Looking Back: Late Bloomers After 2 Years Of Blogging
Is it permitted to congratulate yourself on achieving the second year of blogging?
Yes, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY, well done and thanks to YOU all who read my blog, comment on, support me and have become online friends. Huge blogger thanks!
Some weeks ago I found a very interesting article and interview with Rüdiger Safranski, a German philosophy professor, on his colleague Konrad Paul Liessmann and his new book “Lob der Grenze”
Do we have an issue here?
The German word Grenze means limit or boundary and Lob translates as praise. Praise of limits? This had my whole attention and especially when Safranski said (I hope he excuses my translation) “to set limits in thoughts is politically and existentially an indispensable necessity.” Only in thoughts?
And then he mentioned Goethe, this wonderful German poet, writer and politician: “Goethe had a strong sense for limits, he had a wonderful cultural immune system. He precisely differentiated: what do you let in from the outside and what do you have to keep away in order to stay productive. Therefore: to set limits not because of narrowness but in order to set free as much productivity as possible. Goethe teaches us that we need limits in order to produce a creative operating temperature.”
And what has blogging to do with all this? Nothing, it is the whole shenanigan surrounding it: this glittering online world, this seductress in many disguises, the distractions. For two years I have been unwillingly celebrating this boundlessness that in the end does not make any sense to me and makes my head all woozy, it is like an endless drinking binge.
And since I have started this post with a Latin quote, here’s another: Have you ever seen this wonderful movie by Mel Brooks: History of the World, Part I and do you remember this famous line in the historic Rome scene “sic transit gloria” to which a senator replies “I did not know Gloria was sick”. No, glory is not out of the window. And I am not digressing either, here goes:
TGV Ready to go?
Looking Forward: Late Bloomers
Time has become a precious good and I want to make good use of it. Is it not paradox how we treat it: spending endless hours online, is this any better than slumping on a sofa watching TV?
No, I will not stop blogging, I will continue because I love writing and I love the community.
But, I will set limits to my social media activities and concentrate on what is important to me: writing, photographing, cooking, manufacturing my food and wellness products. And my final goal is still to publish a book!
Monologue or dialogue? Manylogue is the answer! After two years of blogging I think it is time to take Late Bloomers the proverbial step further and this is my idea:
Starting next week I will have a series of guest posts at Late Bloomers in the new category YOUR TURN!:
Share your favourite stories on
recipes
restaurants, hotels and bars
food markets
wine and drinks
shortly: anything gustatory
All on board, on please!
Comments 43
Congratulations on your Blogoversary, Barbara! I think it’s a great idea to celebrate your 2 year anniversary and I am excited about the new direction your blogging journey will take.
I think it’s wonderful that you will be pursuing even more your interests and talents. All the better for us!
I am approaching my two year blogoversary and was wondering if I should do a post to mark the occasion. You have shown me that I should!
@wonderoftech Thank you so much, Carolyn! We “celebrated” it by making a batch of organic soy wax candles for the upcoming markets and eating tons of a wonderful chocolate cake my friend made for me (he will not give me the recipe though! but it has non allergic nuts in it and is ever so delicious) and drinking a beautiful Chardonnay from Southern Italy.
I think we all should have our rituals and celebrate more. Reaching a second blogoversary is a big thing (how many reach that age?) and I loved being called baby today! I will be looking out for your celebratory post, Carolyn! Happy Thanksgiving!
@Late_Bloomers @wonderoftech I used to manage a candle manufacturing plant in Iowa City and we made them from soy wax. They are awesome because you don’t get the black “soot” that comes from paraffin candles.
@ExtremelyAvg @wonderoftech Brian, you are full of delightful secrets! Will you write a recommendation for me at my web shop, pleeeease?
@ExtremelyAvg @Late_Bloomers Very cool. I had no idea that experience was in your background.
@ExtremelyAvg @Late_Bloomers @wonderoftech Wow. I didn’t know that about soy wax, Brian!
Happy Happy Birthday, or Blogoversary as @wonderoftech said! If you don’t tell us it’s your day, how will we know and YES celebrate it! So many bloggers have packed up and gone away – the fact you’re still here after two years means a lot!
I guess you and Carolyn and I are all at our 2-year mark! Whoo hoo! (and yes, blog about it Carolyn! I missed mine 🙁
New directions Barbara! As long as we still see you here because that’s why I come!
