I’m not a huge fan of statistics! Yet at times they can be surprisingly revealing and this was the case over the holidays as I made a rare excursion to my ‘Stats’ page!
I think it is only fitting that an article about friendship should be the most viewed post of 2021. ‘Friendship’, written in February 2017, celebrates the wonder of friendship and more than ever I believe that:
‘The journey of life, with its highs of happiness and lows of loss and suffering, would be unbearable without the constant presence of friends -– the shared expedition easing the load, doubling the joy.’ (Annika Perry)
Some of my book reviews were in the top ten most viewed posts this year, including ‘The Frequency of Us’ (#2), ‘Life’s Rich Tapestry: Woven in Words’ (#3) and ‘Liars and Thieves’ (#5).
A few of my own fiction pieces were in the top ten. ‘Beckoning Light’ (#6) also had the honour of being the most viewed post within a single day in 2021. The comments on ‘Where Did They Go?’ (#10) were uplifting and heartening.
‘Lunch itself had been an unremarkable affair, the legs of the iron-wrought table playing a tuneless melody as the wrap was assembled. Tortilla, lettuce, avocado, parmesan, a couple of drooping slabs of tomato. They angered her, those tomatoes which had lost their lustre, their brightness. What right did they have to give up?’ (Annika Perry)
In the eighth position is one of my many ‘walking’ posts, this time taking a new look at the familiar topic! ‘Duality of Walks’ (#8) featured both a real-life local walk as well as that of the virtual walk as part of a global challenge!
‘Mesmerising Marbles’ (#7) proved popular with many as I captured how a Swedish musician built an incredible musical instrument that uses 2,000 marbles to create a unique and melodic tune.
The last two top ten posts centred around my work as a writer. ‘Creative Haven’ (#9) captured the creation and launch of my very own writing studio whilst my children’s book Oskar’s Quest was celebrated through a heartwarming and touching review in ‘“A Message of Courage, Kindness and Friendship.”’ (#4)
‘’Oskar’s Quest’ is a beautifully illustrated book sharing a message of courage, kindness and friendship. Annika Perry has a gift for writing up, not down to children. Even very young children are attentive, curious and observant.’ (Erica Henault)
None of this would be possible without you all, my dear friends! Your amazing, thoughtful and caring comments and engaging interaction has been a godsend this past year, all these years. I was astonished to see the array of nationalities of followers and friends from across the globe. The top two countries for the number of views were not a surprise to me, that of the United States of America and the United Kingdom. The next eight countries included India, Canada, Philippines, Australia, Pakistan, Nigeria, South Africa and Germany — a joy to see two more continents drawn in by my writing! Thank you so much — your continued support and interest mean so very much to me.
Finally, it is with deep sadness that two of the most gentle yet formidable souls I’ve met here on WordPress, both wonderful authors and bloggers, passed away this year. In this unique digital world, where connections are forged across the internet, often never to meet in real life, the friendships feel as close and meaningful as ever.
Both these authors lived incredible lives filled with adventure and daring; they faced their illnesses with courage, open to the end about their personal battles, sharing in the wisdom, hardships, love and joy. Their missives had me in tears and yet at times laughter.
Your lives exist through your words, your work; through us all touched by your inspirational approach to life.
‘No matter how much the physical world seems to shrink around you, as access to it is cut off by restrictions, health and mobility… the landscape of the heart is an infinitely wide place to run free and play with those we love.’ (Sue Vincent)
‘I was riveted by both the epic sweeping story as well as the wonderfully descriptive writing and the beautifully drawn and varied characters in ‘No More Mulberries’.
Mary Smith is an assured writer who unravels the multifaceted lives of her characters with creative skill, whilst retaining tight control of the overall novel. I was hooked from the very beginning and felt a sense of loss upon finishing the book … one of those times I just didn’t want to say farewell to my new friends!’ (extract of my book review of Mary Smith’s book ‘No More Mulberries’)
I will never forget either of you.
