Saturday
Aug252012
I've Been Blogging For Nine Years Today, and It's Mostly Your Fault
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Would you believe that this weblog is NINE YEARS OLD today? Because it is! To celebrate, here is a picture of me inside the number nine giving you the crazy eyes.
I had no idea when I started blogging, under the Palinode's influence, that it would be anything other than an online version of letters to friends I hadn't yet met, so when I hit publish on my first blog entry — it was, bizarrely, an essay about why it's a bad idea to swallow your own tongue — I went about my life as though nothing remarkable had happened.
I look back at blogger-me of 2003, and I feel like patting her on the head like she's a goofy, drooling puppy with oversized feet that keep stepping on her own ears, because DAMN I was so cute not knowing all the stuff I didn't know.
For instance, I didn't know that:
This is not hyperbole. Look at that list up there of all the things that have come to pass in my life because of all of us hanging out here together in the ether we call the Internet. Sure, it hasn't all been wine and song here. I was invited to die in a pool of blood once by an extra thoughtful commenter, and there was that guy who expressed displeasure that my site did not live up to the dirtiness my name implied and suggested I send him just a little something to make up for it. The creeps and assholes, though — true stalkers and violent/sexual offenders aside — are just the colour that spice up this little constellation we've built together.
The path of my entire life has been altered and moulded here, and I cannot find the words to impress upon you the magnitude of this. My entire life is another thing now because of this place.
My father, a man who barely understands how to open an email let alone play solitaire on a computer, turned to me a month or so ago and said The internet has been good for you, hasn't it? It's changed you. It's good to see you happy and doing things you love to do. He doesn't really understand what I do here, but he see its effects on me. I answered by telling him about all of you.
It's you I want to thank for these nine years. You left comments, you wrote emails, you told me I could do it when I thought I couldn't, you told me to rest when I was tired, you told me to get off my ass when I was being an ass, you hired me, you loved me, you passed me tissues at conferences, you set me straight when I went too far, and you lured me out when I didn't go far enough.
Thank you all for these nine years. You — yes, even you who is just itching to tell me which grammar rule I've broken this time — are why I will be here for nine more.
Thank you.
I had no idea when I started blogging, under the Palinode's influence, that it would be anything other than an online version of letters to friends I hadn't yet met, so when I hit publish on my first blog entry — it was, bizarrely, an essay about why it's a bad idea to swallow your own tongue — I went about my life as though nothing remarkable had happened.
I look back at blogger-me of 2003, and I feel like patting her on the head like she's a goofy, drooling puppy with oversized feet that keep stepping on her own ears, because DAMN I was so cute not knowing all the stuff I didn't know.
For instance, I didn't know that:
- I would become a writer who would read her words to hundreds of people in a ballroom in San Francisco.
- I would be invited to speak on numerous panels at both BlogHer and Blissdom Canada conferences.
- I would wind up in the Globe & Mail and on CBC Radio and in Woman's Day and on CBC News and in Best Health.
- I would become a phoneographer who would travel to conferences to talk about iPhoneography, be a part of a worldwide iPhoneography exhibition, and be a contributor to a book about the craft.
- I would get to write with so many great people at BlogHer, MamaPop, Aiming Low, and Girl Body Pride.
- I would start my very own little community called Grace in Small Things based around the simple idea of gratitude.
- I would work to champion better blogging at Five Star Friday and the Canadian Weblog Awards.
- I would eventually quit my office job so I could start a full-time career under an umbrella I would call Ninjamatics.
- I would join up with a phenomenal board of directors in service of the fantastic non-profit Violence UnSilenced.
- I would team up with Laurie and Neil to create a monthly Twitter chat about the state of blogging that would take us all the way to New York to lead a panel discussion at a BlogHer conference.
- I would take to public speaking the way I did when I took the stage at TEDxRegina to talk about self doubt and the power of personal narrative:
- This blogging community would grow from my handful of virtual penpals into such a powerful webwork of human beings that were able to help me grow the confidence it took to deal with cancer, quit smoking, face my alcoholism, and work through bouts of anxiety and depression.