Happy celebrations!
Lori
@Lori Thanks, Lori. My 2 year blogoversary is in January so I’m not quite there yet. But I certainly plan to be around then and for many more years.
Happy two year blogoversary to you too, Lori!
@wonderoftech Thank you Carolyn!
@Lori @wonderoftech Lori, thank you so much and my best wishes to you on your own milestone! Life, for Instance is certainly here to stay and you have built a sound foundation to erect your house and big big porch around it!
Lori, I have read your gentle reminder and you will get my 2 Cs tomorrow.
I am very satisfied with my achievements today: a celebratory blog post, baked brownies for an army, made another batch of Florentines and 20 organic soy wax candles with a very tantalizing oriental fragrance – you would love it, it reminds me of sultry nights, belly dancing and drumming!
@Late_Bloomers @wonderoftech Aw, you’re making me hungry! Sultry nights belly dancing and drumming! I want some of those candles!
@Lori @wonderoftech LOL, hungry? Can I make you even hungrier: the soft wax works as an extremely efficient body lotion and my hands are really soft after working with the wax for hours …. I will send you a sample, Lori!
@Late_Bloomers @Lori @wonderoftech I visualized all that and it felt gooood!
Happy blog-anniversary Barbara! two years is becoming, well, quite some time in the blogosphere! I am glad to see that, as always, your head is full of new projects…keep up the momentum!
@JSJ2020 Merci mille fois, Muriel! Yes, two years is quite some time, I do not know how many bloggers make it to their second anniversary. Do you know? My personal nightmare is getting lost in cyberspace and suffering a huge cyberspace hangover! Focus, focus, focus is the mantra for the next year!
And hopefully a short trip to London to catch up with you and Kittie and finally see Les Mis!
Happy blog a versary! Bravo to you my friend. I LOVE the line about boundlessness, and how this wild and wacky online world “makes my head all woozy, it is like an endless drinking binge.” As Lori said, many have decided to stop or slow down their blogging: it takes so much energy and tenacity to keep going, and it should be fun and gratifying. When the fun stops, well…the fun stops:(Kudos to you for picking your priorities, writing when the muse hits, and calling for Guest Posts: great idea! I will look forward to the next chapters. And like you, Lori and Carolyn, I’m coming close to my two-year mark in February. 2013 will have changes in store for me too:) Cheers! Kaarina
@KDillabough Hey, Kaarina, my friend! So lovely to see you and thanks for your beautiful words. I love writing, this is the fun bit (although that friend of mine was quite astonished how much work goes into a single post), the coherence of words and pictures, it is like cooking a perfect meal and serving it at a beautifully laid out table and enjoying it with friends.
February 2013 will be your milestone: we all have achieved so much in such a short time, we keep forgetting it, do we not? Is your project coming along then? Cannot wait to hear about it, it is really time for a chat!
@Late_Bloomers We’re in need of an overdue chat:) My project hit a little bump in the road (as they all do:) but I’m re-grouping and carrying on. Cheers! Kaarina
@KDillabough Oh, a little bump, do we not love surprises? And call them opportunities! Keep my fingers crossed for speedy progress.
How about Monday or Tuesday? I am busily preparing for this Sunday event (and being distracted again!)! Cheers, my friend!
@Late_Bloomers Monday or Tuesday can work. Just pop me an email with possible date/time(s). Look forward to it:)
Congrats! Guest posts are a sure-fire way to have some fun! Good luck to you, and I can’t wait to see what you come up with! If you are lacking for recipes, I wrote a post last year for my gingerbread houses!
@BetsyKCross Thank you so much, Betsy! Well, I think I will surprise myself as well!
Of course, I remember your gingerbread houses and I sent a copy to my daughter last year, she is quite the specialist for it in our family! I’d be honoured to have you as a guest on my blog – welcome, it would be great if we could share your gingerbread story in December, what do you think?
I’m not strong in Latin, so I was wondering, what does Quo Vadis mean? Is it “Where to from here?” or something like that?
I think you’ve done an excellent job with your blog and moving forward, shouldn’t change a thing. Congrats on the milestone, I’m sure the next year will be even better.
@ExtremelyAvg Pretty close: it means “Where are you going?”.
