Wow! I can’t believe I started blogging three years ago. A lot has changed in the time since I started this blog, including the reason I started blogging.
In the beginning, I created a blog with the idea that I would write about the things that were going on in the industry I was trying to enter… fundraising. Without successfully landing my dream job, and not having many experiences to write about, I did as many of us do with a blog when we are starting out, and that is to just let it lie.
Over the next two years my ideas about the blog evolved and I went through short spurts of new blogger excitement, but I continued to struggle to find my spot in the blogosphere. My writing frequency, and my site views struggled too. Discouraged but still determined to make this dead horse of a blog work, I decided to give it one last shot, so in early 2014 I decided to start sharing the photos I was taking.
On Jan, 15, 2014 I published a post called Hair May Come and Go, but Friendships Stay The Same, and I was suddenly hooked. I began publishing with more frequency, participating in the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenges, and commenting on other people’s blogs. The more I blogged, the more fun I had, and the more hooked I became. The hard work I’ve put into the blog has definitely started to pay off, particularly in 2014, and I don’t really consider those first two years as blogging time. But in reality, I guess I was technically blogging in that time, and when I look back on it I think I learned a lot about the process.
I have made a LOT Β of great friends through this process, and I’m thankful for that. Blogging has been a tremendous creative outlet for me, and I love what I, and others on WordPress have created. This is such a fantastic, close nit community, and I am so grateful forΒ all of you who have encouraged and motivated me along the way.
Shane
Congratulations π
Thanks Sarah!
Thanks for sharing your blog backstory, Shane! I’m sure I’m not alone in being delighted that you stuck it out. You have been a personal source of inspiration and a wonderful blogging friend. Congratulations on your anniversary – here’s to many more to come! Cheers π
Stacy, I have really enjoyed getting to know you this past year and watching both of us grow. Your work and your site is fantastic.
Thanks for that, Shane. Can you tell I’m blushing? π
Ha!
Congratulations
Thank you Allen!
Congratulations Shane, I’m really glad you stuck at it, it has been fantastic getting to know you. All the best for the years to come in this wonderful blogging community.
Thanks Leanne! It has been really nice getting to know you in this time as well. I’m always inspired by what you share.
Oooooh happy anniversary and CONGRATULATIONS!!!! It’s always great to hear about how and why people not only get started, but stick with it for so long… massive achievement π
Thanks Jess! You’re definitely one of the people I talk about in the post. I’m glad we’ve connected.
Wow huge congrats your an old timer now then a wp veteran hehe x
Ha! Thank you! My body feels like an old timer more and more each day. I don’t let it stop me though.
good on you and you shouldn’t do as your a joy x
Blushing over here π
Haha
Congratulations!
Thank you.
Happy Anniversary Shane.
Ha, thanks Edith!
Congrulations, Shane. Three years of blogging is a long time. I really enjoy the photos that you put up and thanks for showing us your part of the world. Looking forward to seeing more π
Hi Mabel, thank you so much for the kind words. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the site. You help make it all worth it.
Happy Anniversary π
Thank you
Hey Shane .. Congrats from NZ. Blogging is the best .. Thanks for sharing all your eonderful pics π
Thanks so much Julie! I’m always drooling over your little patch of earth as well. I’m coming to visit if I ever make it to NZ.
You would be very welcome! π
Whoops .. Wonderful
Ha!
Happy Anniversary Shane! So glad to have met you here. Thank you for sharing your beautiful gift of photography with us. It’s always a pleasure.
Thanks Mar! I hope things have improved for you since we last spoke.
Happy anniversary!
Thanks Amy!
Thanks for sharing your progression, Shane! This is encouraging.
Congrats!
Emily Grace
Thank you Emily! Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to visit your site as much as I’d like, but I’m always glad when I stop by.
Glad you are still having fun. Happy to continue seeing your work
Thank you sir! I’m happy to be seeing yours as well.
Thanks for the back story, Shane! Isn’t it funny how things begin and what they become… So glad you found your way, and a place to share your photos. You’re such a great photo-blog-buddy… π
Hey Kat, thanks so much! I feel the same about you… so glad we’ve gotten to know each other.
Great work, Shane! It’s amazing how time flies when you’re having fun, and to keep finding inspiration and drawing on it is always good (if sometimes a challenge!). Here’s to the next three years! π
Congrats Shane! I wonder how many people start a blog for one reason and end up changing their focus or path down the road. I bet it’s more than we realize. I just hit my 1 year mark last month and if anything I have learned that more than the posts I do I like the atmosphere of the WP community and being able to meet others that have the same interest to learn new things or share ideas. I don’t think my photography would have grown as fast as it has if I didn’t start blogging because it is because of all the different photos I view and posts that I read that help me learn new things. I hope that in another 3 years you’ll still be posting new photos or just blogging about whatever!
Congratulations Shane!
π thanks Laura.
π
Congratulations, Shane! I can’t remember how I discovered you, but I’m certainly glad I did. Cheers!
Thanks so much Elen! I’m glad you discovered me… so that I could learn about you as well. Hope you’re well.
Congrats on 3 years. I’ve fallen behind on blogging & commenting lately, but I’m hoping to build up a momentum again slowly, slowly.
I hear ya. I’m finding less and less time to maintain this blog, but I’m trying to make the posts count.
Hi Shane, things certainly do evolve as we go.
Huge congrats on 3 years and all that youve achieved here within that time.
Certainly glad I found your blog and your wonderful photos and outlook π
Hi Robyn, thanks for stopping by! It’s been so long since we’ve chatted and even longer since I’ve been over to your site. I miss it, but it’s one of the casualties of trying to cut back on computer time a little. I’ll be by soon though… hope you’re well π