30 Days...

There's a theory out there that it takes 21 days to build a good habit.  I don't know how reliable that science is, but it's a number, and I like having numbers as a goal.

I've been blogging daily for 30 days now.  There have been a couple of days in the world of no internet where I had to cheat a little and just link to an old post, but I think that's okay.  I didn't really start sharing my writing with many people (via Facebook or Twitter) for almost a year.  If you were reading in the early days, you are either really close to me or you stumbled onto my little section of the 'net by chance.  Those old posts need some love, too.

That's fairly characteristic of me.  If people were to step into my classroom or watch me on the court or at camp, you'd never believe that I am actually pretty painfully shy.  Life and career have forced me out a bit, but I spent a great deal of my childhood being silent and hidden behind my mom or dad.  They'd always have to grab me by the hand and push me out in front.  

I still blush very easily.  I don't take compliments well at all.  And I hate speaking publicly in front of anyone over the age (or maturity level) of a 14 year-old.  So the thought of sharing my thoughts -- whether they be deep and personal or shallow and random -- still vaguely terrifies me each time I go to hit the "publish" button.  But I've done it 217 times now, 30 times in a row.  I think it's a habit that I kind of like.

I started blogging out of a simple curiosity and love for writing.  That's been my reasoning all along, but I found that it also just made me feel better.  It helped me sort my thoughts and make sense of my feelings.  My intent was only for me, but somewhere along the way, it helped me re-connect to some of you.  And I found that sometimes it made you and I realize that maybe we're not the only ones carrying that load. That's what has kept me going, I think.  One of my best school friends, Al, told me that he felt like we'd been having daily conversations this past month.  I loved that; it's amazing what validation one simple sentence can carry.  Thanks, Alfredo.

Whether you've been here from the beginning or whether you're just stumbling by for the first time, thanks.  I know that this site isn't very user-friendly in leaving comments, but please know I appreciate each and every thing you take the time to write to me -- Facebook messages and comments, tweets, and texts.  Some of you have even taken the time to share the link to certain posts in your own statuses or to re-tweet the links as they come through your Twitter timeline.  It may not seem like much to you, but it means a great deal to me.

Each day, your kindness and support take me by the hand and lead me out of my hiding spot.   Thanks for not letting go.

Until tomorrow... a little Paul Westerberg.