I hope you are well. Sorry I haven’t been around much, but I have some bigger, tough things to deal with now, and regular blogging hasn’t been at the forefront of my mind. However, today, a little thing popped up on my notifications.
Nine years!
I mean, wow!
That time has flown. I remember starting this little blog, not knowing what a blog was, slowly building my Blogily, and making some lifelong friends along the way.
I have got to know so many people. You have shared so much of my life journey with me, too.
When I started, I never thought I would become a ‘writer’ let alone a published Poet and Author!
And, yet, here we are.
So, I hope I can be back more often soon, to share lots of joy with you, but for now, thank you for being on this journey with me, interacting with me, and letting me be a part of your lives, too.
So, there I was, minding my own business,when a notification came up…
I’ve officially been blogging for eight years!
And how I fell into this world is a story in itself.
Some of you, my oldest friends, on here, will have heard it already, but for those of you, my newer blogily members, I am happy to recount the way this blog started.
A dear friend of mine wrote a post on Facebook, mentioning that she had started writing to help her mental health. She shared a link and said any of us could read it. Being the supportive friend that I am, I clicked straight onto it and was immersed in her words and thoughts. I wanted to comment to show my support, but it told me I needed to create an account.
And so I did.
Then this thing called WordPress emailed me and said, now you’ve signed up, why not start a blog?
Blog?
So that is what this thing was called.
I’d never heard of blogging. (Old school, aren’t I?)
But I thought, why not?
And But I Smile Anyway was born!
I had no idea what I was meant to write about on this blog thing. I had no niche, no plan, no clue.
But, somehow, that little unknown blog built up its followers, and some of those followers became friends, and you all gradually became my blogily!
Eight years down the line, I have nearly 10K blog followers, it’s won awards, and I was given the encouragement to pursue my writing, meaning I am a published poet and author, too, with a publishing contract!
I branched out onto Instagram and TikTok, too… see where blogging leads you?
And, every day, I feel blessed that I have such a wonderful Blogiy, still willing to read my ramblings, so THANK YOU!
I wouldn’t still be here if it wasn’t for you and your interactions with me!
Where did that time go? I remember it well, that morning I opened Facebook and a friend had posted that she had started writing about he depression, to help her, and here was a post. Would we like to read it?
Why, yes. Yes, I would love to read and support her.
So off I went, and read her post, and began to comment, when I was asked to create an account. Fine. I did that.
Then a little thing pinged up saying ‘Why not start a blog!’
The thing is, I actually had no idea what a blog was. However, in my infinite wisdom, I decided that yes, I would like to. I’d learn, and muddle along, and probably give up after a few days.
Name? But I Smile Anyway was the first thing I thought of, because it is, pretty much, me.
What was I going to write? Who knew? I certainly didn’t!
But, over the years, I have posted thousands of times, thought pieces, humour, poetry, fiction, reviews, life… And with those posts came you wonderful readers.
Some of you have been with me since the beginning, some joined in along the way. And I love my (not so little) blogily. I have been fortunate to have met some of the awesome bloggers I befriended, over the years, and honestly, you guys are genuine friends (and, some, like family).
You have encouraged me, laughed with me, cried with me, and generally put up with my nonsense for SEVEN years!
If it wasn’t for you, I would have never thought to publish a poetry book. I don’t think my debut novel would have ever come to life. And book two would absolutely not have been in the pipeline!
Oh, and I wouldn’t have had a second (not so used) blog, either!
You guys.
Thank you so much for being with me on this journey. Long may it continue!
“We’ve been together seven years. We’re pretty much like family.”
Shane Filan
So, do you know how long you have been following me? How long have you been blogging?
I logged in this evening to check my blog and in the notifications sat this little beauty, nestled amongst the comments and likes.
And I have had a blast the last six years!
Thank you all for putting up with me, my silliness, my ups and downs, my (possible) pearls of wisdom, my observations, my creations… basically my everything I post.
Thanks to you all, my blog has won awards that I hold dear to my heart, I had the courage to finish that novel, and publish it, I’m writing another, and I have made the most amazing friends.
My blogily are the biggest reason I am here. Without you all encouraging me, liking, commenting and enjoying my posts, I may have given up a long time ago.
I’ve had years where I posted multiple times a day, a whole year of posts every day. Recently, I’ve been quieter, due to the current situation, and work/life stuff.
But you.
You’ve been there throughout.
Thank you.
Seriously, thank you all. I hope to be here for a lot longer, too, and look forward to (hopefully) being able to entertain you all as long as I am able!
They’ve seen me laugh and cry with you all, publish my own poetry book, finish my age-old WIP, win awards, including (in different years) first, second and third place for Best Overall Blogger at the Annual Bloggers Bash Awards, AND getting to meet so many of my favourite bloggers, and blogily at the Bash too!
Psst! Saturday 15th June 2019, in London… are you coming? Click here for more details!
This year, I have still been posting away, but getting more creative and more philosophical. I was chosen as one of the Fab Five in Charli Mill’s TUFFest Ride rodeo writing competition, and received an Honourable mention too!
I was even asked to be a speaker at the Bloggers Bash, about how to Blog alongside a busy life!
Blogging is such a huge part of my life now, I don’t know what I did with my spare time before, but one thing I know, I am so glad I started, otherwise I wouldn’t have met, in reality or virtually, any of you wonderful Peeps!
And… I’m only a couple of hundred short of 7000 WP followers… The mind boggles!!!
And so to the celebrations…
It’s a party, so let me know what you’re drinking, and leave a link to a favourite post of yours.
Don’t forget to visit others, clink your virtual glasses together in the form of a comment, like and/or share, and help me celebrate my #Blogifoursary!
But I Smile Anyway... 
