Image Credit: Alex on the Loose
http://chooseyouradventure25.blogspot.com/
2012/05/happy-birthday-blog.html
Four years ago today I embarked on a new journey when I decided it might be fun to start a blog and share my thoughts about the books I was reading. That is really all I wanted to do. Back then, I was reading a lot of chick lit (my first “review” was of a Red Dress Ink book!). My how things have evolved and changed over the last four years. I never dreamed nor imagined that people would really care about what I had to say. I only knew that my friend, Lori, had started a blog and it looked really cool. So, I wanted to do it, too!
I started out writing one and two sentence reviews. I think it is fun to go back and read those reviews sometimes just to see how my writing has evolved over the last four years. And I’m still growing, which is amazing. We never stop growing. We are always honing and perfecting our craft, trying to discover our unique voice. I think that is what is one of the great things about blogging.
So today I raise a toast to my fellow bloggers. Keep going. Your voice matters. Don’t let anyone tell you how to do your blog or what to do to your blog. Your blog is yours.
It’s hard to remember that sometimes.But don’t let anyone else steal the joy that blogging brings you. I constantly have to remind myself of this. I play the comparison game constantly. And you know what? It is exhausting and serves no purpose.
Let’s just be who we are.
(And someone remind me of this when I forget, because I do sometimes!)
Blogging is hard work. It can be lonely work. You can feel like no one is reading anything you are writing. Or that no one really cares what you have to say.
Do it for you. Do it for the books. Do it for the love of reading.
Because that is all that truly matters.
Here’s to the next four years! Cheers!
(Hmm.. maybe I should start a motivational series…lol)
Yaaay congratulations! 4 years is such a long time and it is amazing to see the change and growth from a first review to now! You have a great blog and I hope for many more years!
Hope you have a great weekend!
Juli @ Universe in Words
Congratulations! Your blog is amazing. Best wishes on the next 4 years. =)
Congrats and good for you! Love your blog.
Congrats, Jen
Congrats! 4 years is awesome!!
That is great advice for all bloggers out there! Congratulations!
Congratulations!!! Thanks for all the great work that you do and cheers to another wonderful four years!
Happy Blogoversary!
Happy blogisversary!
Congrats on 4 years-that’s such an accomplishment!
Congratulations.
Happy Blog Birthday!
Congratulations! I think one of the very best part of blogging is looking back and seeing how far you’ve come. And isn’t it incredible how the book blogging world is just exploding these days? That certainly wasn’t happening back in the day!
I definitely agree with your comment on seeing how far you have personally come in many aspects. I sure can see my progress and I have only been blogging for two years.
Blogging IS exploding, and I am so glad. It is such fun.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
http://silversolara.blogpsot.com
Congrats on four years!
It takes a lot of perseverance to continue for 4 years-so congratulations! All the best for many more.
Wow! I finally made the time to get over to your blog after meeting you at BEA this year and it looks like I picked the perfect day!
Happy blogiversary!
Way to go! Four years is a huge accomplishment. Wishing you another wonderful four years.
Happy Blogoversary!
CONGRATULATIONS! I’m about to celebrate four years as well! (or is it five?) but that’s amazing
I love your advice, and I did the same with my reviews! They were literally just a couple of sentences, and I have the feeling I should delete them…but sentiment has prevented that. Anyway, congratulations on blogging for so long! I love you blog <3
-Kirthi
Congrats on 4 yrs!
Whenever I get discouraged about blogging, I try to remember why I fell in love with it in the first place. Brainstorming or writing a new post usually do the trick.
Happy Blogoversary! I love your motivational words! I think we all need to keep them in mind.
Glad to see the hop is back as a weekly event-it is a great community building event
I am very excited to discover your blog – I googled “book reading blog” and yours popped up. I’m adding you to my sidebar blog roll so I can keep up with you. I’m also a “massive” reader, always have a book with me and have one in various rooms of the house, reading them all at once. I like the same genres as you. I’m excited to get to know you and the readers who linked to your party. Mary in Virginia
Congratulations on four years of blogging! That’s an impressive accomplishment because as you said, it can be hard, and it can be lonely. It’s been two years for me so the initial excitement has worn off now and I’ve been mulling over why I’m doing it and if it serves any real purpose. I appreciate the encouragement to “Do it for you. Do it for the books. Do it for the love of reading.” You have been an inspiration to me more times than I can say. I hope you have many more years of satisfying, successful blogging!