WordPress let me know I’ve been blogging with them for 12 years now. I started blogging 13 years ago on Posterous, a site that shut down. I started blogging after occasionally having articles posted in local new age/spiritual newspapers, online holistic health magazines, online spiritual magazines, etc. I was weary of dealing with all the editorial issues, hassling with my grammar (which I know is poor at times), issues with paragraphs ….on and on. So I decided just to publish my own way on a blog.
I was watching a movie the other day, a romantic comedy, and the male lead chided the female lead when she mentioned she was a writer. His response was “A blog?”, in a sneering voice. Personally, I love blogs. I love how it gives a person a voice that is heard. I’m not into the whole superficial “influencer” thing, looking for social media fame, but I do believe it is important that people have a place to express themselves, a place that doesn’t rely on big business to put a stamp of approval on them, nor the need to be “professionals”.
I read an interview with a famous actor, living in Europe, but American, who condemned social media and in his eyes, people documenting everything they do in life, attempting self importance. I understand the dangers of social media, especially in young people, as it preys on youthful insecurities, making it look like everyone is having a great time, living a perfect life. But on the other hand, in such an often isolating life, it gives people a place to connect, be seen, be heard, and build relationships, a place where a person can feel like they matter. Certainly it doesn’t replace connections made in the physical, rather it adds to it.
I used to teach creative movement and music to children publicly, ages 2 1/2 to 9, and in Native American schools, grades 1-5. Sometimes I’d teach familiar songs and then have the kids re-write them entirely or come up with new lines. In one class, when my program was included at Humboldt State University’s music program for kids, I had a couple brothers, ages 3 or 4 and 8. I had taught Claudia Schimdt’s song about a broken cookie, dented jelly bean, and other malformed treats. I asked the children what other food or treat could we use in the song, and what happens to it to make it “less than perfect” but still quite delicious. The young brother, who had always remained quiet, shouted out “Celery”. The smile he was beaming lit up his face. He was so proud of that contribution. I wanted to teach children that they didn’t have to be professional dancers, singers, songwriters….in order to have a dance/song/ note within them to share with the world. To me….that is what the blogging platform gives to people.
There are so many types of blogs. Some are created to be solid websites for businesses, are sturdy, and rooted. They have a more narrow focus and target.
All photos by Katelon T Jeffereys
Some are purposely rude, lewd, funny, entertaining. Some serve to create a safe place for people to be vulnerable about health challenges, disabilities, mental health issues, emotional challenges, traumatic events, offering glimpses of helpful tools, agencies for support, and community for others suffering through the same challenges. These blogs are often tender and oh so sincere.
Other blogs are more esoteric, perhaps like mine, or looking into depths exploring poetry, fictional stories, or alternative views. These expose us to viewpoints and information we might not run across so easily in other media outlets, especially with the often big business limitations that don’t open their doors to everyone.
Some are written quite articulately, with precision, footnotes, many chapters, fine detail. Some are by amazing photographers and photo journalists. Some like mine use their phone cameras.
Others have poor grammar, misspellings, and take more effort to decipher what is being said, so it takes a little more effort to decide the meaning. Mmmm….looks like a ?????
But no matter what, in my mind, they all have their value. Most are written sincerely, with the intention to connect to a particular audience. All of them have worth because they reveal a soul’s effort to reach out to the world, send a call out to see who listens, and see who answers back. Ultimately we are all one but the individual differences make life much more interesting and delicious. I love seeing these blogs written by people all over the world; some living in villages or small towns, some in cities. And I get to travel the world into foods, places, ideas, beliefs I perhaps wouldn’t be able to taste otherwise.
So thank you blogging world. Thank you bloggers. Thank you all who take the time to read, like, comment and share.
Much love, katelon
Dear Katelon,
Twelve years of blogging and interacting with others in the WordPress blogosphere are not to be trivialized, unheeded or forgotten. I would hereby like to celebrate your blogging milestone and resonate with your friendly spirit with the following statement by Robert Louis Stevenson:
Wishing you a productive week doing or enjoying whatever that satisfies you the most!
Happy October to you very soon!
Yours sincerely,
SoundEagle
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you so much for you kind words and great quote, for stopping by and leaving a comment. My your October shine in all ways! Hugs, katelon
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Katelon,
You are very welcome. Keep up the good work!
Thank you for liking my older post entitled “🦉 Daily Wisdom: Word, Quote, Article, History, Birthday and News 🆒💬📰🏰🎂👨🏫“, which was published back in 2013.
I would like to inform you that my latest post entitled “❄ ❅ ❆ Snowflakes, Tell Me Why You Are…“, which combines poetry, visual art, animations and science in an innovative way, has been revamped with a great deal more animations. The poem itself has also been extended by two stanzas, now totalling ten stanzas. Please come and enjoy them to your heart’s content!
I would highly recommend using a desktop or laptop computer with a large screen to view the rich multimedia contents available for heightening your multisensory enjoyment at my blog, which could be too powerful and feature-rich for iPad, iPhone, tablet or other portable devices to handle properly or adequately.
Furthermore, since my intricate blog contains advanced styling and multimedia components plus animations, it is advisable to avoid using the WordPress Reader, which cannot show many of the advanced features in my posts and pages. Instead, read the posts and pages directly in my blog so that you will be able to savour and relish all of the refined and glorious details.
Given your experience and interests in so many types of blogs as described in your current post, I really look forward to your visiting and commenting on my said post, as I am keen and eager to know what your thoughts are regarding the features and contents there as well as the poem.
The direct link is https://soundeagle.wordpress.com/2021/08/25/snowflakes-tell-me-why-you-are/
Thank you in anticipation.
May you find the rest of 2021 very much to your liking and highly conducive to your writing, reading, thinking and composing whatever posts that take your intellectual fancy or show off your imaginative flight!
