Now that 2010 coming to end, many of us look back and reflect on past to see what they have learned and hopefully improve things going further. I wanted to quickly look at this year’s journey and see what I have achieved and learned, if anything at all.
I started writing on Happy Heart and Mind somewhere March 2010 and accomplished a few things I am happy about and I want to share my journey with you all, as that what makes blogging special. I am very happy and proud to release my first free ebook this year! I have learned a lot that blogging, kindergarten teaching and 2 kids (5 year and 1 year old) can leave you pretty tired! Luckily I blog about things I am passionate about and my readers are wonderfully supportive so I have made it so far till here. A few of Learning lessons I want to share:
Blogging Lessons
1. Blogging is fun, it is personal, it is educational and it can be social part of your life.
2. Blogging is not get rich vehicle, it takes time and patience.
3. Write about what you are passionate about and do not worry about traffic and comments.
4. You do not need twitter and Face Book to be successful blogger. Okay, I might be not successful but many others are such as Rachel from Small notebook who has over 13K subscriber.
5. More you will give, more you will receive. Do not be afraid to share talents of other blogger and commenter. Share good posts despite size of blog or number of subscribers they have.
6. Learning a little about technical stuff behind the blog helps a little.
7. Make it easier for your readers to find stuff. I am trying to improve this on this blog.
8. Provide value and enlightenment first, worry about making money later.
9. Take a break from blogging, tweeting or commenting occasionally to have balanced life.
10. Do not worry and get overwhelm about posting on schedule when tensed. Write when your creative juice is flowing.
I have making mistakes and learning from it since I was born and this year was not different. Comparing my past and present makes me keep things real. Here are a few lessons;
1. Most important thing in my life has nothing to do with material things, they are people.
2. Zenguy did not have a project for long time this year and we were able to manage our quality of life without spending much.
3. I am really proud of my “No Spend Month Challenge” in July of this year, kids did not even know we were on Budget.
4. This year, I am becoming more assertive and going after what is important to by following my values.
5. I am letting go of my own fears and pushing my comfort zone to live a little better life and smile more often.
6. I am living my own version of being minimalism and I am okay with that.
7. I have realized I am for meaningful gift giving during holidays and I am against excess materialism that leads to debt for anyone.
8. Being romantic does not have to cost you a fortune.
9. Happy marriage is the best medicine for depression.
10. It is okay to screw productivity and have laid back life sometimes.
11. You can help unemployed friends and others without having to spend much money.
12. Eat healthy and drink healthy, your body is only one you got this life. Let’s take care of it.
13. Find a balance between important areas of your life. Slowing things down and watching less television has improved quality of my life along with those who are around me.
14. Improve your mind by reading great works, be it fiction, self help books, or blogs.
15. Try to find contentedness and happiness in everything, specially when things are down. There is always someone who has more than you but many who has less than you, keep things in perspective.
Your Turn: What are your life lessons from 2010? I would love to hear from you.
Have a great Holidays and New Year! Will see you in 2011, just around the corner!
Check out my new year post Starting 2011 with Trials and Errors, no resolutions.
Zengirl
What great post to remind us of your previous great posts! Thanks for creating it. It must have taken some time.
My biggest life lesson from 2010 is that I can be a successful writer again — after an 8-year absence doing other things. I was a financially challenging year, but things are looking better already.
Gip
Preeti,
I love all the lessons you’ve learned. Congratulations on all your fine accomplishments this year!
I especially agree with you that blogging is NOT a get rich quick scheme. It takes sooo much time and effort. I’d like to attract more clients to give readings to through my blog. I’m going to concentrate more on that in 2011.
I also agree that I’d rather write when I feel inspired instead of sticking to a schedule, although I do try to post 2x per week.
As for lessons learned in life – I agree money isn’t everything. It can help, and we need to have our basic needs met after all. But, in the long run I’m much happier now than I was when I was working 24/7 and making piles of money. Now I have more time to breathe and dream and enjoy my life.
