A few weeks ago someone commented on my new post, saying they had just stumbled across my blog, and that it was “very old school.”
I took that as a compliment, and got to reminiscing about what old school blogging really felt like, compared to today. Something’s definitely gone missing—some quality that made it vivid and exciting, and I want it back.
When I started in 2009, and for years afterward, I just wrote stuff, having absolutely no idea if anyone would relate. I wrote as well as I could, but there was a wonderful off-the-cuff feel to the process. If it was interesting to me, it might be to someone else. So I would write something about it. The incomparable joy of campfires. The rich history of a particular dent in my car.
I just let the ideas fly. People did relate, usually, although—importantly, I think—sometimes they didn’t. That was okay, and expected. I was just saying things.
Amidst all this vigorous saying of things, strangers appeared in the comments. You! You appeared, and you said things too, which made it a conversation. We talked about parking lots. Music. Meditation. Friendships. Kettlebells. The obscure details of being human.
The whole arrangement seemed so straightforward. We bloggers simply shared what we thought was interesting or helpful, and whoever agreed would congregate around, and we’d have a good talk about it, or maybe just think about it at work that day. The blog was just a microphone, and the internet only an aid to sharing our thoughts, like we had always done, in cars, in pubs, in school.
Somewhere along the line, at least for me, something got in the way of that straightforward sharing. If you’re a regular reader you’ve probably noticed I don’t post as often anymore.
Trepidation eventually sunk in around my writing and posting, especially when I started having mega-hits with hundreds of thousands of views. I felt pressure to follow up a hit with something just as good, so newcomers wouldn’t leave right away. It started feeling increasingly risky, even dangerous, to simply post my thoughts as I once had.
Writing time per post ballooned. For a few years I did little but try to write something profound every week. It had to be a life-changing bombshell or nothing. I stopped writing about niche topics that not everyone was into, even if they really mattered to me. I tried to please everyone, rather than just share what was in my heart that day.
Much of this complexity arose from my own neuroses and unchecked habits. But the internet itself has also changed. As one astute tweet put it, “1999: there are thousands of websites, all hyperlinked together. 2019: there are four websites, each filled with screenshots of the other three.”
I got caught up in the unimaginative tenets of the Age of Content. It’s got to land. It’s got to pull in eyeballs. It’s got to be shareable. Nothing too long, nothing too short. Nothing avant-garde. Facebook’s share count will tell you how well you did.
My process filled with doubt and overthinking, and that really suffocated any sense that I was free to share whatever moved me. Yet the site is still the same thing it ever was, mechanically at least. It’s still just a web log where I can broadcast my thoughts.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that I love you, and I love how we used to just talk. I’m going to approach blogging in the free-form way I used to. That means I’m going to be saying things more often, with fewer words, and with much less hand-wringing over those words.
I’m going to try new things, and some old ones. There may be some awkwardness. Like in a real conversation.
You’ve always upheld your end of it though. I can’t believe that I can post something, on an old school WordPress blog, in 2019, and dozens of people will comment on it. Thank you for keeping it old school.
By the way, I love it when you comment. Even if you seldom or never do, I’d love it if you’d click through and just say hi to everyone today.
Long live the blog. Long live straightforwardly sharing what’s in our hearts.
***
Cafe photo by Juri Gianfrancesco (cropped from original)
I'm David, and Raptitude is a blog about getting better at being human -- things we can do to improve our lives today.
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I enjoy reading your thoughts. Sometimes I agree, sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I think about what you said, sometimes I forget immediately. Hmm. Sounds like a regular conversation! I look forward to more frequent, less profound posts. :)
Dear Dave, Keep it real man! I love your honesty. I see your reflection of the last 10 years as one of your experiments that you did not even know you were making. Never too late to change course, and all your hand wringing about it – was just part of the process you were living and sharing in real time. Being aware of it now, is the timing of you being ready to change its direction, now. You are right where you are supposed to be… in the moment. And its your thoughts in the moment that change the course of your future. You taught me that .. or at least echoed it, since it is a recurring theme in life. Love you man and keep doing what you do, whatever it is. I am trying to do the same!
<3
Clicking through to comment as requested. I love reading your thoughts!
Your blog remains one of only three I still read without fail. I wholeheartedly support your new/old direction.
I still enjoy reading your blog. Thank you for writing about nothing and everything.
I have always enjoyed your writing style, honesty and passion for sharing your journey. Welcome back. “Going Deeper..” was very popular that someone created a facebook group on the mater. It helped to encourage others to follow along.
Thank you, Dave And I look forward to your posts.
Long time reader, first time commenter. This is one the few blogs I read on a regular basis. Something I enjoy is that it is clearly the thoughts of an in individual, not a corporate entity. I’ve also appreciated from afar your journey of personal growth.
Hey there Mr Cain. We love you too. Your insights are a deep breath of fresh mountain air, and I love them, and you for sharing them. I tell everyone who cares to listen to me to subscribe. Looking forward to the conversation. x
I look forward to your posts – long live the simple blog!
Hi, David. Yes, conversations are being lost. What a terribly empty thing that is. Thanks for doing what you do!
Good for you. Keep it up. X
Keep up the good work David, your emails/blogs are always thought provoking. In the data overwhelm we all experience your email gets opened and read, a lot of others remain unread floating in a sea of data.
Peace and love.
I agree!
I get so many posts I’ve subscribed to and I usually delete them but yours, I save to read when I have time. Thank you!!!
Same!
As veteran of a number of now abandoned blogs, I salute you for your perseverance! I found the longer I left between posts, the greater the pressure on me to produce something noteworthy, and these days spending evenings at the computer writing for fun doesn’t seem so fun anymore. On the other hand, I now keep a “micro journal” throughout the day – so I’m still writing, but now I’m talking exclusively to myself, whereas before I was talking to myself but occasionally other folks would pop by. It’s been something I ponder quite a bit.
It’s definitely
Fantastic. The world needs more of you. Keep going, keep sharing.
Even
After
All this time,
The sun never says to the earth,
“You owe
Me.”
Look
What happens
With a love like that,
It lights the
Whole
Sky
> The Sun Never Says | Hafiz
Oh my god. THIS. This. And, me. And us. And, I bet, others. What I mean is, i think it’s maybe something of an epidemic, this creative paralysis that weighs down our process and our inspiration. I just had this exact discussion with another friend a few days ago, whose blogging she feels is also suffering the same fate.
I sometimes go back and read my earliest posts from when I first set out on my solo world travels in 2008. It’s like another person wrote them. A carefree, curious, engaged, and free person. They were good! She was good. Now I almost never post, because I feel like every entry has to have a point and a big moral or revelation at the end (and nobody even reads mine, so I can only imagine how you must feel). I miss that carefree approach; worse, I’m scared I won’t remember how to be her anymore when I sit down to try again. It is so encouraging (not sure that’s the right word to describe it) to learn that it’s not just me. How do we get it back, David?
That is the exact feeling I’ve been struggling with, I just didn’t quite realize it. It doesn’t have to be profound. That belief that we are free to share is so precious. As for how to get it back, my working theory now is to just write and share and thinking about who it connects with, not the numbers or acclaim or any of that. Because in a regular conversation, connecting with one person is enough, right? :)
Beautiful
I miss the old school days too, David. You called it the ‘Age of Content’, what we’ve transitioned into. But the old school days were filled with content as well, weren’t they? I think the ‘Age of Optimisation’ is closer to the mark. If it isn’t optimised for clicks or shares or views, it isn’t worth pushing out. It scares as a writer and a reader. As a writer because I don’t see a clear boundary between optimising for views and pandering to an audience. And as a reader because it’s getting harder and harder to find authentic voices that push me to see the world differently. I’d love to hear more about how you’re thinking about getting back to the old school :)
This is it. I might even call it the age of the smallest common denominator, since we optimise our highlight reel to appeal to as many people we don’t know as possible.