This is not hyperbole. Look at that list up there of all the things that have come to pass in my life because of all of us hanging out here together in the ether we call the Internet. Sure, it hasn't all been wine and song here. I was invited to die in a pool of blood once by an extra thoughtful commenter, and there was that guy who expressed displeasure that my site did not live up to the dirtiness my name implied and suggested I send him just a little something to make up for it. The creeps and assholes, though — true stalkers and violent/sexual offenders aside — are just the colour that spice up this little constellation we've built together.
The path of my entire life has been altered and moulded here, and I cannot find the words to impress upon you the magnitude of this. My entire life is another thing now because of this place.
My father, a man who barely understands how to open an email let alone play solitaire on a computer, turned to me a month or so ago and said The internet has been good for you, hasn't it? It's changed you. It's good to see you happy and doing things you love to do. He doesn't really understand what I do here, but he see its effects on me. I answered by telling him about all of you.
It's you I want to thank for these nine years. You left comments, you wrote emails, you told me I could do it when I thought I couldn't, you told me to rest when I was tired, you told me to get off my ass when I was being an ass, you hired me, you loved me, you passed me tissues at conferences, you set me straight when I went too far, and you lured me out when I didn't go far enough.
Thank you all for these nine years. You — yes, even you who is just itching to tell me which grammar rule I've broken this time — are why I will be here for nine more.
Thank you.
Reader Comments (34)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F0rPFASUXY
/obligatory
Happy 9 years!
And all the marks you've made--that you make and leave--always seem to make the internet a more beautiful, compassionate, and intelligent place Congratulations!
Everything you have gotten you have given back many times over, because you are you.
I'm so glad that you've found all of these things here, and grateful for the work we do together. I can't wait to see what happens in the next nine years.
Congratulations Schmutzie! The nine year anniversary symbol is leather - go get yourself something nice!
I hope after nine years of blogging (if I still am blogging?) that I can help others and grow as much as you have.
And I'm so very glad you did.
Congrats on your nine years! I have been reading your blog for a while now, but this is my first time commenting. I appreciate the authenticity of your voice. It is that authenticity, that realness, which brings me back time and time again. It is a gift.
Happy 9 years! I've only found you through Twitterverse a short time ago, so I'm a new follower. The video of your talk was so very inspirational to me, because self-doubt has been such a huge part of my life. I started blogging a year ago, but each and every time I pressed 'publish', I get a cloud of self-doubt over my head for hours or even days, the effects of which I'm sure you know. But the fact that I've been pressing that same button for over a year now shows me that I have a desire inside that wants to and is able to fight my self-doubt, at least enough to keep writing and sharing.
I really appreciated your slideshow points in your talk. I loved the part where you talked about your parents/mom telling you that 'you're okay'. And most of all, it was so nice to 'meet' you and hear your voice. You are my Grammar Guru. Hello, and Thank You.
Congratulations and Happy 9 years!
You say exactly what I feel.
The community I've found, the support I have, the happiness that is my life now, because of blogging.
Blogging has given me so many opportunties: I can barely believe my good fortune. I can barely believe this is my life.
I love how you've listed your accomplishments here: they are amazing contributions, they stand as leadership and change, and offer us hope that we all of us can overcome things when we have the support of community.
The internet has worked for you, Schmutzie, because you give to it.
I have followed you for four years now. I have found a home here on your site, late at night, when I feel alone...you are there for me.
Whether we talk back and forth in that time frame isn't important: it FEELS like we did.
It's all about how you make us feel when we leave here, Schmutzie.
Thank you so much for logging on 9 years ago.
Thank you, Palinode, for leading Schmutzie to the place that is her calling and feeds her.
Happy anniversary, wonderful lady. I am less lonely in the night because of your posts.
Thank you.
So... Happy Blogerversity? However you might say that! :) I love that list and hope that it continues to grow for you! xo
NINE YEARS?!?! HOLY SCHMOLEY, SCHMUTZIE!
