A fool once told me, after I started blogging, that it was useless to think the ‘like’ button on WordPress was anything but a way for others to make me read their work. She told me that the comments I received were worthless. Drivel. Dishonest. That I couldn’t believe anything but that which was brutal, because praise was purely selfish. Her disdain for those she wishes to attract to her own blog is indefensible. It’s no wonder she allows no comments on her site.
This is how I first learned to blog.
I’m overjoyed to have learned the opposite of what I was told. I have made some true friends on WordPress, since I began writing here. I’ve found kindness and acceptance. I’ve found people with whom I share things in common. I’ve laughed with you, I’ve cried for you; I’ve found more honesty here at WordPress than I could possibly have hoped for. I’ve found brilliant insight, read fantastic rants, and taken in beautifully creative fiction and poetry.
Each and every one of you are so dear to me. You’ve helped me find confidence in myself, and many of you have allowed me into your lives. I am so very grateful.
Thank you, so very much to all my readers. WordPress has gifted me with a truly valuable community. I don’t know what I’d do without you all.
Thank you.
Linda
January 3, 2014 at 8:55 am
So glad that you found my blog, as now I have found YOURS.
–Barbara
LikeLike
January 3, 2014 at 9:41 am
Thanks for the comment, Babara! 🙂
LikeLike
December 21, 2013 at 1:04 pm
visit, read the article and thanks for posting your article is quite good and we hope that all our friends all success and thank you all, greetings. (This is a good thing) 🙂
LikeLike
December 21, 2013 at 3:40 pm
Greetings to you too, Gede. Thank you very much 🙂
LikeLike
December 21, 2013 at 5:13 am
Linda, I am pleased to tell you that I’ve awarded you the Blog of the Year Award 2013! There’s no obligation to accept, I understand completely if you don’t. Anyway, thanks for reading and liking my blog “adicanada” I appreciate your support. For details about the award, please see my post http://wp.me/p3ujR2-hg Have a Happy Holiday and All the best for you on the New Year!! Adrian B.
LikeLike
December 21, 2013 at 3:37 pm
Thank you so much, Adrian! 😀 You deserve all the support for your lovely blog and your wonderful, insightful writing.
I’ll come and check it out. 😀
LikeLike
December 19, 2013 at 7:14 pm
I’ve just stumbled on your blog, and what a lovely first post to read! It is encouraging to me in my own wordpress journey, and I hope I can one build up the kind of community you now draw support from 🙂
LikeLike
December 19, 2013 at 8:03 pm
Thank you so much! All it really takes is interaction. If you search for people with similar interests, you’re sure to find plenty of friends. Best of luck! 😀
LikeLike
Pingback: The eye of the beholder | vic briggs
December 17, 2013 at 6:46 pm
And you can see how popular you are also. I love comments and engaging with those who read my posts. Isn’t it strange that the very thing you most like about blogging have made OM pull back.
LikeLike
December 17, 2013 at 6:54 pm
Engaging, yes. It’s really what this website is all about.
It is ironic. But then I tend to be much less controversial than OM. In all though, I think it’s what he enjoyed the most too, even when people disagreed with him.
Thanks so much for your comment, Tric. I’m truly happy to have found you here. 🙂
LikeLike
December 17, 2013 at 5:23 pm
Great read and insightful. (In a non-selfishy kind of way 😉 )
LikeLike
December 17, 2013 at 6:23 pm
Good! I’m glad I got that across. 🙂 Thanks so much, Chris. 😀
LikeLike
December 17, 2013 at 1:51 pm
Ah, Linda this place wouldn’t be the same without you!
LikeLike
December 17, 2013 at 2:28 pm
Nor you, Patti! Thank you so much 🙂
LikeLike
December 17, 2013 at 4:08 am
You’re very welcome. And thank YOU in return! 😀
LikeLike
December 17, 2013 at 8:49 am
No, thank YOU Dean. You’re the first and only person who has immortalized me in a drawing – and as Mrs. Incredible yet!
LikeLike
December 17, 2013 at 8:54 am
😀
LikeLike
December 17, 2013 at 3:44 am
That’s brilliant Linda. There will be those that just ‘like’ to get attention but I think these are in the minority. Glad your experience reflects this. Keep posting, MM 🍀
LikeLike
December 17, 2013 at 8:46 am
You too, MM 🙂 Thanks so much for being around and for your great comments. I look forward to seeing a lot more of your photos in the new year. 😀
LikeLike
December 17, 2013 at 9:26 am
👍
LikeLike
December 17, 2013 at 3:21 am
and you are very dear to us , I personally value and enjoy your posts! Keep on blogging !!
