One year ago, I started blogging at Blogger. I definitely didn’t follow the plan I had set out to meet. I changed not only from Blogger to WordPress back in September 2014, but changed much more.
I initially aimed to share experiences about the world of work that people could relate to. This didn’t last long, as I felt like that wasn’t much different from what I do in business life. Writing was an old dream, and I wanted to free up other ideas. I naturally deviated and started writing about anything that interested me.
I got most comments only from my friends on Facebook though, and that slowly brought me to not post very often. Life got in the way of my dream. I somehow lost the rhythm and motivation. Blogger was also a lonely and boring place to be.
Moving to WP months later was a surprisingly wise decision. More so was to join the Blogging 101, 201, and Photo 101 courses. I changed the blog upside down in a very fast pace, and started not only writing, but posting photos. Old passions revived and strengthened.
The best surprise was yet to come.
I have been into social media since its beginnings. My Space, Orkut, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp etc. I did it under closed fences though. Just friends and with as much privacy as possible, if at all possible. Blogging was a Pandora box though. I like exploring and learning new things but I surely had never imagined that Blogging would be much more than writing and sharing photos.
Blogging showed me a virtual and global living room, where everyone is welcome. There are no entry fees. There is no awards level program. It is the place where equality is practiced in its literal form. We connect, talk and share our posts, with people we don’t have any reference from. And yet we go ahead, keep the conversation going, create stronger bonds and even friendships, without asking questions.
We link unbiased emotions to words and images, and like and follow what we see. We judge no one by color, race, gender, age, education, religion, social class, nationality, etc., the common denominators of unconscious discrimination, often used by our selective filters, when introduced to people for the first time.
In blogging we meet virtual people, but in a more authentic way than we sometimes do for real.
And that’s what I want to celebrate today. I want to celebrate all of you, who gave me so much in the last months. I know that it’s officially one year, but blogging began here in September 2014, when I joined this fantastic community of bloggers.
Thank you for having heartily welcomed my blog to the community. Thanks for having encouraged me to carry on, by following, reading, commenting actively, engaging in conversation, also outside the blog via other social media channels like Twitter, Instagram, Viber and WhatsApp.
Thank you for having inspired me and having taught me to write better (and to write better in English by learning from your posts). Thank you for having taught me how to fix techie settings at the blog. Thank you for creating wonderful challenges, which pushes me to use my creativity juices and to meet new and talented bloggers. Thank you for having shared your world, and in turn, opened mine to new discoveries and lessons.
I would have liked to single out some of you here, but I won’t do that now because you know who your are, and that you belong in my heart.
I want to include all of you in this celebration, and commend you, who in one way or another, have once or many times, come to this blog. You may not know that but you gave me a lot. And I will tell you why.
Writing is perhaps the most pure conversation I have with myself, when trying to make sense of the inner and complex life existing in my brain. My thoughts are faster than words and create unwanted complexity. My words marry images to capture the expression of my deeper thoughts to make them simpler. The combination of words with photography is my way to share my questions, doubts, concerns; my inner world with you.
When you came here for the first time, or returned once more, you made me feel worthy.
Thank you.
Cheers to a long lasting relationship!
Congratulations and Happy Anniversary! You can be very proud of you, Lucile!
Thank you for sweet comment. I didn’t get here alone, and am surely proud to have met people like you too.
Thank you, I really enjoy your blog and I am very happy we met!
It’s been a pleasure getting to know you and I look forward to many more blog conversations. Your warmth and generosity has seen you very quickly become the heart of our blogging community. So … gratitude to you also.
Michelle, I’m humbled by your generous and lovely comment. Thank you so much.
Likewise, meeting you has been a great pleasure and I look forward to having a long lasting connection.
Cheers.
Happy Anniversary!! Wishes for many more!! In a year from now, when I celebrate a year of blogging, I may have to reblog your blog because those are all great thoughts.
Thank you so much. How considerate. You can use this post anytime you wish. A honor.
Congratulations on your first year blogging… I’ve enjoyed visiting your blog and sipping my cup of tea or coffee, while reading your posts. Many, many more to come I’m sure.
Take care and happy blogging to ya, from Laura ~
Heartfelt thanks, Laura. I’m happy and humbled with your comment. I enjoy your work and it’s a pleasure to visit your blog.
