A Mind Divided is five today.
5 • 5 • 5
To celebrate, I went through every post (946) to make sure the video links still worked and to find lost pictures. You know WordPress—stuff gets lost. And videos that were perfectly fine suddenly become “private” (As if you can stuff that genie back in the bottle).
Nothing cheeses me off quite so much as faulty technology (or bad grammar, but that’s a different post). When I come across a link that doesn’t work, or that little blue square 
instead of a picture, I’m sure I’m missing out on something fabulous and now–sadly—lost to me forever. The mystery of it, the tease, makes my compulsive nature sing a sweary song.
So, in order to be a polite blog host, and to spare any unnecessary Sweary Songs, I tried to fill in any blanks left by You Tube and WordPress (Because everyone will be checking that 2/24/11 Star Trek fan-vid).
And this made me a little cranky, but also amazed at the 946 posts. In the beginning, I posted a lot. I think most new bloggers do. The rush of words going public and the urgency behind telling one’s story dazzles us. When I didn’t have something personal to share, I posted poetry, my art, anything that felt meaningful or part of me. That first year I averaged 25.5 posts per month. This past year, my average was 7.5.
Some folks burn out. Some run out of words. The blog runs its course or loses the meaning it once held. Some folks just get busy or move on to something that provides more meaning.
I’ve found I don’t need to say anything until I have something to say. Being a “specialty” blog gives me the freedom to not mess about with the statistics page. I don’t worry about losing readers or what I need to do to tart up my site to attract more. I’ve never been Freshly Pressed (it’s called something else now…) and never will be.
I get to do what I love here—take my bipolar disorder apart and find any silver linings that hide under the gore. I get to share my art and my fan fiction. I get to belong to a loving, funny community that continues to blow my socks off with their comments and kindness. I get to gush about movies, and books, and pretend boyfriends. I get to be vulnerable, and freaky, and completely me.
I love this blog. I love its therapeutic power. I love the friends I’ve made through it. And I love writing it. I love that new readers still find their way here and that, once in a while, they stick around.
Frosting on my bloggy birthday cake.
SandySue Altered
Feb 03, 2016 @ 07:10:33
Congratulations, Friend. Well-done!
Feb 03, 2016 @ 11:52:58
❤
Feb 03, 2016 @ 07:14:38
Congratulations on the birthday. May there be many more, (despite WP messing with us!)
Feb 03, 2016 @ 11:52:42
Why, thank you ever so! How fun to still find new-to-me companions on this weird journey.
Feb 03, 2016 @ 07:17:29
So glad I found you x
Feb 03, 2016 @ 11:51:56
Oh, my darling, E! You’ll never know!
Feb 03, 2016 @ 07:42:28
Happy Birthday to A Mind Divided…a most extraordinary blog! 🙂
Feb 03, 2016 @ 11:51:17
Thank you, Carol. Me, too, also. Your white rose required a little rearranging and adding to my Romance Wall. When I’ve got things the way I want, I’ll send you a snap. I’m so very grateful I found you.
Feb 03, 2016 @ 09:29:45
that was so much fun that it almost makes me feel like it’s MY birthday, dearheart.. ((: Celebrating with you. love, me
Feb 03, 2016 @ 11:49:02
Thanks,Laney!
Feb 03, 2016 @ 11:52:39
Happy Birthday Blog (and congrats to the blogger)
Feb 03, 2016 @ 17:41:09
Thank you kindly.
Feb 03, 2016 @ 12:37:46
Happy Blogaversary! I know just what you mean about the disappearing video links – what is that all about?
I’m so glad our paths crossed, lo those many years ago. You’re both a good writer and a dear person, and that’s an unbeatable combination. Here’s to many, many more Sandy posts!
Feb 03, 2016 @ 17:40:46
It’s so weird. Do you feel like you’ve been doing this all your life? My internal clock must have bust a spring.
Feb 03, 2016 @ 14:34:42
Benedict Cumberbatch AND Don Perignon AND cake … I hope I get them all on my 5th! Congratulations Sandy Sue!
I love your blog too 💛
Feb 03, 2016 @ 17:39:47
I’m so glad we met over at Kanigan’s. The party never stops.
Feb 03, 2016 @ 18:55:31
👯💃🏻🍾
Feb 03, 2016 @ 16:58:31
Congrats, Sandy on your half decade! My brain is non-functioning pulp at the moment. Maybe I’ll cheat and just say “yeah, what they said.”
Feb 03, 2016 @ 17:38:56
Mmmm. Pulp.
Feb 03, 2016 @ 18:07:31
Happy blogiversary! I was worried till the very end that you were going to leave Armitage out — but you got him in! Many happy returns.
Feb 03, 2016 @ 19:50:49
Always save the best for last!
Feb 03, 2016 @ 20:26:28
Wow! Just signed up to be a follower. You rock!
Feb 04, 2016 @ 17:01:48
Thanks for that. Aren’t we amazing?
Feb 04, 2016 @ 18:35:31
We are freakin’ awesome!!
Feb 04, 2016 @ 05:24:28
5 years old. And still as Salty as ever. Love your blog and your followership. Full stop.
Feb 04, 2016 @ 17:01:16
Oooo, “Salty.” I kinda love that a lot.
Feb 04, 2016 @ 07:27:24
Happy Blog Birthday Sandy! I’m so glad that I found your blog as I feel that I have not just found someplace for information, but I’ve also found a friend. xo
Feb 04, 2016 @ 17:00:11
That you have–in spades.
Feb 05, 2016 @ 05:45:21
❤
Feb 04, 2016 @ 11:35:03
Bravo on celebrating five years! I feel like I’m the lucky one here… it’s “winner winner chicken dinner” every time I see a new post from you. I mean that… your words make my day. 🙂
Feb 04, 2016 @ 16:59:41
Oh, I have to steal that. Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!
Feb 05, 2016 @ 06:23:14
I had never heard it until I moved to the South! 😀
Feb 05, 2016 @ 08:00:13
Yeah, I can hear “Winner, Winner, Gumbo Dinner” just as easily.
Feb 04, 2016 @ 17:51:20
Stupendous Sweet Sandy Sue! Your blog is unusually smart and insightful for only being of pre-school age, and makes me look forward to see what it grows up to be, Mentally blowing out candles with you, but I’m not sharing the imaginary cake.
Feb 05, 2016 @ 08:00:55
Not even an ice cream cake?
Feb 14, 2016 @ 19:19:49
Well, you’re just quite the blogger also! I started blogging way back in 2005 with a humorous blog then jumped the puddle over to a mental illness blog “Living in Stigma” in 2007. I was so shocked that the Mental Health blog captured more viewers than the other one! I’ve changing my blogging style over the years also, always the focus on mental illness stigma and tried a different slant with images.
Back then there was no “reader, likes, reblogging” so it was tougher, yet mental health blogs weren’t as popular either, so I was able to get the jump on that.
I’m so happy we’ve connected and Happy Birthday! It’s too cold for ice cream cake here, we are up to our eyeballs in snow (eastern Canada) 🙂
Feb 15, 2016 @ 06:41:36
Eastern Canada. I went to Montreal on a school trip in 9th grade. I remember the cathedral and that my friend got groped on the subway—so exciting for 15-year-olds then! I really need to explore Canada as an adult now.