Today marks the 2nd anniversary (blogiversary?) of SoloFriendly.com. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for reading my blog, subscribing to my feed, commenting on my posts, fanning me on Facebook, following me on Twitter and all the other many ways in which you contribute to this blog. When I started this blog, my life was FUBAR (F****D Up Beyond All Recognition). I had just escaped from a disastrous relationship that trashed my physical, emotional, and financial well-being. I created this blog out of a desire to focus on the things I loved (travel and writing) and to remind myself of who I had once been before I made the biggest mistake of my life. Was it a form of self-therapy? Perhaps.
I knew from the beginning that I wanted to narrow in on solo travel, because so many people in my life seemed to think it unusual or brave that I travel alone. Me? Brave? Ha! (The solo backpackers and round-the-world-travelers, those are the travelers I really consider brave.) I just wanted to travel and got sick of waiting for a traveling companion. Once I tried solo travel, I realized I really liked it.
It took the entire first year of writing this blog to find my way. During that time, I was rebuilding my savings, so I wasn’t traveling much. It’s challenging finding things to blog about when you’re not actually traveling, so I relied too heavily on commenting on “newsy” travel stories which drowned out my message of solo travel. Thankfully, I feel I have found my groove–and my voice–over the past year.
I love having a creative outlet again, but I had no idea when I started how time-consuming being a blogger would be. It’s like having a second full-time job (only it doesn’t pay as well). It’s incredibly difficult to juggle blogging with my off-line life. I always feel as though something or other is getting short-changed and that there aren’t enough hours in the day for everything that needs to get done. I can feel my stamina wavering at times.
So why do I keep blogging? YOU! I love connecting with other people who share my passion (obsession?) for travel, and most people in my everyday life don’t. It’s such a pleasure to be part of the online travel blogging community. Travel bloggers are the friendliest people and the most generous with their time and knowledge.
But what really jazzes me is when people go out of their way to contact me to let me know that my blog inspired them to travel solo. That is the greatest feeling in the world for me. If there’s one thing I have hoped for from my life, it’s to make a difference in someone else’s life before I die. I believe solo travel really does change a person for the better. It can make us stronger and give us the skills to negotiate unfamiliar territory (literal and figurative) with greater confidence. So it makes me happy to know that other people are giving it a try because of something they read here. I hope it’s as positive an experience for you as it has been for me.
And I hope that all of you–solo travelers or not–get as much from my blog as I have gotten from you. Thank you.
on Feb 18th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Congratulations Gray! I haven't been here since the beginning but your blog has been a huge influence in the way I've built my own, and hearing about your travels have helped me get my own but in gear.
I also think it's really cool how blogging can be such a transformative experience. The focus, the connections, the importance of finding a voice- you really summed it up quite well. And the part about it being a second full time job is totally true.
Well, glad to have you around!
on Feb 18th, 2010 at 9:51 pm
You go girl! Maybe we can tip a glass of champagne in NYC (KW.com will just being turning one year old then).
Cheers to the travel blogging community!!
on Feb 18th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
Wooohooo, Congrats! That's an impressive achievement. Love reading your stuff. :)
on Feb 18th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
Thank you, Steph. That's really kind of you to say.
on Feb 18th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
Thank you, Candice!
on Feb 18th, 2010 at 10:05 pm
Well, as I understand it, we'll be tipping a LOT of beverages at TBEX. :-) Good timing on the anniversary of your blog! Cheers to the travel blogging community indeed.
on Feb 19th, 2010 at 4:58 am
Congratulations! I've only had my blog for a few months and I can identify with not being able to travel right now and trying to figure out what to write about. Now I know to keep going and plan a trip and I'll find my niche. I'm looking forward to reading more of your blog.
on Feb 19th, 2010 at 11:55 am
Welcome, Joya! I'm glad I'm not the only one who struggles sometimes with topics. You are fortunate, though, to live in San Francisco, which is large enough to (I bet) keep surprising you with new things to explore. I like your blog, by the way.
on Feb 22nd, 2010 at 12:56 pm
Happy two year blogaversary, Gray! I hope the coming year of SoloFriendly is your best yet!
on Feb 22nd, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Thank you, Sheila! That means a lot to me!
on Feb 23rd, 2010 at 6:12 pm
Gray- whether you get “newsy” or not, you're keeping your passion for travel and solo-ing alive and you give us slices of life, tips, inspiration that help our own journey. I think you're being hard on yourself. You inspire us because you “are”; its not always about active doing… tho I totally understand how it feels definitive at times. Solo travel is mostly mental and there are more ways to travel than just abroad… for me, sometimes, living a lifestyle as a single female is just as stressful, adventurous and dangerous as traveling abroad solo.
BTW- you're not alone with the blogging stress. Chatted w/ Nomadic Chick- I think we're all feeling how at times, it's its own crying baby. LOL.
on Feb 24th, 2010 at 12:42 am
Thank you, Christine. I love that analogy! It IS like a crying baby! :-) And I wholeheartedly agree that just living life as a single female can sometimes be its own adventure, as much as any travel.
on Mar 1st, 2010 at 6:41 pm
We're continually learning from you, Gray, and looking forward to more. Thanks for pressing on!
on Mar 1st, 2010 at 10:01 pm
Thank you, Betsy! You're so sweet to say that.
on Feb 18th, 2011 at 6:56 am
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