This is my 500th post. Amazing! When I started this blog site in May of 2017, I couldn’t see this far down the road. At that time, I was pitching my memoir to Literary Agents and their view was that writers needed to have an established platform to build readership. A blog site was one of the most popular means for accomplishing that goal. During the first year, I published two posts a week and then decided that one post weekly was more reasonable. In the last 8+ years, I’ve learned a lot and feel I’ve developed my voice as a writer. Over that time, I’ve also made mistakes and not taken full advantage of social media and the way you’re supposed to market your product.

I consider the significance of the number 500. According to AI, it’s a symbol of completeness, fulness, and divine order in Biblical numerology. It’s a symbol of God’s mercy and divine guidance and abundance.

In the Youtube video, “Biblical Numbers #500 Meaning & Symbolism” it’s a number that signifies “a significant measure of Divine guidance and blessings bestowed on an individual and communities.”

In everyday life, we see the number used to represent a significant amount, for example Fortune 500 Companies or the 500 laps of the Daytona 500.

For me, arriving at the 500th post means I’ve stuck with it and with God’s support and the encouragement of readers, I’ve shown up each week to the blank page. Some weeks, it’s been easy to craft that post, with lots of photos that I’ve taken, for example on my Solo Journeys. How I’ve enjoyed telling about those trips and having my readers join me. Sometimes, I’ve focused on family events, especially significant times with my grandsons. I like being able to share my life with you and that must include the joy of having grandchildren.

Some weeks, I needed to write a post about the difficulties I’d encountered–especially during those weeks going through separation and divorce. Always I share with boundaries in place to protect me and the people in my life. I’ve been told that I seem like an “open book.” But like everyone, that is an illusion because we never share all of ourselves–nor should we. Even people we know in person can’t fully know us.

When I walked through that strange world of online dating, back when the pandemic caused that to be the main way you could date, I liked sharing some of those crazy stories. Some were humorous and some were cautionary tales from this Baby Boomer who hadn’t dated since my early twenties. It was fascinating that I received feedback from twenty-somethings that appreciated those posts because they’d had similar experiences.

What I’ve most enjoyed and appreciated are responses from readers posted either on Facebook or on this site. Many people don’t like to write on a public forum and I felt especially grateful for those who took that risk. I’ve had a few critical responses, and even those, while they pricked a little, helped me to think about that person’s point of view; their voices helped me to grow and I hope that I showed a willingness to really listen.

I hope that as I go forward, I’ll take greater advantage of tools that help me reach a broader audience. I’m working on learning more about SEO optimization–what it really means and how it works. Often I go so fast that I don’t slow down and use the tools that are readily available. There are people in my path that can help me with their expertise.

I want to thank you for reading my posts, whether this is the first time or you’ve followed me for a while. All writers need to know that they have readers. It’s not the only reason we write, but it’s a big reason to pursue it when some other pursuit would be easier.

A few years ago, I was on a date with a man I’d met at my Elk’s Lodge dance. He’d started reading my blog and was curious about a couple of my posts. It’s rewarding for me to talk about my writing. He said something that surprised me.

“I think it would be fun to have a blog,” he said. “You know, writing those posts every week.”

I’d use a lot of descriptors for writing a blog–time consuming, craft developing, discipline, frustrating, rewarding–but fun was not something that came to mind. It felt more like a responsibility that I’d taken on and felt that I must continue, even on weeks when I would like to relax and just let it go.

But ultimately, after 500 posts, I feel it’s like a weekly letter to you readers. It’s a way to stay in contact and share what’s happening in my life with hopes that it resonates with yours. We walk this path through life together, and like my tagline says it’s about “connecting with the people in my path.”

Best to you,

Connie