Reflections: June Wrap Up & Ten Lessons Learned…
“Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.” Alexander Graham Bell
Reflections: June Wrap Up & Ten Lessons Learned... The Sun shines on all... eventually
June turned out to be a month of sunny surprises and, given the abundance of riches I’ve received, I’d love to share a few lessons and blessings with my fellow bloggers. Doing the Daily Post has been incredibly challenging; however, my blog friends, commitment to the challenge and focusing on self-effort are a few things that sustained me. I am grateful for the friends I’ve made, the support from WP, and the lessons I’ve learned. Thank you all! Here are a few things to consider as we blog; I hope they will help us all to keep blogging away.
♥ Make friends with other bloggers and treat them as golden. Comment on buddies blogs and other blogs regularly.
♥ Focus on your blog game and stay away from excessive drama in the form of distractions and conflicts with other bloggers.
♥ Choose your topic, be it through the Daily Post prompts, your own ideas, or a Writing Challenge like #Trust30 and MamaKat’s and present it with great care; visuals, content, and anything that makes it sing…
♥ Write what you know, speak your truth and give your best effort…. Do You!
♥ Remember to be grateful and express it… A grateful heart is a heart that opens the door to more goodwill.
What has sustained you and what would you add? There are five more below 🙂
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought.” Buddha
Reflections: June Wrap Up & Ten Lessons Learned... Nothing can eclipse your focus
♥ Remember that for everything there is a season and your blog will shine in its own time.
♥ Many top bloggers started without fanfare and grew their blog over time. Effort pays dividends eventually.
♥ Connect with folk on other social network sites and on other blogs, and remember that no one can eclipse your blog… but you.
Our thoughts have enormous power; we must be mindful of what we wish for ourself and others. I was thrilled when I found my blog post on SADE had been Freshly Pressed and then I was humbled by my blog being added to the Daily Post Showcase: 10 Prolific Post a Day/Week Participants. I believe Nancy gave me the heads-up on the latter today. It would be dishonest if I said I am not happy. I am delighted. Yet, I do recognize that there are thousands of bloggers out there who are equally deserving… We all are and each person will have their turn.
As some of my blog friends know, I started this journey in 2008 and it has been a slow and sometimes difficult journey. But, I have persevered and focused on enjoying the process and doing the hard work. It hasn’t been easy… Like many of you, I come to my blog daily with a song and a prayer to do the best job I can. We all make mistakes, we write things we later have to re-write; still, we come to the task anyway… Perfection is not required. I love blogging and I am pleased with WP and the great support we get; remember they give us help freely. I think that an important question we ought to ask ourselves every day is: Why blog?
Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Reflections: June Wrap Up & Ten Lessons Learned... Wink along with the turtle...
#Trust30 is an online initiative and 30-day writing challenge. The #Trust30 Prompt: Mess up your hair. If you are wearing makeup – smudge it. If you have a pair of pants that don’t really fit you – put them on. Take a picture. Get ready to post it online. Are you feeling dread? Excitement? Is this not the image you have of yourself? Write about the fear or the thrill that this raises in you? Who do you need to look good for and what story does it tell about you? Or why don’t you care?
♥ Stay true to who you are and what you enjoy writing about… and do the work; even if you are misunderstood.
♥ Join in Writing Challenges like the Daily Post, #Trust30 and the many writing opportunities out there like Problogger’s 31 Days To Building a Better Blog.
♥ BONUS: Don’t ever forget to show your appreciation to your readers/subscribers and blog buddies…start with Thank You!
We all want to be appreciated and heard but we must start with self love and stay true to our story. How do you truly view yourself? We are not defined by our accolades; yes, they are positive markers on our journey but we must have our own goals – our eyes on our prize… whatever that is. The turtle gets to his destination albeit slowly. Every one has a journey and a season to accomplish their journey. If not now, then later… My advice to others here and elsewhere is to stay focused on your blog work (or other work), make friends with other bloggers, and keep at it… Your blog will grow and your day will certainly come! 🙂 What about you? What are your thoughts? How do you decide what to focus on? Do you need to re-frame your blog work? Do share! Thank you. 😉
Positive Motivation Tip: Focus on your game and trust that your work will bear fruit in its own time…
This post was inspired by a prompt from WP Daily Post: How’s your blog coming along? What’s been your favorite part of the challenge? Is there anything you want to see more (or less) of here at The Daily Post? and RalphWaldoEmerson.me: Are you feeling dread? Excitement? Is this not the image you have of yourself? Write about the fear or the thrill that this raises in you? Who do you need to look good for and what story does it tell about you? Or why don’t you care?
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: Photos Sunflower, Eclipse, and winking turtle via Wikipedia
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
Elizabeth,
I commend you for your diligence. Your blog is developing nicely. My goal now that other areas of my life are more settled is to get back on a regular posting schedule. Although I don’t think that I’m ready to post daily yet. 🙂 Juggling family, work and blogging can be challenging. Well done. Keep up the good work.
TY Wyletter! Good to see you blogging again… It’s been a long year and I look forward to completing the journey like everyone else out there. 🙂
Of course, I’m green, but I also think yours is one of the intensely professional blogs on the Daily Post Challenge.and deserved every bit of recognition you’ve garnered. You’ve set a high standard, but given me much to think about. Thank you.
The sentiments are mutual Katherine… I truly believe that the bloggers I’ve met so far are stellar,… every one of you have helped me grow. TY! 🙂
Elizabeth,
You are truly an incredible person (though I don’t know you personally) and blogger. You have set a bench mark for all to achieve.
