More Than I Expected

It’s kind of wild to think I started this blog almost 8 months ago… and this is my 60th post.

Congratulations to me, right?

Thank you, thank you. (Imagine applause. Maybe even a standing ovation… definitely a standing O. Feel free to throw in a few curtain calls—I’ll wait.)

I honestly had no idea what I was doing when I started. And now, almost 8 months and 60 posts later?

I still don’t really know what I’m doing—but I’ve gotten pretty good at faking it.

I think that’s called getting comfortable… right?

There are days when writing is harder than I ever expected. I thought I’d always have a clear idea and know exactly how a post would begin and end.

It doesn’t always happen that way.

Lately, I’ve noticed something different.

I start with a thought, and the writing takes me somewhere I didn’t expect to go. Sometimes I even end somewhere I didn’t expect.

Honestly? I’m surprised by how much I’m learning about myself.

I just realized I’m funny.

Yeah, I’m kidding—I’ve always been funny.

But I am learning how to land a punchline. And sometimes the punchline I write in the first draft isn’t the one that makes it to the final post.

I’ve written several emotional pieces, and the ones I expected to hit me hard… haven’t.

The ones that did hit me in the feels? Sometimes they came from a passing thought.

Some pieces are hard to post—not hard to write, but hard to actually hit that “publish” button and release my thoughts into the world.

Weirdly, it feels a bit like sending your kid off to preschool for the first time.

Watching them let go of your hand… take the teacher’s hand… and walk into a big building without you.

I didn’t expect that feeling.

I didn’t expect to get so attached.

I didn’t expect writing to feel so personal.

I think the two biggest things I’ve learned are that I have something to say—and people are showing up to hear it.

Thank you to those of you who have read a single paragraph, shared a post, left a comment, liked something, or stuck around and read it all. I appreciate you—and the time you spend here.

And the second thing I’ve learned? No matter how far this blog takes me, I’m an advocate.

Always, always an advocate.