Wednesday, August 24, 2005

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY JOURNAL! AND TO J~LAND.

Today marks two years since I made my very first journal entry. I have made over 1436 entries since (according to the number assigned to each entry at the end of the link.. so give or take 10 or so because the first one started with the number 10) I average out to posting one entry a day (normaly.. when I am not you know.. moving). According to my counter I have had over 19834 hits/visits and the site meter/traffic tracking program I use estimates I have about 11 to 15 visitors a day, if not more depending on the topic posted.  I have been featured by the editors over the last two years 3 times and twice in the number one spot (but this was before they did it for a whole week and only kept the picks up for one day.. *ahem* hint hint)

I have been trying to read over some of my past entries from the last two years to see how I may of grown or how my writing may of changed.  It is good to do this now and then and I have relived many memories today.  I think the biggest change in style is that I have not kept it as strictly a personal thought journal but also dabbled in political and faith issues and been out spoken on many issues but also I have a feeling of community with my journal that you just can't have with a private paper one.  Yet I still try and not hold back when I write.. but just try to be more aware that I have a readership and that makes me more mindful of grammar and spelling (sometimes LOL) and not airing some other people's dirty laundry or things I need to keep in confidence.

I am not sure I can adequately put into just words how much my journal means to me nor how much I care and love for the the friends I have made because of having an open journal.  I put my whole life out there and for some that may be a scary thing but for me it has become freeing (read my first entry to see why).  There is a saying that writing is good for the soul and I think that is a pretty accurate description of what my journal has done for me.  I often find it easier to get my deepest thoughts out threw writing, then verbally or working out my emotions with the written word then with just brooding in silence.  For some it is music or dance or crafting.. for me it is my journal and writing.  I first and foremost do it for me but I love the feed back and back and forth I have with the friends and readers who come here and I love visting other peoles journals. My journal alert list is way too long but I don't have the heart to cut any one.. they all are like friends and I have to keep tabs on thier lives.  I find I have grown and helped other grow too by the information we give about our everyday lives and thoughts and feelings.  Humans were created for relationships and crave it even when we try and deny it and build up walls because of hurts. J~Land is a safe place for the most part to explore relationships that we may of never thought we could develop in an off line context.  And I have had many friends that I have come to talk with off line also.

To me my journal is so much more than a hobby or a funny side thing I do. I chronicle my life here, I put my faith and beliefs, prayers and  my heart's deepest longings here. I have a voice here! I put my whole self into it.  Most posts have a lot of for thought put into it and some are done off the fly and the top of my head and heart.  Sometimes I am deep and sometimes I am just a nut looking for an outlet.  My joys, my happiest moments, my deep pains and sorrows, and all the emotions in between are found in the archives of my journal. As I said in my Title Description.. Who knows what I will put in here today. I sometimes wonder if those who read my journal know me much better then the family and friends who opt not to read it.  This is my place to be self centered but also giving too.  There are so many levels to my journal and to blogging that the average person who doesn't blog or online journal can't fully understand it.  Those of us who do and do it faithfully know just what I am talking about.

Oh it has not all been roses and sunshine.  We have had those who have taken our trust and love for community and abused it and trampled on it by making fake fiction journals masked as real ones and we have threats of journals being deleted because of mean ppl sending out false TOS Reports.  AND HEY! WHEN WILL WE GET THAT SPELL CHECKER!! And there has been other program glitches that thankfully the AOL Journal Team works on for us so we don't pull out our hair.  The good about journals far out weighs the bad and if you are new to AOL JOURNALS you will learn to deal with the mean sucky people that on a rare occasion want to leave nasty comments and learn that we alldon't have to be the same to love each other and can have give and take dialogues.

If you would of told me two years ago that Hunybea's Open Journal would evolve and become as meaningful to me and others.. that people would actually read it and care about what I had to say.. I don't think I would have believed you. And I think that is a statement I have seen in many people's blog.. really you want to read this thing? Why do you care what I have to say? I think we all have some of the same insecrities and the same wants and needs to reach out and have friendships.. even if they are online.

Happy Birthday Journal.. thank you for always (almost always.. you know those rare outages) being there for me to put my rants, raves, and anything else here.  I know there may come a time when we part and you may be deleted.. but I pray that day will not come and if it does.. back up back up back up! 

And Happy Birthday to you J~Land.  You give me so much more than I could ever give back.  Honestly I don't think any other blogger server could give us the community atmosphere we find here... and no AOL has not paid me (but maybe they should.. or at least give me some props jk)

10 comments:

  1. Ok... one day early .. tomorrow is the 25th and the real birthdate.. but I got my days mixed up and thought today was the 25th lol.

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  2. Good entry. Happy Second Journal Birthday to you for tomorrow. Look as if you started it almost at the beginning of the journals creation. Helen

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  3. PS -if you press ctrl and D at the same time another screen will come up & you can write you entry, spell check it and then copy & paste it into your journal. I do that sometimes but not every time LOL. Helen

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  4. okay I just siad ths to my ownmom this week. Even Todd can not understand how my own mother does not know me. and when you read this weeks entryyou iwll see what prompted this out of me. Only those who read my journal I mean its so easy to read this and tell all my family and friend whats going on rather than trying to CHASE them down and tell them. IN fact one friend who is my neighbor read it. she knows hte most about me. I agree with this so very much.

    I sometimes wonder if those who read my journal know me much better then the family and friends who opt not to read it.

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  5. LOL  {{{{{Mary}}}}} I just read your comment about being a day early. So what....hey you just moved...I'm surprised you know what day it is at all!   Happy Birthday To Your Journal.   And AOL should pay you!

    Vivian

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  6. LOL  {{{{{Mary}}}}} I just read your comment about being a day early. So what....hey you just moved...I'm surprised you know what day it is at all!   Happy Birthday To Your Journal.   And AOL should pay you!

    Vivian

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  7. Dearest Mary, from the first entry journal 2 years ago to the present it's remarkable to me your courage and fortatude and commitment to this journal. I, personally only journal on paper but do not have the commitment as you do to do this daily. This is your time and you have been very faithful in taking that time for you. I do after reading quite a few entries have seen spiritual growth, answered prayer. Your Faith has grown through all the challenges you face on a daily basis.
    I can't even begin to express how much reading your journal has brought into my life. Only to say that I enjoy it VERY VERY MUCH. Like reading such a good book that you can't wait for the next page and chapter. Seeing your life change and knowing that it will continue to change as we all do gives me the strength too to keep on keeping on. I know how much you love the Lord God and want to serve Him in all you do. It's evident in your journal faithfulness.
    May God continue to bless you in this way and always for all your loved ones and online friends. May God recieve All the Glory and Honor in all you do think and pray.
    God bless you dear friend, charlene

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  8. Well Happy Day!!!!! I love your journal

    angelrose

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  9. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your journal and agree with your concept that we were created for one another.  It is not good for us to be alone.

    Happy birthday journal!

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  10. Well Happy Birthday!  I have deduced that since AOL J~land just celebrated it's two year anniversary, that you must be among some of the originals.....WOW.  And I am so glad that ya'll just about gotten settled in your new place.  -  Barbara

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