Happy Birthday

This week my blog celebrates it’s third birthday. Three years ago when I started, I wanted a place for brief, insightful, thoughtful, analysis and opinion on current events, social issues, politics and life. Short, positive reads that were both accessible and articulate. To a large degree, I think I have accomplished what I set out to do. 

I am super grateful for 10,000+  views the blog has received! When I started this I didn’t know if it would have an impact or not. Well, I still don’t really know the impact beyond what it has done for me but I am glad for those of you who have taken the time to read and share my posts. Thanks for sharing this journey with me! I can’t count the times someone has said to me “Thanks for this or that you wrote, it meant a lot to me.” Okay, so I probably could count them, but honestly, it has been more than I can remember and more than I had anticipated. 

Something else happened that I did not anticipate. My writing really changed me. I found myself filtering and tempering myself in ways that were both positive and unexpected. When I would feel some kind of indignation and want to quickly go to the keyboard and pound out some snarky response to current events something in me would say, “Don’t do it.” I would ask myself, “Instead of finding a way to blame others, what are you doing to fix the problem? Are you contributing to the animosity or helping to alleviate it?” Instead of trying to ‘fix’ others, the process of writing over the last three years has mostly helped improve me.

When I take a step back from the reactionary lens and allow a more proactive approach, I find that my writing is productive and moves me to action more than demanding action from others. I feel a sense of obligation to deeply think about my position, research it, and talk about what I can do instead of what you should do. That has been a huge blessing in my life! 

So to celebrate three years here is a look at some of my most viewed posts: 

I’m a Member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and a Liberal and That’s OK. This is by far the most popular thing I have ever written. Over 10% of my total views have been of this post. Ironically, I almost didn’t post it. I thought it was too simple and too personal. I think it speaks to a lot of people. I’ve had a ton of feedback and it is definitely something I need to write more about! Read the post here  

Instead of Something Controversial, Let’s Just Talk about Guns and Abortion. These are two separate posts where I take a heated political issue and show that, really, we probably have more common ground on it than we think we do. I have ideas for more of these. I just need to write them! Read the post about guns here  Read the post about abortion here 

I Am Patriotic, Just Not Like That. This has been one of my most popular posts. I don’t why. Perhaps because it tells a personal story that resonates with so many. Read the post here

To the Class of 2020, You’re Our Heroes. Here is a bonus post from 2020. It was sadly not viewed much at all. Mostly, (I think), because I shared it via social media late on a Friday the same day I had already posted. I wish it had been seen more. I really like it! (Which is rare, I struggle to like much of what I write). You can read the post here. 

Thanks again for reading and sharing the posts! It really has been a learning journey, one that I am excited to continue! Can’t wait to see what the next year brings!