'Publish' - celebrating one million visits

When I turned off my computer yesterday, the counter was on 999,934. This morning it had clicked over to 1,001,100. I can't quite believe it! When I first started my blog, in those early days when I wondered about a name, what to write about and if anyone would read, I never for one second, imagined that less than two years later (started May 2007) over a million visits would be registered.

I started the blog because I'd written the beginnings of a book on simple living that had been rejected by Australian publishers. I'd earned a living as a writer for a long time and when I got those rejections, and I knew I wouldn't be writing the book, I started this blog so I could continue writing.

My hope in those early days was to create a record for us of what we were doing on a day to day basis, and if anyone visited, to encourage them by that example. Well, people did come, they asked questions, made comments and instead of me encouraging the visitors, I was encouraged to continue because of the questions and comments.

Along the way I've made many friends, met a handful of you, and all the while been amazed by the extraordinary international blogging community that has built itself from scratch. I have been challenged by the sewing and knitting blogs, affected and motivated by many of your personal blogs and, overall, been encouraged by the knowledge that like minded folk all over the world strive to live in the same simple way Hanno and I do.

Blogging has confirmed my belief that the written word is a powerful force. It has given a voice to many of us, who, without the ability to tap away on our keyboards, then press the 'publish', button, would never have our stories read or connect in the way we do. Blogging is a communication revolution in which we ordinary people bypass the restrictions and bias of the print and electronic media and say whatever it is we want to say from our own homes. Gone are the days when we rely on magazines, TV, radio and newspapers for our information, now we print our own little newspapers each day and self-publish into an ever growing community of blog readers. Never underestimate the power of that 'publish' button.

I hope my posts help you in your quest for a simple life. I want to encourage you not to copy what we do but be encouraged enough by it to build a life that suits you and your family. My hope is to challenge you to believe that you can change your life because often, our mainstream media want you to remain the same or follow what their advertisers dictate. I am not a change the world sort of blogger because I know we all have to change ourselves before any world change is possible. If there is wide spread change in the coming years it will be because backyards are filling with vegetables and chooks, because we are being prudent and selective with our spending and because we expect more and do more for ourselves.

I guess my blog has completed a circle in some ways because I am now writing a book because of it. I have a literary agent in New York, who found me through this blog, and will soon sell the north American rights to my book on simple living. You are part of the reason I am writing that book now. If you had not been reading here, if you had not challenged me to keep going by asking your questions and making your comments, I probably would have not kept writing as regularly as I did. So for your part in this blog and that book, I thank you sincerely.