Reflections: Lessons From The Blogging Journey…
“The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.” Don Williams, Jr.
Reflections: Lessons From The Blogging Journey... Go with the flow...
Go with the Flow:
September sneaked in quietly yesterday, and with it, our blogging journey or daily blogging challenge entered its final quarter of the year. It has been an exhilarating ride with many ups and downs, lessons, tips, and mistakes learned along the way. For starters, when I jumped in, feet first, in January, I was convinced it would be both grueling and rewarding … it has been tough, plus a lot more. While the early days of the blogging challenge were fraught with endless worrying about being sleep deprived and finding suitable topics or enough to say, I wrote on it here, I learned pretty quickly that it was imperative to go with the flow and find a format that worked. I decided to post daily and cover topics that were uplifting and motivational… Other ideas have since flowed from there.
What I continue to learn:
♥Connecting with all of my new blogging friends and more has been a blessing and filled with graceful moments.
♥Revisiting our blogging style and goals is imperative.
♥Conversing with our blogging friends helps us shed light on common issues and find answers.
“Keep your face to the sunshine and you can not see the shadow” Helen Keller.
Reflections: Lessons From The Blogging Journey... See the Bigger Picture...
See the Bigger Picture:
As the days flew by, we got to connect with other bloggers on the WP platform on a big select-your-blog-buddy blowout party day that brought a slew of new writers into my blogging life. This wonderful gift created a new challenge for us; How do we manage the commenting portion of supporting a growing group of blog buddy friends and still find time to… sleep or eat? It became quite apparent that part of growing our blog ties and supporting our new blog buddies required a clear commitment to a plan; I subscribed to all my partners blogs and have continued to comment on their blogs daily. I find that it is a key way to build a strong community of blog friends as we all love to receive comments on our blogs, and blogging is a reciprocal act. We give and we get.
The bigger picture of it all is that to maintain longevity as bloggers, we need to keep pushing ourselves to grow and try new ways of reaching others, writing our content, and connecting… For now, the goal is to keep maturing and stretching myself and this blog on the journey. Thank you to all of you who stop by to read my blog; silent visitors, blog buddies/friends, the curious, and more… 😉
What I continue to learn:
♥Using tools like Zemanta, Publicize , Press This, Learn WP, Plinky, and WP’s many other features that make the process run smoothly, will make our effort shine.
♥The Like button is a wonderful tool for showing appreciation for fellow bloggers; especially when crunched for time.
♥Blogging Daily instead of twice a week is serious business.
“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” Ursula K. LeGuin
Reflections: Lessons From The Blogging Journey... Stay the Course...
Stay the Course:
With all the tools available to us… this is an easy one. The way I see it, that initial urge that made me say yes to the challenge continues to give me the courage and the wherewithal to find a comment, an idea, a quote, a daily post, a conversation, an event, a photo or an inner prompting to daily write a post and add my voice to the conversation. I find that on days when nothing comes to mind, I can revisit some of the old prompts or an old post and take a nugget from it and write a post; it is not always easy but, thankfully, we can tweak a post and add more content later. The key is to keep writing and avoid censoring our voice…
What I continue to learn:
♥Revamping my blog has opened my eyes to the value of periodically refreshing our blog themes/designs.
♥Editing and Updating our information is a blessed necessity.
♥Finding new and creative ways/information to post has to be part of the process. More on this later! 🙂
“A journey is best measured in friends rather than miles.” Tim Cahill
Reflections: Lessons From The Blogging Journey...Blog Friends Come & Go...
Blog Friends Come & Go:
As the months flew by, I found that some of my blog buddies drifted off, following other pursuits or personal commitments. I had imagined we would all stay on the journey but that is not a realistic assessment; shift happens, life happens. We sometimes choose to move away and move on… All happened during this blogging year and I learned a lot from it. What have I enjoyed most? The best part is that I have met and made many new and wonderful blog friends and kept many of my old ones too. I know it will continue as I reach out to other new bloggers. I look forward to that part of our blog growth. And You?
What I continue to learn:
♥People change direction and so do our commitments; bloggers come and go and it’s OK too.
♥Community takes reciprocal effort and even more active/participatory effort.
♥Time has, in all its permutations, been the biggest challenge.
