Congratulations on writing 1,000 total posts on Creating life with words: Inspiration, love and truth.”
Last week, as per my husband’s expertise and infinite knowledge of blogging and bloggers, I became a serious blogger as I reached 1000 blogs!!! I could hardly believe it and I didn’t realise it until afterwards, and with a bit of a shock, when I received the words and image above.
I’d even forgotten about how close I was to 1000. No doubt countless thousands of other fabulous bloggers have reached this milestone, but oddly, it feels pretty good to be writing and posting blog number 1004 (or 5?) today. I don’t feel that serious, about blogging or anything much at all other than spending time with my husband and sons, and my advocacy work for people with dementia. As a child I was happy, but fairly serious, so I guess it goes with my personality.
Mostly I write about what it is like to be a human being, my point of view, my personal experience, my take on life.
In no way to I ever mean to offend anyone with my words, not ever, but of course, they may do so, either often or occasionally. I suppose if I piss someone off often here, they just stop reading my blog! However, I do like it when you comment, even negative ones as it helps me reflect even more honestly. Blogging and speaking about the experience of living with dementia has given me a voice, and I have been told, it has given many others with dementia, and living alongside someone living with dementia, a voice. That is such an honour and brings joy to my heart.
Since getting onto the blogging treadmill, I started following many other bloggers, one who is now a blogger and author, Jeff Goins, and in this blog he wrote;
“Writing — good writing, that is — transcends its setting and subject. It speaks to universal truths and core values, how we see the world and what we really believe. Where something happens (or even what happens) is not as significant as how. For example:
- Les Miserables isn’t about 19th-century France; it’s about grace in the face of injustice.
- Gone with the Wind isn’t about the Civil War or living in the South. It’s about the internal conflict of love and self-centeredness.
- Jurassic Park isn’t about dinosaurs living in Costa Rica. It’s about the dignity of life and limitations of science.’
I really like the way Jeff has used these well known stories to explain what he means. What we write about is not as important as how we write it, and by this I don’t mean the wordsmithing so much as writing from the heart. If we write from the heart, with candour and regular reflection, we will find our own voice. To me, that is far mor important than worrying whether or not I am writing what others want me to write. If you want to be a writer, then I’d definitely say join the world of blogging. Do it every day, to create the habit of writing. Write about fun topics, or things that really mean something to you. Make it honest, yes, really honest, and don’t worry about criticism; use that as fuel to be more honest. In the process you’ll either change your position on something, or develop a stronger resolve.
Another site I follow is Brain Pickings and I really love these word; “The writing life isn’t just filled with predictable uncertainties but with the awareness that we are always starting over again. That everything we ever write will be flawed. We may have written one book, or many, but all we know — if we know anything at all — is how to write the book we’re writing. All novels are failures. Perfection itself would be a failure. All we can hope is that we will fail better. That we won’t succumb to fear of the unknown. That we will not fall prey to the easy enchantments of repeating what may have worked in the past. I try to remember that the job — as well as the plight, and the unexpected joy — of the artist is to embrace uncertainty, to be sharpened and honed by it.” from an interview by Maria Popov; Dani Shapiro on Vulnerability, the Creative Impulse, the Writing Life, and How to Live with Presence. Do go to the site and read and watch the full interview. It is wonderful.
I’ve met literally hundreds of people online now, and developed some beautiful friendships, not dissimilar to having penpals, and my world has become a more interesting one because of them, and because of writing and blogging. So, will I bother to count down to my 2000th blog? I don’t think so, but will I keep blogging… most definitely!!!
Hello Kate. I have only discovered you today and wonder if you might be able to help me please? I want to blog, to write, to share my thoughts, feelings and experiences with people ‘out there’, but I just keep failing when I try to start a blog. How do I blog? My email address is colettemmgavin@gmail.com
I’ve enjoyed having a look at some of your writing and have enjoyed reading it! I hope that you don’t mind me writing to you and I hope you will get in touch. Many thanks. Colette
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The best thing to do… especially if you have a WordPress blog already set up, is to keep doing their tutorials untiol you get te hang of it! From setting one up, to writing beqyond the first blog that WordPress sets up for you, it took me about three months, and these days, I regularly have to re-do the various tutorials about how to do things,even posting a blog… just get going, set yourself a daily writing goal as the habit of writing is really helped by that, find your voice, be brave and have fun. II often see at around the three month mark, bloggers get a lot of negative feedback, and I see that many stop blogging… Keep in mind, what you write and think is your business, and people don’t have to agree with it… if they don’t like it, they don’t have to read it!
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Dear Kate, it is a thought provoking journey to follow your blog. You are heart warming, genuine and sincere. I am truly blessed to know you and to be able to call you my friend.
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Likewise dear Jan xox
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Congratulations Kate! A fantastic achievement! In addition to your 1000 posts, I’m sure your writing has inspired many more posts by other bloggers 🙂
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Hi Clare, thanks and hope the ‘time for Clare’ is working out too?! x
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wish I was as dedicated, I still hesitate about putting it out there 🙂
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no need to worry about that, but I do love reading them when you do x
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CONGRATULATIONS!! I love reading your blog and the interesting topics 🙂
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and I love your friendship x
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CONGRATULATIONS! XXX
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It slipped past me, and then WordPress sent me the blue ‘award’! the best part of blogging is having made so many new blog-pals x
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Congratulations Kate! I think I’m on about 15 so a long way to go. But, as ever, you’re an inspiration. I also loved what you said about the art of writing: do it honestly. Otherwise it’s simply not worth a jot is it? Much love – and onward and upwards. xx
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Onwards and upwards for sure Pippa… I look forward to reading your next 985 blogs! xox
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Wow! 1000 blogs 🙂 Congratulations Kate – and well done Pete for highlighting this important landmark 😉 But it is the quality of your writing that is the really special thing – really thought-provoking topics, wonderful honesty and deep humanity. Keep blogging my dear friend and keep challenging us all to be better people! xox
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Happy to be in the blogosphere with you dear friend xx
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congratulations Kate, I really look forward to reading your insightful and instructive blogs, and look forward to the next 1000. Keep well, you are a very special person.
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No pressure there Wendy… only another 996 to go then!!! x
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Congratulations Kate – keep up the wonderful thoughts and inspirations; and who cares if you piss someone off? It’s YOUR thoughts and experiences that matter to you and the people who follow you. You should feel proud that you’ve achieved so much. xx
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Haha, thanks for the support Dominique! Made me laugh x
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Keep blogging my friend….It has been an amazing journey on so many levels. So glad we crossed paths! Congrats for staying with it 🙂 Happy weekend…Blessings…VK xxoo
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I’m so glad too… maybe we will meet one of these days! We have a wedding in Florida later this year, but I’m guessing that is nowhere near you? xox
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