Quick post.  I promise I will update on day 2 of the amazing LDS Storymakers Writing Conference but I got the notice that today makes 5 years as a WordPress blogger.  5 years!

In that time I have written 608 posts in 63 categories and 2,057 comments (wished more 😦  ),  260,547 views, most popular categories are health, happiness, arts and entertainment and family.  My strabismus posts, movie reviews and general health posts have been the most popular.

My first post was written on May 12, 2008 was entitled The Freedom of Joblessness.

In the post I spoke about how not having a career and being unemployed felt quite liberating.  For once I had no answer to the question ‘What do you do?’  I had been so unhappy in my job that the removing the ‘DO’ had been one of the most empowering experiences of my life.   My thoughts at the time were ““I would rather be doing nothing than doing something I hate”.

Its true.  I would rather be doing nothing than something I hate.

I then add:

“In the meantime I am enjoying my life and looking forward to the next adventure.”

That’s the great thing about blogging is it gives a platform to process all the madness of life.  It allows me to tell my story! How powerful is that!  Now the documentation of the human experience does not have to be limited to the memoir and biographer.  I have tried my best to tell my story as honestly as I can and I’ve learned that people are amazingly supportive and good-hearted.

Some of my personal favorite entries over the years have been

http://smilingldsgirl.com/2012/09/16/feminism-and-the-workforce/

http://smilingldsgirl.com/2011/10/21/solitude-of-self/

http://smilingldsgirl.com/2009/11/14/murtaugh-list-and-regina-spektor/

http://smilingldsgirl.com/2012/10/03/things-to-help-and-hurt-an-anxiety-attack/

http://smilingldsgirl.com/2012/03/01/a-modern-ring-of-gyges/

http://smilingldsgirl.com/2011/10/15/romantic-comedy-cliches-im-sick-of/

http://smilingldsgirl.com/2013/02/12/myths-about-being-single/

http://smilingldsgirl.com/2013/04/01/a-god-who-weeps/

http://smilingldsgirl.com/2011/02/04/why-i-like-a-book/

http://smilingldsgirl.com/2012/11/07/why-bother/

http://smilingldsgirl.com/2012/05/03/it-gets-betterbully-full-video/

http://smilingldsgirl.com/2012/01/07/interview-part/

http://smilingldsgirl.com/2012/01/11/interview-part-2/

http://smilingldsgirl.com/2012/01/30/interview-part-3/

http://smilingldsgirl.com/2012/11/25/thanksgiving-for-one/

http://smilingldsgirl.com/2012/07/14/great-love/

http://smilingldsgirl.com/2010/10/16/a-note-on-plus-size-fashion/

There are so many.  My most controversial one was probably on teens and reading.

I know that is a barrage of links but checks some of them out.  Remember writing is new if it new to you.

From the beginning of putting pen to paper I knew if I was going to engage in a public journal, it would have to be just that.  The real me, no fog, no illusions.  I have shared with you my pains, anxieties, discouragements but also the successes, loves, and moments of glee.  I am confident a man could come to know the real me from simply reading words. Isn’t that what great writing should do anyway?

On one of my first posts I spoke about happiness:

“It is such an empowering thing to know that we have a say in our happiness. We are not just lifeless blobs that respond to stimuli. We can decide to follow the Lord, sacrificing our egos and desires; thereby, creating happiness both currently as we serve and in the eternities. It reminds me of a quote I have from President Kimball (I had it on my wall when I had a wall!)

“Happiness does not come by pressing a button, as does the electric light; happiness is a state of mind and comes from within. It must be earned. It cannot be purchased with money; it cannot be taken for nothing”

Happiness is a state of mind and for 5 years I’ve had a state of mind of the Smilingldsgirl.  Yes, it has been tough but I’ve always known that smile was inside me.  I never lost hope and my confidence in my Heavenly Father.  God knows my heart and loves me.   I started this blog at a time of great hope and new beginnings.   All I knew is I had escaped a black cloud and felt set free. Since then I have always carried that freedom in my pocket as a reminder to never go back there again. Never allow myself to experience sustained misery again.

The blog has been a big key in ensuring the success of my journey.   Again, it has allowed me to share MY unique story with all of you, my faithful readers.  I am so grateful.

Remember:

FAITH is power, LOYALTY is essential, LOVE is pure,  and HAPPINESS goes a long way towards HOPE

If you haven’t gathered I really love my blog.  Thank you all for reading. Have there been any posts you enjoyed?  Please post in comments section!  Sure love ya!

PS in the words of Nora Ephron- “I just want to say that all this nothing has meant more to me than so many somethings.”