Big Birthday Blog

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Is “easy run” an oxymoron when it’s pushing 95 degrees out?

The juries still out (I need a few more trials) but my theme for summer runs is “embrace walking up the hills and falling down them”.  Don’t worry, I’m not falling on my face.  I shift my whole upper body forward slightly and make my legs keep up.  Try it, it’s kind of fun.

There is a big birthday today; this blog is one year old!  Gracefulfitness was started on May 31st 2010 at an internet cafe in Kathmandu, Nepal and what a year it’s been!  The blog and my life as a whole have seen huge changes over the last 12 months.

My relationship with blogs started in the fall of 2009 when I saw a reference to Oh She Glows in a women’s fitness magazine (don’t remember which one!).  I was living in Peru at the time and immediately enjoyed reading “healthy living” blogs because I felt connected to all of these great women who were into the same stuff I am.  Over the next several months I sporadically kept up with a handful of blogs and before long the idea of started my own began to spiral in my head.

Last May I finally logged onto to WordPress, dove in, and immediately fell in love with blogging.

Blogging suits me so well be cause I am a project kind-of-gal.  I love having a project going on, when I was a kid it was writing and distributing a newsletter in our community or making and selling grape juice (the plan was fresh squeezed but by the end it was mostly Welch’s).  Through high school, college, and beyond my life was dance and I choreographed and produced five independent shows.

I am also a writer.   Perhaps not always skilled or grammatically correct but I’ve kept journals off-and-on since I could put pen to paper.  As a kid I used to write poetry books (and, of course, The Sassafras Times as mentioned above) and writing assignments in school were always easier, more fun, and received higher marks than anything to do with math or science.

Blogging is a wonderful outlet for me share my passion for exercise and food, which has always been there I just haven’t always tapped into the right attentive audience/community.

My family is big into taking pictures and I am no exception.  I’ve always LOVED the way photography captures moments, experiences, and details.  One of my favorite aspects of blogging is having a reason to take tons of pictures and see the world through a camera lens.

And lastly, I adore the community that blogging builds.  This blog community has been with me through a year of travel, transition, and settling into a new home.  I cherish each of you, from my early readers (that’s you Joanne!) to my most regular commenters (thanks Angie and Allie!) and of course my now dear friend Kath.

It’s surreal to realize it’s already been a year, I still think of Gracefulfitness as a mere bitty baby blog but in cyber years it must be approaching adolescents.  I am thrilled with the growth of the blog over the last year, both in readership and in my personal growth as a blogger, and am really excited to see what the second year will bring.

24 Comments

  1. Happy Birthday Gracefulfitness!
    I love watching you & your blog develop & grow. Thanks for sharing aspects of your life through this wonderful outlet.
    p.s. When I run downhill, I imagine water flowing down a stream…shifting/leaning forward as you described…working WITH gravity…but not falling on my face. 😉

    Reply

  7. Thanks for the shout-out! And congrats on the 1 year mark. I keep reading because of your positive attitude, and you’re very genuine. And how else would I have heard of kombucha?!?

    Reply

  8. I fell into blogging because of Oh She Glows, too! and now, I can’t imagine my life without it. I am currently living in New Zealand, and it’s the perfect way to record all of my memories, keep my family in touch, and share all of my wellness tips! -Emma

    Reply

  9. Grattis på födelsdagen! As my Viking would say 😉 I actually started reading blogs because of your blog. Seeing you on that train in China doing planks has really stuck with me. I courage that very train maybe two years before you and I certainly wasn’t doing planks. I find your love of movement very motivational and you have really inspired me to move more. 12.3 kilos down and you have had something to do with it. Thought I would share 🙂
    Happy Blog Bday!

    Reply

    • Thanks for sharing Talitha! It warms my heart that Gracefulfitness has had such a positive influence on you. My intention with this blog was just that; to encourage finding pleasure in moving! I’m super impressed that you’ve dropped over 12 kilos! Way to go!

      Reply

  10. I, for one, am so glad you’re a part of the blog world. I read every post, usually more than once, even if I don’t comment. Congrats on the year! Imagine being in Nepal a year ago. Life has changed for you. May the next year bring you wonderful growth as well.

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  11. Huzzah!! Happy Blog Birthday, Faith!
    I’m pleased and honored to be one of your most regular commenters. 🙂

    I was away for the long weekend, and am just now catching up on everyone’s posts! Congrats on your Blogoversary!

    By the way, I had my first Kombucha this past weekend (Buchi brand, a local Asheville company), thanks to you. I never would have tried it, were it not for your genuine enthusiasm about it.

    ~

    Reply

  12. Happy Birthday, Gracefulfitness! Yours is one of my favorites, even if I don’t comment very regularly. The name of your blog is perfect and describes both of you to a T.

    Reply

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