I’ve recently been trying to actively shrink my “friendship circle” so when I share thoughts, or even holiday pictures, I know it doesn’t have to be perfect. Because real friends are interested in the imperfections more than in a polished, redacted version of myself.
I didn’t link my website on this post because for months now I meant to start my own blog. Drafts are accumulating. Unfinished, because they don’t seem impactful enough yet.
I’m on holidays but when I’m back next week, I’ll set it up and start posting half finished thoughts. Because who knows who might read and finish then for me.
And btw, David, for the longest time I thought raptitude was a newsletter. Super excited to find an old school blog with a community behind it!
‘Age of Optimisation’
That is so spot on, well done. That describes modern society as well.
Hi David, I think your blog is great.
Yes very happy to hear this and looking forward to more of your unencumbered thoughts!
Hi David
I’ve just opted out of many newsletters and blogs, because it simply took too much time to read them all. I’m interested in so many things, but even now that I’m retired, the day has only 24 beautiful hours and there’s also an offline life to live…
But I always enjoy reading your posts and I will keep doing so. Thank you so much for your thoughts!
Best regards from Switzerland
Love hearing your thoughts David, be they profound or just musing.. Keep it coming.
Thanks for your contribution to the conversation.
Hi to everyone here!
Thanks for this great post. I started blogging in 2001 on geocities & had to do all my writing in html. Made some great artist & writer friends online. I’m weaning myself off social media to focus more on blogging again and making art. I miss old school blogging & connecting. Looking forward to reading more of your posts.
Thank you for being you and for speaking your truth, in whatever form it may take. Looking forward more conversations.
100% agree with Phyllis :-)
Finally! Good for you – it’s a very slippery downhill road once you start doing things because other people/society expect or want that from you, not what you believe in. Who cares! Have confidence in your work, enjoy it and let it shine through. Ofcourse we’ll be here with you :-)
This is exactly the spirit I want to remember. Thanks Michelle!
Have been here for the last 7 or 8 years. Read the books too. Noticed you posted less and it started to feel as the old themes are coming back, so I just realized I was waiting for you to post something like this. By the way, your blog is one of the themes I discuss with a friend over the coffee, not unlike people from this post’s photo. Team Awkward!
Hello all—
I’ve been reading for a long time, enjoying the thoughtful + thought provoking content, never efforted through to comment before. Just want to pitch in to say Keep up the important work of sharing curiosity and insight, lighting up the world for all of us!
Appreciating you, David, don’t hold back
Hey there!
Have been reading your blog since at least 2014 as far as I can remember, and loving it. This is my first comment though. Looking forward to more old school content!
David I am always delighted when some of your thoughts pop into my inbox, and I am often sharing them with others. I am definitely old school myself, and like the possibilities for conversation that the internet opens up, though of course not immune myself from the pressures of how we think we are perceived. There are very many of us out here happy at the thought that going forward you will be happy to carry on sharing, and whatever comes out – frequent, infrequent, considered, just bashed out, whatever you feel like musing out loud on – I will be very happy to read. HUGE thanks for your generosity of spirit and for being here and sharing with us.
Well said⭐️⭐️⭐️
Been reading for a couple of years & always look forward to your posts. This is my first time commenting. Thanks for sharing your experiences and perspectives.
Hi David and hi to all the other conversationalists and thinkers out there in the world. I always enjoy your posts and often send them on to friends and family. I understand what you are saying and totally support your new plan. Indeed I welcome it!
Hi David, I really like your blog. I’m glad to hear you might be writing more often. I’ve enjoyed everything of yours I’ve read.
So I sold my blog back in 2013, and ever since I check in on some of my old favorites, some because I love their writing style and others because I like to see what they are up to personally. Very few resonate anymore. I definitely like old school blogging. Just doing your thing, supporting it with a product or course or two, but really personally changing, growing, developing and putting ideas out there. This is the ONLY blog I still subscribe to (wait, there’s one more but mostly for laughs), I even stopped subscribing to Wait But Why even though I think he’s wonderfully creative and original. After a while, some things just don’t gel and you move on. I feel like I am growing so I like to see the content I read grow organically (as in not perfectly onward and upward, bigger and better, just changing like we all inevitably do). I appreciate your writing and being and this post was right on time for me :)
Based on what you wrote Sahar I would read your blog:)
As someone with an old fashioned blog myself, I can only understand the tribulations of the mind when it comes to approaching writing authentically and keeping / growing an audience (which I don’t have lol, so no dilemma for me)
Anyway, I really enjoyed that read and hope you see this comment! I’m usually a silent reader :)
I see every comment! I want you all to know that. I can’t reply to all of them, especially when there are 300+ by noon, but I really appreciate your input and support!
I found you on a regular day at the office Google searching topics on being vegan. Your experiment came up and I clicked on it. Since then I have been an avid reader. Years later I even started my own short lived blog Soulifed Girl, Looking Inward to Save the World. Most definitely a tribute to your short book How to Save the World by becoming an Individual. And I still, even today actually, quoted you about how it’s way easier to not take a bite than it is to stop (in terms of eating sweets). You have impacted my life and your writing sticks like honey. Don’t ever stop. Switch your game up when necessary but never stop writing what ALL of us think and want permission to ponder on the regular.
Love your stuff.
<3
David I’ve been reading your blog for years and yours is one of the only email notifications that I feel genuinely happy to see in my inbox! Your posts always make me think, and you write beautifully. I don’t blog but can totally relate to the way things change when we start to let others’ approval or whatever affect the way we do something we originally did just for the love of it.
Looking forward to finding more of your posts in my inbox!
I think yours is the only blog I’m still subscribed too. Far too many websites offer a newsletter (which we all know is just marketing) or a free e-book (more marketing). Affiliate links the reader can follow or ignore with no pressure. It’s a pleasure to read something (like your blog) just for the joy of it. Thanks, David.
I found you through StumbleUpon, I hated that they dissolve. I have you bookmarked on my pc and check you weekly, thinking I missed an email. I’ve always enjoyed your thoughts and musings. I’m glad you’re sticking with it. Keep it up, you do a really good job. Warm regards.
StumbleUpon was so oldschool! I miss it too.
David,
A couple days ago I realized how bizarre it is that even though I’ve always wanted to be a writer, I hardly ever write. So I just decided to write something every day. One day I wanted to experiment with writing mini-essays, so I picked a random object on my desk – a Rubik’s cube. And I tried to write a small essay about it. Just a half page full of words; I decided that it shouldn’t be anything substantial or deep. Just words.
In about five minutes it had blown up in my head into the type of project that would take several weeks of work to complete. I had plans. My brain rapidly cycled through something like a dozen possible ideas, picking up some that looked promising, discarding others. The mental dialogue went something like “Hmm…. well, what about this? But yeah, if I want to do that, I’ll need to do this, and this other thing, and well…. oh! Another cool idea!” And it went on like that until the internal dialogue suddenly stopped me and said “No. This is too much. I can’t do this.”
After five minutes I was in lock-down and stopped trying to write the essay. Instead I wrote two pages documenting the chain of thoughts that had hit my mind because it was one of the first times I’d ever been aware enough of it that I could record it accurately. It took me about an hour to write and then I left my desk to go about my day.
A half hour later I had an odd realization. I realized I didn’t have to give up my original project. So I went back and wrote a half page of bland essay on a Rubik’s cube. Far, far smaller than my wild cluster of ideas that grew out of proportion so fast. Intentionally smaller. I decided to discard the impulsive ambition and just go back to my original intention and let it be what it was; humble.
