As much as I try to keep my posts focused and directional, this one might be a little lacking. I can’t help but feel a little reflective and futuristic at the same time. Tis the season.
Happy Birthday Blog! One Year
Jodi M Noord Blog has reached its one year birthday. January of 2018 I sat down to create this blog, kind of on a whim yet very timely and intentional.
In December of 2017 I read an article by Scott Alan Turner promising that ANYONE could start blog quickly and easily. I look into it a little and in true Jodi fashion, I sleep on the idea. Opposite of my dear hubby, I never jump on any offer immediately. I have to ponder and daydream and weigh options.
This could be an outlet for me. I love to write. I love the expression and anonymity in it. Along with the actual writing, I like the idea of leaving a piece of myself for my family, for someday when we might no longer live together on this earth. What better legacy to leave than written words?
A Laborious Start
Well, after many nights of reflection and days of investigation, I decide to go for it. I start Jodi M Noord Blog with much trepidation and hesitation, and even more research. Oh the hours and hours and hours I put into setting up a website! Having to look up technical terms and professional suggestions as I go along doesn’t rank high on my enjoyable list, but I finally get to a point where I could make the website go.
The fact that I immediately recieve emails from individuals offering to design and organize my site (for a fee) tells me that it needs some attention. So over time I tweak it and smooth it. Believe me, it lacks still. But at least it looks more fluid than in the beginning.
Before setting up the site, during set up, and after, I have a hard time picking a focused topic for my blog. All the articles I read suggest narrowing my writing topic to a specific niche so the audience immediately knows who the author is and what she is communicating.
But I don’t have something specific to communicate. I am not an expert in anything, just a mom who likes to write. I want to write about many different things that I have encountered and learned over the years. So even though I probably fall in the same category as thousands of other women around the world who babble on in an unfocused blog, that is what I roll with- just my thoughts and interests.
Change Comes Accidentally and Purposely
The blog changes over time. In the beginning, I write about my hobbies and favorite items. But my posts slowly morph into more personal tales of joy and hardship. It feels good to get feelings out into written words. I just hope and pray that my written experiences will help someone else who might be going through something similar. So for now anyway, I will produce more of the same- past experiences, current interests and tales from daily life.
Because my site still needs a tune up and my niche still needs more focus, I soon will be looking for feedback from bloggers more experienced than myself. I need help getting it to where it needs to be. Since I went through all the work of getting the site set up, I want to strive to make it the best it can be, or at least continue to build on it. So readers can expect good changes in 2019!
That being stated, Jodi M Noord Blog probably will always be a work in progress, just like its author.
Since life has been in a funk the later part of 2018, I am thankful for optimistic “New Year pick me ups” appearing on social media lately. You know, the ones that point out a fresh start, a new beginning, a hope for the year ahead. I appreciate the reminder that life doesn’t have to continue as it always has. We may choose to make improvements in areas of health and happiness…
and blogs. 🙂
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