Today is March 15th, Raptitude’s first birthday. A longer post will follow later this week — I was ambushed by an immediate-start job at 10pm last night — but it’s an important date so I just wanted to tell you I am so grateful you decided to spend some of your precious time on earth reading what I write here.
I hope it has brought something to useful to you, whether it’s a different way of looking at something in life, or just a few minutes of entertainment two mornings a week. If I’ve become a regular part of your life, no matter how small, I am proud of that role.
You play a crucial role. It’s something like that tricky Zen question: “If a tree falls in the forest, and nobody hears it, does it make a sound?”
If I posted on Raptitude and nobody read it, it wouldn’t exist.
Thank you all for coming.
Photo by Frielp
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I'm David and Raptitude is a street-level look at the human experience -- what makes human beings do what they do, and what that means in real life.
I write about how to make sense of the earth's most ridiculous animal, how to get better at being one of them, and how only those two things can save the world. 
{ 46 Comments }
Happy birthday Raptitude and congratulations David!
Thanks for dropping such an insightful and uplifting blog into our forest, we really appreciate it : )
It’s definitely my pleasure, Jess. :)
Happy blog birthday, David! I’ve enjoyed reading your blog over the past year and I’m looking forward to more great posts from you in the future!
You’ve been here right from the start Dani. Another year of posts is coming your way.
Happy Blogiversary, Raptitude!!
I was hoping you’d post something new today, so we can all stop by and give you a big birthday “hug”. I’m so glad you started Raptitude when you did, and that I got to come along for most of this awesome journey. You already know how I feel about this place, so I’ll just leave it at that.
Thanks for this amazing blog!! :)
.-= Lisis´s last blog ..What Are We “Teaching” Our Children? =-.
*hug*
Thanks Lisis.
Yes, happy birthday. Good job. Pat on the back. I have a wholesome envy for your accomplishments. Thanks.
As for the zen-question you pose: If the momentum of your blog were enough to make vibrations on the forest floor when it hit, then yes, I think it would still exist. In theory of course.
Thanks Tim.
Haha here we go with the “sound wave” theory of the falling Zen tree. Never fails :)
Here’s to another year of Raptitude! Even if no one read this blog, it would be no less valuable. Think of how many books there are in the library that you’ve never read, or how many soldier’s letters are lost to time, or how many people you’ve never met, or how many scientific papers you’ve never read, but they are no less valuable.
Thank you Avi! I think you’re right.
Happy birthday, David. What a fun day to have a blog birthday, The Ides of March. Cicero believed killing Julius Caesar was an act of liberation, and I believe blogging is in its own right, an act of liberation. It is the liberation of your deep, insightful posts out into the world.
Thank you for your work here, David. I’ve enjoyed your writing and will continue to support this blog.
Have fun at your new job. :)
.-= Lori (JaneBeNimble)´s last blog ..Righting Time =-.
Yes, it’s the day Julius Caesar got stabbed. It was a great day for me.
Thank you for your support Lori, and my spanking new “R”
Happy birthday Raptitude!
I am so glad you exist, you have made me think a lot, therefore, made me grow. Thank you so much!
Keep up the great work, David.
Rosa you always make me smile. I’m glad you exist too.
Happy One Year on Raptitude and hope the new job is enjoyable.
.-= Erin S.´s last blog ..The Holy One =-.
Thanks Erin. The new job is orchard work. Very demanding. But I’m making friends and money for future travels.
Happy B-Day…
Relatively new reader but certainly enjoyed all the material you’ve offered up.
Thanks Mike. Good to hear from you. More on the way in Year 2.
Happy blogday, DC. I’ve been here most of the year, fanning, fawning, admiring this strangely magnetic writing you do. It’s been a pleasure. I’m looking forward to sharing another year here. All the best.
.-= Brenda (betaphi)´s last blog ..Twitter Peeps =-.
The pleasure is definitely mutual. You are a veteran reader, and I always like hearing from you.
