Expressing the things I am thankful for is like Lucy and Ethel keeping up with the conveyer belt of chocolates – I can’t ever keep up. One year I decided to make a list. I stopped after I listed 100 things, and I could have gone 500 more. (If you are curious what I was thankful for five years ago, here is the link.)
For this post, I wish to narrow it down to one thing:
You.
I am thankful for you. Yes, you. If you are reading this, then I want you to know how much it means to me, and express my gratitude for allowing me into your hearts and minds – even for a moment.
It has been an interesting year for me blog-wise. Early in the summer I decided to take a 40 Day Social Media fast, (Before it became all “trendy,” or “commanded.”) That 40 day fast soon became a 61 day fast.
Then, just a couple of weeks after I came back, President Nelson asked us to stop referring to ourselves as “Mormons.” What was a Middleaged Mormon Man to do?
Change names of course. Duh. However, that was not as easy as it seemed. I am glad that I was able to do it, and grateful that I was able to come up with a name that I think works (Courtesy of Mormon himself.)
What I haven’t told you is how close I came to wrapping up the blog and not returning. I flirted with the possibility or stopping and focusing on other things, but one of the key reasons I came back was you.
The support you have given me over these past eight years has been amazing to me. When I left for my “fast,” I knew it was a terrible idea as far as SEO and readership traffic. When I rebranded, I knew that would destroy it even more. Both of those things are the kiss of death in the rapidly changing digital age search for eyeballs.
I was wrong.
You stuck around. I am amazed and humbled.
Thank you for taking the time to read my stuff.
Thank you for the wise and witty comments.
Thank you for kind messages and emails you send me.
Thanks for the dialogue and the desire to learn with me.
Thank you for purchasing my books.
Thank you for sharing what you know and what you have experienced in this crazy thing we call mortality.
Thank you for showing up on Facebook for Sunday Night Check-in (SNCI). (Note: You have absolutely no idea how many people lurk at SNCI and are uplifted and blessed by the things you share. There are so many people who are searching for the spiritual uplift you provide. How do I know? Now and again someone will reach out and thank me for it – but it is you that does that – not me.)
So, from my heart, thank you for your support, kindness and participation. It makes it worthwhile in a way that is outside myself.
Wishing you and yours a happy Thanksgiving,
I’m so grateful you continued. You’ll never know how much your “musings” have meant to me at different times.
Thank YOU! Thank you for sticking around, for your insights into gospel topics applied to real life, and for your faith and commitment to Jesus Christ, to the gospel, and to living prophets. I genuinely appreciate your blog and YOU.
I always enjoy your posts. The ones that uplift, the ones that make me think more deeply, the ones that help me get back on the path when needed.
I always look forward to your posts. And to SNCI. I have made and/or retained friendships from the crowd that follow you. I appreciate the comments and the community. And, I love your example of obedience and support for our prophets! Happy Thanksgiving!
You always have such good stuff and your humor is what has kept me coming back for years now. I found your blog years ago when I was looking for material for a lecture on minstrelsy (I am a music professor). Your humor in that one captured my attention and I’ve been a fan ever since (and your blog is linked to a lecture in one of my online courses in case you ever wonder why there are a bunch of weird hits from Texas and Kansas a few times a year). Recently, I was called to be YW president in my ward and we are trying to deal with a gossiping problem taking place. Your blog that week happened to go along with what we were trying to accomplish in this lesson and we borrowed your sources and shared your blog among our presidency which honestly offered a great deal of inspiration at a time we were needing it. So, Thank you for hanging in there! You make a difference.
Thank You! I have learned so much from you. I love your writings.
Oh my goodness…the thought of you NOT returning??? Disastrous!! I am SO GLAD you put that one to rest!! I am grateful for all you do. You are a huge blessing to all of us! Happy Thanksgiving!!!!
I am also one of your readers who never takes the time to thank YOU for sharing your insightful and oftentimes, revelatory, thoughts with us. I am blessed to teach EM seminary and oftentimes share little snippets of things you posted that go hand in hand with lessons.
I look forward to reading each and every post when they show up in my “inbox” 🙂
Have a blessed Thanksgiving Day and know that you are valued, needed and loved by so many…those you see face to face, and those you’ve never met!
I appreciate your insights and your humor. Have a great day.
I’m also one of those multiple-year followers and completely understand the need for fasting from social media (I’ve been fasting from FB for months now and may never stop…). But, your content and writings are of the caliber that makes one want to be on hand as soon as the fast has concluded. Particularly since they are centered around wholesome, humorous, and Christ-like subject matter. THANK YOU brother Brad, for your tireless and continued efforts to give us enlightened, thought-provoking reading materials! Please know that you are very appreciated on this Giving Thanks day!
And thank you!
Back atcha. I truly appreciate any thoughtful, uplifting, and enlightening words. You always deliver, and of course it’s great to have a chuckle thrown in here & there to spice it up. Keep up the good work, you’re letting your light shine!?
I’ve been reading your blog for several years. I appreciate your insight towards life, living the gospel, leading a family. I’ve used your insight in gospel discussions in my home, priesthood meetings and at work. Thanks for staying with it!! Happy Thanksgiving!!
I don’t comment often, but today I will. Thank YOU for your words of inspiration, comfort and uplift – every time! It seems that you say what I need to hear when I need to hear it. Thank you for coming back! What a blessing you are!
The good stuff is worth following, wherever it goes! I’m thankful to have your insight and humor brighten my life.