It’s been a year since I started blogging.
I cannot believe the changes that my blog bought along in my outlook on Life.
Yes, it is indeed a year after the publishing of that first momentous blog post of mine! (Now it looks silly to me by the way, but that is beside the point )
In celebration of A Momless Mom turning one year…I am going to promise a takeaway for you from this post!
But don’t hold your breath. I am not hosting a giveaway nor planning to do something fancy for my readers. But you will surely appreciate and value what I am about to share with you today. The remainder of my post is coming straight from a journal where I used to jot down my blogging musings and thoughts of life in general. So, it is intensely personal and the best gift I can ever give you…
So, dig in!
I am sure many of you guys don’t even know that I started out my blog under the name ‘For the Love of Kids’ and the platform I used to test the ‘blogging waters’ was ‘Blogger’. Apparently, ‘ For the Love of Kids’ was a popular blog name around the world so I decided to change it to A Momless Mom, 6 months into the business! The new name related very well with my identity and the reasons I started blogging, so it turned out to be a win-win situation. Around the same time, I moved to WordPress platform and bought a domain as well! I know, too many changes, right? But I thought, who cares? It’s just me and my little blog!
‘Time’ was my best friend through out and it was forever patient in teaching me the ropes of the game. It taught me about the dices to be rolled to achieve success and to unfailingly have what it takes.
I understood perseverance was key in realizing my dreams and I plowed on even though no one was reading my blog for the first 4 months! It was hard to talk to a wall every week (I was only posting once a week then and no readers are sticking around to read even that)
But I ‘talked’ anyway.
I used to get upset whenever I check my stats. My numbers showed a dismal picture. My future as a successful blogger looked very bleak.
So I stopped looking at my stats one day. Yes, just like that! I did not want the ‘cruel and cold’ numbers to make me sad. I did not want to give it the power to make me turn back on my dreams and the success that waits for me at the end of the dark tunnel. I kept writing and posting on auto pilot. I never read what I wrote or proof read to make it look pretty. Because no one was visiting my little blog, right?
One fine evening, I decided to check my blog and literally choked on my coffee!
There was a comment awaiting moderation!!!!
I thought I am seeing things that doesn’t exist. I thought life is playing a cruel game and I am going crazy imagining things that I badly want to happen.
But, no.
There was really a comment and it was from Ann, the blogger over at Foodie in WV. I was so happy that I sprang up from my chair and started pacing. Tears clouded my vision. I couldn’t believe that someone actually stopped by and they were kind enough to take time to read my post and leave their valuable comment! I thanked God for not letting me loose my hope and give up. I slowly published Ann’s comment and with shaking hands, typed up a reply.
Please don’t think that I am being overly dramatic in relating an everyday incident as ‘blogging alone for good and no one reading your damn posts’ with such flourish. I am not giving undue stress to this point or giving more attention to it than it needs.
What I want to get across to you is a lesson that I learned in my one year of blogging life- and it is quite simple to understand and adopt in your own life- blogging or not!
“You have the power to change your life around for good only if you have the passion for it. And taking baby steps would just do the trick.” (****This is your takeaway! Haha****)
Like I said before, I did not stop writing when no one was interested in reading what I had to say. In fact, talking to the walls and listening to my own voice bouncing back at me in silence gave me strength to write more and schedule them. Ha!
Then one day, the first comment came my way. Next day, one more and the days after, a lot more…. Comments led to networking with other blogger friends, engagement in virtual support groups and finding that balance which was needed in taking my mission to the next level….And I started checking my stats again! The projected year looks fabulous to me
I love my readers to bits for not giving upon me and trusting me to provide you with my two cents!
I am forever thankful to Ann in helping me believe in my dreams.
And no, she has no clue that I am writing about her today. I know it is kind of like blindsiding her but I am sure she will appreciate this in knowing that she was very much instrumental in helping me keep my faith in what I wanted to do.
And I had the nerve to stick to it!
Thank you Ann! I am dedicating this post to you! You know you deserve it!
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Happy 1 year Birthday! Its a great accomplishment!
Thank you Rob!
I like the take away! Happy Anniversary!!!
Thanks Jeff!
What a fantastic accomplishment! I’m sure this past year went by quickly and soon it will be your 10 year! Congrats.
Thank you for your kind words Stephanie 🙂
Awww, you’re so sweet 🙂 I’m glad that I was able to be a part of your blogging journey! I had the same thoughts when I started blogging, that I was basically talking to myself. Luckily as the years have gone by I have found a lot of great people to interact with online (including you :). Happy blog anniversary and I wish you a ton of continued success and blogging in the future!
Foodie in WV recently posted…Guest Post: 5 Reasons Why Parents Need Food Storage for Healthy Cooking
Thanks Ann! I am always grateful to have a friend like you whom I can look up to and learn from 🙂
Momless Mom recently posted…Baby Steps Goes a Million Miles- A Momless Mom is a Year Old!
