Don’t let yesterday use up too much of today.
- Cherokee Indian Proverb
Today marks a bit of a milestone for me, one that I think bears some reflecting on. It was on this day in 2001 that I began blogging, so today’s a big anniversary of WWJD (and its predecessor, The People’s Republic of Seabrook). I don’t know whether to brag, try to maintain at least a modicum of humility, or marvel at the longevity at what started out as little more than a way to kill time and teach myself HTML. That I’m still at it ten years on amazes me but doesn’t really surprise me. I’ve always loved the writing, but when this all began, I didn’t even know what it was that I wanted to do. I just knew that I read an article in USA Today about this new thing called “weblogs”…and I remember thinking, “Hey, I can do that….” Not being able to come up with a reason why I shouldn’t, I jumped in…the rest, as they say, is history.
Over the past ten years, like most of us, I’ve grown up (I hope a lot) and watched the world change around me. I’ve hurt and been hurt, I’ve loved and lost, I’ve forgiven and sought forgiveness, I’ve experienced unsurpassed joy and intense pain- in short, I’ve lived a life. It perhaps hasn’t always been what I’ve wanted or envisioned, but like the bumper sticker says- “Life is what happens while you’re making other plans.” In many ways, WWJD has grown up with me as I’ve made more than my fair shares of mistakes while also enjoying numerious triumphs and high points.
I never cease to be amazed that there are people who still think that what I have to say is interesting enough to make my dark, cobwebby corner of da Interwebs a regular part of their lives. That WWJD is read by people all over the world is every bit as amazing. When I started in 2001, I had no idea what to expect and, at least initially, no real way of finding out who- if anyone- was actually reading what I was writing.
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bow lines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in the sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
- Mark Twain
I still don’t get an overwhelming amount of traffic, but after ten years, I should admit that it’s never really been about that. Oh, sure, I’d love to be as popular as Markos Moulitsas or Josh Marshall, but since I’m not the most…um, focused blogger, I figure that I don’t really fit into a niche. Perhaps someday soon someone will recognize my undeniable self-professed brilliance and awe-inspiring talent so that I can actually make a living (still working on that part of the equation). Paid or not, though, it’s difficult for me to envision a time when I’m not writing. I’ll probably continue to write as long as I’m still lucid and drawing breath…which I’m hoping will be for a good, long time to come.
Over the years, I’ve watched a number of blogs come along and grow into something much bigger than WWJD, but I’ve not had the time, resources, or frankly, the inclination to worry about that. I hope that someday WWJD will achieve some renown, but where things are now isn’t such a bad place to be. I’m doing something I love, people around the world read my writing…how cool is that, eh?
Sure, I could try some cheap SEO tricks to increase traffic (SARAH PALIN NUDE!!), but I don’t really want to cheapen what I do (NAKED PICTURES OF ANN COULTER!!). I write, and I hope people read what I write. Beyond that, I haven’t really indulged in much self-promotion (JESSICA ALBA NAKED!!). For whatever reason, WWJD doesn’t attract a whole lot of attention (HOT GIRL ON GIRL ACTION!!) compared to a lot of other blogs, but I’d never stoop to cheapening what I do (MEGYN KELLY SEX TAPE!!). Nope, that’s just not the way I roll (JENNIFER ANISTON CAUGHT IN FLAGRANTE DELICTO WITH USC OFFENSIVE LINE!!). I’m ALL about keeping things clean and above board, knowhutimean (HOT LAURA INGRAHAM XXX ACTION!!!)?
I have no idea what the future holds, so I’m just going to keep plugging away and see where it all leads me. A very wise man once told me that you can’t change the past, the future will be what it will be, but the present…ah, yes, the here and now…is where the magic lies, because that you can actually influence. Truth be told, my present is pretty damned nice. I’m in a good place with a good person by my side, good friends, and the ability and willingness to chase a dream while I still have my wits about me. Believe me, it doesn’t suck to be Jack these days.
Thanks to all of y’all who’ve stuck around for most or all of the past ten years. You either have stumbled onto a good thing…or you have WAY too much time on your hands. Whatever the case, I truly appreciate those of you who’ve read my writing and yet keep coming back for more. I don’t necessarily write for others, but any writer with any degree of honesty and integrity will admit that they want their work to be widely read and appreciated. I think it was Martin Amis who said that a writer must possess a sizable store of arrogance in order to believe that others would actually want to read what one writes. In my case, that arrogance is beginning to bubble to the surface as I shore up my self-confidence and learn how to believe in myself and my talent. I KNOW I can write; what I’ve not always been able to do is believe in myself. Stay tuned….
Thanks again for the support. I wonder what the next 10 years are going to look like??