What are your thoughts? What has the blog challenge done for you? What is your strongest take-away to date? Do share! Thank you. 😉
This post was inspired by a prompt from WP Daily Post: Tell us, when did you start doing Post a Day/Week, and what have you enjoyed most about it so far?
Positive Motivation Tip: Every journey starts with a step and changes happen… go with the flow…
Related articles
- Reflections: Wherever We Go, There We Are (eof737.wordpress.com)
- Reflections: Changes & A Blog Hop… (eof737.wordpress.com)
- Reflections on Blogging: Seven Posts That Helped Along The Way… (eof737.wordpress.com)
- Falling Short of Expectations (insanityofmotherhood.com)
- Reflections: June Wrap Up & Ten Lessons Learned… (eof737.wordpress.com)
- Inspiration: Twelve Tips To Help Shift Our Attitude… (eof737.wordpress.com)
- The Story so far…… (personalpower4me.wordpress.com)
- 7 Lessons I Learned by Starting Over with Blogging (problogger.net)
- Baby Steps (bloggingwithoutablog.com)
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos Seaside Ao Thong Nai Pan , Green Island Panama, Road in Pyrenees, Blog traveler, via Wikipedia.
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
Thanks for the thoughts. I’ve found them truly comforting! I also like a lot the quotes you’ve chosen to go along your post.
TY Nora for your comment. I appreciate your feedback and will follow up on your blog too…
It has been quite the journey and I am glad we are in the final quarter of it all…
Best wishes to you on your blogging journey too. 🙂
I’m so happy to have met you on this journey and am blessed to have you as a blogging buddy. your posts are always so inspiring and uplifting and I look forward to reading them. Sorry I don’t comment as often as I should. I hope to do more now that I am more settled.
TY Stacey! It has been an honor being your buddy too! I know you’ve been busy with the move and work… We all have our busy times and it can’t be helped. TY for your kind words and I look forward to all of us completing the year on a high note. 🙂
Tomorrow will make mark month one of my blogging journey…and I anticipate a strong…rewarding…blogging buddies journey. Thank You for all of your feedback and posts…Stay Positive.
Congratulations on your first month! I’m glad you’ve kept it up and I do enjoy your beautiful poetry… Glad to be your buddy too. 🙂
Blog challenge gave me many precious friends all over the world.
Same here… 🙂
Hi liebchen Eliz
the blog buddies i started with are different to the ones i have now. there are now fewer but they are ‘true blue’ – people i could spend an arvo or two with.
Hi Narelle,
I agree with you… I’ve had a few changes too from the original blog buddy group I connected with and I’m grateful for all of you who continue to be a support to me and vise versa. I cherish everyone who stops by to comment as we all have our lives; other pressing needs and commitments. When someone takes the time to leave us a comment, it is because they care enough to say something… 🙂
I’m still fine-tuning my effort to respond to all comments on my blog, however, what I don’ t ever miss, even when I’m off sick or away, is to catch up on leaving comments on others blogs… It is most important to support others blogging efforts. I don’t take that casually.
I appreciate the silent readers too because they care enough to stop by , to quietly read our posts, and keep us growing… So I do have to thank everyone who visits my blog and … Yes, I agree with you, all are true blue people! TY! 🙂
dear Eliz, I have to admit, your blog has been the most inspiring for me. psychology (positive motivation) and philosophy were already lifelong interests for me, but reading your blog, I saw many ideas to combine those topics with music and photography. thank you so much!
TY Frizztext,
You were one of my earliest blog buddies and have been a real champion to a lot of us in the group. I love that we connected early and honestly, and because you work with topics that engage me; music, philosophy, politics, photography, I know I stretch myself with what you write… I have learned as much from you too, TY! 🙂
Even in the time I have been Blogging I have been surprised by the way people comeand go. SOmetimes people commnet on your every post only to vanish withour notice, while others pop out of nowhere and begin followig your journey. It is an interesting one, and I am pleased to share it with you
Peter,
You have been a gem too… and yes, I was surprised by some truly inspiring blog buddies who moved on to other great things… without another word. I have loved the way the journey continues to evolve and have met, and continue to connect with amazing bloggers; all of you! TY too! 🙂
I like re-vamping my blog’s look from time to time. Not too much, I like it to be familiar to readers; just a little tweaking.