LikeLike
December 17, 2013 at 8:44 am
You too, Willow! I look forward to many posts to come from your site. 😀
LikeLike
December 17, 2013 at 11:56 am
I am so stressed out and busy and I missed my EVDaDaDec last night so I shall have to publish two tonight!!
LikeLike
December 17, 2013 at 2:26 pm
The great thing about EDDD is anything goes, so I’m sure you can make up for it. 🙂
LikeLike
December 17, 2013 at 1:33 am
Blogging, I think, is like any other relationship. You can treat it like a business: my like for your like. Or you can treat it like friendship. If you show real interest and engage with someone, they’ll engage with you as well. Or not. But that’s okay. Insincere comments and likes may work for a little while, but I doubt they will serve to create long-term relationships and readers.
Oh, and I’ve known you only for a little while and read only few of your posts, but I already like you. I’m glad you changed your mind :D.
LikeLike
December 17, 2013 at 8:43 am
Thank you 😀 I’m enjoying your blog very much too, what I’ve seen of it. And sometimes you just know when you’ve found someone you get along with – I feel the same way. 🙂
Thanks so much for your kind and thoughtful comment 😀
LikeLike
December 17, 2013 at 1:04 am
Yes there are people like that but so few and far between the tremendous wordpress support you get. So glad you’ve persevered and blessed us with your writing. I hope you keep at it.
LikeLike
December 17, 2013 at 8:39 am
Thank you so much! Now that I’ve seen how wonderful you all are, I’m not going anywhere. 😀
LikeLike
December 17, 2013 at 12:22 am
Now it’s green and snowy…How festive!!
LikeLike
December 17, 2013 at 8:37 am
Don’tcha love it? Not too much black! 🙂
LikeLike
December 17, 2013 at 12:18 am
I’m new at your blog yet, but I appreciate our communications too. I use to like, when I see something, that I like, and comment when I feel, I have something to say to the single blogger. I’m happy for my friendships in here too. Thanks for sharing your thoughts in here.
Irene
LikeLike
December 17, 2013 at 8:36 am
Thank you Irene. I’m glad you came along 🙂
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 11:38 pm
Linda, you always have just the right way to say the right things. The engagement with others is what makes WP such a wonderful place 🙂 I am happy to have met you here.
LikeLike
December 17, 2013 at 8:34 am
Aww, thanks Susan. I’m so glad to have met you too 🙂
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 11:25 pm
That’s a ton of comments. Clearly someone loves what you write!
LikeLike
December 17, 2013 at 8:34 am
🙂 I must be doing something right at least. Thanks for commenting, Vince.
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 10:45 pm
Well said, Linda. Feeling is mutual.
Just saw your photo. Are you ever young!
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 10:52 pm
Thanks very much, Nav. 🙂 Happy you agree!
Me young? Haha. Yes, I’m perpetually 26 years old. At least that’s what I say every birthday, and my family had better agree or else! 😉
That picture is actually five years old. I now have a wart on my nose and walk with a gnarly old stick. Oh, and my hat is pointy now too. 😉
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 10:56 pm
Your photo did suggest that you were a hat gal.
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 10:58 pm
That’s it. stick to commenting on the hat. Safest way to go.
hehe 😉
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 10:15 pm
So many wonderful people here on wordpress, Linda!!!
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 10:15 pm
It’s true!!! 😀
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 10:04 pm
I have always enjoyed your posts. I also have made some friends since I started in July. I only hit like when I truly enjoy the post not just because I follow.
DJ
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 10:09 pm
I think many of us who really appreciate the meaning of WordPress and the people here, do the same – only ‘like’ things we actually enjoy. It’s amazing how easy it is to find friends here, isn’t it?
Thanks so much, Danny. 🙂 It’s great having you around.
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 9:55 pm
Your first sentence said it all “a fool”.
There will always be disingenuous people whether it be at the grocery store, church, or on WP. But there are genuine honest people too. It’s been fun getting to know you.
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 10:00 pm
And you, Pamela. 🙂
True, it takes all kinds. But I’ve found a great majority of the people who take time to comment, do so genuinely.
