I am celebrating an anniversary, or maybe it is a birthday; I am not sure. You see, I started “Chickie Life” a year ago.
The annual recognition of an event is usually considered an anniversary. The start of a relationship, the first day of sobriety, the moon landing, Woodstock, the discontinuation of the AMC Gremlin car (1978), these are all celebrated anniversaries. But an argument can be made for birthdays. Birthdays are not reserved solely for people, or my pets; we celebrate the birth of a nation, and the birth of a social movement, so why not the birth of a blog? Which shall it be? I am leaning towards “birthday”, after all, a cake is mandatory in a b-day celebration. And I’m thinking … Pineapple Upside Down cake … or German Chocolate cake … or Tres Leches cake …or …. well, you get the idea! Is it self-absorbed, or at minimum uncouth, to wish myself a happy birthday? Yes – I think it is. So to keep from exposing my uncultured-self, I will not direct the celebration inward, but to Chickie Life Blog. I released my first post on the Summer Solstice of 2019 in an attempt to find connection and also declare a new season in my life. And it has been one hell of a new season!
In the beginning I did not know what I was doing; I was unsure of myself and my abilities. I could not imagine that anyone would want to read what I wanted to write. I learned. I trudged forward. I wrote. I kept my goal in sight. As stated on my Welcome page:
I believe we, by nature, have a longing to be connected to one another. My hope is that through sharing personal perspectives on everyday life, we might find common ground and thus find our kinship. So, my new sisters and brothers, welcome to Chickie Life!
Little did I realize, at the time, just how much we would all hunger for connection this year.
Today, I am giddy with connection; Chickie Life has been read on six continents! (Hey, do you know anyone stationed in Antarctica? If so, send them a link; a clean sweep would be fun.) The platform that hosts my blog updates the data daily; the statistics feed my soul and teases me to continue. It reports how many readers (1000+), and the countries and cities in which Chickie Life is read. Within the United States, Chickie Life has followers in 47 states. (I would delight in bringing Hawaii, Delaware, and Alabama on board.) What truly makes my head spin and my heart skip a beat is the diversity of countries/nations represented; a total of twenty-one. This evening I was checking my stats and noticed that I had a new follower in Botswana. I whooped and shouted, “Helloooo Batswana!” The joy experienced with each new reader and country overwhelms me.
Several years ago, I attended my first Interfaith Dinner Dialogue. It was life changing. Our small group represented various religious ideologies and cultural backgrounds: Jewish, Christian, Baha’i, a woman who found her spirituality in chicken coops, and the Muslim couple who graciously opened their home to all of us. Our meal was Halal, Kosher, vegetarian and delicious. What began as an experience out of my comfort zone quickly turned into connections based on mutual respect, acceptance, and agape love, a love that intentionally desires another’s highest good.
Through Chickie Life, I feel a similar bond. But I want to know about you, too. More than your name, I want to know who you are, what you love and how we connect, because we do connect … if only we could all share a meal and chat! If not a meal, then at least let’s raise a glass to each other.
Here’s to you, my sisters and brothers!
Countries where Chickie Life Blog is currently read: Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, China, Cyprus, Czechia, Finland, France, India, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and United States.
How do you sign on to your blog? I’d like to follow it.
Hi Rae,
I am thrilled to have you join our journey. When you first open https://chickielife.blog, you should be directed by a pop-up message to subscribe. Click the message box and follow the prompts; this should put you on the automated notification list. I hope this works on your end. Let me know if it doesn’t and I will contact the blog host.
Yay!
Kelly
I vote for German Chocolate cake!
Texas
The stats the lead back to me don’t add a ton of diversity to your readership – but the laughter, tears, acceptance and joy I find through getting to read MY FRIEND’S words are our forever connection! I don’t get to see you nearly as often as I wish – but the love is never far and always felt. I am so grateful for our connection.
Love Always,
Lacey
Lacey,
Friend connection is always so sweet because it is multi-faceted and has history! Thank you for the support. I, too, am grateful for our connection.
Love Always,
Kelly
Hello Kelly,
I found Chickie Life when preparing for book club and searching for questions. We read Kim Michele Richardson’s novel The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. Your post “Will You Eat the Life Saver” became the main discussion. We have 12 women in our group. Half agreed that they would “Savor” the Life Saver, the other half would save the candy. Since then, we all keep up with your blog. We found our connection!
Reading in Denver,
Charlotte
Hi Charlotte,
Ah, connection through books! Not a surprise. Fiction readers have greater empathy, meaning they can better put themselves in someone else’s shoes making the walls diminish, and self-boundaries fade.
So, you said half of book club would eat the candy. Which side were you on? For some reason I picture you in your Colorado mountains savoring the sweetness of the candy.
Thanks for following Chickie Life!
Kelly
Hello from Yorba Linda, CA! We have a connection. My girlfriend’s best friend Janet reads your blog. She started following you because she is obsessed with a band called the Oh Hellos who has a member who has posted on social media about your blog. She got my girlfriend reading it. I had to write a paper comparing social media writing styles. She suggested reading Chickie Life and I still check it out sometimes. We read it together. Now I see your last name and it lines up with the last name of the bass player in that band and you talk about your son Drew, and the bass’ name is Drew and I think you are his mom and he is the one that posted your blog. How do you like that connection?
Javi
Helloooo Yorba Linda & Hello Javi!
Congrats, you put the puzzle pieces together; indeed, my son is the bassist for The Oh Hellos. Your girlfriend’s best friend, Janet, has good taste in music! Speaking of Janet, let me give you some motherly advice: if you take the time to mention the girlfriend’s best friend by name, mention the name of the girlfriend as well … just saying. I hope you did well on your assignment, and I hope you and your girlfriend (who shall remain nameless) continue to enjoy Chickie Life!
Hi Chickie,
This is your very proud big sister, Kim. You are an amazing writer but more than that, you are an amazing person and a true humanitarian. I am so happy that the whole world (almost) now knows who you are and what you represent!
Kim
Awe shucks, sis …
Thanks
Hello Chickie. My name is Shen. I live in Shenzhen like my name. I have son and parents like your son and parents. I love my family. This is how we connect.
Hi Shen,
My name is Kelly Griffith, but being called Chickie reminds me of my childhood and makes me smile.
It is wonderful to connect with you. Indeed, love of family is universal and transcends age, gender, nationality, race, culture, education, etc. Common ground! I love it!
Kelly