Imagine my surprise — the WordPress people tell me I have a “healthy” blog! I guess in order to keep it healthy and to keep myself mentally stable, I should keep posting in the New Year, not that I had any intention of quitting now. Here is what they sent me to prove the “health” of my blog:
The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:
The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Wow.
Crunchy numbers
A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 1,700 times in 2010. That’s about 4 full 747s.
In 2010, there were 35 new posts, not bad for the first year! There were 66 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 110mb. That’s about 1 pictures per week.
The busiest day of the year was December 10th with 447 views. The most popular post that day was In praise of honesty: the complexities of adoption.
End WordPress Stats!
I suppose I should write a year in review that is less numbers-oriented and more about what I have learned from writing. I have learned to pay more attention to what I am doing, and by attention, I mean to consider how I am experiencing something while I am in that moment. It has also helped me to refocus on what is important when I lose track. This isn’t a perfect strategy, but it seems to help me get back to things that are important when I have lost my way. I know that in some ways, I am still wandering, so this blog project is not done, and I will keep writing. I am not one for making resolutions, but the numbers tell me that I should make it a goal to post about 3-4 times a week. Not sure if I can be that regular, but it is a good goal. Kind of like running 3-4 times a week is a good goal.
Word Press did tell me the top five posts in terms of numbers of visitors, but I will instead include my own top five (okay, six, with a tie for fifth place) posts in terms of how well I actually liked them:
Fashionista Barbie, door bells and prince charlie
I liked these posts because they were fun to write, yet challenging, and I learned something by writing each of them.
I included our New Year’s Eve photo taken in Kalamazoo, Michigan at the outdoor (warm) festival with Gorilla Girl and Monkey Man. We saw a princess earlier in the evening. I didn’t blog about that, but it might be worth thinking about — a new tradition. Happy New Year!
Necessity is the Mother of Invention 
I just read through your favorites–what a treat! You are a great writer. I’m enjoying reading your blog so much!
Thanks, Loretta! Keep up the running….
I got one of these WordPress end of the year stats too. We should feel so official and legitimate. And here’s to your blogging! I look forward to continued reading of your intelligent and observant thoughts and perceptions about life. Rock on.