Thursday, November 19, 2015

Goodbye, Avoiding Atrophy (And Hello...?)


BOOBS.

Sorry about that. I was having trouble figuring out how to start this post, so rather than play the type-and-delete game that I've been playing for the last half hour, I decided to just shout out a silly word to get things rolling. Warning: if at any point I start hesitating throughout writing this post, I may shout it again. It's the twelve-year-old in me, and I hope she lives forever.

Anyway, the reason why I am struggling so much with the start of this post is because -- Man, I guess I'll just come right out and say it -- it's my last one.

(I'm just going to let that sink in for a minute before I dig into what it really means. As I'm sure you can imagine, though, this won't all be bad news.)

Yes, this is the last post I will ever write for Avoiding Atrophy. I've been blogging on this site for over four years now, ever since I graduated college and embarked on the journey that is adulthood.

When I started out, I looked like this:


Now, I look like this:


Obviously, time has been quite kind to me.

I mean, really kind, actually. This weird little corner of the Internet that I've created here has been one of my life's biggest, happiest surprises. I started it out thinking, "Hey, my mom and various friends might want to know what I'm up to. Plus, I have thoughts and I would like to put them somewhere."

But it became so-ho-ho much more than that. Through this blog, I've been able to do some wildly cool stuff. I've traveled, launched a writing career, and of course, connected with some of the best humans I could ever imagine (and not to brag, but I can imagine some pretty great humans. Like, for instance, a guy named Neil who wears fun sweaters and always has butterscotch candies in his pockets. You get the idea).

So why oh why would I ever want to leave this place that has been so good to me over the last four years?

You may have already started speculating wildly about the answer to this question.

Is she dying?
Is she pregnant? 
Is she under some sort of spell?

None of these are the case (though, admit it, you thought I was pregnant). The truth is I'm healthy, I drank two glasses of wine last night, and as far as I can tell, I have not been bewitched in any way.

No, the reason I am leaving the world of Avoiding Atrophy is because I've got...plans.

Plans that --

Well...

AH BOOBS OKAY HERE GOES NOTHIN --

Get this, y'all: I am launching a BRAND. NEW. SITE!

Yep, totally new. New title. New focus. New look. New ev-er-y-thang.

But why? Why switch things up? 

As I'm sure you can imagine there are many reasons. I could list them all here for you now, but really, they all boil down to one major truth: it's just time.

Through blogging on Avoiding Atrophy, I have written on a vast array of topics, and while that has always been a joyful thing for me, it's also been somewhat limiting. When you can write about anything, sometimes it's hard to know where to focus your energies. That's why your teachers in school always gave you a writing prompt so that you didn't just drool on a page for thirty minutes.

That said, I'm ready to hone in on just a few subjects I really care about, things that I can regularly commit to so that my readers always have something new to put into their brain-boxes.

But even more than that, I've got plans to make something really special. Starting December 1st, you will be able to join me over at christyoshoney.com (yes, apparently you can just name a website after yourself! This is news to me too!) where I will be dishing out unconventional wisdom for unconventional individuals who want to grow in creativity and confidence. Here's what I mean by that:

Cre.a.tiv.i.ty (noun): The way in which you use your gorgeous brain to look at the world just a little bit differently. This often results in the development of something inspiring, amazing, and just really damn cool.

Con.fi.dence (noun): That warm, glowy feeling in the pit of your stomach that tells you, "Yes, you've got this. Even though you put your sweater on inside-out and backwards today, you've still got this. Now go be amazing."

I'm writing for people who have both of these things in spades but who perhaps don't always realize it. Somehow these qualities got buried deep down inside their guts, and they just need some tools to help dig em out.

I want to provide these tools. 

This new site will be a place for people who tend to be turned off by typical self-help methods, people who get a little queasy when they come across cliches like "Live, Laugh, Love" or "If God brings you to it, he'll bring you through it!" It will be a place to get all of the helpful advice and goodness that we all need packaged in a way that won't make you sick.

In many ways, it's going to be sort of like Avoiding Atrophy PLUS. Same weird lady (me). Same bizarre writing voice PLUS actionable lessons that will help your life explode into a fireworks display of confidence, creativity, and joy.

Doesn't that sound fun? I think so.

That said, if any of this is resonating with you, and if you think you'd like to stay on this journey that is Christy O'Shoney writing stuff and releasing it to the world, here's the deal:

In the weeks leading up to December 1st, I'll be sending out updates and goodies straight to my subscriber's inboxes (in a totally non-annoying way, I promise). As we prepare to launch this thing, that will be the #1 way to keep up with the haps with this new site. If in the meantime you want to continue hearing from me and be the first to know when christyoshoney.com goes live (or you know, if you just want to be a friend and show your solidarity), go ahead and click the button below:


While I'm so excited for this move, obviously I'd be lying if I said I wasn't totally freaked out too. All of the expected questions are racing through my mind: What if nobody shows up? What if this is a legit horrible idea? What if all of my fingers fall off and I can't write anymore?

