WordPress is great at keeping statistics. Although it provides lots of data about my blog, I don’t really pay much attention to the numbers. For me, this blog has been primarily a vehicle for expressing myself creatively through my words and my photos. That was my original goal in July 2012, when I wrote my first posting, and I have remained pretty faithful to that approach.
As we begin a new year, though, it is interesting to review some of the statistics for 2023. During the year I published 359 posts with a total of 69,520 words. The blog had 43,575 views that included many views of postings from previous years—out of the 20 most-viewed postings of 2023, only one was published that year.
To give you a sense of context, since 2012 my blog has had a total of 4,995 postings with 427,759 views. The totals may seem impressive, but they actually are quite modest. I have never really aspired to attract a huge audience and am quite pleased with the success that I have achieved. Thanks so much to so many of you who have supported and encouraged me over the years.
I will probably be continuing my “normal” approach during this new year, but hope to venture a bit more into recording videos. I have a small YouTube channel that has languished a bit that I hope to reinvigorate this year.
Many of you know that I love long shadows. I captured the image below early in the morning on 30 December 2023 at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The image is a symbolic representation of my view of this new year that is full of promise and possibilities. Happy New Year!
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I always enjoy your excellent photography and your wonderful narratives, Mike. I will look into your YouTube channel as well!
Thanks for your encouraging words. A lot has changed in my life over the past 12 years, but my blog has been one of the few constant factors. I look forward most days to sitting down and writing a few words. Although I will often chose a photo or photos to use in a posting, I rarely choose what I will say about them until I am in front of my keyboard. As I think you know well, my musings are often reflective of my mood, emotions, and thoughts at the moment I am composing them. Happy New Year.
Thank you, Mike, for your optimism as well your artistic talents. Avoiding political thin ice, I will just say we need this optimism more than ever. Beauty and kind words will help us get through it all.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Ann. I tend to be an optimistic person and totally agree with you about the value of beauty and kind words. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year, Mike! Always appreciate your photos and the smiles you bring.
Happy New Year, Mike!
Happy new year, Mike, and thank you for making the world a brighter place by sharing your photography with us!
Here’s to a Happy 2024!
Happy New Year, Mike. Keep posting your wonderful photos and commentary!
Happy New Year Mike and keep casting that long shadow with the warm chapeau…
Thanks, John. Happy New Year!