I should be in a much better spirits today, but it isn’t there. So be it. Every day can’t be the best. So instead of just sitting it out on the couch or beach chair, I hope to make the best of it. So moving on is the theme for the day. As it is for this blog. I just got a note yesterday from WP that this is my 3rd anniversary with them. So I looked back for the date of my first post and that was 1/22/2014.

It got me thinking about a few things. Anniversaries and blogging in particular. I’ll tackle “anniversaries” first. Typically the first thought with anniversaries is celebration. A wedding, a job, a company being born, graduations, a project complete. Sometimes they aren’t so celebrated, loss of family and friends, loss of a business or home, the day you get wind of a serious illness.

The meaning of anniversaries means different things to different people. For instance at one time in our history, longevity with a company was a badge that many wore proudly. Not so much so today is the feeling I get. I’m old school so being with a company you can do good work for and are proud of, it is something special to me. I look up to and respect those that have withstood the test of time and overcome, adapt, morphed and excelled at the same time for many decades. I think it’s a shame that many young people will never know this feeling.

Wedding anniversaries change every year just like marriages. Homecomings for colleges are anniversaries that many are proud of and honor each year. Some couldn’t care less though. It’s all a very individual thing that like waves has its ebbs and flows for any anniversary.

So now 3 years under my belt for blogging, not a very long stint but a start. And as I think about it I’m very happy I started it, which was one of the goals I mentioned in my first post. I’m very happy to keep it going and build on it quality wise and more often each day. I kind of feel it morphing into something that is still good but different from I started out with. And while the statement from my first post saying (this was my first baby steps to a career after my lifelong one in newspapers) is still true, I don’t feel the blog itself is totally defined yet.

Another point from my first post was (if brings joy or thought or reflection or emotion from someone then I’ve shared something special). And while the jury is still out on some of it I have heard from some, family, friends and strangers that things I have photographed or written about are special to them, which encourages me to continue that goal.

I said if I was lucky enough to make a profit, that I would take 20% of it to charity. Well, I don’t make squat from this or anything else at this time but I’ve gotten a bit active in my charity giving the past few months and I hope to improve and continue that.

After 3 years I’ve picked up a few things. I underestimated the time and skills needed to do something really good. But even thought I’m off to a slow start in some ways I’m constantly learning and trying to create. I know I’m far off from monetizing my work, but I’m building something more than work to be sold or published one day. (not the blog, books). And my photography and video might never amount to a dime, but those, and the words in this blog I feel will be something for my family and friends to have. For I have tons of family and friends photos and videos that I don’t get to share here that they will still value.

I feel I’m reading more than I ever have. I feel like I’m becoming a better person in doing this. I feel like if I apply myself that I can do much better. I feel like I’m thinking more and staying sharp by continuing this work. I feel and hope I can still generate something that is special to more people.

And I thank those special people for their feedback and comments/encouragement during my start. It means a lot to me.

So here is to my health and optimism holding out for many years to come to finish something I should have started work on decades ago. So it’s never to late to start something. That way you get to an anniversary that means something to you. Don’t hold back, just get to it. You might find it very therapeutic as I do.