I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I am to write this post? Why? Well I’ll tell you! This post is a celebration for having my blog for two years! That’s right, this week marks the second anniversary of my blog!

When I first created this blog and posting every week, I had no idea where this would take me. I just figured it would be a good way for me to offer my advice and share my thoughts and experiences with anyone else who wanted to read them. But then I started getting followers, likes, and comments, and it made me realize that this is bigger than just me.

I have a feature here on WordPress where I can look at how many views my blog gets on any given day and see what countries they are from. But unless you comment, like, or directly message me, I have no idea who actually reads my posts. Now, in the first couple months, I had a few people from other countries, but for the most part, my readers were solely from the United States, which is where I’m from, so that is no problem. For the first year, I’d say that 97% of my readers are American. But something changed. Starting in March of this year, I have consistently had at least one other country be featured in my stats of those who read my blog. Since I started this blog in October 2016, this blog has been read in 5 continents and 17 countries, not counting the United States in either of those numbers. If you include the U.S., that makes it 18 countries.

I don’t tell you those stats to brag about how great of a writer I am. I am so humbled by that. I never expected this blog to reach 20 people, let alone almost 20 countries! In both 2017 and 2018 (so far), I have had over 1,000 viewers overall!! That is about 19 or 20 per week! I am so grateful to all of you who continue to read my blog. If you’re new, you can find all my posts. I encourage you to read them and learn more about me that way. If you’ve been here the whole time, I thank you for sticking around and supporting me.

So much has changed in these past two years. I’m not the same person I was when I wrote my first post. I’ve made and lost friends, gotten so much healthier, became more independent, and have had a lot of good and bad times. But one thing that hasn’t really changed is how much I love this blog. I always write it on my to-do list each week even though there is almost no way I’ll forget to do it. I love thinking through and preparing ideas that I think you my reader will enjoy. I love sitting down and taking the time to type out all my thoughts. I hope this blog has helped you in some ways. I know it has helped me. Some weeks, this serves as my own version of therapy. I’ve read some of my older blog posts and I’m like “Wow, I’ve really grown since that.”

I titled this post “Going Global” because that’s what I’ve done. I have been read by people in countries from Australia to Canada to South Africa to Indonesia and so many other countries in between. I never imagined that kind of possibility when I started this blog. A younger me would have been like “Look at me. I’m so amazing. I have been read in all these countries.” But current me is almost brought to tears when I see these countries highlighted. I never expected or imagined this, but I am so grateful. Even if the only person I help through this is myself, then I am satisfied. But I also want to present this as a learning opportunity (surprise, surprise. I am going to be a teacher after all). There are things that seem impossible. It could be something that only really affects you, like getting in shape, or it could be something like being prepared for your future career. But let me tell you this: these 18 countries didn’t come at once. It takes time. Impossible things take time. They don’t happen immediately. I mention frequently that I’m working on getting in shape. Once I hit my goal, I plan to share my story and journey with all of you. But I’ve been working towards that goal almost as long as this blog has been around, and I’ve just recently gotten to a place where I’m proud of my body all the time. I’m finally beginning to understand just how close I really am to my goal (which means that post may happen before the end of the year). But it hasn’t come at once. It has taken a lot of time to work at it and improve. You don’t have one class and are ready to enter the real world in any profession. College usually takes at least two years, and even trades have classes, exams, and other processes before you become licensed or certified. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do it. Just give it time.

So my challenge to you then is this: start something impossible. Give it time, work on it, and watch yourself improve. Then, you’ll realize how possible the impossible actually is. And who knows? Maybe one day, you too will have a global impact (if that’s your goal). But don’t let things stop you because they seem impossible. It may be hard, yes, and you may have setbacks. That’s completely fine and doesn’t mean you failed. Learn from those setbacks and keep going. If you’re driving and a tire blows, does that mean you stop driving forever? No (at least I would hope not). You may have to take a break from driving while your tire gets fixed, but then you’re ready to go again. So it is with life and other setbacks. Current failures do not make YOU a failure. You are so much greater than any setback you will ever face!! Go after your goal and watch the impossible become a reality!

Thank you for these past two years! Here’s to so many more!!!