That’s something I wouldn’t have known to do four years ago. Reading your blog has been part of my journey from there to here. Thank you for being one of the kind guides on the way, and I’m glad to see that I’m not alone in making that transition.
The only thoughts I can offer regarding how to go about doing it (from my experience; your mileage may vary) is this: smile at the impulse and greet it like a dear friend. It comes from a part of your brain that wants you to be happy but isn’t wise enough to come up with a plan that will work. Let it say what it has to say. Then go back to what you determined is the best course.
I’ve also found that it helps to deliberately practice the opposite. When you have a cramped muscle you don’t simply decide to relax it – you have to stretch it in a direction opposite of where it wants to go until it un-clenches. Similarly, if my brain naturally wants to make things too big, I find it helps me a lot to deliberately choose to do things that are small. If my brain reflexively wants to write something I can feel proud of I find it helps to deliberately choose to write things that are meager and humble. If my brain wants to lie for self-protection, it helps to deliberately choose to practice honesty for a while, with all the terror that comes alongside it.
Not sure if you have a Rubik’s cube on your desk but I’d love to hear your idle thoughts on something trivial in a new post in the near future. I’m sure they’d be more relevant and meaningful than you fear.
Best wishes,
C
This is wonderful advice Calen, and I will take it to heart. Especially the stretching analogy. I want to write shorter, smaller things. Humble things.
Thanks, man. I’ve been missing writing for myself. Your email gave me a tiny bit of encouragement and inspiration. Keep doing what you’re doing.
I’m excited to hear more from you, David! Your words are a wonderful presence in my life, and I recommend your blog and Camp Calm to others all the time. I just started CC again this morning! Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness, willingness, and bravery.
Hi there David. Mate keep on saying it as you see it, and keeping it real. I, amongst all the other readers appreciate you shooting the breeze and putting out some commentary on something that has struck a cord.
I’ve never walked across a car park the same without taking in the world around and above the bitumen since one of your posts a while back.
I’ve shared your wisdom, and links to this blog to several of my friends, the ones who can think for themselves.
Don’t worry mate, if you stuff up too badly we’ll all be sure to let you know!!
And I love what you do. I may not comment much these days (my 10-month-old is pretty demanding, haha) but I still read everything of yours that lands in my inbox (and I think I subscribe to all of 2 blogs).
Can’t wait to read what you write next!
Like a few of the commenters above, I’m usually a silent reader. But, today, I just want to reach out and say that you blog is wonderful, and thanks for all the you do.
Cheers,
Kritin
Keeping it real, and not being precious about it. Thank you :)
YES!! Love this so much! I’ve been reading your blog for ages. 5 years? Every. Single. One. Is solid. Gold. You articulate things I didnt even know I was wondering about, and so many of your old blogs are my favourite. Walking through a parking lot #1.
Very excited that you’re returning to a more freeform brain dump.
Thank you!!!
I have cleared out my inbox and unsubscribed to every thing I was subscribed to except your newsletter. It’s the only one I read. It’s your genuine humanness that is awesome.
I can’t imagine how scary it must be to put yourself out there like you are doing but please don’t stop! You rock!!!
Hi, I really like reading your posts as well. Greetings from Luxembourg!
Hello there to everyone on a chilly, damp English morning. I have up on my blog for similar reasons. I love the mundane, the ordinary, that is what life is all about. Looking forward to your renewed postings. God Bless my friend
I have deeply enjoyed the articles you have shared with us, David, along with the quality of the comments contributed by the members here. Thanks a bunch for being you.
I remember the first time I heard someone describing a friend they admired for making them feel like they were the only one in the room. That’s how I feel when I read your blogs, like you’re writing just to me. Your ideas resonate deeply with me and your style is so personal. David, may you continue to share yourself in whatever form that is fulfilling to you at the time. Let your humanity flow.
Good morning! I enjoy reading your thoughts. For me it is not about agreeing with you or not but the opportunity to listen to the impressions of another with different experiences. Unbiased ears open. Who knows what a person might learn from such an encounter? Why do you write this blog David?
Wishing you and everyone else a wonderful day. Adiós!
Hi! I am not one to leave comments, but since you so specifically asked, just this once I will. I love your posts a lot, David. Thank you for taking the trouble to formulate and post your ideas and thoughts, big or small. They are honest and make me feel we are sharing this human experience. Awkwardness should be part of that. That is a conversation – and also the best possible purpose of any blog, in my opinion. Thanks also for having the courage to stay true to your original idea of the blog. And lay-out.
Hi, to everyone.
I don’t do social media because… it doesn’t appeal to me. I realised a while ago that while I like thinking and commenting about events and ideas, while I am pleased if people ‘like’ my comments, chasing ‘likes’ is a distraction. Lusting after digital ‘social approval’ is chasing fools gold.
I thought about writing a blog, but that doesn’t appeal either. Especially when so many blogs and articles are about self improvement (is there a ‘self’ to improve?) and the “10 ways to make yourself…” format. Reading blogs written in search of digital ‘social approval’ is chasing fools gold.
‘Old school’ blogging is the format I like to read. A (mostly one sided) conversation rather than a drive-by billboard that is immediately forgotten when the next flashy billboard appears.
Your posts are appreciated, and thought about, and slowly change lives. So please continue to write old school blogs if you can without caring about the ‘number of likes’.
A final ‘hi’ to all the people who *don’t* know me, especially those who would relish acknowledgement of their lives from someone else.
I was going to unsubscribe as I get so much email and never enough time to read it. But today something inside nudged me to spare the time to read yours. I’m glad I did because what you said made perfect sense. I’m old school and I love old school, it’s real and unpretentious and speaks from the heart, it doesn’t try to manufacture likes or traffic or hits. Old school keeps it real, says it like it is and shares the deeper meaning of everyday living and being. I won’t be unsubscribing anytime soon because in keeping it real your keeping me interested and long may it last
This is one of the only blogs I still read. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. I find a lot of value in your words. And I hope you can find joy in writing, and let go of some of that pressure you describe.
You are such a lovely breeze in a world of ego gales. Be more you, it’s what you do best.
Hi David, I always enjoy your work. It is thoughtful and often with a different perspective. Looking forward to more reading in future!
Hi David,
I will read your blog however you feel you want to write it! Thanks for all that you do. You’ve given me much food for thought over the years.
I’ve started unsubscribing from a lot of newsletters because the content is so repetitive and ideally I want to be doing rather than consuming (largely the same) content. Kudos to you for keeping it real!
Hi David
I enjoy reading your blog and have done so for the last few years I think. Some I share with others, some I skim through. As you said, not everything is interesting to everyone. If you find it joyful, keep writing, and I’ll keep reading. Health, happiness, love and kindness to you.
Some blogs are a bit “samey” but Raptitude has always been fun and thought provoking, plus it’s given me some great ideas and inspiration over the years I’ve been reading it. Thank you David for keeping it real
You know, this is the first time I’ve ever felt compelled to comment on your posts. For a couple of reasons:
1. Because you asked. You’ve never asked anything of me before, only given me profound thoughts. A bit selfish of me.
2. Because of how I interact with you. Most of the time I read your post on an email and then close it when I’m done. I do think reading a headline then clicking through to your site would cost me nothing.
3. Because most of what you write is so profound that it needs time to sink in and digest. Some of your posts have changed my perceptions on things forever.
Thank you David. You’ve always been that calm island in the centre of the storm that is the internet. Always providing shelter, never asking for much.
If you’re so inclined, I think your posts would be beautiful podcasts. And you’d do well on patreon as well. But this is cool as well.
