Hello Blog, My Old Friend

What is there to be said when you abandon a space you once loved for 227 days? Obviously, not much of an excuse. But enough people have emailed me that I thought it was worth posting about, for those of you that do still check in, and that are curious.

Simply put, I've been blogging in some shape or form since 2003, and I was tired. What originally gave me a place to be inspired, to look forward to, to make great friends off, became a chore. A funny thing happens when you have a couple of posts go viral - it's exciting because FINALLY you feel like it's paid off to see people enjoying the work you created.

But that's the very opposite of what happened.

Rather than this being a positive, happy space for me, it became a place where I was constantly having to let criticism roll off my back. You can only let so much criticism roll off.

"Your clothes are boring, try some color."

"There is no way you pack like that, you must be doing this just for show."

"Who dresses like this?"

And while those who know me well know that I am actually true to my word, taste, and preference for neutrals (and I'm a pretty damn good suitcase packer, too) those who don't were really starting to get me down.

I tip my hat to the big time, multi million page view bloggers who hourly handle these people who spout off so easily on the internet what I am certain they would never say to someone's face. I am not built that way.

But here I am, and I am reclaiming this as MY space. I may or may not post regularly, and I will not make any promises.

I kindly ask that if you don't like what you see, move right along. I'll be blogging for me, and this girl is open to constructive criticism but I will not stand for meanness.

IMAGE VIA EMERSON FRY