This post is officially number 200 here on Simply Stephanie Blog. We have passed over 1,000 subscribers and in February I accomplished my published travel writing goal. It has been such a fun journey, that I figured for lucky 200 I would do a recap of lessons that I have learned from blogging in the last 199 posts.
Here we go:
- The blogosphere is sometimes nicer than the realosphere. Never once have I dreaded blogging or comments from my subscribers. I have met some incredibly nice people who support me in almost all I do, care about my well-being and overall are genuinely nice. Turning to my blog is a relief and I cherish the friends I have made from it.
- There is no right or wrong. For the longest time, I was so wrapped up in what to do and not to do to grow SSBlog. In the end, I noticed that the posts that attracted the largest audience were those in which I let everything go and was just being myself. Perhaps there is something to be said there for our everyday lives as well.
- Sticks and stones can break bones but words are like daggers to the heart. Not every post has gone well, and some have been learning lessons. Writing is incredibly challenging as words and messages can be interpreted differently due to lack of tone amongst other various factors. Sometimes, without even trying, my words have hurt others unintentionally which has led to me really focusing on what and how I am writing posts before I publish them. (Or not publishing them at all).
- Not everything needs to be shared. Sometimes silence really is golden. If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. At the same time, if what you have to say is nice but not necessarily needed, it may be more meaningful when kept to yourself.
- When in doubt, wait it out. Perhaps this also stems from maturity, but I find that when I’m uncertain to publish a post, I wait on it for a day. The past several ended up in the trash…
And lastly, but most importantly, have fun and don’t sweat the small stuff. When I started putting rules and deadlines around my blogging, I lost the desire to blog at all. Just like anything in life, you have to enjoy it for it to be worth doing. Have fun with it, let your own style show through and try not to get too wrapped up in what will do well, attract subscribers, etc. Case in point, I tried (what seemed like endlessly) to get 1,000 subscribers by December 31. It didn’t happen. I stopped trying and just enjoyed my journey, and here we are today over 1,000. The Debbie-downers and naysayers will chime in every now and then, but just like anything else in life you have to be able to not let it get to you and just keep going.
Or just keep swimming…if you’re Dori. (Jenn, that one is for).
And now we are derailing off topic so I’ll wrap it up. Thanks for coming, thanks for staying, and thanks for being you!
Stephanie
