Yay GlobeTracer!

I’m not very big on numbers (a.k.a blog stats) and although I’m not driven by them, I do look at them once in a while.

All of us bloggers, deep down inside hit PUBLISH in hopes of being read by someone.

I finally got a chance to look at my 2012 report, prepared by the WordPress.com helper monkeys. I mostly enjoyed watching the firework visuals.

Here’s an excerpt:

600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 8,900 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 15 years to get that many views.

In 2012, I wrote 93 new posts!

Top 5 posts that got the most views in 2012:

1. 7 Things I learned from Going Back to School (At Age 26)

2. A Mal Tiempo Buena Cara (MY FIRST POST EVER)

3. On Rejection: First Vlog (TALKING ABOUT MY FIRST BATCH OF GRAD SCHOOL REJECTION LETTERS)

4. Thoughts During Zumba (YOU”VE THOUGHT SOME OF THESE THINGS TOO!)

5. Friends With Tracee (MY ETERNAL GIRL CRUSH)

Thanks to my top 3 commentators!

1. Commentary by Valentina (She lives up to the name)

2. don (Who coincidentally has also driven lots of traffic here as well!)

3. Nicole (Bloggy big-sis!)

You make staying up way past my bedtime worth it!

XOXO,

She

Click here to see the complete report.

Thanks for Social Media

Call it ironic that myself and 2 other fellow Twitter buds projected we would move to a certain city this summer, and we all did. When I moved here, I had extended friends of family, and that’s about it. The only other folk I “knew” from the area were all from the internet.

People like Nicole, whose blog I stumbled upon from another blog, have extended themselves to help me become a bit more acclimated with my new home. I know she couldn’t resist meeting the person behind the words, and for that gesture, I’m thankful.

No we are not sisters just because we are both mixed!

(R-L) Nicole, me, Kisha, Kari

Social media acquaintances can become more meaningful when you offer to break barriers down, meaning step away from your device and meet someone face-to-face. Even if that’s not possible, have a phone conversation, invite them to messenger chats… anything that’s more meaningful and personally memorably. Be introduced to something unique about that person, like the way they express themselves verbally and their individual voice. Sometimes those connections from the blog universe become strengthened, sometimes they stay the same and sometimes you realize that this witty/intelligent/beautiful blog or Twitter persona is actually socially inept and you couldn’t see yourself really building a friendship.

At the end of the day, what good is having 200+ followers when you can’t distinguish one from the next?

This year, I’m thankful for social media, because without it, my transition might not have been as enjoyable.

Spending holidays away from home and family is hard. But it doesn’t have to be, if you are open-minded. I am thankful for another opportunity to meet another fellow blogger tomorrow, on Thanksgiving!

Happy Turkey Day!

What are you thankful for this year, that was unexpected?

Please follow me @TracitaLinda. Don’t be afraid, I do talk back!

1 Year of Tracing…

STATS for Globe Tracer

TOP 3 Most Read Posts of ALL TIME

A Mal Tiempo Buena Cara- 313 views

7 Things I learned from Going Back to School (At 26)- 215 views

On Rejection: First VLOG- 120 views

My busiest day and Views

February 24, 2012 with 102 views

TOP 3 Commenters

Ms. Nikks & Up4Dsn- tied with 26 comments

Jessica (A.)- 22 comments

don- 20 comments

Top 3 Views by Country (for 7 days ending 6-5-12)

United States- 144

Canada- 14

UK- 2

Tica’s Top 3 Favorite Posts:

Sunken Ship bar tale 

Random Things I will Miss from Costa Rica

My Bucket List

Thanks for Tracing with me again, I love the little community I’ve built here and look forward to sharing more of what life unfolds for me.

Pura Vida!

ReCognizing Strengths

Reflection Question: What new strengths did you discover about yourself this year?

• Courage: While trying to navigate Costa Rica and figuring out how to get the best out of time there I learned how to discriminate everyone’s well intended-advice. I knew I wanted to work there, I knew I also wanted to volunteer but I needed help with the logistics of finding work in a relatively safe neighborhood, and figuring out the modes of transportation. I wanted to be as independent as possible, but it still took a lot of courage to ask for help and to ask distant family members to let me stay with them and to show me bus routes, etc.

• Coping: When I came back to the States I had another task ahead of me– a move from the city to a small town. I never expected to have such a hard time transitioning to life outside of a big city. I looked at it as a kind of opportunity to experience what suits my personality better, so that when the time comes to start my family I’ll know where I’ll be comfortable living. I am still adapting and have learned some of the perks of living alone this past year, and the importance of building of a real-life social community.

• Committed Creativity: I am very proud of my journey with GlobeTracer, which began on June 11, 2011 (shout-out to to Mr. L in CR for helping me with the brainstorming process). This marks my 37^th post, and I will strive to hit 40 before the January 1^st! I have committed to posting as consistently as life allows, and so basically when I’m not living I’m writing, or thinking about it. I have met some awesome bloggers along the way, people who I’m striving to get to know more than just on the surface. I appreciate those bloggers who inspire me to write with a purpose, and who provoke some self-reflection when sharing their experiences or internal dialogues. Writing is not easy! Writing for an online audience is even harder, but the feedback and sincere comments I receive along the way make every second I put into this blog worth it. 

What new strength came to light for you this year?

Curious,

She