How Blogging Has Improved My Life (The Woven Moments Great Blogging Anniversary LinkUp)

When I first started blogging in February of last year, my only objective was to create somewhere for me to come when I felt like being silly. It was a way to put a small piece of myself out into the world, and I wanted it to be honest. Real. 


And usually silly. 


It gives me an outlet for my creativity, my bad puns, and my daily attempt at humor. And for the most part, I feel like each time I click the word "Publish," I've given my readers another little piece of the Abby puzzle.


The most delightful (and unexpected) thing that came out of blogging were all the perks associated with living in the blogosphere. And today, in celebration of The Woven Moments 1 year anniversary, I'm sharing 5 of those perks with you.


And believe me when I say, if this post drives you to begin your own blog just so you can come visit the Wondrous World Wide Web through the eyes of a blogger, then I'll support you one million percent. (Also, every time a new blogger joins the party, a fairy gets her wings. Just sayin'.)

5 Ways the Blogosphere Has Improved My Life

I always have pictures of myself for internet avatars, passports, Christmas cards, and all other applications where pictures of yourself are relevant. 

And I have Abby Gabs to thank for it. Never before has self-photography been so crucial in my day-t0-day life. For the first few months of blogging, any time I would hand the camera to my husband to take a shot of me posing, it required a 20 minute explanation behind why I was standing on one foot with a silly grin on my face and an imaginary bow-and-arrow in my hands. 

I guess he just couldn't imagine how this picture....

...could eventually become this year's Valentine.

However, I'm pleased to report that nowadays, he just takes the picture. Because usually, the payoff is worth the wait.

On days when life throws me a curve ball that smacks me in the eye, and I'm feeling particularly unfunny, I always know I can turn to the blogosphere for inspiration, support, and ultimately, a good belly laugh.

And on days like that, when I'm nursing a black eye, I know just the blogs I'm going to turn to for that laugh. You will see the influence of Clay Baboons as soon as you open up Abby Gabs in your browser. (Stephanie and I are one of many Robots and Bloggers Against Captcha. Join our cause today.) The Bearded Iris is one of those blogs that makes you put your coffee mug down before you start reading. Inevitably, you will forget this rule, and then you'll be cleaning coffee off of your monitor. But it's a lesson quickly learned, especially if you start with her recent post about poo. And if you love illustrated blogs as much as I do, then Odd But Nice is the place for you. The post in which she begs the PS3 to release her husband from servitude is one of my favorites of all time.

But if you're short on time and just want a quick chuckle, please-oh-please visit Heavy Browsing. What's funnier than making fun of fashion? Making fun of BAD fashion. This blog has everything a good humor blog needs: funny pictures, hilarious captions, and dry humor. It's perfect in every way.

Blogging is a huge asset to my marriage.

On the rare occasions when I say or do something wrong, all I have to do is this:

...and all is forgiven. 

I always knew my close friends and family would read my blog. But I never expected to find a community so willing to embrace my goofiness.

And want to talk about really amazing? I never expected to make friends. I have Canadian friends and Mid-Western friends and Yankee friends and Southern friends. I have people who comment on every single blog I've ever written---and I'm not just talking about my Mom. People have reached out to me on my blog, on Twitter, on Facebook--just to tell me that they laughed because of Abby Gabs. For a writer, nothing feels as good as validation. (So feel free to leave me a comment or two below!) And to know there's a group of people out there in the world willing to read my thoughts on a regular basis is downright invigorating. Thanks to each and everyone of you who have ever offered encouragement, words of advice, and your unwavering support. (You know who you are!)

More than anything, the blogosphere gives me a place to be creative, witty, and downright silly.

I spend the first 30 minutes of my day brainstorming ideas for the day's post. Sometimes I already have an idea planned, and I mentally Photoshop images to fill out the post. Other days, I have a jumble of ideas in my head, all waiting to congeal into one. Either way, as a blog author, I get to have an epiphany every, single day.

Sometimes, that epiphany comes in the form of a creative way to illustrate that epiphany. It's like push-ups for my brain.


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There are a hundred more reasons why blogging has improved my life tenfold. I could keep listing, but for those who read Abby Gabs on a regular basis, you know I have a penchant for odd numbers (particularly the number 5.) So I'll take my OCD, end this list, and wish Ryan (The Woven Moments) and her partners in linky land a very happy anniversary.


Wait...is there cake? Because I like cake.