“Correction does much, but encouragement does more.”~
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Some would argue that I become fascinated with the smallest of things in life. Others would say that I don’t become stimulated enough when certain situations come my way.
We all have our own little things that cause our happiness and and our sorrows.
Through the blog though, there are definite factors that I notice that actually makes me stop and believe that I just might be doing something, and doing it well. Encouragement is one of those things.
WordPress now has something that they like to call “badges”. I got my first one last week. Throughout this entire blog, I had received my 50th “like” to a blog post. I honestly had no clue that throughout the pages of blog posts that I have written over time that I actually had that many individual “likes” to specific blog posts. And its spread out, indiscriminately from post to post.
I then went to see my blog stats. Today, I have over 17,500 views since the beginning. That too, is something that I have always found encouraging. And it shows in a few blog posts when I have written about how excited I was to have reached a certain number of total views.
Especially after months and months of self-doubt that “anyone was paying attention” to the blog, regardless of how many people were either following or subscribed. I do sometimes, write with those people in mind though. Often, I never think about those who are the silent readers or those who are looking for a specific topic and stumble across my blog. Thus, the entire advantage of using “tags” because it does work!
Yet with being unsure of either the success of the blog, or lack of the definition of “success”. Or it just might be the insecurity within myself that would lead to the doubt.
What has always worked for me in the past, is the feedback. I know from receiving both negative and positive feedback where I should focus attention or begin to work on other things to make things even better and more enjoyable for anyone who may be reading.
I think what I find interesting and just a little funny are those who end up giving feedback without them knowing that’s what they are doing. Their admitting to have read my blog or certain blog posts is sometimes just enough to know that I want to continue writing. Some (or most) having something comical or funny to say about what they had read or how they enjoyed the stories of experiences in my life that I often include in my blog.
And yes, some even admitting to the fact that they like the eye candy that often comes along with my blog posts. An effort that I started in order to gain the attention of male readers once I learned that a large percentage of readers, subscribers, and followers were actually female. I knew that I was taking a bit of a risk with female readers by including such images, and hoping not to offend… I think so far, I have been able to accomplish that.
Perhaps I am sounding like I am making excuses. But that isn’t what I am striving for.
When a person tells me in one way or another that they’ve read my blog… it is totally encouraging for me to keep it up and keep going.
This morning, I received feedback. It caused a glow to my heart in a sense. They said:
“You are an amazing writer. I love how you talk to the reader as if they are sitting at the table with you in conversation. Which is what a good writer does.”
I didn’t know what to say, other than to thank them for their words. And with those words, that was even more encouragement for me to continue what I am doing. I don’t get that every day, and neither do I expect it. But once it is offered, I definitely ponder it.
I used to think that the more subscribers and followers that I had meant that I was having more and more success. But honestly, success is defined in so many different ways that one specific definition can’t hold up. So… that means that I have to define for myself whether or not I am being successful in what I am doing.
If I have helped someone in some way and they’ve learned … that is success.
If I have shared a life experience, and they have laughed until they cried… that is success.
If I caused someone to smile, and they haven’t done that in a long time… that is success.
And that is just how “I” measure my own success with this blog. With that success, I am honestly grateful and appreciative of those who do read, comment, “like”, follow, subscribe, and leave me feedback. Without all of it, I probably would have quit a long time ago. Thank you for being the encouraging support in this continuing endeavor.
Dambreaker 