This year has been, to say the least, quite strange and challenging. First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has supported me and been so kind and understanding. You’ve all been amazing! Many of you actively read my blog, engage with me on social media, and have liked my posts or followed me for the past four years. I just want to say a huge thank you to all of you. And to the people who have recently started following me—thank you so much for your support! You all are awesome, and I truly appreciate it.
I don’t want to dive too much into my personal life, as I’ve learned some lessons the hard way this year. So, I’ll just give a brief recap of what happened. Early in the year, I applied for press passes to a convention I usually attend. Unfortunately, I wasn’t granted the passes, but I respect that decision. Instead, I applied to be a trivia host at the con and was thankful for the opportunity to participate in a different capacity. It was a unique experience to be involved behind the scenes, and I’m grateful for that chance. It was different from having press passes, but in some ways, I liked it more. I’m looking forward to applying for press passes again next year.
At the beginning of this year, I also saw a significant boost in views on my blog. Anyone who blogs knows how important SEO (Search Engine Optimization), consistent posting, and maintaining a good DA (Domain Authority) score are. It was great to see these improvements, especially since I manage everything on my own without a social media team. I’m so thankful for that.
Later, I tried to apply to be a reviewer for a website but didn’t receive a response, which I found strange. I also applied for a couple of other conventions and didn’t get press passes. However, I did receive press passes for WonderCon and SuperCon in Miami, which I am very thankful for. Being recognized and given these opportunities means a lot to me. In comparison to 2023, when I got press passes for the majority of the conventions I applied for, this year felt a bit different, and I did feel a bit down about it. But I also faced personal challenges that made everything feel harder.
Blogging has always been an escape from my personal life, but this year it was more challenging. One incident that stood out was when I was denied press passes, and instead of BCC-ing (Blind Carbon Copy) the email, the organizers CC’d everyone they rejected. It was unprofessional, and one person replied to all, making it awkward and uncomfortable. I felt the organizers were more interested in big bloggers and influencers, which seemed a bit off since it wasn’t a huge con. I’m unsure if I’ll apply for passes to that con again due to the negativity and lack of professionalism.
I also attended San Diego Comic-Con this year, thanks to some amazing people who supported me financially. I wasn’t sure if I could afford to go, so their help meant everything. While I enjoyed the con, some of the magic was missing, and I felt a bit sad about that. Additionally, I went through some tough experiences that I shared on social media, including an incident that led to accusations of bigotry. I want to clarify that my intention was never to offend anyone, and I did apologize for any harm caused. It was a learning experience, and I realized the importance of being mindful with words.
Throughout this year, I’ve learned a lot about being honest and sharing my truth while also ensuring I don’t hurt or offend others. Each year of blogging has taught me something new. In my first year, I learned about connecting with the community and building a strong online presence. The second year was about finding my niche and figuring out what I wanted my blog to be about. Last year, I focused on improving my grammar and punctuation to make my blog more professional. This year, I learned the importance of balancing honesty with sensitivity.
Looking ahead, I hope to continue growing and learning. I can’t change the past, but I can apologize and strive to be better each year. I hope people can forgive me and give me a second chance. I also found it interesting this year when I noticed some bloggers I used to follow and support had blocked me, which I found a bit confusing. I blocked them back, but I’ve realized that support should be mutual. I’m more cautious now about follow-for-follow situations because I want genuine connections in the blogging community.
Overall, this year has been interesting both personally and for my blog, Headphone Thoughts. It has been a lot to process, but I am thankful to everyone who has been supportive and kind. I won’t let a few challenges stop me from blogging, and I will continue unless I feel the need to take a break. Thank you again to everyone!
Message me on Social media (@headphonesthoughts) (@headphonesTblog) and/or email me @ contact@headphonesthoughts.com
Whatever life takes you, enjoy your life. Think positive, and be positive.
–Always look to the rising sky
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