Yes Tilly,
I do a little tweaking now and again… not to much. 🙂
After I changed my theme early in the year, I made some changes to clean up my busy page and I like it so far. I keep thinking of adding a familiar picture to my mast/banner but simple is better… I have a few ideas for end of year… so we shall see. TY for being a buddy too.:-)
Blogging has so many rewards, learning, achieving, challengeing and making new friends. What better way to make the world go round than by people really caring about those that come in contact with.
It is my aim to make one new contact every day and so far I have done that
Hi Pat,
That is a brilliant goal to connect with at least one new person a day… I love it. What I find helps too is to follow back every new person who leaves a comment and subscribe and comment on their blog too. I believe that is how i made my connection with you and several others… 😉
I also love that we are on different continents and time zones, and keep each other informed of our localities… it is priceless. TY blog friend! 😉
Great Post!
TY Bwinwnbwi,
You have been on quite the journey too and I enjoy reading up on it… 🙂
Blogging has been a very pleasant experience for me, and as you said many twists of ups and downs along the way, but I have learned so much and getting to know other bloggers is awesome. Life holds many paths, holds many surprises, and some disappointments, but in all its a great life. !!
Hi Penny,
I agree that it has been a pleasant experience too for me… The rest is life and that adds to what we can/do write about. Having readers stop by and enjoy a post is terrific. Getting to know other bloggers has been a special blessing and I am thankful to all of you too! 🙂
The journey continues…
Eliz, you are pretty wonderful about visiting my blog and commenting regularly–even though our themes are very different. I like having different voices commenting. I remember how I found your blog initially in my early days of starting my blog (just 8 months ago!). Your gravatar caught my eye on Cocomino’s blog & then the name of your blog–who could resist such an uplifting title like Mirth & Motivation? Your writing & wonderful photos have kept me coming back for more Thank for your blog! Don’t ever stop.
Thank you too Freedom and I agree that even though we cover such different territory, we still find ways to connect in our writings… Ultimately, all are human stories… 🙂
I’m glad we are buddies too and I learn from every interaction with other bloggers; it helps my growth and thinking too… TY for the kind words, and keep on blogging too. 🙂
The journey is more meaningful and fulfilling when we walk together , share thoughts that bring optimism and postive change, to listen and offer a kind word of encouragement, to inspire and support particularly those that are new, to simply be there when everyone else seems busy with the world around them and to just say, ” Hi, I’m here. That was a great post.”
TY and you have been a terrific support too with your comments and positive energy… I’m happy to be you blog buddy too. TY! 🙂
I honestly don’t believe I could do a post daily. I have weeks when I can barely get one up. It’s something I’m working on… establishing a format of 2 a week and having them scheduled ahead of time. I suppose it’s time to stop flying by the seat of my pants.
So I admire you and this group who’ve made that commitment. It is not easy, but I’ve enjoyed many a beautiful post because of it and I’m grateful for that.
b
TY Barb and you have been my longest supporter to date… 🙂
We’ve come a long way lady; I know we have a long road to travel and grow… The blogging challenge has been a real lesson in learning to trust the process because there are days when I wake up and nothing shows up until I scour around and start with a quote and then the rest follows…
The various prompts have been extremely helpful too… they always offer me a trigger; even if the opposite of what is suggested. TY for the support and the sentiments are mutual about your blog too! 🙂
I’ve been posting every day for 18 months . . . it’s been quite a trip!
“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” Ursula K. LeGuin
I hear you Nancy, its been a trip for me too but, you know, we prevailed and we will be richer for it come 2012 when we throw down the gauntlet and party like it’s … Oh yeah Prince, it’s now the 2000+ decade. 😆
Tims sure flies, doesn’t it, Elizabeth? I thought about how I felt when I decided to, like you, jump in feet first. I didn’t even second guess myself. I knew if I set my mind to it, that I could do it.
I don’t remember when or how we ‘met’ but I’m glad we did. I look to you for inspiration and motivation. Thank you for being here.
