Evolution of this blog

2010

It was an auspicious time to bite off more than I could chew. I gotta be me.

In addition to kicking off Shakespeare in the Park, my ghost tour company, and scrounging around for any other work I could find, I also started this blog as “A Year of Significance”, hence my url.

The goal was deceptively simple. I vowed to myself to post something every single day of the year. They were honest, no-punches reflections of my journey – questions – growth – funk – aha’s – happiness – ouchiness… whatever.

I did it. One post every day. It was life-changing and an opportunity to pat myself on my own back.

I pondered, I learned some things that both stuck and didn’t.

A Year of Significance ended on December 31, 2010. What’s Next?

After December 31, 2010, I found I had more to say. But what? How? From what perspective? I used A Year of Significance to dig deep and shout loudly to the world about all my secrets. Well, okay. That’s all well and good but… what am I missing?

Writing every day for 365 days created structure. Along the way, I developed a taste for it. The hits were mounting and reader feedback I never expected was appreciative.

The greatest freedom comes from parameters.

Sans parameters (like writing something every single day) this blog became sporadic, hit and miss, unfocused. I’d ignore it for long stretches. Every once in awhile, I’d make an attempt at a new structure but nothing stuck.

2020

In February of 2020, I ah-ha’d a new parameter! It gave me a renewed passion to write when I decided to take on the greatest nemesis of my life: Binge Eating Disorder. This blog would be a soul-baring journey. With a side of aplomb sauce. Deeply honest and occasionally humorous. Lots more swearing.

In April of 2020, while writing about Binge Eating Disorder, I discovered something else. I was tired of writing just about B.E.D. I was tired of writing as though every piece was an exploration of how damaged I am. Freaking boring!

Then, what else could I possibly write about?

I solicited topics from my friends and started to write about them. Since all I know is how to do is present a piece from my perspective. What’s my take or connection to the topic? While composing these pieces, I had another ah-ha moment.

I have a funky mental health cocktail which I’ve way overshared in my blog posts. My ACE score is 9 out of 10. I have Bipolar, PTSD, Binge Eating Disorder, and have been suicidal. I thought I had to write from the perspective of someone who is damaged and is trying to bravely overcome the shit sandwich of life.

I don’t. I don’t have to do that. Those elements of me have found their way into the light. I don’t have to force it or assume that that’s what’s expected of me.

I discovered that…