Thanks so much Noel. I appreciate you commenting here (all of you in fact!) and I may one day do a podcast, and I will think about Patreon — that would allow me to spend more time writing.
I like what you have to say mostly, and even if I don’t always agree, I always find it thought provoking. I’m all for old school; more focus on what it means and less on how it will be perceived… go for it!
Hi David! Keep on doing what you do!
I love reading your posts
You know, David, one of your outstanding talents is that you can talk about something rather mundane, but pretty universal to the human experience, and it will end up being profound anyway. I always look forward to reading your thoughts; I hope we will hear from you more frequently now.
Yes, yes, yes – can’t say it any better
Just dropping in here to say Hi! And to let you know that in the brief amount of time I have spent reading your thoughts, it has always brought me peace. Thank you!
I love your blog. Life is made up of mundane things and it is worth celebrating them. I hope you can get your writing joy back.
You always have something interesting to say. A real modern-day philosopher. I enjoy your personal perspective on things we don’t usually think about, or even notice. You know how people ask who would be your top three dinner guests for good conversation? You would be my number one. Please keep it coming.
I’ve never left a comment before either but love your writing and I’m really glad to hear that you’re planning to post more often. I’m sure even the most niche topics will be thought-provoking because you have such an interesting way of seeing things and you write about them so well.
Lol, two paragraphs before you wrote that you love us, I heard myself saying “love you, David Cain—always have; always will.” You personify the word and process of reflection and your example has gently instructed me. You led me to mindfulness, being present in the present, before I knew the word. Yesterday I got my master’s in applications of mindfulness from Bangor University! You were part of my journey there. Thank you! You will always be my young guru, old school or otherwise.
Aww you guys are making me cry. That just fills me with joy :)
Congratulations on your amazing achievement, and may you live in peace and ease <3
Old school blogging represents the essence of the internet for me. As more and more things become centralised (even blogging, via Medium), I applaud anyone who takes and stand and keeps the web the decentralised, open platform that it was intended to be. Bravo.
Totally… ten years ago it really felt to me like the internet was mostly made of blogs. People had websites with cool stuff on them. Companies had lame websites with mission statements. The internet was all about individuals and their thoughts. Well it’s still here in pockets and I want this place to be one of them forever.
Keep on going! Ur doing a great thing. Like others I’ve unsubscribed from almost all the rest of the background noise. And now that David Allen is retiring urs is the only authentic one left in my inbox. And also like the others above, ur inspiring me towards getting back to the keyboard and returning to trying to be authentic myself, even if it’s just for me. Thank you David.
The blog is wonderful. Now that I think about it, I enjoyed the lighter articles as well. Not every one stroke a strong chord with me, and that was perfectly okay.
David, I hope you keep doing whatever you feel is best with Raptitude. I’m sure that whatever direction you think is correct ends up being a great choice. No stress.
To the readers, I would like to wish you all the best, and hope that we can enjoy this fantastic blog together. It’s really wonderful to have so many people gather around and discuss a variety of topics, both mundane and profound. It adds a lot into my life. Thank you all.
Hi, David. I think that when we try to force ourselves to be profound, that we are setting ourselves up for misery. I think, as an instructor, that attachment to an outcome is dangerous in the learning environment, and that we don’t need to teach people what to think, so much as invite people to think. Actively, creatively, flexibly, and continually. Attachment in the teacher is a joy-thief, and I think, impairs synthesis within the learner. All we can do, as teachers, is open the door of possibility, and invite learners in. I think it was Epictetus who said “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” I personally appreciate your heartfelt, whimsical, and occasionally random posts. Each individual is responsible for their own engagement with your material. Any artist can only ever complete their work, and then offer it freely for individual and personal engagement and interpretation. The bottom line is, that you don’t know what any of your readers will be impacted by, or what we need to encounter on a particular day. And that is fine. That is healthy. From one teacher to another – you cannot control the learning experience. Trust us to take what we need from your art, and allow yourself to be courageous in your art. Your work is worthy. With Respect, M.
Thank you for this!
Hi everyone!
I’m feeling inspired to maybe start blogging again.
Yep. Yours is one of the mega-blogs that I read because you’re genuine and have integrity. I’m not interested in shared content, sponsored posts, etc. It’s the real-life, quirky and intensely human aspects of blogging that interest me. Thanks for keeping on and good wishes from the south-eastern tip of the UK.
I appreciate your work and have benefited from your thoughts. You are authentic, which is rare. After what you wrote today, I look forward more than ever to what will come next.
Dear David, I can write about a million words in response to today’s email, but I’ll summarise it: I can’t wait! I can’t wait to see what you have to say, and to see whether I agree, relate, disagree, learn new things. Your emails in my inbox always feel like receiving a letter from a friend I’ve known for years; although I do wish I could write you back. I carve out time to read your letters with mindfulness, because that’s how I read letters from friends. With this invitation, I’ll partake a bit more on the comments’ side. Old school? Heck yes. Let it rip – this is a safe space and I can’t wait for more letters. Thank you, for always writing!
Hi everyone, thank you for this David, we’re honored to read about the dents in your car :)
Hey David,
I discovered your blog this year and I’m glad I did. What you said in the post resonated with me as a fellow blogger. It’s difficult to balance writing about what you want while also writing for an audience. I tend though to lean more toward the former than the latter, knowing that being myself will often attract the kind of people that I want reading my site. This, of course, is not easy and I’ve definitely had moments where I find myself teetering on the edge. But, it’s all part of the process, and I know that it’s better to be in the game rather than not.
Keep up the good work and look forward to reading your new stuff as well as your classics.
Best,
Jon
Nice to meet you Jon! I don’t know many bloggers any more, so it’s such a thrill to see a comment where the name links back to a personal blog. I wish you the best in your journey, and thanks for keeping it old school!
I am commenting as you requested David but will share the sentiment of many others here too. Your open and honest commentary on your thoughts and feelings drew me to subscribe to your blog years ago, and has always resonated with me. I know that you have changed my life in some ways and I’m certain you are having a positive influence on the world.
I’d encourage you to not over-think it for you, of all people, know what danger lies in that path. Just keep sharing your thoughts and observations in the same format you always have. It works.
Hi David,
I love your writing – both the insights you share and your writing style. I look forward to every post.
I’m 62 – quite a bit older than you. I got a chuckle out of the idea that “old school” even involved blogging at all. To me, “Let’s talk like we used to” means talking in person or at least on the telephone.
But still, your point is right on target (as they usually are). Blogging has changed. It’s become impersonal. For anyone who has been blogging for more than a couple years, there is intense pressure to live up to all previous posts and raise the bar a little bit farther. The crowd of bloggers (and internet content in general) is larger than ever, and it’s harder than ever to stand out.
My blog, RetireFabulously.com, doesn’t enjoy nearly the number of readers yours does, but my latest post just went kinda-sorta-viral. Now I feel the pressure to follow up with something at least as astute, if not better. Interestingly, I shared a bit more about my personal experience and thoughts in that article, and it seemed to resonate. Maybe that’s what people are hungry for, after all. Maybe every post doesn’t need to be perfectly refined and polished.
Enough rambling… Keep up the good work. I, for one, will enjoy reading your thoughts and observations. As long as they are genuine, they don’t need to be perfectly refined, polished, and optimized for maximum shares.
Peace, calmness, and love,
Dave
Well said… I think you’re right that it’s the personal aspects that make it resonate. The web is full of how-to and all that stuff. What we’re lacking is personal connection… and even though I agree it’s best done in person, we can do it over the internet too, and we used to do it a lot more. Best of luck with everything you do :)
One of the few mails I’m happy to get is your news. Hi everybody!
