Maybe you guys noticed? I have posted every single day of 2008!
I started the task as a New Year's resolution. I am terrible at New Year's resolutions--like losing the last ten pounds (I've done that three times, maybe this year will be the fourth!), and cleaning out my closets, and those kinds of things. I really didn't expect that I would follow through with this resolution either--but look at me! With just one more post to go in 2008, barring any calamity, it looks like I've followed through.
At first, I tried to focus my posts on biracial and bicultural identity. That's my Light-skinned-ed Girl thing! And I think I did focus on that topic much of the time--it's the biggest cloud tag for this blog. I had a lot of help with that thanks to President-Elect Obama's ascension. Biracial biracial biracial. Everybody is talking about it now!
But I found that if I was going to write every single day, I had to incorporate all of my me-ness -- the whole writer thing (I know I bored you to death with the whole cow, bug, Wyoming sky thing--but that's all I had), the travel (Costa Rica, Sweden, Denmark, Hawaii, Peru--some of you must have wondered how it was I got so many vacation days), and then all the random stuff: my beloved bendy straws, and Moleskine, many biracial hair posts, and other obsessions. As I wrote more and more about all of the things that interested or concerned me, I started to make myself more whole. The blog became more of a public-personal journal--not really an author platform, or a niche site--just a little place folks could go to learn about what was on my mind. I know: Yawn. But for me the result was quite powerful. Because the thing was: you responded! Yes, I was obsessed with my stats, (which have dwindled to the pre-2008 days again, ah well!) but I was moved by your comments and emails! Thank you!
I've received so many wonderful messages from people who essentially write that they are glad to have found the blog because it makes them feel less alone in their similar struggles. Your emails and comments have made me feel the same way. This year of blogging has made me believe that--however small the "market" is--it is worth sharing the thoughts and ideas that are important to me.
I'm not sure what this blog will look like in 2009. There is a part of me that wants to take a good long break. The daily stresses of finding something to say, much less finding a good internet connection (Costa Rican jungle, Macchu Picchu, and strangely: Wyoming!) are stresses I would gladly give up. But I also don't want to give up my voice. It's quite used to saying something--anything--now, thank you very much! But I'm not sure that I'll be weighing in every single day of 2009.
The coming year adds a whole new dimension to my writing life too. My book, my little book, will finally be on bookshelves in the Fall. (Did I tell you it's birth date? October 20, 2009--does that mean it's a Virgo?) And I've got to get a move on with the next one -- I want to strike while the iron's hot. So, I have to figure out how the blog fits into what I want for my writing and also for me.
Tomorrow: last post of 2008. I'll countdown my favorite posts and comments. Maybe you have some favorites too?
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