I was quite surprised to see my stats today. For two consecutive days, I received notifications from WordPress that said, “Your stats are booming! DREAMS AND ESCAPES is getting lots of traffic.” You feel elated when you see something like this and thankful that people read what you write about. There was an upswing on my previous posts as far back as 2011. I don’t know why. Back then, likes and comments were a rarity. I don’t remember if there were “like” features several years ago but I used to get around 300 to 400 visits a day back then. Have things changed? I don’t know because lately, that was cut in half but still a sizable figure for an unknown blogger like me. I would still blog even without those likes and comments but then I have to admit that one becomes inspired when fellow bloggers follow your posts and leave wonderful comments in the process.
You might laugh at this but I still use the old format when adding a post. I am not making excuses but it is easier to write and edit your post in the old format. Don’t make the mistake of re-editing though because it will revert back to the new one. Maybe, I am really getting old, comfortable with what I am used to. It’s like those rituals that makes life easier – you have perfected waking up early, playing with the dogs at 6am, watering the plants and cleaning the garden of leaves and debris brought about by hanging amihan (northeast monsoons that bring cold dry air from icy Siberia), finding new blooms and wanting to capture them with your camera freezing the images forever, a snip of unwanted branches here and there and yes, getting hold of a good book when the chores are done. Life is simple and I find joy and happiness in simple things. Even listening to early morning news or a music program on my transistor radio while I am out in the garden is a bliss. More reasons to smile 🙂
There is an advantage of writing a post every day. You won’t feel that dry spell or what others conveniently calls writer’s block. You have all the ideas and words running riot in your head but you can’t seem to create a sentence that would fill the blank page in front of you. You want to write about this and that but you don’t know where to start. When you do it every day, it seems easier though. I don’t think I could duplicate writing daily. It really is a challenge for me now.
Writing out loud, hearing your voice in cyberspace, making friends, discovering new places, reading interesting blog posts and seeing those meaningful, lovely and beautiful captures shared by other bloggers – these make blogging worthwhile. It’s like writing a book of short stories on different subjects (sometimes emotions are played to the hilt) and sharing how life is in your corner of the world.
Did I say that this is my 1,762nd post?
I still use the old format, too. It really is easier. I hope they don’t take that option away.
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Yes, I know. I really hope they won’t. Thanks again for the visit.
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I still use the old post format too. We use what we are comfortable with. I was pleased to hear that you are getting lots of visits. Even your lower figures are twice what I get on an average day. You must be doing something right, Arlene.
Long may it continue for you!
Best wishes, Pete.
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Hehe…so I am not alone in using the old format. I rather like the bar graph they have there. Maybe I am just a little lucky Pete that I get those views but the interaction is not as active as you have in your blog. Most are probably silent readers, I have around 36 followers via e-mails.
Thanks again and let’s continue blogging 🙂
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Wow, that’s a lot of posts you’ve written, good for you. Blogging is definitely worthwhile. As a relatively newbie blogger I’m totally loving the friends I’m making, the connections and of course reading lots of wonderful new material every day. Including yours!
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thank you so much Miriam. I guess blogging is here to stay. The days would not be complete without reading posts from online friends like you. Are you also using the old format?
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Yes I am Arlene. At least I think I am. I’ve only been blogging for a year.
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Sometimes, just sometimes you’ve got so much to share and blogging about about it is easier than maintaining a journal.
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I do both. I write in my gratitude journal every day before bed and I blog. But the stuff I put in my journal is way too personal, don’t think I could be that open on my blog. If you know what I mean.
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Yeah I know. I also maintain a journal but they are mostly reminders and recipes I found on the internet.
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Mine is personal, maybe too personal. Don’t know that I’d want anyone else reading it!
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I’ve done that before too. Keep it under lock and key… 🙂
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No lock unfortunately. No snoops around either, I think!
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I still have my journal when I was in college, tattered and some of the leaves are now detached from the spine but it’s always a joy to read all those entries long, long ago.
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It takes you back in time doesn’t it. At my mum’s house I had about 8 years worth of diaries left there. Years ago I went home and read through some, wow, talk about laugh, cry and cringe all at the same time. Later I actually threw some of them out. No point hanging onto the past for too long, but it was fun looking through them.
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…And the emotions in between the laughter and tears. My daughter who is into journal writing also left behind several diaries when she got married more than four years ago.
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No peeping, okay?
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Hahaha, they’re kept in a cabinet along with her crafts and arts supply.
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Smart girl.
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Doing good, Arlene.
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Thanks Ver, you are part of it 🙂
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Wow, 1,762 posts!–I’ve done a lot of posts over the years, but you’ve done more. :). I also use the old format. It is so much easier to work with.
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Hi Sheryl, thank you!
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I’m not new on WordPress but I’ve never been active much so I feel new and all. I recently posted something about my vacation to Dubai, and after reading a few posts including yours, I’m thinking I should become an active member in this online society.
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That would be nice. Once you get the feel of it again, it would be easy. Thanks for the visit.
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Hi Arlene — congratulations on 1,762 posts- what a tremendous achievement! Had a wee chuckle over you using the old format. I just started blogging again after a long blogcation & found the new format very annoying (especially trying to re-edit), so have been comfortably using the old format… Hope WP will let us do it the ‘old way’ for awhile! blessings to you!
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Thanks for dropping by Virginia, so I am not alone in using the old format 🙂 Blessings to you too. Have a good day.
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