Best wishes for a wonderful new year to you and your family!
xoxo
Angela
Preeti,
I’m glad I got to know a little bit about you this past year. As for me, I’ve grown leaps and bounds this past year. Expect a couple big projects from me this upcoming year. I can’t wait to see what else you have in store for us!
Here’s to another rockin’ year!!
Hi Preeti,
I am so glad that you have shared the lessons that you have learned with us this past year. I would like to share some of my thoughts as I read through the lessons you shared.
Blogging Lessons
I fully agree with you that blogging is fun, personal, educational and a great way to make great friends. You learn so much about people by reading what they blog about. And of course you learn a lot from blogs with all the rich ideas you expose yourself to. When we find gems, we should definitely spread them around so that others may benefit as well.
Blogging definitely takes time and patience. All the successful blogs out there are the result of persistence and perseverance. Unless we hold out till the end, while adapting and trying new ideas, money will not come.
I love your point about having a balanced life. I think this applies to any job we do. Without a balanced life the stress would start to eat away at us and soon, we could fall sick or burn out. This is one lesson we would do well not to overlook.
Life Lessons
People are indeed the most important things in life. Without loved ones and dear friends our joys and happiness are bland while our sorrows are unbearable.
I love how you have learned to live a simpler life and to find contentment in what you have. We do not need to get more and more stuff to be happy. That is not where true happiness lies anyway. Being thankful for your loved ones and what you have is one of the most important lessons in life.
What have I learned in 2010?
As for what I have learned, I have learned that it is important to live a life with passion and to do what you want to do. Doing what others what you to do or what they think you should do is not sustainable in the long run unless you feel passionate about it as well. We have to make the best of our lives on our own terms then there will be no regrets on our part.
Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year Preeti! See you in 2011!
Irving aka the Vizier
1) I realized I like being single, having my own freedom, hanging out with my friends, going wherever I want to, meeting new people, and living my life on my terms. Now they’ve moved in and I have to figure out what I’m going to do.
2) I has been not taking full advantage of things when i had the chance. with work, and such. there’s so much that i’ve always wanted to do and i let things hold me back. but all i can say i’ve learned from it all is, you can’t change the past, but you can take control of life right now. and make every day count.
3) Trying to solve other peoples problems and ignoreing my own.
4) I fell in love with a girl who didn’t feel the same way.
5) Spent money on unwanted things which really costs me when i was in real need.
These are the biggest Lessons which I have learnt and I am going to rectify for 2011.
Off Late I have heard this from one of my best friend.
” don’t look at things as mistakes, just learn from them and grow ”
which I realised very true and I would be following this for 2011.
Thank you very much for your post once again . I wish my almighty ” May all your dreams come true” also my best wishes to Zen guy and to lovely kids. Merry christmas and I wish you a prosperous New Year in Advance.
Hi Preeti,
Thanks for sharing so honestly. I have learned a TON from other bloggers this year. I’ve gotten to know a diverse group of folks through the exchange of comments and emails. Fellow bloggers have helped push me to new levels. As a result of my exchange with sharp minded folks like you, Angela and JK etc. etc. I have really been able to hone my thoughts and my writing so it is more empowering and inspiring.
Hi Preeti,
Thank you for sharing with us about what you have learned this year. Also thank you for sharing your wisdom with us in your posts, so we had the opportunity to learn from you.
Have a wonderful holiday season and the best wishes for you and your family in 2011.
Raul
Raul,
You’re welcome, I am still learning more as I make mistakes and from others blogger such as you and following my heart. I wish you have a great holiday with your family! I am so glad I got to know you over the blog this year!
Rob,
I have learned a lot from you, you 180 book and your blog. It is simply amazing that you have such a diverse background and sharing your knowledge over the blog. I do not know JK well yet but I agree, Angela is a Gem. There are so many wonderful people on blog and in real life that make me want to be better person. I am so glad I got to know you this year well, looking forward to 2011.
Taurian,
Thank you for sharing your lessons here with us.
1. We all like wisdom and be able to do things our own way, I guess moving in friends has it own advantages too.
2. We can not do it “all”, so pick one or 2 things that important to you and give them 100% may work.
3. I am working on that myself, trying to solve other people problem while ignoring my own, maybe we both can do better soon.