What a great milestone. I’m sure you’ve worked very hard for this. Happy Anniversary.
Brad Lynch recently posted…Government Shutdown Stops Loan Processes
So nice of you to remember how you got started and send a big thank you that way. Congrats!
I didn’t know any better way to celebrate my one year Jim! Thanks for joining me on my milestone day 🙂
Momless Mom recently posted…Baby Steps Goes a Million Miles- A Momless Mom is a Year Old!
Many congratulations, Vinma! I’ll complete a year in January and I remember the time when I felt like I was talking to a wall. But the need to write was so strong that I kept doing it. It’s great how you dedicated this post to your first ‘commenter’ and that you remember her!
TK recently posted…Whatever your choice, you’re a hard-working mom!
Thank you TK.. And advance happy anniversary on your big day coming up! Its a great achievement. You are right about that strong pull that we feel about writing something or anything and there is no one out there to listen to you. But we do it anyway… I am glad to get to know you as a fellow blogger and friend and its wonderful to know that blogging made that happen. I look forward to many more years of our friendship and support that we give for each other.. Thank you for sharing my happiness today 🙂
How exciting for you! All that hard work has paid off. Happy Anniversary!
Thank you Casey 🙂
Happy blog birthday! In my line of work – energy healing – when we look for something like stats when they aren’t there, there is a possibility of fueling scarcity energy. So when you stopped looking and broke that cycle by not looking, you were able to attract the right readers to your blog. It’s kinda like the old saying a watched pot never boils. So happy you stuck to it! Great post!!!
Loretta recently posted…October Group Call!
Thank you Loretta! You are right, I was wasting my positive energy on worthless stats which could give me nothing but misery. Once I stopped looking at it, I became happier and more focused on my goals.
Being a blogger myself I have to say – CONGRATS on sticking with it for a whole year! That is a great accomplishment!
Thank you Laura! Yes, it is indeed a great feet! And I am proud of doing what needed to be done 🙂
Blogging / writing is a great therapy and helps you grow yourself
Dov Shapira recently posted…Modification of pre-hung double French door with mini blinds
Very wise, Dov 🙂
Congrats on your 1 year mark! I am going on my third year and my blog has grown in so many ways! I wish you much success with your blog!
Jennifer Clay recently posted…PB+J Foods Eradicates Severe Acute Malnutrition in Underdeveloped Nations
Thanks Jennifer 🙂
Happy Blogiversary! It is so true that we need to take baby steps, and just keep going. I have been blogging for a little while (couple of years) but only recently decided it was time to connect to other bloggers. It has been the best thing ever – but I did it when the time was right for me. Congrats!
Leah Davidson recently posted…Welcome New Look!
Thank you Leah! Networking with others have greatly helped my blog over this past year. I have come across some very smart women that way, including you 🙂
Happy 1st B-Day. Keep up the great work on you post
Thanks Robin 🙂
The best things in life are like this. You often have to wait for them. But, if you don’t give up, good things come to you.
So true Deborah! can’t agree more on that 🙂
Well done! This recognition is surely deserved and will give you an opportunity to spread your wings.
Thanks for your Take away! 🙂 I love your blog, it is so User friendly, Informative and Cute!
Congratulations!
Thanks!
Thanks for reminding that perseverance is the key to success. Happy Anniversary to one of my best and favorite writer;
from a loyal fan, admirer and friend. Sanoj
Thanks for being such a wonderful support for me Sanoj 🙂
Happy 1 Year B’day to your blog, nice work!
Sharm’s Outlet recently posted…October
Thanks Sharmila 🙂
Congratulations!!!! You are now more accomplished than 90% of the blogs and bloggers out there. That is a huge accomplishment.
Don Purdum recently posted…Military Force Reductions Means More Veteran and Military Entrepreneurs Entering the Marketplace
Thank you for your kind words Don.. I appreciate it 🙂
What an accomplishment. And what away to be able to look back at ines self and the growth you’ve done. Happy anniversary!
Thank you Stacie 🙂
Congratulations on your 1st Anniversary!! You have come a long way since the beginning. Thanks to Ann… she showed you that there are people out there who can relate!
And your totally correct, any journey begins with the first step…. most are usually baby steps. When you think of a baby learning to walk, they take a step or two then fall down. The important thing is that they, and you, got up and took the next step!!
Yes Meli! Very much true, that… Thanks for sharing my happiness 🙂
Congratulations! And I think your blog is pretty amazing! You cover lots of interesting topics! You are absolutely right…every journey begins with baby steps! We’ve all got to start somewhere!
Michelle recently posted…Celebrating the Little Things in Life {Ladies Only Blog Share Link Party}
Thanks Michelle 🙂