Enough shouting. Here (toasting ginger brew) is to 9 more years of thoughtful, empowering, suggestively wonderful crazy-pants writing. Thank you for all you do to make this a lovely piece of my daily reading routine.
Aw, those words from your dad.
Congratulations. You're one of the good ones.
Nine years! Fantastic. As a recent convert to all things Schmutzie, I still have so much archival reading to do. It's also great to know there will be lots more joyful reading to look forward to in the future. I love your writing, it feeds my soul. I also love your courage because it inspires me to step outside my comfort zone, even if, as yet, in baby steps.
Congrats and I hope you are having a cheery party to celebrate the nine years xxxx
Happy Birthday. " ... because of this place." I find your place here - schmutzie.com - to be one of the more interesting spots on the Internet and as well as one of the most welcoming. You are influencing me as I go through the renovation of my own place. Thanks.
On one hand: Hooray! Nine years of doing fulfilling work that has brought amazing opportunities -- WOW.
On the other hand: Holy fuck. So I have, like, NINE YEARS of blog posts to catch up on? That totally sucks.
Congrats.
I love this :)
So grateful for you and your intertubeness. Happy 9 years!
Milk money or not...you were ready! So grateful to know your brilliance and to be inspired by your leadership.
Congratulations!! I'm so glad you started blogging so that I could have the pleasure of meeting you and the Palinode. I'm also glad that we get to hang out today. :)
Happy anniversary and many more! I'm honored to know you and consider you one of my blogging idols. Thank YOU for leading the way.
I'm so glad you are here, because if you were not, I would not have met you and become friends with you. And that makes me very sad.
See you in October!
xo
Happy bloggoversary from a fellow Canuck! I look forward to reading you for many years to come, and to seeing that list of accomplishments grow. It was great to meet you in New York.
Congratulations and Happy Blogaversary Schmutzie! Here's to nine more! I'm so glad we got a chance to chat at BlogHer. You're an inspiration to this newbie. You've done so much good here on the internets and I wish you all the success and happiness in the whole world wide web! ;)
I simply adore you and your crazy eyes in that number nine. Well done, you!
I am so happy for you and honored to know you and AMAZED TO HAVE YOU on the Girl Body Pride team. You have accomplished so much and blazed so many trails and touched so many with your images and your words. To have Girl Body Pride included in the list of the accomplishments you are most proud of makes me so very proud, indeed. Thank you. And congratulations.
Happy (belated) Blog Birthday! That whole community thing you talk about? Sometimes it's the only thing that gets me out of bed in the mornings. I feel like we're a all a family.
Happy Birthday!
Congrats!!!! Sorry I found your blog late in its life but I'm sure glad I did.
Congratulations! 9 years is a huge accomplishment. I've only recently discovered you, but I'm sure I'll delve into your archives at some point when I'm supposed to be doing something else.
When did I 'meet' you?
Maybe 5 years ago? How much they grow up!
This is really a kick ass blog but generally a kick ass production line of kick ass things. You are genuinely brilliant. I have seen a lot of it unfold from the sidelines and it's been amazing to watch. Also, satisfying because you truly are freaking talented and so many people like that fall through the cracks.
And more to come!
9 is awesome! And so is all of the stuff that you're working on. I'm particularly fond of Grace in Small Things and all your photos. Here's to 9 more (or more!).
Even though I fail to reply often and I rarely have time for Twitter these days, I continue to read and find you amazing and wonderful. Congrats on the 9 years, here's to another 9, and more than 9 comments from me. HAH.
Nine is kind of a magic number; it's so curly and spiraly that it's a good number for a writer, I think. Your work makes the interweb(s) a better place and, as a result, you're making it a better place to work for all the rest of us. So actually, in fact, thank *you.* Plus the comment from your dad just slays me because even though he doesn't "get" the internet, he gets the transformation and that's fantastic.
Happy 9 years! And continued success for 9x9 more!
I'm honored to know you. You're an amazing woman and I've learned a lot from being here for part of your journey.