Congrats–one the Blog-B-Day and the job. How do you think you will like the job? I got ambushed by a job like that too before; I had to work on the projects for one job while I was at another job. I got like 2 hours of sleep that day.
.-= Brad´s last blog ..Odoriferous Flowers =-.
Thanks Brad. Well, I’ve just completed my second day. It’s real tough work. They told me at 10:30pm that I start the next morning. I don’t get home until 7:30pm so my evenings are short. But I’ll manage.
Birthday wishes and thank you – David you have the honor of being the first (and only) blog I have ever left a comment on… I was moved, that-much.
SM
I am honored! Please don’t ever leave a comment at any other blog. I want to keep my exclusive status. But you are always welcome to comment here :)
Congrats ~:-) Hope you have cake!
Thank you too David, for taking the time to acknowledge each of us, including those who don’t comment, as persons worth getting to know, simply because we are of worth by virtue of being an element (sunbeam?) of this universe.
Your an unconditional guy~ and that’s cool.
Char you have taught me so much in your comments that I ought to write “10 Profound Lessons From Char’s Comments.”
Unconditional, nice adjective. Thank you.
that is sweet~ and so not good for my ego ~:-) (detachment wise)
i am trying to be the bridge for the dead people i spend so much time with; on either side of the glass. those ancients got it all making sense~ i’m just passing on what they ask me to remind others that they already know.
speaking of which, are you keeping that journal of personal lingo…? ~:-)
.-= Char (PSI Tutor:Mentor)´s last blog ..Critical Reflections #7~What are the principles of good assessment? =-.
Yeah the ancients had it down already before I even came along. Every good idea I have is just a rehash of their material.
Journal of personal lingo? You’ll have to remind me…
Hello David,
Congratulations Raptitude on the first B’day.
Great going with wonderful posts. Look forward to many more :)
Best Wishes,
Cheryl
.-= Cheryl Paris´s last blog ..Saturday 9: Gimme Three Steps Girl =-.
Thanks Cheryl, best wishes to you too.
Fairly new reader, but keep coming back!!! Love the vibe of your blog and enjoy the posts. Happy Blogbirthday!
If my vibe is good I am a happy man. Thanks :)
I love this blog! I’ll never forget the first day I came here – single greatest day of my life ha ha :)
David, you’ve been a great influence and a great friend. Keep on blogging – my blog’s birthday is this month too, so that should be fun.
Take care.
Hey thanks John. You’ve been around as long as I remember, which seems longer than a year.
What day is your blog’s birthday?
HBTY to your blog (and you as blog father), David. It’s always been a peaceful pleasure to read here.
.-= Patty – Why Not Start Now?´s last blog ..Meaning Mondays: A Gathering of Men Edition =-.
Blogfather! Hah
We are family.
David,
You’ve came a long way – Happy Bday man! I always enjoy a new post from you and am glad I signed up to get your updates.
Keep it up!!
Mike
.-= Find Inspiration Today´s last blog ..“Inspiration Through Tragedy” =-.
Thanks Mike!
Congrats on your first year! My blog was one of those that fell in the forest for a while, it feels good to be back. I have a lot of reading to catch up with on Raptitude!
Frances! I don’t hear from you enough. Good to hear you’re back on the blogging scene.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday dear Raptitude.
Happy birthday to you.
.-= Neil´s last blog ..#545 Watching a movie in the basement with a group of friends =-.
*Blows out candles*
Thanks Neil.
Happy Birthday Raptitude, and Thanks David. It’s been my pleasure!
Thanks Lee, for your time and all your tweets!
Thank you David for making this blog a place where people can come with a different perspective and still be accepted. You took a very long response of mine in the Neitzsce thread and managed to boil is all down to an eloquent response that I ended up agreeing with. I found you through Stumbleupon but I’ll be coming back on purpose. Happy blog-birthday.
Hey thanks Josh. I appreciate your insightful comments in the Nietzsche article and hope to hear more from you in future posts.