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Thursday, January 20, 2011

An Open Letter to Followers.

Dear Follower,

Thank you for signing up to follow sixtyfivewhatnow blog. There are many people, young and old here; some go back a few years.I may be ahead of you in some ways, but behind you in many other ways. The only thing certain is that I'm pleased we are on the same path, looking for ways to connect with each other, to learn more about who we are; to learn new ways of doing things; to understand our differences; to grow in understanding.

If you feel the need for exposure, to reach out and meet lots of people at once, this method is probably as good as putting a note on a bulletin board, or going to a cocktail party and passing out your business card.

I do hope you don't fret about followers. You have a responsibility to your content, to your perspective, and by being truthful and authentic, generous and respectful, your true talent will show forth and be appreciated.

I'm old enough to remember when the first telephone came to town, how the new device became both a curiosity and a necessity in no time. We all started blogging as a curiosity, now it has become a necessity, allowing us to know about a situation and work together to bring resources and knowledge to bear on it-my previous post-or to illuminate an issue in a new way.

Thank you for joining the conversation.
Let's all thank Blogger for making this possible.

United in pursuit of knowledge and understanding,

Rosaria-blogger



67 comments:

Trish and Rob MacGregor said...

Great letter! Applauding from down here in Fla.

Roberta Warshaw said...

I am not retired yet. But ever since I turned 60 last year it is all i think about. Sigh.

ellen abbott said...

I so agree.

Monkey Man said...

Amen. It is about content and what you (I) feel god about placing on my blog.

Unspoken said...

YES!!

Marshall Lynch said...

very nice letter for followers.
Gun Clips | Tacoma Carpet Cleaner

Raven said...

A good perspective. I just started blogging this year and have no direction. I just write what is in my heart whether a philosophical statement or a banana bread recipe. I was thinking maybe i9 should try to shape or form my blog to be more enticing to others...but I think not. It is for me I blog and if I touch others, that is a bonus.

Nice to meet you!

Raven

Lisa said...

I appreciate the letter.

I still remember the first time telephone came into my life, it was at my Uncle's shop downtown and we had to go there to make or receive calls. I wonder how did we tell the other party when we were going to do all these! It must be as random as blogging where we take our chances.

I am glad our paths crossed here in the blogging world and we got to know and learn from each other, Rosaria.

Unknown said...

great letter, Rosaria!

Anonymous said...

Blogger is truly the most amazing "tool" for meeting people! I agree with every one of your sentiments!!

And I have stopped worrying about "getting" more and more followers. (Hundreds and hundreds can't follow you on a regular basis, nor can you follow that many either!)

Cheers!!

ILoveMyDogandMy Music said...

How very interesting reading your anniversary blog of April, 2009. You took a plane from Rome to the United States in 1959 and I took a plane from New York to Rome in 1959. My 50th anniversary was in July of 2009.. I went to study voice. I studied Italian too. I made many friends and by just being surrounded by the language I began to learn it, but decided to go to a teacher and learn it correctly. What with conjugating verbs and such. I just started blogging and have found so many interesting ones. This was particularly exciting.

GrandmaSoucie said...

Congratulations on your followers!! What a rapid increase!! Just amazing! Please visit my blog any time. When I saw the name of your blog, having hit 60 last fall, I totally related! Enjoy your day!!

In everything, give thanks,
GrandmaSoucie

Hope said...

great post!
thank you Blogger!

Meeling said...

Lovely letter...I'm a new follower but have jumped back and read a bunch...and can say I'm looking forward to more.

Anonymous said...

Well said.

potsoc said...

Thank you for a most interesting letter. As usual Rosaria you touch base.

Midlife Roadtripper said...

"United in pursuit of knowledge and understanding,"

A very apt statement. The more we understand, the better we all get along.

Forrest Seale said...

I'm new here and new in Redmond, Or. Just started my little space and look forward to reading yours.

Tom said...

As a relative newbie, I wonder how long it's possible to keep it interesting and fun . . . so you're an inspiration! Keep those posts comin'!

Brian Miller said...

nice. i hear you...it does come down to writing what i want to write and being comfortable enough in my own skin to do it...but i am thankful for those that i get to walk the journey with...

One Seasoned Mama said...

I am so grateful to have seen your blog featured on blogger. It is so easy to get caught up in the numbers and wondering if what you're writing is even making sense to anyone else...not to mention the vulnerability that comes with the territory itself. Thank you for putting it all in perspective.

