Contentment is for Cows, the Blog, is ten years old! When it was created, the comic strip was supposed to be the star of the show. The blog was only intended to be a companion piece. Longterm readers are familiar with this story; I loved writing and creating the comic strip but the demands on my time were too much. I chose to let the strip go and continue writing the blog.

What is a blog without readers? This weekly writing ritual has come to mean something to me, and the support I have received from you, dear readers, leaves me wordless. I can’t think of this blog without feeling appreciation and gratitude for those who consistently show up to see what I’ve written.

Without ever intending it to be so, Contentment is for Cows has morphed into a public journal. Over this past decade my entire life has changed; retirement, widowhood, relocation, covid, dating… that’s more change than in any other period of my life. I’ve written about all these experiences; the good, the bad, the fun, the humour, the irony. Readers tell me how brave I am to share the way I do. I tell readers I am grateful they are along for the journey.

Every week I stress a little bit over finding a topic. I worry that a post might be too personal, or too much about me, but it’s the personal posts that seem to resonate. A few times the topics have wandered into opinions; I try to avoid that, but I am an opinionated person. Mostly, my topics are chosen according to what is foremost on my mind. If posts strike a chord with readers I am grateful.

When I re-read my early posts, I wince and cringe. My writing has improved over the decade and thank goodness for that. My goal is to say the most with the least number of words; “short and sweet” is my motto. It is flattering when a reader complains the posts are too short. “Leave them wanting” could be another motto.

It is easier to say what this blog is not, as opposed to what it is. This is not content marketing, it is not a search for a bigger audience, there are no flashing ads, no monetized bells and whistles. I like to think of it as a place for readers to spend a few tranquil moments in quiet company.

In other news–I’m working on short story number four. Kinda proud of myself.

Keep your joy.

Anne Milne is an every Sunday blogger, unless it’s a holiday weekend. Or summertime. Facebook or email.