Hi David,
One of the reasons I read your blog is for the content. No bells and whistles, just interesting thoughts. As you say old school blogging was sharing and a conversation, a two-way street. Today bogging doesn’t feel that way at all, your blog is real, please continue.
Many thanks,
Kathy
Oh fab! Looking forward to chatting! Kate xx PS: You and J. Money’s Budgets Are $exy are the only blogs I subscribe to and I hear you are friends! Nice one!
J is the best!
Hi David,
I think your blog is amazing primarily because you share your experience. Straight on, in your face, sometimes painful but always honest. I can relate to that. I can go back, search through old posts (links to the old articles which you put in the latest posts are very helpful!) and find something inspiring. Like the 30 days projects you did. I started one recently and it changed my understanding of myself so much! So thank you for helping to save £££ in CBT (which I considered doing again).
Sometimes I find your posts too long but it doesn’t mean you have to accommodate everyone. You cannot be everything to everyone because then you end up being a shampoo, body gel and a conditioner in one that no one buys because it cannot be everything and do the job properly.
Kudos to you for perseverance, 10 years is very impressive. I would argue since you’re following your heart, that perseverance combined with passion got you where you are. So keep going. That’s the only reasonable thing you (anyone) can do and it will keep growing.
I hardly comment on anything so kudos again for writing a post that inspired me!
I only follow about 4 bloggers, and you are the favourite. Thank you for years of touching, funny and inspirational writing. And I’m glad to hear it will be looser, more frequent and not always profound – just as life is.
Hi David
I really enjoy reading your blog – the only one I still subscribe to. Think Drew’s post of ‘The Sun Never Says’ (Hafiz) says it all.
Hi David and All, Just saying Hi to you and enjoy reading this Blog with it’s down to earth and natural vibe. It’s one of the few I read outside of my main interest,
Keep on keeping on,
cheers
Lee
Thank you, David, for being honest, authentic, and human. Thank you for the gift of your time and your thoughts. Thank you for being real.
Longtime lurker here.
Just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate your content and this is one of the very few blogs I remain subscribed to. The musings here feel like listening to a friend who’s reciting some long-mulled over thoughts of his.
When that rare Raptitude e-mail drops, it’s always a treat.
All the best and keep on keeping on!
Clicked through to say hi, but also to thank you- your blog consistently delivers content I value, and brings me joy.
Old school or new school, it’s all gold to me. Trying to be shareable content or just random spontaneous thoughts, it’s gold. I really appreciate and value your writing David, thank you for pushing through your doubts to keep posting!
I’ve been thinking along similar lines – I’ve had a blog since 2003, it never got huge, but I miss writing there. Must try again.
Saying Hi from Phillip Island, Australia. It’s particularly cold down here at the moment. I’ve always loved whatever you write. Straight from the heart. It’s always been profound to me.
Back in 2006-2011, when Blogger was THE platform, I had a blog that I posted on every single day. For five years. It was part nature, part being an autism mom, part just whatever moved me on a particular day. I followed other people, and soon, I was skimming through probably 50 blogs daily. It was a sense of community. The nicest people I’d never met. Then Facebook came along. Soon, “So and so is sending you a friend request” became what was flooding my in-box. I resisted and resisted. And sadly, soon no one was posting on any sort of regular basis. I missed my friends, and so, in 2010 joined Facebook. There was no longer any substantial sharing of thoughts and lives. It was all quick, two sentence posts or memes. Creativity of crafting words into a post died a sad death. If you were on Blogger, you were irrelevant. It was no longer about genuine quality of content, and more about brevity and “likes.” Last year, I drastically scaled back my involvement on Fb, as I began to see that it was becoming an addiction of sorts, a way to numb out.
All this to say that I think blogs like yours matter. A lot. I enjoy all your posts, and appreciate your honest sharing. Keep being you. Keep doing what you do. From your heart. Don’t chase metrics. Be the light in this web darkness of mindless chatter. xo
I like to think that that community vibe is still out there, they’ve just moved around a bit. Platforms come and go, but people always want to share and connect. Even FB is dying now. Nobody just posts their thoughts in their statuses anymore, it’s all memes. Whatever happens, there’s always a need for this open sharing.
Here here!
Hosting one’s own site is a treasonous act in these times, a bit of anarchy, a rebellious assault. Kudos. When it’s all stripped away—the tracking, the gated communities, the likes and hearts and postings for others—we have the words. The words are what matter.
Love your writing, when they resonate or when they don’t. Thanks for keeping it old school ;)
P.S. I forgot to mention that part of the impetus for my decision to take a hard look at my interaction on Facebook was your post: https://www.raptitude.com/2018/02/its-time-to-put-the-internet-back-into-a-box-in-the-basement/
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Hi David
You started me on my meditation journey and i can’t thank you enough. I enjoy reading your emails but haven’t gone on the blog till now. as someone else said, I’m replying because you asked! I never share stuff on Facebook and rarely read what others have shared because I like to keep things personal. Please keep to what you know in your heart is right for you.
Carolyn
I want to write more about meditation too. The Camp Calm blog never quite got going because I couldn’t do two at once with the ballooning writing time, but I’ve been writing material I will start posting soon.
Hello David and all,
I don’t do Facebook, Insta or any of that kind of mind-consuming stuff. I don’t even really do blogs other than yours. This is because you write from the heart and authentically. I find your words provide food for thought and reflection and value them. So, thank you and also to those who have posted comments. Warm wishes.
Hi
Keep it old school. The internet may not want it, but the internet needs it, and someone’s got to help the internet through its teenage years.
Haha yes!
Thank you for taking the old-school comment as a compliment and let it ripple further.
Thank you for asking to comment. Simple. Effective. I see it’s coming along nicely, all the comments. Ask for what you want.
I like your writing style and trains of thought. Eloquent yet mundane.
Somewhere around 2000 I read on a t-shirt: “The art of conversation is, like, dead and all?” – and even though I chuckled, I knew that posit was getting truer. Somehow your post and request reminded me that the funny caption on the t-shirt doens’t have to be the case in this day and age.
Thank you for all that authenticity in your blog,
Kind regards from Belgium.
Hi from W. Wales. Love your blog. May you find (and keep) your calm this summer :)
I for one will be delighted to get more of your olde fashionede postes… I can’t claim I always get the most out of them, but at least the noun “car park” has different and better connotations for me, as a result of your writing. Thanks David x
Never left a comment on anything ever but since you asked, hi! And yay, blogging the way it used to be-Amen to that.
You know I really like how the internet doesn’t smell yet. It’s the one sense that’s protected!
I like your blog and I write a similar blog actually but have let it sit unsung for ages .. have been thinking lately that I’d like to get back to depositing in my online thought bank and this has reminded me!! Thanks :)
After new year I suspended my fb account and haven’t returned. It’s pretty interesting how little I’ve lost and how much I’ve gained
Hi David,
I am glad you wrote this. This was very uplifting for me and as you can see, there is nothing profound about this post. It is a post which says a very small thing but it really brought a smile on my face. And I felt very light. Tiny things go a long way, just that we let them be tiny big things and take their own course instead of trying to influence their way.
As Jayne said it, Keep being you, all tiny and big parts of you. All of them matter you see, not just the big parts of you. I love that you are living from your heart and being yourself. Cheers to all the genuineness and courage you bring to this world by your presence.
Interestingly, I was feeling this theme this week: Finding a balance between the joy from vintage style, old school and the contemporary style. I am making an experiment sheet to try out all those, thank you for your inspiration David :)
Cheers to all the people here :)
Yes, this is exactly it. Very small things we notice with our hearts… that’s what I love.