Woah, thanks, Brian, this means a lot to me. I am a slow blogger and late bloomer goes hand-in-hand, learning to be more patient. By this time next year I will be out of diapers and talking 10 miles an hours – you better watch out!
@Late_Bloomers I like learning new things about Latin. 🙂
@ExtremelyAvg I love learning something new each and every day and I love your attitude! 😉
Congrats on the milestone and here’s hoping you have many more years to come!
And yes, those recipes…. will contribute some soon! Busy with exams and assignments! 😉
How does it feel to be blogging so long?
Good morning, @Hajra and thank you so much for your lovely wishes!
2 years is not such a long time, I am still a baby blogger and yet it feels like ages: I uppermost cherish the new relationships, appreciate what I have learnt and love to apply some of my experiences and skills in marketing here as well. I never thought much about photography before and have come to use it in a different way: catching the moment and accentuating text. And my shortcomings are listed above ….
Glad to see you posting in the near future, priorities first. It can wait for January next year, haha, another six weeks to go … already dreading all the New Year’s resolutions we will be swamped with. I will send out an email these days to all the wonderful people who offered to guest post their gustatory experiences and likes.
Have a wonderful weekend and in case you are working – so am I!
@Late_Bloomers I am not working, I am studying for my finals! And time is just running away! 🙁
@Hajra and you call studying not WORK? I know that you study, this is hard work as you are the only one responsible and no boss breathes down your back!
But take a break every now and then, will you, please?
@Late_Bloomers LOL! No time for a break, really. I have exams and a training and my freelance work to take care of. Really tied up. And no time to blog hop or write, or read! 🙁
@Hajra Come on, 5 minutes to stretch your limbs, do some push ups, Josh could tell you how to!
No time to blog hop, then I am doubly honoured by your presence!
Happy anniversary and here’s looking forward to many more! Your posts always bring a smile to my face even on gloomy days like today! Can’t wait to see what your guest posters come up with should be a fun ride and a great evolution for your blog.
@kittiewalker Hi, Kittie, this is my reward then: bringing a smile to your face, you make me proud.
My guest posters: I count on you as well, together with a garden story, not the one with everything drowning ….
Thanks for coming by offering your good wishes and I wish you a relaxed weekend!
@Late_Bloomers Oh dear lord – don’t mention the garden – it has become a jungle! Two months of not getting out there and doing anything have led to me now not being able to see the end of the garden from ground level.I shall be delighted to participate (no disaster stories here)!Speak to you soon. Love and hugs xxx
Congradulations and Happy Blogging…
@CarlyAlyssaThorne Thanks, Carly, and I trust you are enjoying the long Thanksgiving weekend and some time off!
Lovely! May I say how happy I am that we are connected! Indeed I remember the movie History of the World – and I want to see it, NOW. What a barrel of laughs that was. We picked up a few phrases from it that have worked themselves into our own conversations, most notably, the “no, no, no, no, YES!,no no…..” Giggle!
Looking forward to continuing to come over here, Barbara. And please do write that book!
Bear hugs!
@Vidya Sury Vidya dear, I feel blessed – thank you so much!
Ah, you saw the movie, I would love to see it again, too, and I will once things calm down! There is always something new to be discovered, what a clever man Mel Brooks is!
And I look forward to seeing you here this week cutting the ribbon the new series – welcome!
Happy 2 years, Barbara! =) I’m so honored to be a part of your community and love that you’ve decided to continue blogging. The direction you’ve decided to take is a good one. I need to set limits on time online as well. Life is about living after all! =)
@Samantha Bangayan Good morning, Sam, thank you so much, how well I remember the time we met online, new to blogging and overwhelmed by the creativity and beauty of blogosphere, then connecting via comments and finally meeting up at PBAU.
The decided direction needs some discipline … we will see!
Welcome to the 2 year old club! And setting limits is good – I think we al learnt that this year. As to guest posts – I’ll be in that…but not for a few weeks yet as I just went part time in my job and am trying to find some balance 🙂
@JanineRipper Hi, Janine, thanks so much for stopping by and contributing to YOUR TURN! I know how tight your schedule is and I appreciate it very much! Do not worry, you pick your time!
Trying to find balance – I am struggling with it each day! The more important it is to find some ME time!