Mensajes

Happy happy anniversary…to me! May 16, 2010

Kind of hard to believe, but today marks the 3 year anniversary of this blog.

What started as a way to keep in touch with friends while I was in Spain and traveling around Europe has morphed into something…else. From Spain, the blog’s theme was so easy – it was about writing about my experiences. Letting people know what I was up to. Venting, from time to time. And some sort of journaling, too, though not the super confessional sort. And in the end, the writing was cohesive enough that I turned it into a book.

Since then, the “theme” has wavered a bit. Some people who used to follow religiously have taken me off their blog reading lists – and that’s OK, too. I go through phases of writing about design. And others where I want to post poetry. Or random YouTube videos. Or photos from whatever.

So I’ve gone back and forth lately, wanting to do something more but not knowing what to do. Should I self-host and have the option of posting music and more photo slideshows and things of the sort? Should I change the name, since Mensajes isn’t exactly the catchiest? Should I go with a “theme,” as most successful blogs seem to do? Should I let this thing die, as so many bloggers have done lately?

The question becomes – what is the point?

It’s something I’ve been tossing around for a while. I’m not too interested in trying to make money from it (and it would be basically impossible, at this point – let’s be honest). And I don’t want to feel obligated to stick to a really consistent schedule, since I don’t seem to consistently have interesting things to write about. But when the mood strikes, I like blogging.

I like posting photos here. I like working through strange, awkward, hard, or exciting and beautiful times via sitting down to write. Or photograph. I like that a few friends and friends once removed and I have formed a little online community. Because isn’t that sort of the point? To feel connected, somehow?

And so, really, the “theme” hasn’t changed. It’s still about writing about my experiences. Letting people know what I am up to. Venting, from time to time. And some sort of journaling, too, though not the super confessional sort.

As Dooce‘s Heather Armstrong said in a recent interview, “My website has remained about my life over the last eight years…So my subject matter – being about my life – hasn’t really changed, but my life has changed.”

And as for Mensajes? I’ve come to like it. For those who haven’t figured it out, it means “messages.” It’s also a word I just like the sound of. And it’s become this online identity for me, in some form or another. So, at least for now, I’m thinking I’ll stay with it.

Coming soon: my shiny new blog space. Keep an eye out for it.

And of course, when it’s ready, I’ll make the big announcement right here.