3 Reflections from a Website Host
Becoming a blogger was not and is still not the end goal. I set out to be an author; and blogging teaches and sharpens writing skills. Because a vast majority of the necessary pro elements, like frequency, content creation, pace, and collaboration are part of successful blogging any writer can benefit from this discipline. I had read about these benefits before I ever hit “Launch” on my website page. Now two years of website hosting later, I have a couple of thoughtful musings.
1. You never know who is reading your content.
Christmas cards are filling the Kleppinger mailbox this season. Every so often a glitter decked card has a scrawled note that reads, “I love reading your book reviews.” Or, “Your scary story was really cool.”
The people who write these things to me, aren’t my typical audience. Many of them do not normally peruse the internet reading blogs. But random readers access my and other bloggers’ content all the time. We get the surprising comment now and again slipped into our email to remind us, anyone can be reading our words.
Over two years later, I am learning to manage that responsibility, as well as cherish the opportunities to reach people.
2. Community is key.
I have written about this before, yet still, it is hard to believe. The internet is one of the most sociable places in the world. Maybe the veil of anonymity creates boldness? Possibly people don’t want to be lonely?
Blogging, social media, and online posting would not be successful without the digital community. A blogger’s community can be niche or global. It takes readers and content creators.
I love that for the internet to really work, it needs people. And lots of them. Many times the internet is framed as a dark place. And yes, there is darkness and evil and hurtful content.
There is also so much light. Dashes of ingenuity, shared experiences, and stories of growth. My website has a community, and I am thankful for them everyday!
3. Consistent routines are healthy for the mind.
Starting a blog and hosting a website appears to be this enormous task. The laundry list of “to dos” could overtake anyone, let alone a person not fluent in code. When I set out to manage my website, I penned a list of items I needed to maintain each week.
The routine became less time consuming and more enjoyable the more fluent I became in internet programs and website components.
Setting up weekly tasks I can accomplish has been so rewarding. Goal setting is fun, when the pressure to perform is off and the mentality to learn is active. I knew if I treated website management like my work (which I need a degree and experience for) I’d always be underperforming.
Instead, website hosting has been a master’s program for me. I pay for training and qualified help, go to the library for resources, engage with online experts, and offer my brain space to become consistently better at it. My gray matter is stretching and growing and in two years, my mental health, especially towards performance, has become much healthier.
Website hosting was a means to an end in the process of becoming an author. After two years of hosting, I have gleaned too many benefits to not continue investing in this routine. I hope to get better at crafting a website, uploading clickable content, and creating a space for my audience to engage. As I grow, I will enjoy the community I have joined, rest in my healthful routines, and be aware of those I interact with.
Have you engaged with any long-term projects that resulted in many more positive outcomes than you were expecting? Leave me a comment about the benefits of trying something outside your comfort zone.