Marcia
I’m glad we all met too… I know I read a comment on another buddies blog and followed you to your blog too or something like that… I think we all sorta connected on mutual buddy blogs. I’ve met others that way too… 😆
I started blogging in the challenge to get myself in the habit of writing more…I never expected to meet so many other bloggers who I would become so close with. WordPress has been such a blessing for me and so has your blog. It’s so inspiring! 🙂
You have been a blessing too Sharon because you are very honest and I like your style… I am glad we connected too and you sure impress me with all the books you read girl. I really need to set a reading goal for next year… I got lazy. TY! 😆
I’m glad I found you! Many of your thoughts have been very uplifting to me through difficult times. Thank you.
TY Robyn and so have you been a bright voice of conscience for me… always reminding me of what matters most; family, family, family. TY lady! 🙂
Congratulations on reaching this point in your daily blogging! I had started off with the Daily challenge but soon dropped back to Weekly – my blog was intended to chronicle our renovation adventures and it soon became apparent to me that there really wasn’t something to talk about every day.
I appreciate your frequent comments and blog support! 🙂
You are welcome Donna,
Your renovation story has fascinated me and I do hope you will update us on the progress now that you are back home. I have loved the journey and want to read a final chapter on that one…
TY for sticking it out even with all the housing demands. 🙂
Eliz- I loved reading this… Much of it struck home with me. I know I am one that has teetered off the radar from time to time with posting and commenting. Just know that I am always reading!!!
You were one of my very first blogging buddies and I am very thankful for you and ALL the support you’ve given and shared. You’ve helped me through some TOUGH patches by leaving your words or by my reading yours. For all of that and for you, I am most thankful that I am on this blogging journey. 🙂
Oh Megan,
You are a truly talented artist and special blog friend and I appreciate you as much. I have followed your journey and you mine… and you know, we went through some of the same challenges and your sharing your struggles helped me too… 😉
Plus girl, we love concerts so I love reading up on your music interests… It’s a mutual. TY! 🙂
I had no idea when I started blogging how much it would become a part of my life, much less the friends I would make along the way. Blogging was simply part of my “five year plan” to display some writing ability as I sought to create a new life for myself and move into the counseling field. I am still on target as far as the plan goes, AND the rewards have been amazing. More than honing writing skills to display to future employers, I’ve created an outlet for my thoughts and artistic interests, in addition to grad school and photography (cards, to be introduced through my “emporium” this fall). I have allowed myself to back off when necessary (school demands, or most recently, moving to another state) but I have never been far from the blogging world. What a joy. And your blog is among my favorites, always thought provoking, positive and motivational. Thank you for sharing your take on life and living with us.
TY Cecelia,
Your personal childhood story touched me when we first connected and it stays with me every-time I read a post you write, or check in to see what you are up to…
I wish you much success in your new home and plans… We have all benefited from this journey and I am happy to be connected to you and everyone on this journey.. TY! 🙂
Eliz, not only have you been faithful to your pledge of blogging daily, but you put out great content. I signed up for the month long challenge #trust30 and felt it was a big deal to complete it. You have accomplished something worthwhile and amazing.
Congratulations! Mriiam
Oh Miriam TY too! I have enjoyed connecting with you since our Ralph Waldo Emerson foray… What happened to it? 🙂
It’s been a joy connecting and since I’m a big customer service girl, I love your wonderful posts on the subject… 🙂
Thank you for your helpful and motivating post. It came exactly the right moment 🙂
Oh Maria TY! How are you doing? Those new projects are keeping you busy… Best wishes there!
I’m glad this post resonates with you and is helpful. I will stop by your blog today to follow up. 🙂
“The Daily Commitment” has become stressful at times, especially when on vacation and having to lug my laptop around. But I’ve met so many great people, read so many poems, stories, words of wisdom (yours, Eliz) and really feel a sense of community with my new blog companions. My garden needs weeding but my daily commitment is always fulfilled!!
LOL Terri! 😆
I had to laugh because you are not alone on that one… Remember I said it has been tough above? I wasn’t kidding either. 😆
My garden needs weeding but my daily commitment is always fulfilled!!
Love that line and this is why I’m happy we are all connected! TY! 🙂
It has been quite a journey, hasn’t it? My year-long commitment to get outdoors and blog about it is almost over. (I started on the autumnal equinox last year.) I might carry on with Post A Day since I’ve made it this far. I’m not sure yet. But I am glad WP came up with the idea as it’s brought many of the benefits you mentioned with it.
I still haven’t figured out how to deal with comments and have a life at the same time. lol!