angeles down to mellow San Diego, only to be hit with the realization that (1) landlords are unlikely to rent to you if you own a pitbull and (2) we needed to save some cash for our African adventure.

So we moved in with Kyle's parents (who I cannot thank enough).

At the same time, a friend of mine reached out for some assistance with her business and I realized a few things: I was good at it, I could do it from home and it offered me the flexibility I needed to focus on a different business I was helping to get off the ground. Woot!

Suddenly, July was October, and we were in Africa. In November, we moved into our new house (dog included!). And suddenly, it was December and Kyle and I found out we were going to be parents.

2011 was quite a year, folks. It was quite a year.

Which brings me to what I've been reflecting on for the last couple days. The last half of 2011 was all about transition and change and essentially, TAKING ON THE WORLD like a badass! And it was fun to chronicle that journey for the most part. It was uncomfortable at times, and some of the things I've written about that needed follow up haven't been taken care of yet, but overall, I've been loving this blog. And I still do, by the way.

However, in going through old posts, its obvious which were quality and which posts were filler, and I need to get away from the pithy writing. I need to get away from feeling like I have to post every day and that I'm a failure if I don't. And this, of course, brings me to the obvious content change that has happened since we made our big announcement in February.

All I want to write about is my baby. My BOY! I did not expect it to be such an all consuming thing mentally, but it is. I think the all consuming physical part goes without saying.

Things have mellowed out for me and for Kyle, and while we are still trying to figure out life the best two twentysomethings can, I can't deny that writing about uninteresting things, that taking a short cut with content and that putting shit on this blog just to say that I did has been making me feel icky.

It's been making me feel like a blowhard.

Thus, here are the decisions I've made and I know they will affect my readership considerably.

(1) I am done with posting links to this blog on Facebook. I figure if you like RISD enough to keep coming back, you will.
(2) I am done with boring, irrelevant posts. Yes, it will mean not posting every week day. But I feel it will up the quality considerably.
(3) I have to give in to the fact that this may become a baby blog. Or a family blog. And I have to be ok with that and embrace it for what it is: my life now.

It's funny because I find myself asking the same question I did in that first post, almost a year ago...

Care to join me?

8 comments:

  1. my favorite blogs are family blogs. i will definitely tune in...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nessa, thanks for your encouragement! It's weird struggling with these feelings of wanting to be autonomous but also embracing the fact that our lives have officially changed forever.

      Delete
  2. I vote that you just roll with what you want to do. You don't need to 'splain yourself, Lucy. You have such a fun, exciting life filled with adventures and recipes and baby stuff there will be plenty of quality fodder. Also- maybe don't POST everyday but you can still progress in your writing by writing everyday. Then winnow those stories into excellent things that make you proud. Post accordingly. I'm excited to wander along with you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awww, gee, thanks Ricky! And I hear you on progressing with your writing. I think it's time I re-tackle the writing project I put on hold last fall when everything got crazy and chaotic.

      Delete
  3. If your blog ever feels like too much work then it's not worth it. Ultimately it's for you and if you want to turn it into a family blog then that's your prerogative I say!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Such true words, Josie! I think what I meant by this post was that I'm trying to make it less about "having a blog" and more about quality content. I find myself more proud of my writing when that's the case.

      Checked out your blog and website, by the way, and totally love your style! I've recently launched a business targeted at brides too, if any of them are ever looking for a great bridal party gift. ;)

      Delete
  4. I think you should do whatever makes you happiest, and we will all follow along because you're being genuine. I just started my blog a few weeks ago, after being a blog reader for years and I'm struggling with the same thing. I feel like I'm already doing filler posts inorder to post everyday, but you can really tell. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it eventually.

    Can't wait to see what's in store for you a your growing family in the future!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You know, upon reflecting, I get the best response from posts that come from my own genuine interests and I think at the heart of it all, that's what blogging is about: connecting with people you have things in common with who you wouldn't have connected otherwise. Like you :)

      Delete