Cloudia said...

Thank YOU!



Aloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral

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Karen Jones Gowen said...

Your posts and comments are always so wise and straightforward. I don't remember how or when I came to follow you, but glad I did. I have a couple blogs and only worry about followers on the one that has a lot of them. The others I barely even notice. Weird how that works. And Blogger is the best!

Miss Sadie said...

Such a thoughtful note, as always, Rosaria.

Here's to 400 more.

Jo said...

Congratulations on being a Blog of Note, Rosaria...! It opens up a whole new world.

I agree that we should blog about what we have to say, not what we think people want to read. Stay true to your own voice. :-)

Cheers,
Jo

Meli Anna A said...

nice

http://www.etsy.com/shop/prettylovelypainting

John Bryson said...

Thanks for listening and for your input...I love it!!
--John

Heather B said...

thank you for giving me a fresh perspective of why i do what i do!

www.mexicanmisfit.blogspot.com

Natalie said...

Yes,indeed.♥

ds said...

Wonderful letter. Thank you!

முத்துலெட்சுமி/muthuletchumi said...

thankyou rosaria.
iam in my 30's but i love to read the elders , becasue they learnt the life through the age.. and i am sure you people feel like young at mind right ? :)

Grandpa said...

Wise words and sound advice, Rosaria. Thank you.

I started blogging in August 2010, just to write a diary of my farm activities and jot down incidences. But it turned out to be a great place to connect with other bloggers, and I'm very happy about that.

You and your followers are welcome to see how my retired life is spent on The Farm.

#1Nana said...

I think you gave me similar advice a few months ago when I was fretting about not gaining followers. I have since decided that what is important to me is the interaction, and having a few regulars who consistently make comments is what I really enjoy about blogging. Isn't it wonderful that we have this forum to speak our minds and find others to challenge our thinking?

sécuriser son site said...

Nice blog !

rjerdee said...

Wow, you're a Blogger of Note! Congrats, Rosaria...you do an awesome job of conjuring up discussion and facilitating worthy blogging exchanges. The teacher in you comes out each time.

Thanks for being one of my "regulars". I've enjoyed our exchanges for a year now!

the walking man said...

Well said and good statement of purpose as to why we do this. Thanks Rosaria.

Woman in a Window said...

Are you changing? Is your form altering even now? For each of us touches one another and changes us? And so I wonder, who are you becoming? And what will you do here?

It is difficult sometimes to maintain a sense of person when so many different people's energies become involved. It is too much for me. I don't want too many people about because it is difficult sometimes to control your evolution. Are you putting your foot down here, Rosaria? I see you gaining strength.

xo
erin

Unknown said...

Excellent post Rosaria and from the heart... and I so agree.
Jane

Donna said...

Thank you Blogger and thank you ROSARIA!!!

Granny Annie said...

It seems we always had a phone in my memory but I do remember having party-lines and I remember when our phone number was 9:)

What does Itgaly mean?

Rosaria Williams said...

Trish and Rob, thinking of you too.

Roberta, I know that feeling. It's time to do some planning.


Ellen, you've got so much passion and so little time, you know how the artist has to concentrate on her vision first and foremost.

Monkey Man, we can only be who we are; anything else is too much work.

Rosaria Williams said...

She Writes--we can only look out of the window now and then; the rest of the time, we have to mind our business, or we can't survive.

Marshall-thanks for stopping by.

Raven--your blog will evolve, will find its style and rhythm without much conscious effort on your part. However, if you do want to shape your message/your content, now is the time.

Ocean Girl--So good to have found you two, in a round-about way, wasn't it, because of the Italian language blog. Ma che fortuna!

Eva--Raven should meet you, see how you have evolved and embraced your funny side.

Ann--Yes. I'm addicted to this tool. If I were not retired, I'd quit my job just to be able to do this as much as I want.

Ilovemydog...Synchronicity! Go visit Trish and Rob above, for a lot more of the same.

Grandmasoucie--I'm trying to find time to visit all the new people. In time, I shall get to know everybody. Thanks for the visit.

Hope--I've been remiss, not stopping to visit you recently. Hope to do that soon.

Meeling--great meeting you. Is that a food blog icon I see? We have a lot in common, as I started a food blog recently.

Katie--hope to see more of you.

Rosaria Williams said...

