Tin is the traditional 10 year anniversary gift.
Sometime early this spring I wondered how long I’d actually been blogging. Just when had I posted my first blog post? I dove into the stats page on my blog, and, lo and behold!, my first post was on June 2, 2013. Ten years ago! Wow! When I realized this, I thought that it might be fun to write an anniversary post of sorts, to capture some of the highs and lows of the journey. I had loads of good intentions, but time passed, and I forgot… until this morning when I remembered again. I’m not super big on anniversaries, but it seems wrong to let this occasion pass by without marking it in some way.
So, I looked at the stats page again. I clearly didn’t post much to begin with, and it’s evident that it really took me until 2015 to start blogging consistently. All told, I’ve posted 947 posts in those 10 years. (948 counting this one!) So, if I’m doing my math correctly, that’s 94.7 posts per year, which averages out to about 8 posts per month. Most months I’m probably not quite there, but the March Slice of Life challenge with 31 posts definitely pushes up my average! I also realize that any posting consistency on my part is in great part due to weekly blogging opportunities with warm and welcoming writing communities like Poetry Friday and the Two Writing Teachers’ Slice of Life. Being a part of both of those amazing on-line communities has given me so much– Motivation. Support. Inspiration. A fabulous writing group. Friends and Mentors. Gift after gift after gift!
According to the stats page, I now have 404 followers, which is the most amazing gift of all! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the support of those who read and/or comment. Knowing that my writing moves you in some way means so much to me. I’m sending out a huge, heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you!
When I first started writing this blog, I was in an odd space, trying to find myself. My voice. This blog post, although not the first one, still is perhaps the most important one to me. It shares where and when I began this writing journey:
https://nixthecomfortzone.com/2013/08/09/where-it-all-began-a-new-york-small-moment/
I think a lot these days about why I write. Why I share some of what I write on this blog. What, if anything, I want to do with my writing. I don’t have concrete answers yet, even after ten years, but I do know that I’ll keep writing. Doing so has helped me to feel more centered and to make some sense of the world–at least sometimes. I still have a long way to go though, so I imagine you’ll be seeing more posts in the future. Thanks so much for coming along for the ride!
Nix the comfort zone 
Congratulations, Molly! Your writing is a gift and I’m so glad you take us with you as you make sense of the world. xo
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Thank you so much, Tabatha! You have played a big part in my journey.
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This very page is where we first met. How many years? Have we never seen each other face to face? How is it possible to feel so close to someone and to have never given them a hug? Your writing does that, draws in people like me who love you. Pretty powerful if you ask me.
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It is hard to imagine we’ve never actually seen each other face to face. We definitely need to fix that! Thanks so much for your consistent support and inspiration!
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Yes! Wow! I have followed you since the beginning. The words, the artistry, the soul searching, the sorrow and the joy. Don’t ever let it go. It is you and all you speak to and for. Gratitude and love for you Molly Hogan. Cheryl
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Thanks so much, Cheryl. What a lovely comment! Let’s set a date to get together before summer rushes by! I’ll message you.
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Congrats! I’m signing up for ten more years. I like to publish my writing on Word Press through my blog. I need the publishing component to write, but I really do like to be playful with a piece of writing and draft and draft and draft. Sharpening it for it to flow and to seem like I am having a conversation with my reader.
Which part of the process brings you your greatest joy?
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Dan, thank you for playing such a big role in my writing journey! I think the greatest joy to me is capturing something in writing, when it finally clicks, and then hearing later from someone that it worked for them as a reader–they laughed, were moved to tears, etc.
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What a journey! So glad our paths have well and truly crossed!!
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Me, too!
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Happy anniversary! What a fun way to celebrate, reflecting on your “data” and your journey.
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Thanks! It was fun to take a moment and reflect on the past ten years.
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