1 Year. And Counting…

One year ago this weekend, I ventured out into the blogosphere.  In this Happy Anniversary to Me Post, here’s a few of my observations and reflections over the past year:

STATS: 882 posts. 215,946 views. 14,202 comments. (Can these be real?)

INSANITY. Doing The Same Thing Over and Over and Expecting a Different Result. My “Tags” have reproduced like rabbits. 1,946 Tags. (WHAT. AM. I. DOING. HERE? I have Tag addiction. I tried to create a Page and they all wouldn’t fit. Tags have become the drawer that you keep stuffing the “really important stuff” that you’re going to need later – the drawer is now impossible to open and close. And I have no idea how to unwind this monstrosity.)

I Just Don’t Get It. My “Categories.” I have 11 categories. I mark most posts with many categories. (So, exactly how are you helping your followers find a post if they all have the same categories?)

NAGGING at me.  Months ago, Joe C. had told me that I had my Blog Name (Lead.Learn.Live) backwards.  He believed it should be re-ordered “Live.Learn.Lead.” (As each day passes, I think he’s right.  Yet, I can’t do it.  I can’t change it.  I just can’t. NO. NO. NO.)

SHARES vs. Self-Produced Posts.  Posts are heavily weighted to “shares” or “curated” content.  (Used to bother me.  No more.  If it moves me, it’s going up.)

SURPRISED Myself.  This blog’s content has veered sharply away from “LEAD” and “LEARN” into “LIVE.” (Not sure how and when…but we’re going with it.)

WHY do I do this?  I ask myself this same question. Bottom line: It’s therapeutic.  I enjoy it.  All of it. (Yet, has this become another one of your compulsive horse races to achieve?  And, for what end?  Ahhh, really?  You had to go there.  Just let it go pal.  Just for one day.  Cut yourself some slack.)

Most SURPRISING.  The blogger community. A new world.  Wired. Warm. An introvert’s Fantasy Island.

Dance With the One That Brung Ya: Thank you Todd Lohenry, Kurt @ Cultural Offering, Steve @ Anderson Layman’s Blog and Nicholas Bate who gave me a leg up when I first started.

Bloggers EXTRAORDINAIRE: I continue to add to my Blog Roll.  Check out these Bloggers – you’ll find it will be time well spent.

AWARDS.  I’ve been saving this one since August 27th. Thank you Cristi @ Simple.Interesting. for nominating me for the “Family of Bloggers Award.”

Here’s my nominees.  This list comprises bloggers (and non-bloggers) who have followed me from my early days.  You all inspire me each day (often early morning) with your own posts, your visits, your views, your likes, your comments, your hits, your jabs, your sighs and your insights.  Thank you for following and your friendship.   (And I’ll be mortified if I’ve left anyone out…)

• Mimi @ Waiting For The Karma Truck
• Lori @ Donna & Diablo
• LaDona @ LaDona’s Music Studio
• Anake Goodall
• Marina Kanavaki
• Michael Brown @ Real Learning For A Change
• Michael @ We Move Together
• Anneli @ Words From Anneli
• Francine@ Francine In Retirement
• Tina @ Practical Practice Management
• Alex @ The Liberated Way
• Peter Cook @ Peter Cook – The Rock’n’Roll Business Blog
• Sandy @ Another Lovely Day
• Stephen @ Life Revelation
• Sarah @ SarahPotterWrites
• Feygirl @ Serenity Spell
• Laurie @ Passionate Performance
• Carol @ Flowers, Trees, & Other Such Gifts of Nature
• Kristin @ Let Life In Practices
• John R. Childress – Rethinking Leadership
• Ray @ A Simple Village Undertaker
• Thank you to non bloggers: srp17, Lorne and Sonia.

Here’s to another year on this ride…

Image Source: awesomeness-of-nph