Well, Whadaya Know - the Big Five-Oh (Oh, Oh)
A Heartfelt Thank You
What I'm Doing Here
The subject of Vocal milestones came up in a comments conversation with my friend across the pond, Paul Stewart a few days ago. In that discussion, we both mentioned that we had one "right around the corner." Neither of us gave anything away at the time, but I'm going to put mine out there today, and I'm late in doing so.
When we had that conversation, I was a mere 50 reads away from 5,000 in my Vocal stats. I promptly forgot about it. Finally thinking about it again today, I took a look. At some point, it overshot the mark by 125 reads. So, I'm there. But, I'm not here to brag. I'm here to say thanks, after a little explanation.
The Underlying Story
Now, if you look at my profile it shows that I've been a member of Vocal since November of 2021. Given that, 5K reads doesn't seem like a lot. What my profile doesn't show is that, after joining, I wrote 6 stories and took a year-plus sabbatical from the platform. I was cranking out content for clients and frankly, Vocal wasn't the rich experience it is now.
My reads have reached that number in the past 7 months, which is how long I've been "back." What's more, there are only 102 total stories responsible for that. With those facts in mind, I feel pretty good about it. More importantly, I feel thankful for all of the other creators and readers that made it happen.
Why This Isn't About Me
I've been a writer since I learned the alphabet, and I've been making a living at it for a couple of decades. I've never published a book. I've had a few dozen articles published in various magazines. Mostly, I've been creating online content for people's businesses, websites, products, and writing a lot of tutorials for photography. All in the interest of making a few bucks for me and a lot more for clients.
Writing on Vocal has allowed me to stretch my creative wings, and I only recently wrote my first piece of pure fiction here. I haven't been doing that anywhere else - yet. Most of my creative work has been poetry and nonfiction based on personal experience.
I'm not setting any records for challenge wins, or Top Stories, or anything else and I'm fine with that. I've got something much more important, in my opinion: loyal readers and creators that I call friends who encourage me to keep writing. I have friends willing to let me know about that typo or grammatical error, or suggest something that might improve a story. I have people that subscribed, because they actually want to know when I publish something new.
All of that, to me, is pure gold.
You're the Reason I'm Still Here
To be honest, these past 7 months of writing on Vocal again haven't always been a picnic. Without going into unnecessary detail, I've been tempted to leave again on a few occasions. The simple fact is, though, for all of its problems, this is the only writers' community that has all of you, and that's not something I want to give up.
So, thanks to you, I've stuck around and made it to this little milestone. Thanks to you, I've had the chance to see that count go over 5K. And every one of those reads is a gift I'm determined to repay and pay forward. That's not much of a challenge, because I enjoy reading yours at least as much as writing mine.
Thank You!
So in this, I'm taking the opportunity to give credit where credit's definitely due, and offer my sincere thanks for reading, commenting, sharing and encouraging. My writing "career" is finally becoming something much more than a 12-hour-a-day grind and I'm actually having fun. Hopefully, real-world publishing is on the near horizon, because I can actually see it as a possibility.
Here's to the next milestone, and I hope to help you achieve yours!
About the Creator
Dana Crandell
Dad, Stedpad, Grandpa, Husband, lover of Nature and dogs.
Poet, Writer, Editor, Photographer, Artist and Tech/Internet nerd. Content writer by trade. Vocal Creator by choice.
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More stories from Dana Crandell and writers in Motivation and other communities.
Unveiling Inner Strength
As a child, I was timid, uncertain of my abilities, and constantly overshadowed by the achievements of others. It seemed like everyone around me effortlessly shone bright while I struggled to find my own light. Doubt gnawed at my confidence, leaving me feeling inadequate and insignificant. But life has a curious way of leading us down unexpected paths, often pushing us beyond our comfort zones. My journey of self-discovery began when I decided to embrace challenges rather than shy away from them. With each obstacle I faced, I unearthed dormant reservoirs of resilience buried deep within me. It was during my high school years that I truly started to recognize the power of perseverance. I threw myself into extracurricular activities, determined to prove to myself that I was capable of achieving greatness. Whether it was participating in debates, joining the track team, or volunteering for community projects, I refused to let fear dictate my actions. With each small victory, my confidence blossomed like a flower in spring. I realized that the only limitations holding me back were the ones I imposed upon myself. I learned to silence the inner critic that whispered words of doubt and instead listened to the voice within that urged me to keep pushing forward. College brought its own set of challenges, but armed with newfound determination, I faced them head-on. I delved into subjects that both intrigued and intimidated me, refusing to be intimidated by the steep learning curves. Failure became not a setback, but rather a stepping stone on the path to success. Through the ups and downs of life, I discovered that true strength lies not in the absence of fear, but in the courage to confront it. It's about embracing vulnerability, acknowledging weaknesses, and transforming them into sources of power. I learned to celebrate my victories, no matter how small, and to view setbacks as opportunities for growth. Today, as I look back on my journey, I am filled with gratitude for the challenges that once seemed insurmountable. They were the catalysts that propelled me