Last weekend I passed a milestone. It’s been four years – four years and five days, to be exact – since I published my very first post. I revisited it last night and hit a sort of good news, bad news, good news, huh situation.
- Good news – I didn’t hate it. That’s saying something since I can be pretty critical of past writing.
- Bad news – It’s not my most riveting post.
- Good news – But it does explain how I finally tumbled into blogging.
- Huh – I’d love to believe more than one person read it. I can’t prove that in a court of law.
Bygones.
I find it fascinating there are people I know who are still surprised when they find out I blog. It’s such a big part of my life I guess I figured “BLOGGER IN MOTION” is stamped across my forehead, so I usually bungle the startled reactions. I try to pull off a friendly “um, YEAH” when “You blog?!” gets tossed my way but come on, doesn’t everybody?
As it turns out, everybody doesn’t blog. There are apparently a number of people who have no idea why I’d ever want to park myself in front of a laptop and toss words onto the internet like a crazy woman. Which naturally got me to thinking about things I’ve learned while blogging that totally apply to normal people, too.
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Worrying about how many people “like” you will drive you bonkers.
Counting how many people click that like button on your post pushes you to the point of homecoming court desperation – But WHY don’t they like me?? Why didn’t they vote for me? I’m awesome, too, Becky. Same diff with the office coffee group, PTO moms, or team outings. Save yourself the grief and just like yourself.
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We don’t negotiate with terrorists.
Writing is a delicate dance of commitment and indulgence. Too heavy handed with one or the other and you’ve got gridlock, a situation that shows up in a zillion other ways. Just try scheduling two hour committee meetings at 7am every Monday in a room where they don’t allow food or drink then clock how long it takes the group to break down. Or having three day work weeks with two hour lunch breaks. #WorkLifeBalance
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Practice makes perfect-ish and perfect-ish is good.
Mama said it best – if you want to be good at something then you have to practice. Writing, sports, music, multiplication tables, learning a language, making an omelet, backflips – you want it, you gotta practice. Embrace the habit.
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Trial and error is your friend.
Who told us we’re supposed to know what we’re doing by twenty-five? I brainstorm. I write drafts. Sometimes they get tossed, sometimes they’re published. Sometimes they nail it and sometimes they bomb. Live and learn, man. Live and learn.
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Do What You Love, Love What You Do is more than a t-shirt.
Is it a stylish shirt? Sure. But you don’t really know what firing on all cylinders is until you actually miss what you do when you can’t do it.
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Congratulations! Your blog is always great, too. Thanks for posting this, it helped me as I tend to worry about likes and stats too much sometimes, along with worrying about if what I posted is any good or not. You are easily one of my favorite bloggers.
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That is very kind. 💛 You’re not alone — I spent a long time trying to learn how other bloggers gained more likes on their writing. Truth be told even now when I stumble across a post with upwards of 70 likes I wonder how that happens, it’s just that I don’t let it bother me anymore. Keep doing what you’re doing and it all falls into place!
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No food or drinks allowed at a 7am Monday meeting?! ( = no coffee)
Majorly tough to handle! 🙊🙅
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I think you’d be talking mutiny. 😉
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My family have no idea about me blogging. I told my sister once and she just laughed and thought I was joking. Really appreciate your advice.
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Nothing I do surprises my family anymore. 😆
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Whatever the reason, I’m glad you blog, and I’m glad I stumbled acrosss you.
As to “likes” and comments on my blog – they’re a lovely gift, but they’re not the reason I do it. My husband used to say “there is no such thing as good enough”. I have never agreed with that. Ever!
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Oh gracious, if that were the case then nothing would get published, ever. There’s always one more read through, one more edit, one more way to say this sentence so it flows better. Without a cutoff point we’d all go mad. 😆
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Mile stones are better than passing kidney stones. And foot prints are a good thing too. Snark – isn’t that something that goes in the spaces between foot prints and mile stones ? And sometimes on t-shirts.
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All of this sounds like expert commentary (I’ll have to take your word on that kidney stone thing though). And snark definitely belongs on those T-shirts!
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I am taking others words on that too.
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Good advice all around. ~raises a glass of metaphorical beer~
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As in blogging, so also in life! (Or some such quotable toast.)
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Happy anniversary (plus a few).I went back and read that first post, so now you have two likes. I always try to remember how I’ve met specific bloggers – I don’t remember, maybe through Joey. In any case, I’m glad I connected and started following, and I look forward to more of the craziness and sensibilities you share.
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I’m kind of squiggly on the details but through Joey rings a bell. I’ve always appreciated your thoughts on my posts, Dan. Thanks for being such a strong part of the blogger community. 🙂
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🙂
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Congrats. Very good advice.
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Thanks, Sadje!
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👍😉
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Congratulations and here’s to many more years. I agree that perfect-ish is good. It took me much longer than four years to figure that out. You’re a wiser woman than I. Carry on!
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Thank you! Wiser? Maybe. Or maybe it came down to accept good or drive myself crazy…
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Congrats and here’s to many more! It’s all been trial and error for me )
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So true! Sometimes I had to pry my fingers open to let it go before I remembered things serve their purpose.
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