Paul--great to see you.

Midlife--so good to reconnect.

Forrest-Are you new to Oregon too? Welcome to blogging. I have nothing but good things to say about it.

Sightings--Don't worry about it: write when you want, about what you like, and people will begin to know you and your likes. Those who connect will respond, and vice/versa. Soon, you'll enjoy the process more than the product.

Olavo Marques said...

Hi! GOOD BLOG!!!!

Follow my blog:

http://questoesdefutebol.blogspot.com/

Pretty Pauline said...

I am a new reader and love that I happened upon your blog. Lovely letter!

Linda W said...

Hi there,
Love your blog, but hate being past age 65! Blogging is loads of fun, but much work as you have found out and it's so nice when someone recognizes all that work, but most of all enjoy the blog!
I love to take pictures and write, sometimes something interesting, most times, just ramblings! I'm always surprised and very grateful at the number of people who visit. Please come visit my blog at
www.itsaboutyouandme.blogspot.com
Linda

Anonymous said...

Thought it was a nice letter and after reading I have decided to give blogging a try :) enjoyed your letter which was aspiring.

carol l mckenna said...

I am glad to have found your blog ~ I am 63 and took early retirement ~ now I paint and write and have a blog called Share the Creative Journey at http://artmusedog.blogspot.com
Hope you will come visit ~ hugs and namaste, cz:)

What About The Girl? said...

I tell my friends from afar to read my blogs.
Blogging is cheaper than long distance calls ;-)

Congratulations on the Blog of Note. I've been following you for a year now. And it is a privilege to be one of your followers!

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

cool attitude.

Suz said...

ah ..you are a gem

Leigh Powell Hines said...

Great letter. I'm so glad that you were on blogs of note so that I could find you, but I put all that in another post I read. Nice to meet you.

Hilary said...

Here, here. Wise and true words. Long may you keep on blogging.

Rosaria Williams said...

Thanks, everyone. Enjoy the journey, appreciate the company and visit as often as you can. I found that if I spent time with people, over a few posts, I got a sense of the richness of the tapestry we all share.

Maytangkua said...

hello the followers !!! i'll probably join u soon lol

decomondo said...

Since I left my country, the road has been long and tortuous. On that road I met some persons who will stay in my memory forever; you, Rosaria, are one of those persons.
I admire your curiosity, communication, attention, vitality, intelligence... it is impossible to list all of your qualities that, from a distance, I sense and appreciate as if I really knew you personally.
Mirna, the follower

Anonymous said...

I just found you but I already love your blog. I consider myself a 43 year old in a 65 year old mind! I want to be 65, as silly as that sounds. I want to visit friends and have dinner parties like my parents do. I want to go to lunch, not text over it. I am tired of social media, because it leaves me cold and feeling isolated. Your blog is different. You are peaceful, genuine, and not afraid to share personal thoughts. You are like a hot bowl of soup on a cold day! :) I very much appreciate this as I am new to blogging, and am having a hard time getting going. I love it though, and hope to stay with it and get better over time. I have about 3 followers, but you help me see that it doesn't really matter.. Your words are inspirational. Thank you!

MunirGhiasuddin said...

Are you kidding me. I am so content now that I have stepped in my sixties. I feel somewhat free. My husband and I enjoy the senior citizen's discount and do not mind sharing a free whoper.

Amanda Summer said...

dear rosaria,

be careful what you wish for, is all that comes to mind! i was reading only a few posts ago of your feelings, both positive and negative, about the blogging world and no sooner do you put that out there when your blog is suddenly opened up to a much wider audience - no coincidence, i believe. ask, and you shall receive.

big congratulations on a well-deserved selection as blog of note -- now so many more readers will have access to your wisdom and your exceedingly elegant way with words.

with love,

a reader from the days of your memoir blog♡

Mark's Space said...

Yes food for thought Rosaria.

cooksforestexplorer said...

Loved your open letter. I am new to blogging, but totally agree with your advice. Keep it open and honest and meaningful to you. Others of like interest will follow. Thank you for being an inspiration to keeping it real.

Anonymous said...

You are so right!
Always walk your path..and live your truth!
Have a wonderful new month! :-)

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Jenny, Life Goes On said...

Good blogging advice, I enjoy your writing and recently started work on a blog. I usually write a little each morning, I keep a journal but blogging has a different feel writing knowing others are reading.
Jenny