4. I am sorry about that, sometimes love works in mysterious way, comes to you when you are least expecting. You’ll find your right gal one day. I am sure.
5. I guess we all do that, ads are very powerful to make us want to buy stuff.
I think your friend is right, learning from our mistakes is best way for many of us. Thank you for wishes, I wish you and your family happy new year!!!
Irving,
You always have great wisdom to share on your comments and as well as your blog! Thank you for sharing detailed lessons you have learned, it means a lot and I am sure other readers here as well.
You’re so right, all the success and money will be nothing if we do not have any loved one to share things with. Many of us ignoring our family to make money, “for them”, which seems to defeat the purpose. I admit, I have done that too. I blog often times, when I should be with kids. And you know what, I do not even make money from this blog (so far) 🙂 I guess that is silly but I enjoy blogging and being parent. I wish I can strike a balance some day that I feel happy with. 🙂
Living with passion and having freedom to do that is so important! I think you have right idea and path to follow. You seem like a smart guy and I am sure you will be successful with this kind of thinking. I am so glad I got to know over blogs this year!
Merry Xmas and Happy New year!
Ali,
I am also very happy to got to know you, you still rock! I am so happy for your success and new site and services program. I am sure you will do much better next year! I need to work on monetizing here so I can make $1 or $2 here without selling my soul. Let’s see what future brings for us.
Happy Holidays and new year to you and family!
Angela,
Thank you, I feel I have lot to still learn and strike a balance with various areas of my life. It is work in progress but still I am satisfied with things the way it has progressed. You have achieved a lot this year by selling your house, being social in blogsphere and more.
I try to do what my heart follows and I have never looked at this blog as a business and nor I want to but hopefully next year like you, I want to offer more that brings back financial and growth both. Money is not everything but not making any is not good either, wish we can have that balance next year.
Wishing you merry Xmas and Happy new year to you and your mother!
Gip,
Thank you, this was fun to write. I wrote my lessons first and found related posts that I had written for it to share, it took sometimes but it was worth to share it, even though everyone may not click on each posts ! 🙂
I am so glad you are successful writer again. I think economy is changing and hopefully it will be better for many of us. How is your book selling business going?
Wishing you Merry Xmas and Happy Holidays!
Yes, Preeti..I will definitely post my improvements in your post may be in mid 2011. Just kept a reminder in my calender on april 2011. First I would like to focus myself on understanding and solving my problems first and then moving for others. I like your suggestion , picking one first and then moving for next.
Thank you so much for all your valuable suggestions and posts.
Its my pleasure being a reader of Happy heart and Mind.
Thank you so much for your new year wishes. Merry Christmas!!!
Preeti,
Thanks for sharing the lessons you’ve learned in the past year. I have learned a lot from you and other bloggers, some of whom I discovered here, so thank you for that! I’ve also learned that no matter how bad things get financially, family and good friends will be there for you no matter what! I wish you a very happy holiday, and all the best in 2011.
Hi Preeti, You certainly accomplished a lot this year, and I enjoyed getting to know you in the virtual world! 🙂
Here’s wishing you another lovely, fruitful, productive new year filled with all sorts of wonderful things for you, Parag and the kids.
Taurian,
I am wishing you best in 2011 and hope you can start a blog too! I am happy to have you as a reader here too. Have a happy new year!
Betsy,
It has been great knowing you over the internet and I am glad we connected. Good friends stays with you no matter what, and you are one of those friends. Have a best 2011 and happy new year!
Vaishali,
Thank you for wonderful wishes and I wish you and family the same! You were one of the few blogger I knew before I started blogging and you have been a great inspiration to me. Thank you and wishing you great Happy New Year!
Preeti:
What a great post and a great 2010. I really enjoyed being here at happyheartanmind.com in 2010 and I thought the list of lessons and all the wisdom you gathered from 2010 was great information. Thanks for passing it along. Happy 2011.
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Sibyl,
Thank you for stopping by, I have learned a lot from you and your blog as well. I wish you much joy and success in 2011 and more. Keep up doing great work.