My Blog, My Girl & You: It’s Just About… Life – Year One!

“To be what we are and to become what we are capable of becoming is the only end of life.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

“Becoming more, helpings others do the same.” – Mark Brodinsky

One Year. Fourteen Years. Thirty-Four Thousand.

Today, January 9th, 2014, post #210 celebrates the one year anniversary of this blog. Words have power and sometimes they run parallel with some meaningful numbers.

I launched this blog last year on my daughter Sophie’s 13th birthday. One year later it’s time to wish my big girl a Happy 14th.

Sophie you never cease to amaze me. You are smart, multi-talented, beautiful, funny and I love you with all of my heart. My girls, my two daughters and my wife (and even my dog Ollie, my boy), are magic in my life and I am grateful every day to be a father and a husband.

So we’re whittling this down. We’ve got the one year anniversary, the 14th birthday and now we’ve got 34,000. I think it looks more significant in numbers than words, but either way it really doesn’t matter. As I log into my WordPress site this morning to write this blog, that’s the number staring back at me, the number of views in the past year. And for this I say thank you, thank you, thank you. I am grateful. Words have power, people like you have the power as well. The fact that you have chosen to spend a few minutes to read what I have to say, take in a message, or take part in someone else’s story, whether it be every time, or even once in a while, matters. Back on January 9th of last year, if even one person had paid attention it would be worth it.

But it’s much more than that. When you speak from the heart, if you can find a way to develop community, to bring value, then there is no downside, only potential. There is amazing power in positive expectancy and I had no doubt if I was true to my vision for this blog, had faith, no fear and stayed consistent, this blog would resonate. It started off as “Moments: Observations of Life”, (https://markbrodinsky.com/2013/01/09/moments-observations-of-life/) and though the title has changed, (and may change again, we’ll see), the moments of the past year on this blog have turned out to be inspiring and moving. There are lessons I shared as I have learned them myself, about life, self-improvement, growth, time, finding a higher purpose, and learning your why. There are personal moments I decided to share to give you a deeper look into my own existence, including my wife’s battle and victory over breast cancer. I was able to take that one subject and not just blog about it here and on Caringbridge, but to turn it into a self-published book, what is essentially a year-long love letter to my wife.

And now there is the Sunday Series, the first signature segment of this blog, where I pour my life into someone else and share their story. Folks, those stories are taking us all to another place. I know it because of the e-mails, texts, social media messages and the likes and follows on this WordPress site from all over the world. Your response is literally changing other people’s lives.

The blog has now been viewed in more than 60 countries. Just a week ago we had crossed the 50 mark. An idea, a message and internet connection. Anyone can do this. I want to give personal thanks to Rachel Blaufeld, (http://backngroovemom.com/), who gave me the tips and the courage to move forward and start a blog. Facebook messages and tweets are temporary posts, a blog is permanent, a landing pad for others to visit and if I do this right, part of my legacy. It is a miracle beyond measure to be able to take one of the gifts I have and share it with the world. To speak from the heart, to be able to turn those thoughts into written words and to have it resonate.

Moving forward into blog year number two, so much more is possible. I may be adding video to this blog and feature more guest bloggers and some collaborative efforts. The ideas are endless, it’s all about execution. There are intentions and there is action. To become more, you must take action.

I hope this blog about life inspires you to take a closer look at your own. In the simple act of writing it, it does for me. It is impossible to share and not be transformed myself. Thank you for taking me places I never knew I could go. I hope I do the same for you.

Until next time, thanks for taking the time. (every time)

Mark

Mark Brodinsky, Author/Blogger
It Takes 2. Surviving Breast Cancer: A Spouse’s Story
#1 Amazon Best Seller
www.spouses-story.com
www.markbrodinsky.com
markbrodinsky@gmail.com