‘Let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.’ (Khalil Gibran)
Annika Perry 
Thank you for your tribute to these two writers, Annika. xo
I read that wonderful interview of you over at Priorhouse. I learned so much about you from it :). Put your short story collection on my to-read list!!!
Luanne, it’s been tough to lose such special souls here last year – their spirit lives on but they are missed so much. Thank you for reading the interview with Yvette and your lovely comment! Haha! It is good you learned more about it and yeah, enjoy The Storyteller Speaks when you have a chance to read it! 😀❤️
I am so looking forward to it!!!
Thank you for sharing your most popular posts, Annika and especially for mentioning Sue Vincent and Mary Smith.
Thank you, Barbara. Mary and Sue have been in our thoughts for so many of us this year.
I’m one of your Canadian followers! It has been an absolute pleasure being a part of your world, Annika; and I’m just so thankful our paths crossed all those years ago. You are a gift, an inspiration and an extraordinarily beautiful soul. I wish you only the best for 2022, my friend. 💕
Tanya, bless your for your wonderful and generous comment; I’m both beaming and tear-eyed. Likewise, my my special friend from Canda — I feel blessed that we’ve met here and your words and thoughts enrich my life, your heart and kindness a gift for us all. Wishing you a New Year filled with joy, creativity and lots of laughter & love! xx ❤️
Annika, what a beautiful reflection on a year’s work. Your stories always lift my heart and make me believe that the world is filled with goodness. Looking forward to another year of inspiration.
Bernadette, thank you so much! 😀 It’s wonderful that you enjoy my stories and also my retrospective look at last year’s posts! Here’s defintiely toasting to a New Year filled with inspiration and creativity! xx
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Beautiful post, Annika. I also looked at the stats in 2021. There were several posts before 2021. It was quite revealing. As much as I want to take more time to write about other subjects, bloggers seem to like my photography. I know I bring other training such as the composition of drawing and painting to the composition of photography. I’ll continue to do the photo challenges but as I do always, include stories in them so that I can get some writing done also.
I remember some of your posts such as Duality of Walks. I think Erica is not blogging anymore. I know you always do excellent reviews and your stats show that. I have so much respect for Sue and Mary. They are good examples to bloggers and writers. They wrote until their last breath on early and showed only gratitude with no complaints.
Happy New Year and best wishes to you and your family. Wishing you to conquer a whole new world of blogging in 2022.
Miriam, thank you so much! 🙏 It is fascinating to read the stats – I am now a convert to them! 😀 I am not surprised your photographic posts are so popular, I like these very much. Your stories and descriptions around the photographs are wonderful too and elements I love and which I recall long after I’ve left your posts. I’m glad you enjoy my book reviews and I feel honoured that they are so popular. Hopefully, others will have found many enriching books as a result! You are so right that Mary and Sue both wrote until the end; with such openness about their illnesses yet their love of life, the art of writing, family and friends shone out strongly. I feel blessed to have known them both through here, through their books.
Likewise wishing you and your amazing family a wonderful New Year, my friend! Here’s to a happy and creative 2022! 🥂🎈
The stats over the years on my blog is revealing. Several posts remain the tops for many years.
I imagine you’ll be writing more book reviews this year, Annika!! 😄💞😁
You’re right about the book reviews, Miriam! I hope to have the first one out this month … a poetry book.
I’ll have to check out my stats next year and see if Friendship is still at the top!
It would be interesting to know if Friendship is still at the top. It’s very revealing, Annika!
I am so sorry for this loss of two lovely, creative people in your Word Press life. Condolences to you and your friends. May 2022 be creative good year for you.
Thank you so much for your kind thoughts … we miss them both very much and to be honest it still does not seem real that they are no longer with us. Your warm thoughts for the new year are very welcome, thank you and likewise for you all!
It is my pleasure.