Thank you Angeline as I think the same of you… I try my best but I know I am a work in progress and have a lot to learn… TY! 🙂
The sun’s rays do not burn
until brought to a focus.”
Alexander Graham Bell
+
your style to write, to develop thoughts during you have your fingers on your keyboard A to Z – this style is the carpet on which my own thinking gets to focus like the first sunbeam every morning. your words are every morning the door to my day, the turtle on which I ride, to discover some more thoughts….
Thank you Frizztext! I feel the same about the way you work too. Your photography is amazing and you put a lot of effort into organizing them for us. TY! 🙂
You have one of the most professional looking blogs and your writing style shines. I love to come here.
TY Jackie, You do a wonderful job of encouraging everyone and making us all look good. Keep your poetry writing going. You have a great talent there Jackie. 🙂
Hi Elizabeth,
When I got the email today, I read it through just to see who was mentioned. I was very pleasantly surprised when I saw Mirth and Motivation on the list. I know that blog, I thought. Couldn’t have happened to a more dedicated blogger. I’m as thrilled for you as I would have for myself. You’ve worked hard and diligently and your work’s been recognized. Congratulations!
I actually have two blogs but I’ve almost retired the other one — a professional blog — because I’m having so much fun writing the travel one. It brings me such me joy to write it, it’s pretty easy to stick with it.
Thanks for continuing to read and comment on my blog and congratulations again on the accolades you’ve received. What a week!
Marcia
Oh do share your 2nd blog! My 2nd blog has suffered of late… Between family needs and other demands, I have not given it enough attention… Need to do that again. Thanks for the congrats but we all share it. No one is a slacker. I know everyone works so hard… TY! 🙂
You have had a lovely week! So glad for you. I hope you get lots of new readers from the exposure 🙂
You too Tilly! Plus I got a chance to read your other blog… Wow, now You are busy! TY! 🙂
We all make mistakes, we write things we later have to re-write; still, we come to the task anyway… Perfection is not required! I love blogging. I really like that, we don’t have to be perfect-just write and let your thoughts flow. I’ve enjoyed my journey !! You have a great blog ! 🙂
So do you Penny. TY for the support… I’ve enjoyed your blogging too. 🙂
And errors come with the territory… C’est la vie! 🙂
Great inspiration and advice eliz! Lately I seem to go in spurts with my blog but I think the content has been improving over time. I have no idea how you post everyday and such great content and inspiration to boot! Keep doing what YOU”RE doing my friend! I’ll keep plugging along, too.
Thanks!!
b
A lot of grace; God’s and people’s grace helping me here… Thnak you for the support. You were my first regular reader and I still owe you a nice meal lady. Thanks for the support and for the hard work you do too. 🙂
Congratulations, Elizabeth, on making the WordPress 10 Most Prolific list – it couldn’t happen to a nicer blogger 🙂
Thank you Donna! I am still a huge DIY fan.. Thanks to you and your superman hubby! 🙂
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought.” Buddha
So true.
Don’t worry about what the world wants from you. Focus on what makes you feel more fully alive. What the world really needs are people who are fully alive. ~ Joseph Campbell
Congrats! 😀
Amen to that… our thoughts, our focus, our life. TY! 🙂
Well said! You are a blessing to those who choose to know you. Keep going!:-)
B
Thank you and be blessed too! 🙂
Great tips! I agree that staying true to yourself and your writing is key. If you remain authentic, the readers will come to you. And bloggy support is key! I’ve made some wonderful friends thru blogging.
Thank you Leigh Ann! I’m with you on that one… Even when I have considered writing other subjects, I get pulled back to what I enjoy and what I know … and I pray other like-minded souls appreciate ti too. TY! 🙂
Will stop by to say hello to you.
You are such an inspiration!! You not only post every day, but you post such well thought out and uplifting posts! Complete with your thoughts, photos, and quotes… your posts always brighten my day!!
And,I love that eclipse photo!
So are you Rosa. Remember when we started in January? I’ve learned so much from your post, and have grown to appreciate all forms of art; not just modern and classical pieces. TY! 🙂
Have you ever watched House? I’ve been thinking lately about the way in which blog entries take root in my brain. It’s more often than not some small interaction I’ve witnessed or conversation I’ve had that gets the wheels in my brain turning. I’ll think, “I need to write about x!” Then I’ll sit down with the intention of write x, only to discover that what I really need to write was x’s cousin, g. It’s a fun process of discovery made all the merrier by the wonderful company along Discovery Road!
Yes and I love that show… all the medical intrigue and meanderings… I find that happens to me too. I start one thing and end on another tangent… then reeling it in is more work… the joy of discovery I suppose. TY! 🙂
Hi Elizabeth. When I started to blog on March 1 I had no idea how much fun I would have. And I love the discipline of a blog a day. As you say it doesn’t have to be perfect it just has to reflect the person writing the blog.
Congratulations on the awards – well deserved.
And I do so agree with Deborah above. My posts often go off far away from the direction in which they were headed. Stream of consciousness eh?
Judith
Thanks Judith and I’m glad we connected too. I go off on tangents often. LOL! Yeah, that perfection thing is wearing… I had to let go of the need to make it perfect. I like going over a post and fixing it, correcting typos, logic, and so on… I mean books go through multiple revisions so why not our blogs. TY! 😉
Oh yeah and I just noticed. Keep your eyes on the prize not price… Oh the tyranny of typos!!! LOL! 🙂