Happy blogging to you too.
Cheers,
Lucile
Lucile, thank you so much for your return comments, it means the world to me.. hugs from Laura ~
Congratulations Lucile.
Keep blogging. Cheers!!!
Thank you so much!
Cheers to you lovely. You provide such warmth and support to us and have made my entry here so much easier and fun than it might have been. X
Thank you lovely. You make my heart melt down. Same here. ❤ xxx
Xox
Congratulations!! Many thanks to u as well. The blogosphere is like a world of its own 🙂 pleasure to have met you here!
Thank you dear. Likewise, it’s been a great pleasure to connect with you.
Congrats! I am happy you are keeping your dream going, and I very much have enjoyed your blog. I do hope that we can continue to keep a dialogue through your post and your photography.
Heartfelt thanks. Absolutely, our dialogue carries on. And I truly enjoy your blog.
Wow I love this post 🙂 and it reflects most of the common sentiment here !!
I started my blog just to “write” when I am bored, but this virtual world has been so very kind to me.. The people I meet, the friendly gestures I receive all are so overwhelming. I am proud to be a part of this world. Yes, I spend very a little time to post new stuff, the instinctive laziness in me; but when I read others and when I get to know what they say, how they respond, how they react it feels beautiful 🙂
Congrats on your first anniversary !!
Happy meeting wonderful people like you 🙂
And keep smiling !! 🙂
Thank you so much for your kind words, Samjoth.
It doesn’t matter when you post, as long as you feel good about it. The pleasure of blogging is also to follow our decisions on how to run our blog. And to follow the blogs we appreciate.
I am happy to have met you here.
Keep smiling too! 🙂
🙂
What a beautiful post Lucile! I am so glad we found each other. Happy Blog-aversary! ❤
Heartfelt thanks my friend! Likewise!Hugs. ❤
Congratulations Lucile!
And thank you for being such a supportive and challenging blogger. Many people mistrust social media and deride the friendships that can arise in the virtual world. Your post is an excellent summary of the real value and joy there is to be found in this world with few boundaries.
And I am certainly glad to have got to know you here and look forward to sharing more of life’s experiences, good and bad, with you!
Heartfelt thanks, Andy! It’s been a great surprise, and I am grateful to have found you, as you’re one of the special friends of my list.
The feeling is mutual.
Congratulations on blogging for a year. March is my yearly date. I have been reviewing ARC since last February. Blogging University help me a lot and my blog has changed.
http://idahobluebird50.wordpress.com
Thank you so much Betty Louise.
Next month we will celebrate yours!
Cheers!
Congratulations–delighted that we connected.
Thank you so much Sally.
Likewise, it’s a great pleasure to have connected with you.
Congratulations. I have watched as your talent in photography has been displayed on your blog. Beautiful.
Thank you very much Deborah! Appreciated. And I am happy you like it.
Well said Lucile! You are to be congratulated on your blogging, your photography and your very ‘real’ presence in a medium that isn’t always seen to be ‘real’. I enjoy being a part of your community and look forward to continuing that connection. Happy anniversary ❤️
Heartfelt thanks, Debbie. I am humbled by your words.
Likewise, I am happy our paths crossed and I had the opportunity to connect with you and continue strengthening the relationship. As I said, I had never expected that to happen through blogging. Thank you!
I too am very happy that we crossed paths. I love reading you posts and the comments you make are always do encouraging and supportive. It always makes me happy when I see a comment from you. I also like the sense of community that we have through blogging.
Thank you, Debbie. Didn’t someone say ‘you get what you give’? I’m indebted to you for so much generosity and support. ❤
I’m quite blown away, what an excellent post — thoughtful and truthful. It nearly baked my android circuits… Again, my huge congratulations, I consider myself lucky to have met you in the blogosphere, and elsewhere!
Thank you my cyborg. I’m glad you didn’t bake your circuits! lol.
The feeling is mutual and so is the wish to meet you soon.
Happy anniversary! And thank YOU for what you do here. It’s always a pleasure to stop by. 🙂
Heartfelt thanks, Amy. It’s been a pleasure to connect with you.
