Celebrating Two Years of Nakedness on the Internet

champagne celebration If this blog was a memoir in book form, the first page would be well worn; my first blog post was a piece I used to refer back to often. It was the birth of Naked Girl in a Dress and a low point in my life. It is a reminder of where I was and how much progress I have made. But it is also a piece that evokes a certain level of sadness. The post is a reminiscence of why my marriage ended, the difficult struggle I still faced in the coming months, and a destructive relationship I didn’t have the courage to end. But I would go back and re-read, especially as milestones in life and on this blog occured. This is one of those weeks:

Naked Girl in a Dress turns two today.

Today is different though; I didn’t want to go that far back. Not because I want to forget, but rather because I am happy and at peace and find no need to re-read about it any longer.

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.”  ~Helen Keller

The door of happiness is wide open for me and I don’t want to miss a moment of what is in front of me. Looking two years back is unnecessary and distracting.

The one year anniversary is something I did read this morning. I was in a great place in my life a year ago and had made many positive changes. It was wonderful to read, thinking of how much more I have accomplished one year later. I enjoyed reading one of the last lines of the post:

“I am excited to see what happens in the second year of blogging.”

So much has happened one year later:

  • I signed a non-exclusive one year agreement in March to have Naked Girl in a Dress represented for pre-paid ads and sponsorship. I am impressed with the results of the business relationship in such a short period of time.
  • I have a social media site for writers, Studio30 Plus. My partner Eric Storch is a great person to team with and the core group of volunteers help us make sure the site is running smoothly daily. I love this new venture.
  • Traffic continues to grow at a tremendous rate. Thank you for reading, visiting often, and telling others about my site.
  • Upon completion of my photography degree, I immediately started receiving paid work. It is not a full-time venture for me, but something I love. Next week I will be shooting a wedding as the lead photographer for the first time (I am typically second shooter).
  • The photography school where I graduated from hired me to teach part time. I teach Social Media, Beginning Blogging, and Intermediate Blogging.
  • There’s something else that has happened professionally resulting from this blog, but it is something I am about a month away from sharing here.

The most important measure of success is actually not listed above. It is simple:

I am happy.

Thank you for being here to celebrate two years of my nakedness on the internet.

It has been one of the most rewarding experiences in so many ways.



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Comments

28 responses to “Celebrating Two Years of Nakedness on the Internet”

  1. Happy Birthday day, Nekkid Girl (we say nekkid in Georgia).

    I think I caught up with you and your blog about six months into it. I’ve enjoyed watching you grow. Plus, becoming friends with you is a great thing.

    Cheers to year three, in your dress

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      Thank you Lance. I enjoy our friendship and baseball discussions. You are the best.

      Now I know where all the Google searches of “nekkid” into my blog come from: your neighbors. I just have to find out residents of which state spells girl “gurl” and I will solve the final mystery.

  2. Congratulations on 2 years and getting to such a positive place. I’m very happy to have found your blog. Happy Blog anniversary.

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      Thank you Corey. I am happy to have you here.

  3. Two years…congrats!!

    While I haven’t been “along for the ride” all of those two years…one thing that I very much sense is an overall happiness! And that’s pretty awesome…especially since you feel that, too – in a real way.

    Wishing you much success going forth!

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      Thank you Lance. I am so pleased to be a part of your site too, for my writing expanding in other directions. Thank you for that opportunity.

  4. Happy Birthday!!! I didn’t realize you were younger than me. This is possibly because your blog is so awesome that it feels like you’ve been around forever.

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      Thanks! I feel like I have been around forever. Blogging years is like dog years in my opinion.

  5. Congratulations on your 2 year anniversary, but most of all, congratulations on “finding your happy”!!! That is the best reward of all. Can’t wait to hear of your new success when you are willing to share.

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      Thank you Deb. I can’t wait to share the next big thing. Soon.

  6. Congratulations! It sounds like life is good :) I am really enjoying Studio 30 Plus!

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      Life is very good right now and I am very aware of the hard-won battle to get here. Divorce can take a lot out of a person. I am just happy for where life is headed.

      So glad you are enjoying S30P!

  7. Wow! Good for you. Those are some pretty major accomplishments. I think it’s great to reflect on how far you’ve come. I completely forgot about my blog’s anniversary. It turned 3 in February. I think I might take a cue from you and reflect on all the positive things that have been going on in the past year.

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      It’s great to look back at the progress made. So many of my longtime readers can remember posts I admitting to writing through tears, feeling hopeless and more. It’s great to share what good has come of life after the challenge of divorce.

      I can’t wait to read your post!

  8. Woohoo! Congratulations!!

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      Thank you!

  9. Congratulations, Kelly! It’s been a wild ride with you so far – can’t wait to see what the next year brings!

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      Anything other than wild would be boring. Glad you are strapped in and enjoying it.

  10. Congratulations Kelly! I’m so very proud of your work and even more proud that you are standing tall in your happy place and really showing the gratitude that can only come from a joyous heart! I’ve enjoyed being along for the ride and value the friendship that has resulted from sharing our words.

    Looking forward to another year of great words!

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      Thank you so much. I am happy you have been here with me as well. I look forward to another year of sharing words and a growing friendship.

  11. How great to begin this at such a tumultuous time, go through that open door and find your happiness. That is just wonderful. Congrats to you!

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      Thank you Heidi.

  12. Ronnie K

    Two years, congrats! That’s awesome. 2 years must be twice that in Blog years! That is a feat knowing how much time can be put into a blog & your site shows it! I have to contribute somehow on this special event. Let me give some immediate contribution of your impressive stats!

    Google has indexed 281 pages of your blog!
    There is approximately 209 links pointing back to your blog (*per Google, Bing & Alexa)!
    Your blog has been mentioned or linked 609 times on Twitter & Social bookmarked 2 time on delicious & 1 time on Digg!
    And finally you have a Page Rank of 2!

    Anyways, hats off to you & the your work in the blogging community!

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      Thank you Ronnie!

  13. Well happy birthday! It’s a wonderful day indeed and much has been accomplished. I’m happy for you. Helen Keller’s quote brought a tear to my eye, reminding me how I lost my father two days after meeting the man I knew was going to be by my side for the rest of my life.

    I remember reading your one year celebration post and feeling quite amazed by how much you’d accomplished then. And now? Wow. I’m honored to feel like I kind of know you. My 2-yr is coming up in May. It won’t be anywhere near your astounding list of accomplishments.

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      Thanks for the birthday wishes! It feels like forever of course.

      I can’t wait for the party at Cyberhouse next month! I will bring cake.

  14. Congratulations on 2 eventful years. I have a new role model.

    1. Naked Girl in a Dress

      Thanks Joe! I don’t think I am worthy of being a role model for a blogger, but I am happy for you to be a new reader. :)