Hi David:
Just saying hi as requested. Times change and things change, this is just way it is. Nothing stays the same and at the same time, some things never change. Embrace it but try to get back to your older style of just writing off the cuff. That might make you happier and make you feel like your blog is more relevant to those who read it. Just remember why you started the blog in the first place and go from there. I always look forward to what you have to say.
Lois
I enjoy your writing and agree you should say what you want to without worrying about the ‘likes’.
Hi David, I totally love your blogs, so please keep going. Nothing has resonated more with me, and I get excited when I see you’ve posted something new. I’m an Australian but I’m currently on holidays in Crete with my kids and we’re on some remote beach today but when I saw there was a new post from you I couldn’t wait to read it. So please keep sharing your unique perspective on the world, and as you say, awkwardness as a human is real and good! So just be you and don’t try too hard, as we love it.
I get a good feeling every time I find an email from you in my inbox. You have something to say that’s interesting and you don’t try to get me to change the way I am. Thank you!
Iv been reading your blog since 2009. I bought your first ebook. I used to love your content, I believe it shaped the way I thought for many years. But yeah you started trying too hard and this is the first time I’ve read one of your posts for probably 3 for years. Bring back the old raptitude.
You probably can’t now though because there will toouch anxiety about how to write how you used to do
Hi everyone! Just clicking through. :-)
Thank you for this, David. It’s a good reminder of where we’ve come from, and where we are now. I used to read all of your content religiously, and even participated in the first ever camp calm. But the last couple years have really accelerated for me and I occasionally read your posts as they arrive in my email. But my ebb and flow to reading is not tied to what you did or didn’t say, or how you said it. Honestly it is just harder to get (and hold) people’s attention these days. It’s often fractured into too many small slivers. You know, you’re right–the Internet was different. Moreso the further back in time you go, but even just the last few years it has changed. I want it to be more like it was back when, too. Just people talking. But nowadays big business has figured out the formula and applied it with scientific precision to capturing our attention and placing it elsewhere. Hence the Internet is now dominated by 3-5 major players, and yet we’re more divided than ever. Your “hits” could be more impacted by a tech giant’s (e.g. FB) algorithms than your own efforts or talents. Indeed most of what is shared widely–click bait and so on–has very little to do with talent and everything to do with applied marketing, targeted placement, pressing our buttons whether via fear/anxiety, anger/hatred, political alignments, or even sexual arousal, etc., etc. And the result–look at how fractured our attention is, how divided we have become, in so many subtle (and nefarious?) ways. The political climate is scarier than ever, no? I hate to say it but the Internet often brings out the worst in people now that it is more controlled and moderated by big business and special interests–segregating us into ever smaller niche markets. This little corner of the internet remains a safe refuge, at least. I wonder how (or if) little guys/gals like us can take it back? On a wider scale…
All day I’ve been thinking of not just this blog but a kind of movement, where we take back the internet. Independent people sharing ideas. At one time it seemed like that’s all the internet was.
Hey, one of the important reasons I love your blog is because it is ‘old school’ :) Love the honesty, directness, minimalism, and ‘uncovering’ of peculiarities of human behavior!
Thank you :)
Long live old fashioned blogs.
Amen Gary.
And…
David, you’ve certainly lived up to your blog’s tagline (I’ve read it since 2009-ish).
I’ve been captivated by your writing and musing for many years but never comment. I’ve found comfort, inspiration and also entertainment in what you share. Yours is still the only blog I follow. Thanks so much for keeping it up.
Here, here! I have very little online presence (no Twitter, instagram, Facebook….) but I love blogs, and am sorry they are, in general, falling by the wayside. And I love randomness. More posts from you would be a real treat.
Hi David,
I began following you in 2013, but I have never commented on your posts.
Your texts often give me precious food for thought.
I deeply hope you feel free to share your reflexions without the pressure of numbers-statistics-likes, otherwise you will feel worn out. I believe that many readers would like your writing to be as pleasurable as our reading experience.
Thank you for what you have shared so far.
Long live the blog!
This is so honest and real. Reading it is like a breath of fresh air. Thanks for writing!
Great observations as always, David. The audience that follows your work is made up of people willing to do the work to think before forming an opinion. We’re willing to listen first, then reflect and question before responding. Too many people aren’t—they’re just reflexively reacting to sound bites that don’t fit the perceived world view of whichever group they follow. Not to mention the cult of fake outrage that circulates on the internet. So it’s great that you’re looking to free yourself up and communicate more with us.
Yes, David, I’ve missed you. Thanks for explaining what was up. We’re here. Let it fly! xo
Sending love right back your way. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and more importantly your heart with all of us.
Indeed, it’s the unique formula of simplicity, spontaneity, realness, humanness, and meaning that makes this blog so special. Thank you, David.
Thanks for getting to the heart of all the thoughts that you express in your blogs! Whether old or new, school is where we humans learn. Thanks!!
Hello!
Here’s to The anti click bait click bait…
Thank you for this. :)
Old School is cool! Keep ‘em coming. All the best, dear David.
Oh man. Wonderfully put. Reading this post gave me a sense of nostalgia. What a fantastic world, when we can just be ourselves and create. We don’t need to stress about who’s reading, how many likes we have, etc.
Thanks for the reminder that what we find fulfilling is creation itself. And those who resonate will connect even more deeply, because the content will be more authentic, more vulnerable, more human.
Rock on, man.
Jeff
David, I too feel glad whenever I see an email from you in my mailbox. I don’t comment, but I do mull over your words, enjoy following your experiments in life, and share your words with a select few lucky friends. I agree, Old School is Cool. I wish you were my neighbour.
Your description of your gradually changing relationship toward your blog reminds me of my relationship to many activities. I start out with naive interest, get excited about learning and the process, start to get fixated on certain goals or achievements, ego gets involved and the joy lessens. Being aware of this evolution is helpful. We can always reset and get back to what we loved in the first place. I always appreciate your posts and will be happy to see more of them–random and a bit messy will be great!
Hi MA! And thank you for this. In honesty, this is the first post I’ve read – shared by a friend who knew you were talking to me as I ‘wring my hands’ over some of my own sharing.
In this together…
Clicking through to say hi! I have no idea how long I’ve been reading – maybe a year? Maybe not even, or even longer? In any case, I love what you do and how you always manage to put my thoughts into words, and ease my fears that the world is modernizing too quickly for me to keep up. You get me, and I’m so curious to know what else flits through your brain at any given moment. Thanks.
Thank you for continuing to write about what it means to be human. I look forward to being part of the conversation!
Hi everyone :-) Never comment on anything (shame on me!)… but today i did! Thanks for your thoughtful posts!! :-)
This was the perfect thing for me to find in my inbox today. I’ve been struggling for months because I felt I needed my blog to adhere to a single theme, but that feels wrong to me. I had a successful newspaper column for several years and I’ve missed the idea of simply writing what is in my heart. This morning, thanks to you, I’ve got that blessed feeling “Maybe I can.”
Great blog.
Hello from Belfast.
Hey, good morning. I’m on a road trip, doing something new. Feels good. I always enjoy reading your stuff, *especially* when it’s a little out there or awkward. :)
Excellent. Much weird and awkward stuff to come!
Just saying hello! I’ve loved your blog for many years now, and I can see how you may have dealt with the pressure to deliver something mind-blowing or deep. Good to see that you’ve recognized such an issue.
Just wanted to reassure you that I’ve always enjoyed your posts. Sure some seem to address more fundamental aspects of the human condition while others are more specific issues or observations. Regardless, I think it’s your writing style that really connects with me. Despite the subject matter, your writing always seems to make me think or re-frame my perspective or just serve as a reminder to check myself, which is what I love.
So keep it up, David! Screw that pressure. I’ll always be interested in your insightful writing!