towards self-discovery and allowed me to tap into the boundless potential that resides within me. With each passing day, I continue to explore the depths of my inner strength, knowing that the greatest adventure lies not in the world around me, but within myself. As life unfolded its chapters, each page revealed new challenges and opportunities for growth. Fresh out of college, I embarked on a career path that demanded resilience and adaptability in equal measure. The corporate world was a battleground where success was reserved for the bold and the tenacious. In my professional journey, I encountered setbacks that tested the limits of my resolve. Rejections, setbacks, and moments of self-doubt threatened to derail my aspirations. Yet, with every setback came a valuable lesson, teaching me to pick myself up and forge ahead with renewed determination. One particularly daunting project stands out in my memory—a high-stakes presentation that could potentially shape the trajectory of my career. As the deadline loomed closer, I felt the weight of expectations bearing down on me. Doubt crept in, whispering tauntingly in my ear, but I refused to succumb to its insidious grasp. Drawing upon the reservoirs of strength cultivated through years of self-discovery, I poured myself into preparation. I sought guidance from mentors, honed my presentation skills, and meticulously crafted a strategy to ace the presentation. When the day arrived, I stood before the audience, nerves taut with anticipation, but a steely resolve burning within. As I delivered my pitch with conviction and passion, I felt a surge of empowerment coursing through me. Each word spoken was a testament to the journey of self-discovery that had brought me to this moment. And when the applause rang out at the conclusion of my presentation, I knew that I had not only conquered my fears but had also unveiled a new layer of my inner strength. That pivotal moment marked a turning point in my career, propelling me towards new heights of success and fulfillment. But more importantly, it reaffirmed the invaluable lesson that true strength lies not in the absence of fear, but in the courage to confront it head-on. And armed with this newfound realization, I continue to navigate life's challenges with unwavering confidence, knowing that within me lies an infinite reservoir of untapped potential waiting to be unleashed.
By Catholic family community6 days ago in Motivation
Comments (39)
There have been ups and downs writing on this platform for sure. Thank you for sharing. Getting to 5K reads is so liberating. Congrats on top story as well.
Awesome 👍 Congratulations on your Top Story♥️🎉😉
Congratulations, my friend! Reading your work is always a treat!😁So very happy you are here! Grateful for you and for all of the beautiful words you share with all of us! Cheers to this milestone and so many more! 💞💫🍻
When I saw the title, I thought of my own piece. And then I thought of the number of reads I've had (pretty close to yours). Good TS here, and let's see how quickly we get to 5K! 🏆
👌👌👌💯
Congratulations on the reads and the TS!
Congratulations Dana! Only onwards and upwards from here! Great stuff!
Love this!! This is so relatable and I love seeing people celebrate milestones!! I think any chance to celebrate should be jumped upon, as humans we often don't think about the positive impacts of things enough!! So this is so great to see!! Also congratulations on 5k!! Great work Dana!
Dana, we are a richer bunch for having you involved on the Vocal platform. I feel like you in many aspects and have come to the same conclusion….the creators on here make this a great forum. Congratulations for top story.
Wow a lot is going on here Wanna read something scary (Great work no doubt)❤️
Congrats on achieving your milestone.
Hey, 5,000....nice one, pal and thanks for the shout-out too! Was very kind. I've still not reached the milestone I was referring to...it's close to yours...when I do...there will be some aural treats for anyone who cares. Loved this post when I read it and glad to see your success and achievement is getting the showcase it deserves! Can't wait for more Crandell content and seeing you get to 10,000 reads! Congrats on Top Story!
Hey you. Congrats on the TS.
I love how you mention community. That's the difference I see between this site and others. Congrats on 5,000 and the top story!
I really like your approach to the community and writing world at large!! Well done
Congrats to you Dana. And your right, it's not about the accolades but more so about the community.
Congrats, Dana! 🥂 I’ve made the decision to only write my fiction and creative nonfiction professionally—which means no more publishing stories on Vocal. But I still love reading my favorite creators here, time permitting. I look forward to seeing you announce your next milestone. 💕
Excellent piece and so glad you are moving forward with an amazing number of reads
It's always a pleasure to read your work! Congrats on such a great milestone :) And I agree that the community is a big part of staying on this platform for all the reasons you so thoughtfully included. So glad you're a big part of it. Congrats on Top Story as well!
Wonderful news! Congratulations, that's a huge achievemnet -I love reading when you post, it is always interestin, thought provoking and well written! 🤍 And I for one, appreciated that you are here! If I'm having a bad day , you seem to pop up and just say 'hey, keep going' I really appreciate that! I probably would have given up by now if it wasn't for tha! 🤍 Oh and congrats on Top Story also!
The 5K Club! Congrats. Inteteresting read. Thanks.
Congrats on 5k reads! That is a wonderful milestone! I'm so glad you foster amazing relationships! I don't see you much on my stories but I love reading yours, and hope to see you make it to 10k reads! 🌟🌟💕
This is awesome buddy, I’m honored to be a part of it, Thank You 👍😊
Congratulations! Well deserved!
Well done on hitting 5k! I haven't really paid much attention to my read count until recently, and then only because there was a big spike that caught my attention. Essentially, took 3 years to reach 3k, and then got 2k in 2 months 😮