But here's the comfort I have: you. All of you. Over the years, the people who have visited this blog have been some of the most generous, hilarious, and frankly enjoyable folks in the world. Whenever you leave a comment or give a shoutout on Twitter, I sneak over to your profiles and websites, and I am just floored by all of your brilliance, kindness, and zest for life. So if you guys stick with me, I think I'll be just fine.

And that leads me to my obvious conclusion: Thank you. Thank you so much. I just never can believe the support I've received here. From my family, my community, and all of the friends I have made along the way -- I still can't believe you guys show up to read the things I write, and I feel luckier than I can even express. 

And now, as I step away from this place, I'd like to conclude with some thoughts from my first ever post on this here blog:

We could choose to pursue life with a boldness and determination that we always dreamed we would or we could sit, lie, wait, and let our muscles atrophy until we don't even resemble human. For me, I choose the former.

Thanks for making the difficult choice to avoid atrophy with me over the past four years.

Let's keep it up.

Boobs, 
Christy O'Shoney

Pssst PS: If you want to reach out to me in the meantime, feel free to shoot me an email to hello@christyoshoney.com or follow along and give me a shout on Twitter or InstagramOh, and here's one more chance to sign up for that mailing list I told you about:



18 comments:

  1. Congratulations Christy! You are going to rock the new site! Can't wait to see it, though I'll miss Avoiding Atrophy. On that note, what is going to happen to this blog? Can you archive it (or your favorite bits of it) on your new site? Or perhaps even publish your blog posts in a legit book of "Essays", to be sold in college bookstores everywhere? Just kidding, but only just. You've written some great stuff on here. : ) Good luck on your new project! - Aurora

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    1. Aurora, thanks so much for the encouragement! And ooo you are giving me IDEAS! The plan was to leave this site up and archive some of the good bits on the new site, but maybe there might be a better way to repackage it. I'll be thinking, and if you have any more thoughts, send em my way :)

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  2. You turned my "oh no!" into a "hell, yes, you go!" I'm pumped for you--can't wait to see it unveiled!

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    1. Yes! That was my evil plan ;) I'm looking forward to unveiling it, and I may even show it to you before it goes live so that I can borrow your designer eye (if you don't mind, that is)!

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  3. I am so ready to follow you over to your next adventure! :)

    Also, that Josh Groban photo is a national treasure.

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    1. I'm so glad you'll be following, Tessa! And lol, when I stumbled upon that picture, I doubled over in laughter. It is a blessing to us all.

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  4. Congratulations. Happy for you. Can't wait to see what you post!! Xo

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    1. Thanks, Veronica! And thanks for following and being so great about leaving comments. Makes my day :)

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  5. Oh yay, how exciting, I'm thrilled! For you, but selfishly, also for me. And everybody else! Who can't use an extra dose of confidence and creativity? We all do!
    Also, I cannot believe how much Josh Groban looks like you, it's uncanny. Are you sure you aren't twins? You should talk to your parents about this... ;-)

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    1. Miriam, this comment made me so happy! I'm so glad you're down to get some extra confidence & creativity and that you'll be following along as I get this thing started! And honestly, I still can't believe how much Josh Groban looks like me. The similarities in that picture are especially ridiculous.

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  6. I'm relatively new to your blog and tweets, I can't remember how I came by them, but I've enjoyed them very much, and now I know that my dreams aren't dumb, I'll be following at least one of them over the next few months. It's a bit arty, but that little confidence boost was probably all I needed, so thank you for that.
    Good luck with your new adventure, and I hope you don't mind us tagging along to see how it all pans out.

    Andy (@BizzoDoes)

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    1. Hey Andy! You're the one who made me crack up the other day when you tweeted me a picture of a cat using a computer. Clearly you are my kind of person :) So glad you will be tagging along as I jump over to the new site!

      And thanks so much for your kind words about my little workbook! I'm so glad it was able to help give you the nudge you needed. I'd love to hear more about what your plans are.

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    2. Yes, that was me, the productive cat, more productive than me on that particular day! :-)
      Still a little nervous about sharing (obviously), but will be tweeting my work in progress in the coming weeks, so watch this space. Or rather watch *that* space.

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  7. Well YAY! I'm excited to see the new direction you're going in and don't worry, I got solidarity for dayzzzzzzz! :D

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    1. Wooooo!!! Thanks for the solidarity, Kels! I hope I can still be in the Secret Blogger Club!

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  8. Congrats on the new venture! I'm excited to continue following your good, pro-lady vibes and hilarity. Cheers!

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    1. Thanks, Andy!! I'm so glad you're picking up on my pro-lady vibes, and I'm pumped that you'll be following along!

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