I can hardly believe it. This is Blog number 300.

In 2019, I called the Executive Director and asked if she would consider an article from me for the Seniors Centre newsletters. She immediately counteroffered with a request, explaining that the organization had decided to increase its social media presence. As part of this, she asked if I would write a blog. 

One of my post-retirement bumper sticker slogans was to say ‘yes’ more often. So.

“Yes, I’d be glad to write a Blog.”

I had a vague idea of what a blog was, but not much beyond that. I immediately purchased the ‘For Dummies’ book on Blogs. That helped me feel more at ease.

She asked if I could write it weekly, but I negotiated my Blog to be published every 2 weeks. I wasn’t sure if I could commit to doing it weekly and still enjoy it by Blog number 100. Could I even come up with enough ideas for Blog number 100? I was confident I had a few topics in me, but if it became a chore, it wouldn’t be fun, and I’d stop writing.

I posted my first Blog on November 15, 2019, titled Canada’s Most Famous Fall. I was writing my Blog for a senior’s website, so falls for seniors are a serious issue. After it was posted, I realized anyone can find information about falls for seniors on the internet. I wasn’t contributing anything new. And how many different topics could I write about seniors’ issues that would bring a different perspective?

That led me to write something new from my perspective that would challenge seniors’ thinking. The second Blog was about my new Apple AirPods and how these were the new hearing aids in the making.

My slogan under my signature on each Blog is “For Those With A Curious Spirit.” It reminds me that not everyone may like my Blogs, but I believe there is a large enough audience to make my Blogs worthwhile.

I began each blog with the first word, and in fact the first letter, as “I.” This served as a reminder to me and my readers that I was responsible for what I wrote.

In a few months, I was asked to start writing it every week. I was hesitant. To see if this blog writing was sustainable, I carried a notebook with me for a few days. (Yes, I still do some things in analog.) I jotted down blog ideas. After the first day, I had a couple of dozen topic ideas. The same thing happened on each of the next few days. I was confident I could do it, so I started writing weekly.

I was given free rein to write what I wanted and post without any screening of my blogs. I valued that trust. One blog I wasn’t sure about. It might have been a bit too political. I asked for their opinion before posting. They supported the posting, but I could tell there was some unease about it. I decided not to post that one and wrote on a completely different topic. That’s when I started ending each blog with ‘a bit of a think.’ I could still challenge my readers’ thinking while respecting their right to think however they wanted to.

After the first six months or so, I felt I had found my voice and my identity as a Blog Writer. The last noticeable change was that I referenced my target audience slightly differently. I stopped using the term seniors and used ‘older adults,’ as I wanted the age range to include folks aged 50 and over. Some years later, under the leadership of the current Executive Director, Linda Ensley, the organization updated its title to ‘St. Albert’s 50+ Activity Centre.’

Here’s hoping for another 300 Blogs.

Please give this a bit of a think. Are there times in your life when a simple first step led to an unexpected adventure?

I am curious about your thoughts. Please comment below or send me an email with your bit of a think.

Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash

If you enjoyed The Blog, please share it with others. Thanks.

And my thanks to St. Albert’s 50+ Activity Centre for making this Blog possible.

Volunteer Blogger

glenn.walmsley@icloud.com