Hi David, your blog is great! I often share it with a friend or family member. I’m so happy to see a post show up in my email. Keep being you. I know if you lived near me we could be great friends. But it’s great to have the right kind of online friends too. So glad you’re out there. Susan
Thank you for your honesty and persistence, David. And warm greetings from Nova Scotia.
I love this. Thank you for coming back to us. These are the posts that brought us here, these are the posts we love.
I only recently found Raptitude and have read most of your posts. I thoroughly enjoy your conversational style and am looking forward to seeing more…old-school, of course!
wow. I thought it was only me. :) Thanks for putting all this into words. I quit blogging regularly for much the same reason. I’ve always loved your posts. Looking forward to seeing you in my inbox again!
I always open and read your emails, David. Yes: to letting your thoughts flow freely and (more) uncensored. Short and sweet is great and so is long and rambling. Your musings on life, meditation and experiments never fail to be of interest.
DITTO the earlier comments. I always look forward to your emails & usually glean a nugget or two. Keep it up.
from the beginning I have always enjoyed your view
Your kind of writing is exactly what I miss David, so glad you’re going back to your old style of “shooting the breeze” there’s not enough of it around. Be true to yourself & get your bliss back! :)
Several people have already commented with my exact sentiments so I will just say, more often would be great!
Very few emails that I open where I have to stop and read immediately, not flag for later reading.
Thanks!
You always write something that gets me thinking.
That alone makes it a must-read for me!
Hi :) Please continue to share your thoughts. I’m a new subscriber. A friend referred me to your blog. I’ve been hooked ever since. Thanks.
Clicking through. Always enjoy your posts. Thank you for this.
Hi everyone! Just clicking through. Long live real people interacting online!
I follow only one blog. Raptitude.com
Because it is old school and it makes me feel good. It is a happy moment when I see an email from you in my inbox. Your blog is unique and honest and raw and captivating. So much of the “new” today is, well, let’s just say not my favourite. The other comments also capture my feelings as well. It seems you have many thoughtful readers. Keep up the great work, you are appreciated. As someone posted, i too wish you were my neighbor.
Kevin
I started following your blog about 10 years ago. Loved it then, love it now, but you’re right – it has changed. Looking forward to hearing more from the depths of your mind.
This could be applied to several different other topics.
David, you have always seemed so down to earth and real so I trust you and enjoy your conversations. In our frantic and fractured world, your blog has always felt like an oasis. Keep chatting over the backyard fence.
I enjoy reading from you! I’m glad you found what makes you happy again. It’s a wonderful feeling.
Dear David, when I read your blog, I feel like I have a soulmate out there.
Hey David, your blog is one of the few I’ve read consistently over the years, even though I have only ever commented a handful of times. I tried blogging for a while but pretty quickly talked myself out of it, certain I had nothing of interest to say. Maybe that’s why I love this post – it’s heartening to know you too (you! a blogging star! and perhaps more importantly, someone who writes such great stuff) have moments of hand wringing. I love your posts – your voice, your thoughtfulness, your realness. Old school or new school, just so long as they keep coming :)
Loved the quote about “there are four websites, each filled with screenshots of the other three”! We’ve become a society of forwarders and sharers, creators, not so much. So thanks!
I really appreciate your writing…it’s so honest, insightful and inspiring. Whether you post frequently or sporadically, it makes no difference to me. I’m just really glad you do what you do, as I feel it enriches my life. Thank you!
I never comment on anything but this rings true. So… Hi!! And thanks xx
I’ll just say Thanks for posting with authentiicity .
Hello! I always enjoy your writing and did notice, as I saw this post in my email box, that I hadn’t received one in a long time. I am a Camp Calm participant, and really learned from participating, as I do from your writing. Please write more often, freely and easily and know that the posts will be read by appreciative readers!
When I see a posting in my email from you – I know that when I have a quiet moment I will settle down to read it. To me, it is worth more than a quick scan. I find you have something of worth to say that I want to hear! Keep on keeping on – I love it!
Just clicking through. Thank you for being human. :-)
Good post. I’ve been following you for several years. Sometimes I read the headline and move on – not of interest to me. Other times a post will be profoundly challenging and thought-provoking. In the end, if just one person is deeply touched in some way by what you write, you’ve done all that needs doing! So it’s very wise to walk away from the performance pressures of modern social media. Especially if that means you write from the heart as and when you have something to say. I’m looking forward to continuing to journey with you.
I am rather new to your blog, and I cannot even remember how I stumbled upon it, but I am a reader and appreciated your post. Here’s to writing what’s on your mind and being who you are. It’s a good place to be, and you serve as a role model for new bloggers like me. Please keep it up! Being you is needed.
I love your blog. I have shared postings over the years and always get comments like “where’d you find this guy, he’s amazing” whenever I forward something that touched me, made me think, or just feel less alone in the oddness of being human. It’s always a treat to see a post from you, akin to finding an actual hand-written letter in my mailbox. Share whatever you like! I’m eager to read it.
Howdy! He’s back! Love it. Process leads to product, not the other way around. Thanks for living that out in practice here, it helps me remember to focus on that in my own life and work too.
Hello David, and all the Raptitude Friends! As an amateur writer, I really appreciate your vulnerability and transparency as expressed in this article, David. I applaud you for being aware and insightful enough of the subtle motivations of the ego, and your willingness to lay it out there and share it with all of us! That’s the true heart of someone that wants to relieve confusion, and lighten the path of others…and THAT is motivational and inspiring!
Peace and Calm to ALL.
Proud to know you, and always happy to hear what’s on your mind.
So glad that you are going to post more often. I look forward to hearing what you have to say.
Hey David!
I like reading your stuff. I don’t Facebook or Instagram – they are so manipulative and exploitive. Sometimes I forward your articles to my friends if I think they would enjoy reading it as much as I did. So I guess I’m OG and intend to stay that way.
I’m looking forward to further thrilling developments from the Raptitude dude.
Hi, great to hear this, love your posts, have been missing them- keep talking to us!
Thanks for the blog. I love it just the way it is. And hi everyone!
Steve (York, UK)
I appreciate your old school style! I’ve been popping in and out since the beginning of your blog. I’ve noticed that you hadn’t been posting as much, and wondered what was going on. I think more and more people are returning to old school. Relying more on email to stay connected in place of Facebook and the like. I love your writing, and will continue to read no matter what content you put out. Do what is good for you, and your people will find you, ya know?
Great post. Refreshing! I like old school. I also enjoy reading you whether you feel like posting often or not. Wonderful that you can freely write. That is the best!
I’m ready for more posts about random thoughts, feelings, things, and how your car got a dent ;)
Keeping it real and true to you is important and meaningful to us readers!
Hi,
Thanks for your clarity & honesty – I’m looking forward to reading your thoughts, the more random / niche the better!
Yay for old school! I look forward to enjoying more posts. Yours is one of the few blogs that I still read after 8 or more years.
Thanks David for keeping it simple and real.
Keep searching for authenticity and sharing what you learn. I like watching, because it’s a hard feeling to sustain but valuable.
Raptitude is my favorite blog! I’m not sure how I found it or exactly when, but it led me to your online meditation course Camp Calm, which helped me establish my daily meditation practice! So thank you; I appreciate you very much!
Your email (this post) was a welcome read this morning. I was really touched by your willingness to share your vulnerability. Back to basics and the genuine yearnings of the heart. Keeping it real. What a great thing!
Hi David. We love you too. Thanks for this. Keep doing it, we’ll keep reading. I think you are leading the way towards something good.
Posting with trepidation … oof, that one hits close to home.
Thank you David for being so real, and kudos for having the presence of mind to notice your own change in behaviour, and having the courage to talk openly about it.
