Nine years ago this month, I pushed my first blog post live in this space. NINE YEARS! How is that even possible?!

I remember that time well: I was 25 years old and had just started a graphic design program at my local community college a few semesters earlier. Blogging was still pretty new but I was hooked from the beginning — it was a way to instantaneously share ideas, stories and photos with a worldwide audience and I figured that I needed a place to share my design work (ahem, school projects) so why not?

I dove in headfirst, somehow managing to post almost daily between a full-time school schedule, work schedule and internship but it quickly paid off. Soon, readers were hiring me for design work. I had no idea that those early seedlings would allow me to grow my freelance business enough to launch Branch.

Most of the opportunities I now have can be traced directly back to blogging. Friendships, collaborations and business opportunities all came about through sharing in this space.

Since those early days, things have shifted dramatically. Blogging is no longer the only way to reach an audience — there are famous YouTubers, Instagram stars and social media personalities around every corner. Blogging doesn’t have the same juice it once did, just because it’s not the new, exciting kid on the block anymore.

I used to subscribe to hundreds of blogs and now, I read maybe 5. We have shorter attention spans. There are more ways to get information out there. I feel content overload all the time and I’m sure you do, too.

Over nearly a decade of blogging, a natural evolution happens, too. I’m no longer footloose and fancy-free. I own a home that is still being remodeled. I’m happily married to Joey. We have two wonderful pets, Rocky and Chubs. I have multiple businesses. And, I don’t know how it’s possible…but I’ll be 35 in less than a month!

With everything going on, I can’t blog as much as I used to. And truthfully, I also sometimes draw a blank on what to say. Because, after a few thousand posts, the ideas don’t flow as easily. Sometimes I’m so exhausted after a day of working on client projects, I feel like I have nothing left to give.

But, that’s not to say I don’t love it. The reason I still show up and share is because it’s a part of who I am. We all need hobbies and creative outlets to express ourselves and blogging is one of mine.

I love Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter but on their own, they’re not enough. Having a digital home of my own is good. Blogging still feels right.

Before this gets too long-winded, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for joining me, whether it’s your first time today or whether you’ve been here since the beginning. Thank you for taking the time to comment, share my posts and meet me for coffee over the years.

Even if I sometimes only have time to post once a week, having the chance to connect with you is always a highlight. After all, we’re in this creative journey together and more importantly, this thing called life.

Here’s to another year! -Shauna