Yours sincerely,
SoundEagle
LikeLiked by 2 people
Congratulations
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Susie! Hope you are doing better now and have plenty of love and support around you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
From my friends yes. Still unable to see my family in England as my son in law has Covid. He, all the family have had their vaccinations. Not doing good so praying like crazy
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you at least have supportive friends aroung. Sorry you are still struggling.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would have brought them over after Len’s passing
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember you saying that due to Covid, they weren’t able to travel.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My son in law has Covid pretty bad after having his two vaccinations 🙏
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is happening to many who have been vaccinated. The vaccinations are not what they are presented as and have many serious side effects.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My daughter is watching because it’s over 10 days now
LikeLike
Hope they are better soon.
LikeLike
Also, the regular doctors don’t talk about it. But many of them aren’t buying the line anymore.
LikeLike
… and your own blog comes from the very heart of a beautiful, wonderful and precious Old Soul. I’m so happy that we are still here and still at it; and at this point we can actually hear our freedom bells ringing! Please get ready to celebrate! – Thanks again Katelon, much continued support to you and John and to Everyone, stay safe now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Finn…..you always leave such wonderful supportive and honoring comments, thank you! I so appreciate your support. I do hope/pray/intend/ dream that we are close to celebrating. I feel weary from this 24/7 work over 7 years now. Plus, this present timeline is just getting darker and more controlling. Our work has been successful and we’ve managed to shut down a lot, progress is being made but until we get it done, this timeline persists. Hope you are having a great fall!
LikeLike
Heartiest congratulations dearest Katelon on 18 years of blogging. I so loved your post about blogging being a platform for people to communicate in the way that best suits them. Wishing you many more wonderful years of blogging 🥰🥰
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks so much Nimi! I can’t remember for sure but I think that your blog was one of the first I started following. I love your writing. Thanks for reading and for the support!
LikeLike
Dear Katelon, that is a journey, and you are still travelling! Congratulations! 💐🙋♂️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Ashley. It has been such an interesting journey for sure! Thanks for taking the time to stop by, read and comment. Enjoy the fall!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great…Congratulations and all my best wishes for the years to come
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks so much! I appreciate your support and reading and commenting on my blog. Best wishes to you as well!
LikeLike
It is my pleasure. You are most welcome!!😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Katelon, I started blogging at wordpress in March 2009!
It was a nice and exciting time and it still is. In the four years before I had a simple and plain website with photos and text. You could look at the pages, but I had no communication with my readers. It was awkward to use and I often had to ask a friend. At some point he recommended wordpress to me and I’m still at it now.
Katelon, I am wishing you many more wonderful years of blogging!
Greetings from the beautiful Rhine-Highlands / Germany…
Rosie 🌹🌹
LikeLiked by 2 people
Rosie,
Congratulations on your many years of blogging. I would love to have a friend to help me figure out wordpress!
I created my own website, in 2007, using the site “Homestead”. I had a long time mind/body/spiritual therapy practice. They had customer service that you could call and I’d have them walk me through various tasks for my site. There was also software from their site you’d download. I’ve shut that down now as I’m not actively promoting my practice anymore. They did add a blog addition option at one point but I was already set up with a blog. I do enjoy being able to communicate with my readers and build some kind of community.
Enjoy your lovely fall! And thanks for reading and commenting!
Katelon
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow that is amazing Katelon! Congratulations on your success!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Diane! Thanks for reading and commenting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations Katelon. You have truly enriched a lot of people in these 13 years. I totally agree with you that blogging is such an amazing expression of oneself.
Because you don’t need others’ approval
You are content within yourself
Care about what people say
You become their slave (Lao Tzu)
I just remembered this quote where you wrote about the person who became judgmental about the lady blogger.
Please do continue to enrich everyone with your writing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much. I love the quote. It is so true. In the past, when I have fallen into despair over others’ criticisms, rejections, attacks, etc. it stole my soul and light. Some might trivialize a blog as “not professional” or self absorbed, but I don’t agree. I enjoy all the blogs I read. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulation, Kate. An incredible marathon of blogging 🙂
I hope you will continue writing.
Thank you for visiting my blog 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Patricia! I’m not regular in my posting, but yes, it’s been a long time. Thanks for commenting!
Take care, katelon
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sadly because covid I cant do my hobby 😦
LikeLike
Congrats on 13 years blogging- awesome
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I appreciate you stopping by.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations Katelon on your blogging anniversary.
Millions of people decide to blog but then most of them for lots of differnet reasons stop.
So it a big achievement to still be blogging and to still be enjoying it.
I think this is borne out by your honest and thoughtful words, sharing your message of harmony, peace and wellness.
Best Wishes
Kevin
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Kevin for such kind and supportive words. I’m not very regular with my posts but I still do enjoy writing one when I’m inspired.
Take care, katelon
LikeLike
Congratulations on your blog anniversary. That’s very impressive. I do like your take on how social media, and in particular blogging, does help to form connections. I’ve “met” so many wonderful and amazing writers from around the world because each of us decided to put ourselves out there. This is a blessing, one we can cherish. Blessings, Alisen
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a sweet comment Alisen! Thanks so much for reading, following, and commenting. Yes, there is so much talent! In a movie I watched, a character made fun of blogs, as if they are just amateur. But for me, growing up with parents who often reminded me to not talk about things to anyone, don’t let them know how you are feeling, don’t tell the neighbors about family problems, etc…..all those very isolating and dysfunctional beliefs that almost killed me, I love that so many people are sharing their lives with others. There are so many with musical/artistic/writing abilities. And I love the recipes, travel blogs, and just chatty sharing ones, too.
Blessings, Katelon
LikeLike