Enjoying A ‘Wallow’

~ beetleypete

Maybe it’s the time of year, the dark afternoons, or just my age, I don’t know.

But for the last couple of days, I have been enjoying a nostalgic wallow in the early days of my blog. (Hence reposting one of my original ‘Significant Songs’.) Picking a header comment, photo, and theme. Never sure if you got the blog name right, or if anyone was ever going to read so much as one word that you wrote.

It doesn’t seem that long ago that I got excited to receive as many as two comments on a post, and sometimes even six likes! I would return to my old computer and check on the progress of a post, just to see if anyone else had left a comment.

One of the sad things about revisiting those posts from the first eighteen months of blogging is seeing comments from former ‘regulars’ who just disappeared, or decided to stop blogging. I wish they were still around, and if any of them read this, I hope you are well.

Using the stats page to see which posts are being read is often a revelation. People have been reading posts that I had forgotten about, and in some cases don’t even remember writing. I love it when someone randomly reads very old stuff, as it reminds me of a time when I really didn’t have the first clue about blogging. (Before you tell me, I know I probably still haven’t)

FR (Fragglerocking) wisely counsels me to always look forward, and to never dwell in the past. But I can’t help myself, especially where my blog is concerned.

I am sure you all remember those tentative first steps. Checking your post over and over before hitting ‘Publish’, then wondering if anyone other than your best friend was ever going to bother to read it. The first time you were notified that you had a follower whose name you didn’t know, or received a comment from an experienced blogger who said something nice about your post.

Blogs needs to evolve to survive, and to remain interesting. But there is little to compare with that thrill of those early posts, and the feeling of dipping a toe into the vast ocean of communication and community known as Blogging.

So if you will forgive me, I am going back for another short wallow.

51 thoughts on “Enjoying A ‘Wallow’”

  1. I love a wallow, especially in the sunshine…I am playing catchup today…been a little awol over the Christmas period..food to eat and drink and films to watch etc etc…I am now off to catch up on Phin & Co x

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  2. Wallow, Pete. I think that’s a good thing. Now that the days are short I have been thinking of my earlier posts. I think I like what I was saying and writing far more than what I write now. There were no photos, just words. Stuff, no fluff. So, I’m wallowing somewhat too.

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  3. I thought the posts you sent me about your marriages, young life, work as an EMT, your evolution as a spouse, and as a man fascinating. It seems you’ve always been a fabulous writer. Now I’m curious and will snoop around some of your earlier posts! My first year has some pretty awful posts but I haven’t deleted any of them! I love that you refer to them as “keyboard children!” Wallow away you earned the right Pete, C

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  5. I’ve been blogging for less than two years, but I wonder about those who suddenly disappear. Did they pass? Find a new hobby? Get bored? Aha, I’ve got it! They went to work for WordPress. 😎

    My philosophy in retirement is when something stops being fun, I’ll find something else to do. I enjoy meeting people from across the globe and gain some new perspective. Think I’ll stay around.

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    1. One of my most loved bloggers died young too, and left two young children behind her. Her husband put up a final post, and left the blog open for posterity. It made me so sad.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  12. I don’t think this is a bad wallow. I too look back and wonder why some who used to comment regularly have disappeared. Or I look back at old posts and wonder about the quality. Should I clean them up even though they may never again see the light of day? (I have.) Perhaps the end of a year naturally brings this kind of reflection and that’s okay. 🙂 From a fellow ‘wallower’ and follower. 😉

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  14. I too have noticed that a fair amount of people have stopped blogging over the last 3 years. It’s such a shame. It looks like people are spending their time on Instagram posting photos and memes these days.

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      1. Yes, it is a slower thing on WordPress. A post or article you write is there for all time (unless you delete it) so it will get views over time. That reminds me that I have some posts to add for this month as I haven’t done any yet. I aim to do 5 each month. I have a notebook where I jot down subjects for each post so I have a fair few to choose from.

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  19. I agree with FR…..keep moving forward and avoid trying to keep the past alive…..I have lost many good “regulars” from days gone by….but I have gained many new ones that are by far more productive for IST….chuq

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  21. Pete, it’s something I “wallow” in a bit as well…certain followers just stopped liking anything, don’t know why but it is what it is…some stopped posting completely as you say…must have decided this wasn’t giving them that sense of community it does to me and others…it is interesting you can the something about Ollie’s walk and someone in Indonesia tells you what they thought of it, right? Happy holidays!

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