If you caught Saturday’s post you know The Sassy Steel Magnolia is officially 2 years old. What you may not know, however, is the month of October marks the 4th year of my adventures in blogging. The SSM is actually my 3rd blog. A culmination of blogs 1 & 2, it has taken on a life of it’s own – one that I could have ever imagined. Now people join the blogosphere for all kinds of different reasons. Sports. Politics. Fashion. Business. The list is huge. However, some joined not really knowing what they were getting into. Some people …. just jumped. With eyes wide open, we jumped. Straight down the rabbit hole. Plummeting into chaos. I’m one of those.

When I first started blogging I was very hesitant. I’d kept my love for writing a secret from many people for a long time because I didn’t know how people would react. The first blog was post after post of long-winded, mind boggling thoughts. I was rambling. I was ranting. I was dreaming out loud. I was a newbie.

The second is where I started to experiment with posting photos. I began writing shorter posts, started to embrace the idea I was a “blogger,” and began reaching out to more people, letting them know about my blog. I really liked my 2nd blog, but I was searching for something more. I wanted the balance – the right fit for me.

Then came The Sassy Steel Magnolia. I poured hours and hours into creating the first site (cheers to the red couch!) and really thinking about what I wanted to do with it all. I wanted more than just a blog. I wanted a place where I felt safe, where I could still be a dreamer, where I could rant and scream if I needed, where I could tap into this idea …. this persona …. and give myself the permission to be as candid (or as vague) as I damn well pleased. I wanted my home in the world wide web. And now two years later, that is exactly what I’ve found.

I’d be lying if I said my adventures in blogging have been all satchels of gold and roses. Because they definitely haven’t. Not by a long shot. No matter how little or seemingly insignificant the post, that’s me you’re reading on your computer screen. It’s my life unfolding. My heart that’s sometimes breaking. My laugh that’s often a little too loud. It’s scary when you sit back and think about it and any other blogger will surely agree.

I’ve had my freak-outs, been made fun of, been completely misunderstood, and received comments and emails so unbelievably cruel they brought tears to my eyes. Most of these incidents I have kept to myself, but everyone caused me to pause and question why I ever started in the first place.

But then the other side steps in …… I start thinking about the people I’ve met -the amazing bits of inspiration that have been sent my way – how much I’ve grown from my blogging. I start thinking about how even though I don’t know a majority of you in person, I deeply cherish the bond which has formed between us. You are all a part of my life now. And you always seem to turn things back around to satchels of gold & roses. And I’m very grateful for that. And I don’t think I say it quite often enough.

So yes, four years ago I did jump down the rabbit hole, with eyes wide open and plummeted into chaos. And when I do eventually make it out I will be changed. And I know this …..  because I already am.

~ Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for being here with me. ~

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