Things That Ring My Bells In 2015

I am going on a Polyanna vibe in this post, and listing some of the things that ring my bells in 2015. I always admired the Polyanna character, by the way, and think being that way is quite cool. I mean it takes a positive and forward thinking person like that to do good in her community by paying it forward with random acts of kindness and thoughtfulness, so I think now is the time to think more like Polyanna. I did a couple of blog posts about things that irk me a bit, so here are a few things that ring my bells. Being a Polyanna is not just about random acts of kindness towards others, it is also about indulging in and sharing things you enjoy.

Palm trees at sunset are just one of the things that rings my bells in 2015.
Palm trees at sunset are just one of the things that rings my bells in 2015.

1. Taking pictures and posting these.
2. Liking and sharing blog posts of friends on social media.
3. Making a nice compliment to a stranger if she is wearing a cute outfit.
4. Looking at palm trees with the mountains as a backdrop.
5. Looking at the silhouette of palm trees and mountains at sunset.
6. Actually finishing an art project.

I want 2015 to be more about the things that ring my bell. It is amazing to just start blogging about the things you love, and these free form posts are quite invigorating. I need more of that Polyanna vibe, and that is what I am craving for the rest of today.

Why I Need To Stop Second Guessing Myself

There are many memes people post to Facebook that have emotionally and politically charged rhetoric has  made me realize I need to stop second guessing myself.  I tend to be very reserved in daily interaction, and even when it comes to discussing political opinions online I do not do that like I once did.

I often feel like I am second guessing myself when I post something, but others do not.  They freely share opinions and memes, but I am always rethinking what I say and write.  I guess I need to stop doing that since others do not second guess themselves.  For better or worse I have certain opinions, and sometimes I will write about those online.

Why I Am More Effective At Using Social Media Than I Think

I have a considerable amount of traffic and a good Alexa ranking on this blog, so I am a bit more effective at using social media than I was feeling like a few days ago.  Yes, I might not be ranked 22,000 on Alexa, and I might not have 100 followers on this blog, but guess what?  Seven years ago I started writing over on Hubpages, and I have over 2,260 followers there!  People looking at this blog might think I am a small potato, but I am actually a bit more read and trafficked on all of my sites combined than what meets the eye on the surface.  In my early online writing days I used to concentrate more on Hubpages, and over time I started working on my own blog.  One of the benefits of writing on a site like Hubpages is that you do get a lot of followers for simply posting a few hubs, and it is easier to get traffic there than on your own blog.

I actually have a decent  number of followers on Hubpages, even though it is nothing too impressive.
I actually have a decent number of followers on Hubpages, even though it is nothing too impressive.

However, the drawback of writing on a website like Hubpages and other revenue sharing sites is you are pegged in by their rules.  You cannot write an off the cuff post, and it will be deleted if  you choose to do so.  The push for more “quality content” on websites such as Hubpages has just made some of the people who were there in the beginning go elsewhere to blog where they have more freedom, and keep all the monetary rewards when they do get traffic.

The downside to posting on your own blog is that your have to use social media to promote yourself, but after talking to many bloggers, I realize I am not deplorable at using it.  I get a decent amount of traffic, and I use social media in a way that is true to me.  Some people never promote themselves on social media, and others like to refer to themselves and what they share there as “their brand”, but I have discovered I do not fit into either camp.

As with all things social I tend to be the one who keeps to myself in some ways, and will continue to use social media in a that feels real for me.   Everything I post on Facebook and Twitter is because I wanted to post it, and not because I was following a strategy of some kind.  I feel this authenticity is what makes me unique in the blogging world, and I do not want to change it.  So even in the discouragement that I am not garnering a large number of comments on my blog, I have beginning to feel good about what I post again.  Each post is something that I care about, and something that is very true to me, such as admiring two beautiful Canadian geese on a Southern California walk.