They say when you are happy, time flies. And so it has done this past year. We started this year full of stress and strife and worrying about the transition into the house we had purchased 6 months earlier. Thankfully, spring arrived and the move happened smoothly, and we have been sinking roots ever since.
Each year I set an intention for the coming months. In 2014, my intention was “improvement” I wanted to continue along the path I had chosen, but make refinements along the way. Improve, perhaps even perfect, my systems, and my deliveries.
This past year, I turned 40, I quadrupled my business, and I continued to find my spot in the industry. A dream I had been forming for over 2 years finally started to see light, and I am confident I can move into 2015 with the passion and knowledge needed to continue to grow and succeed.
So, as a round up to the year, I will share my most popular posts, as well as my favourite ones. And I will spend the next few days defining my intention for 2015, and readying myself for another fabulous year.
My Easy Homemade Cheesesauce, the post that continues to bring readers to my site every day. It was actually published in the fall of 2013, but has been an amazing reminder to me of the value of social networking sites (pinterest specifically) and SEO. This is the leaderboard post that every other post I write attempts to over take. Alas, with over 1500 pins, I don’t think anything will.
I don’t talk about money very often, but was encouraged to by a friend. I grew a pair, and shared this post on blogging income. I am not sure if it was because I shared these details that things seemed to grow exponentially after that, or perhaps I was stepping into a new pair of shoes and ready to own my brand in a whole new way? Whatever the reason, as well as I was doing at the time I published this, the second half of the year delivered much more opportunity. This post was popular for obvious reasons: I mean, who doesn’t want to know the nitty gritty details of another persons business?
When I was finally able to share with you all that we had purchased a home on Salt Spring, your support was overwhelming. So many comments and shares and reads and we took the first step into building roots in this community. This post had been brewing since March 27th 2013, when we put our offer in on the house we are now living in. Brewing as we spent months, unable to move in. Brewing as we worked on the property, without being able to make the full transition. I remember the stress, and fear I had last January when I wrote this and fell utterly blessed that things resolved so smoothly.
This little story about Facebook being a bad boyfriend was published when Facebook algorithms were driving many a blogger insane. I am glad you all liked this one, cause I liked it too. And when you like my word babies as much as I do, it makes it even more rewarding.
The day my kids let me sleep in was the day I realized that as a mother I wasn’t tired any more. That decade of sleepless nights, and balancing so many things was slowly coming to an end. My kids were growing up, and things had changed. This post captures that one moment, and while the next day it was probably back to chaos, those peaceful, independent days are becoming more frequent. (thank goodness)
And my favourite? Even if it wasn’t yours?
this one.
Because it is true every day. Because each time I stop for a moment to catch my breath, I feel this exact thing. Each glance out the window, each sigh of contentment. . it is all there, captured in this one post.
The years are going to go by faster now, I can feel it. The challenges ahead are less frightening and I feel like I have some stability in my steps.
I am ready to start all over again in 2015. Ready, and willing.