[…] Justine’s Tea Party and Lucile’s blogiversary (congratulations!), I’m bringing vending machine coffee. Trust me, it will come in handy. […]
Dearest Lucile!
Congratulations on 1 year of your blogging journey and may there be many, many more!
When you wrote about blogging being a “virtual and global living room”, that really hit home for me…it is so true that we are all invited to a big ‘house party’, thanks to the blogging experiences we share with one another. It has been magical and will continue to be that way!
You are an inspiration to us all and you help me too to become a better writer and photographer — Knowing that you are reading me, makes me feel like I’ve got a great supporter and team member on my side…
Thank you Lucile and keep the amazing posts coming! We love to see and read you!
All my very best, always,
Lia
Dearest Lia,
Heartfelt thanks. You really touched my now and brought tears to my eyes.
I’m happy to learn that you feel my support and that we are together in this journey.
Keep doing your beautiful photos and posts and never forget that I’ll be here reading and cheering your work.
I know I have already said that, but your encouragement and support means a lot to me and am grateful to you.
Thank you so much for your friendship, carissima Lia.
My very best wishes.
Lucile
Oh dear Lucile… Your words made my day… You are like a warm ray of sunshine on a chilly NYC winter’s day!
Thanks for all your support and care!!!
Lia:))
The feeling is mutual my dearest.
I wish I could send warmer temps to you but here is not much better…
xxx
Happy Anniversary and Cheers to decades of smiles, exchanges, laughs and hugs! You are doing great, I am so grateful to have met you!
Thank you my dearest. As long as we stick together all decades, I’m in! Likewise, it’s been wonderful to meet you. ❤️
XXX!
Reblogged this on Estelea's Blog and commented:
Happy Bday, Lucile’s blog 🙂 Who wants to crash the party with me? check her blog, there is an awesome Bday cake and the drinks are on their way…
You’re wonderful Thanks. Hope you enjoyed the party!
Happy Anniversary, Lucile! I am proud to be your friend. Your blog is one of few I scroll down for in my daily e-mail list, so I can see what great photos and words you will have ready for us! Congrats!
Heartfelt thanks, my friend. I’m proud and grateful to be your friend too. You’re a sweetheart. Be sure I look for your great posts everyday.
Xxx
Happy Anniversary! Your Blog is amazing and I am glad we connected. Keep it coming! Here is to many more! 🎈🎉🎈🎉🎈🎉
Thank you so much!! You’re so sweet. I’m very happy too and you’re one of the first people I connected with. I learnt a lot from you.
Thank you!!
Interesting, as I think I learned a lot from you 🙂
It is. I’m sure we learned different things which may have complemented each other. 😉
What a wonderful post! Congratulations on your one year anniversary! I’ ve enjoyed stopping by your blog and I thank you for popping in on mine!
Blog on!
Thank you Terry. Likewise. I enjoy your blog very much!
You’re welcome!
Congratulations! I started out on Blogger too and it was quite lonely there. I didn’t build up a community until I moved to WordPress.com. Perhaps I wasn’t using it properly?
Thanks Rachel.
I am not so sure if you or I didn’t use it properly.
It’s a huge pond there and I tried all to be found but didn’t get one follower nor comments except from my friends.
I don’t think they make an effort to support a community as WP does. And they don’t have editors like WP pushing the crowd to events, courses, etc.
I didn’t find it. But may have been my mistake.
👏 Happy anniversary !!! One year is an amazing milestone. I just started out and it’s encouraging to know that it’s possible to keep staying fresh and reach new people.
Thank you so much. I am happy you got the idea; go ahead and enjoy your experience, and connect with people as you just did now, and as much as possible, and in no time you’ll be part of a much larger community of like-minded and supportive people.
Thanks for stopping by.
All the best with blogging. Blog on.
What a great post! I love the feeling of community here, and I love all of my friends made during Blogging 101, as well! Keep doing what you’re doing! 🙂 And congrats on a great first year and some even better decisions!
Thank you. I’m grateful and overwhelmed.
Cheers!
Congratulations on your 1st year of blogging. I thought that you’d been out here a lot longer given the quality of your posts. Impressive!
Congratulations Lucile. Good to meet you too, in this blogsphere 🙂