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 9:48 pm
Commenting on someone else’s blog is what got me into this in the first place because then other people started commenting on my comments. And eventually it led to my first guest post and then to my own blog. I’m glad I didn’t have that lady “advising” me when I first started out!
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 9:50 pm
I honestly almost gave up. It was because of the eventual interaction I had despite her that I kept going, so it seems we found the real value of WordPress pretty much the same way. 🙂
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 9:26 pm
Comments are worthless? Couldn’t be farther from the truth! I only post on Mondays, but I always look forward to the back-and-forth conversations in the comment section. I get so many great laughs and learn new things, too, just as I do when I visit other people’s sites and comment on theirs. If it weren’t for the interaction, what would be the point of blogging? 🙂 So I’m with you on this!
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 9:47 pm
It’s true! I get a lot of my inspiration from the comments as well. Thanks very much, Carrie. 😀
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 9:24 pm
It was my pleasure meeting you and reading your daily adventures and writings. Keep it up and I hope you will not get discourage by some cynic out there 😉
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 9:46 pm
Thank you so much! It’s great for me to have a connection with someone over in Japan as well 😀
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 9:07 pm
Aww I’m so glad, Linda. I feel the same way about the WP community. It is a wonderful place with many generous voices. So glad I am here with you xx
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 9:43 pm
Me too, Vic. 🙂 And the great thing too is that there’s a never ending stream of new people to meet! 😀
LikeLike
December 17, 2013 at 9:20 am
Absolutely! 🙂
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 9:03 pm
Thank you also! It is a real community we have here and I’ve grown to truly enjoy and appreciate the friendships as well.
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 9:41 pm
There’s so much to love about WordPress and the relationships that can be formed here. 🙂 A truly great place to connect.
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 8:53 pm
You took the words right outta my mouf.
I love WP
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 9:37 pm
Me too, Trey. Me too. 🙂
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 8:53 pm
I feel I am new to the WordPress family but it really is a good comforting and loving place. Hugs.
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 9:37 pm
It’s wonderful here! If I’d known just how much, I’d have started blogging years ago. It really is like family, isn’t it?
Welcome to you. 🙂
Hugs back. XD
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 8:43 pm
Love your stuff. Thank you.
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 8:55 pm
Thank you John. Yours is great too! I do need to get you on my email list though, so I don’t miss anything. 🙂
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 9:00 pm
go to http://Johnwhowell.com and click subscribe in th e little box on the right. (you know this I know)
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 9:39 pm
Got it. I’m not sure how I managed to miss you before. Thanks John. 🙂
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 8:38 pm
Well said!
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 8:53 pm
Thanks, Bruce! 🙂
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 8:36 pm
Some people, I like everything they write and read them compulsively. Other people, I like what they write here and there. I certainly have my favorites. Follows, I believe, are more indicative of fake enjoyment.
I, too, have made friends here, and I relish every conversation.
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 8:53 pm
It’s great, isn’t it? A wonderful way to get to know people. 🙂
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 8:33 pm
You’re very welcome, though I should really be thanking you. You’re one of my favorites on WordPress and I’m glad that you think so highly of your readers 🙂
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 8:51 pm
Thank you so much for your kind words. 🙂 I’m happy we found one another!
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 9:14 pm
🙂
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 8:33 pm
I’m just here to make you read my stuff. I’m just super dedicated to that pursuit. 😉 It’s been awesome learning about you, your struggles, and your family. Thanks for sharing it.
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 8:43 pm
Thanks so much Paul. 🙂
It’s the only reason I read your stuff too. 😉
hehe
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 9:02 pm
Other than the fact that you’re gorgeous – and that’s not superficial AT ALL! 😉
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 9:09 pm
I am a stud. Your little statue thing is pretty hot. 😛 I’m not sure I’ve ever seen an actual picture of you!
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 9:44 pm
Yep, and she’s in style for the season finally! haha
Go to my ‘about’ page. I just put a pic up last week. 🙂
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 9:46 pm
Love the hat! 😀
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 9:48 pm
Haha! Thanks 😀
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 8:31 pm
i’m so glad you have learned that the opposite is true. i’ve learned a lot since i first began as well. best, beth
LikeLike
December 16, 2013 at 8:40 pm
I find it’s an ongoing experience – and a great one at that. 🙂 Thanks Beth.
LikeLike