Eight Is Great

Today I’m celebrating my WordPress birth-iversary! MormonSoprano.com celebrates eight years of “life” in the world wide web. What an epic adventure!

It’s hard to believe that it’s really been eight whole years since that fateful day I decided to follow my strange dream-message to “build a blog.”

[yeah, totally shades of that movie with the corn…]

There was the epic “Blog Fail”, and the epic “Rebuild”. There were some scary moments when I thought the blog was going to be prematurely put out of it’s misery due to “political intrigue,” until an eleventh hour save (bless Elder Ballard for that).

But, I persevered. I learned something new every day, I kept praying over topics, I kept writing… and some people started to come, and then some more of you kept coming back & reading. [THANK YOU, I’m so honored!!]

As hard as it is to believe I’ve been blogging for 8 years, it’s even more mind-boggling to realize that this means I’m celebrating the end of my 6 month audition process and received my acceptance letter from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Eight Years already…really?! Wow.

As far as blog “rankings” mine is pretty small and insignificant, but it was never about becoming “popular”. When I built the blog, I thought I might be able to share things from my heart that would add light and positivity (yep, I’m making that a word) to the internet. I hoped I might be able to lift and inspire others – if any others might actually read it. I wasn’t sure if anyone would. Early in my blogging years I discovered that controversial subjects get the most attention online. It was tempting to post things that were a bit more negative or contentious just to boost my “stats” – and I admit I fell victim to that trap a few times. But, they always took the tone of my blog down a path I didn’t want. I learned I have to carefully consider my posts, and choose my words wisely. There’s still always a temptation that comes along from time to time to blog about certain topics that I know will bring more readers, but not necessarily the right spirit. Despite rejecting controversy, today I have over 994,000 hits on my visitor counter. So, it was true. I built it, and “they” / you came anyway. I’m in awe.

Ironically, the person I think the blog has helped the most is me.

It’s been an amazing journey. I’m grateful for the things I’ve learned – both the good and the bad – about blogging and myself. I am thankful for the involvement I’ve had being part of the early Mormon “bloggernacle” wave (before it was a ‘thing’) .

Bloggers see the world in a very different way. We watch, study and observe the world. We are always looking for things to share. As a religious and musician blogger that means I spend a lot of time watching, studying and observing the things I love most trying to find things that would help my readers feel the Holy Spirit. That process has provided me daily opportunities to strengthen my personal testimony. My blogging has definitely ‘converted me’ in a much deeper way than I ever expected.

Turning Eight years old is a very significant age in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That is the age of “age of accountability” which the Lord has set for our actions, which coincides with the  age of eligibility for baptism. In preparation for baptism, Eight year old Latter-day Saints receive a little green ring with the letters C.T.R. engraved, which reminds them to “Choose The Right.” [learn all about the CTR Ring here]. There’s even a popular hymn we sing about Choosing the Right. I hope that during the next eight years of blogging – and beyond – I will always “choose the right” when it comes to the things I do and share.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT

Thank you for being a part of my journey. Your friendship and support means so much to me! I hope you’ll keep stopping by, reading and commenting. You’re the best! – MoSop