Hey David – I’ve followed your writing for quite a few years now, and I look forward to reading whatever you have a mind to share! I do want to let you know that something might be wrong with your RSS feed. Feedly is no longer picking up your current posts and content. The last post that it received was ‘Smartphones Are Toys First, Tools Second.’ I discovered the problem when I was tidying up my feeds via Feedly’s ‘Organize’ function, and yours was reported as ‘Unreachable.’ Hopefully this info is helpful and the fix is easy.
There is an issue with the RSS feed, I think caused by a new plugin. Sorry about that — I’m going to troubleshoot it tomorrow.
I blogged for a long time in the 2000s and eventually gave up because I never felt I had any traction. I miss it and maybe I’ll start again. There’s something to be said for personall ritual without the need for others approval. I’ve always loved your writing and promise to chime in more often. :)
What a nice post. I like the old school style! I can also see how thoughts of having to produce bigger and better might creep in. Well, I’m just here to say that I’ll read whatever you post and would be content to read whatever you happen to be thinking about. “You do you.” “Keep on keeping on.” (And all that.) Most of all, thank you for sharing your thoughts with all of us. :-)
It’s hard to resist a call to action of: “I’d love it if you’d click through and just say hi to everybody today.” I’m generally a lurker in online forums, so thank you for coaxing an interaction.
I like your blog and I enjoyed “Camp Calm” (even if I don’t fully practice what I learned). It’s always a treat to see something from Raptitude in my mailbox; I set aside some time that day to read it without distractions, a bit of mindfulness that email doesn’t usually foster.
I appreciate you and all the other lurkers that appeared out of the shadows today! Thanks David.
I just love your blog and your writing. You slow me down and help me sort things and always take me back to a human place. A connected place. A place I recognize as soon as I am there. You know the place, Old School.
Thanks for sharing what you share,
I love your blog and am so happy when I see a new writing from you in my inbox. Always thought-provoking, always appreciated. Camp Calm is great too!
Long live the “old school.” Thank you, David, for building a space of sanity and honest communication on the Internet. You practice the fine art of the essay…a word which means, among other things, to explore or to try out. Keep writing what you are moved to write!
Thanks for writing from the heart. As much as the word authentic has been coopted for marketing social media sites, engaging programs, riveting documentaries and more, the old fashioned meaning, as I understand it, is to be true to one’s self and others –online, in person, in one’s work. To me, and I suspect to many of your followers, your writing illustrates the authentic self, someone with whom we can trust with our feelings and thoughts. I’ve read and shared your posts for far too long without commenting. Time to connect. Time to say thank you so very much.
Hi David, from one who’s been reading your blog almost from the start. Definitely do the old-school blogging. Not many can actually do it well, you know, so nurture your gift. Get all the must-dos out of your head, trust your gut. Wave hi to your mom for me, that sort of thing ;)
Meg! Good advice, thank you :)
Go for it dude, put your thoughts out there with a sense of freedom. No need to be perfect or profound every time. Sometimes the simple/subtle things are just as moving. I would read it regardless.
Dear David, I don’t think I’ve ever commented before, but I read you regularly. I’m so happy to hear that you mean to untether your heart and mind! Your true self, shining through your words is what I’m looking for, because it helps me be freer to be my true self in the world. Love, Charlotte
Great post! I’ve been wanting to write/post thoughts on a blog as I approach 50 this year. Just share ideas and thoughts that have meaning to me around my eating, meditation, and trail running. I find myself getting caught up in the same thoughts like, who’s reading, is it good or am I a dope, which slows the process down. This post is making me think that I should just do it, throw it out there, much as I do in my day to day conversations.
Thank you for the “push”.
– peace
Hi,
I’ve never commented before, although I’ve been following for ages; doing it now because it seems feedback is important. The content of your writing is great, it gives food for thought and relevant things to discuss with relevant people, besides, your style is light and easy to follow.
Keep up the good work and do not mind if we don’t reply, like or share. We, the faithful readers, do not like to comply with ‘imposed rules’. All the best.
Welcome back, dear David! This is the first comment I have ever posted on any blog, though I am a long-time reader, but I just wanted to say that we love you. Your writing is always, always of interest, even if the topic may not seem interesting at first glance. I read your posts as soon as they arrive in my mailbox. You write from the heart, and you can never go wrong with that!
<3
Hi.
Thank you.
I am grateful that I live in a world where this website exists, and I can interact with you all.
Glad to hear you’re going back and keeping it old school! It’s the best way to relate.
I am grateful on your behalf that you have found/embraced the freedom to return to the kind of posting that brought you joy. As someone who blogged for 18 months (5 years ago) and gave it up for the fear of the next piece not being “just so,” I can relate. And as another commenter mentioned, your writing is never a “scan-through” for me; it’s always a sit with coffee moment to read carefully. Thanks.
Hi David. I’ve never commented but always read your posts and love them. In this turbulent world, I always look to the calm of Raptitude. Keep it real, old school.
David, I remember the very first bit of your writing that I ever encountered – “What Love is Not”. It was then, and remains now, one of the most direct and honest assessments I have ever read on real love.
Please don’t think the increased space between your posts has gone unnoticed – over the past year I have often found myself wondering why I haven’t heard anything from you for a while, to the point of actively checking my junk mail in case the email notifications accidentally got routed there.
Not every post has to be an award-winner – sometimes, as you’re now figuring out, just the casual conversation is a welcome respite from the rest of the noise on the Internet. I appreciate the time you put into this and look forward to your writing!
Hi Kurt. Wow, that one takes me back. Posts like that just came out, without any straining, from my usual writing routine. I need to just write and post.
Old school is where it’s at David. Thank you for keeping it real.
Peace
Mike
Hello David, and fellow readers.
Old school is my favourite school! I am old school in many areas of my life. I agree with you. The value of a good conversation has become lost these days, and I realize that the people I have these more personal interactions with end up being the ones I am the most connected with. And vice versa..
I have been a regular reader of yours since at least 2014 and I love the way you speak to me, to all of us. Occasionally I can’t relate, but more often I do, and many times I feel inclined to share “our” conversations with my adult children. Your perspective is always welcome with me.
Like many here before me I look forward to your emails .. I always star them so I will go back when I have time to read and really listen.. You are correct, it is like a conversation with a good friend, and I will be happy to “talk” with you any time!
Thanks for doing you :)
I always read what you have to say and always enjoy it, even if I rarely comment. Consider this my vote for you to just do you and enjoy yourself!
Thank you for saying this. I’ve been wanting to get back into blogging but I’m terrified no one will want to read what I have to say. I haven’t started because I feel like I have to have a purpose for the blog, or a theme…. I don’t! So thank you, thanks for reminding me that it is okay if I don’t have specific things to say.
Just clicking through to say hi! Do you. Write what you want, when you want. Have a great day, everyone.
Hi David, a reader for about five years, Raptitude is hands down my favourite blog. Your writing is so true and honest, the opposite of what so much of the internet has become. I enjoy that the ideas you discuss stay with me and often inform my own thoughts. And the comments are such a great part of that… It feels like all your readers are on a journey together. Looking forward to being along for the ride as Raptitude continues its evolution.
I just started a blog myself – wanting to be connected with my feelings and thoughts. And I’ve stopped – the self-centered fear entered unbidden. Your post today gave me a smile and the will to be myself, to write what I write.
thank you, David. I’ve sent your posts to my grandchildren and when my great-granddaughter can read, I’ll send it to her, too. Blessings.
Hey David, have loved your blog for at least 10 years, and been sad to see the recent dip in frequency. Never commented before, but since you asked, I wanted to respond. Please keep writing, keep posting, and stay authentically yourself, that’s why I’m here.
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