You have a wonderful diversity of posts and of readers, a tribute to curious and generous minds. Thank you for remembering Sue and Mary in this post. I lost a friend as well, a poet named Ed Kaplan, who was not a blogger but harbored his strong light on Facebook. Looking forward as they would, let’s put our energy into making 2022 a better year.
Mary, bless you for your kind and generous comment about my posts … it is incredible to connect with so many like-minded curious people across WP, across the globe! 😀 I am sorry for the loss of your friend Ed Kaplan; he sounds like a unique person who enriched the lives of all those he knew. Yes, how true that we should look forward and put our energy into this positive goal! A rocky start to 2022 in some ways, in other ways I feel a stronger sense of harmony and peace. Wishing you a creative, peaceful and joyful 2022, Mary! xxx
What a great review of the year, Annika. Toni xx
Thank you very much, Toni! xx
I’m so sorry about your lost blog friends. It makes me sad when blog friends disappear, and I have no idea what happened to them. I can at least hope that they’re doing fine, but it must be especially sad knowing that these fun, lively souls aren’t still roaming around making people smile. At least their words remain.
Betsy, your warm and compassionate comment means a lot to me and indeed in many ways Sue and Mary will be with me through their books, their words … they were both two truly inspiring people.
Like you I know quite a few blogging friends who just disappeared and one hopes for the best. In one case I learnt many months later by accident on someone else’s post that the blogger had died in an accident in Spain. Very sad and unreal.
Wishing you and your family a very Happy New Year! 😀🌺🎈
Died in an accident in Spain! Wow! Makes you wonder: was it better knowing or not knowing what happened?
A blessed new year to you and yours as well, Annika. 🙂
A chance to take stock, to reflect – thank you. As I read with sadness the last part of your post of the departure of your two Blog Friends, I am reminded of how fortunate I am to have made good friends in this space as well. Enough to miss their presence when they are on break, or when they say goodbye for other reasons. I feel blessed that I am able to feel loss so I am able to cherish what I have.
Ju-Lyn, bless you for your wisdom about friendships; the gift of them and the inevitable pain of loss. Life has always been thus, with the highs of happiness, the depths of sadness. It is indeed a blessing to feel such close precious friendships and this is what makes WP special. Thanking you for your thought-provoking comment and always for your valued friendship here!
As I do value our chats & sharing, Annika.
A lovely post Annika and lovely presentation of some of your many accomplishments. Also, a beautiful tribute to Sue and Mary. Certainly a year of great loss for many of us. Wishing you a Happy New Year with all goodness and good health. ❤
Debby, thank you and it’s been a joy to share some of the popular post from my blog this year. It’s heartwarming that friendship means so much to many and with the gift of friendship comes also sadly the loss of it sometimes. Sue and Mary will be very missed, their positive and cheerful spirits, their wisdom touched all their friends, readers, followers.
Likewise wishing you a Happy and creative New Year! Hugs xx ❤️
Agreed on all counts. Thankfully, they’ve both left their beautiful writing and books behind as their legacies. ❤
I love everything about your post, Annika. I’m very happy you shared your reflections here with us. Because I think it’s important as creatives to “audit” our creative journey/endeavours, acknowledge our achievements. So, kudos to you for taking time to check your stats page! 🙂
I always find your writing: stories, poems and posts deep and meaningful, even your always well written book reviews. I’m happy to see some of my favourite posts around your work as a writer in the Top 10…YAY! For some reason, I missed the post on friendship. I’ve just read and it is beautiful.
You’ve put it so well, “friendships take new format in the world of interconnectedness.” The digital world affords us meaningful connections and close friendships that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. That’s why I’m deeply touched by your tribute to Sue and Mary. Both writers’ books (I discovered via your reviews) sit on my GoodReads TBR list. If I do anything, this year, is to finally read their books. That’s the list I can do. May they rest in peace!
A Happy New Year to you! xx ❤
Khaya, warmest thanks for your thoughtful and caring comment. I like the idea of a ‘creative audit’ and it was a revelation to myself — definitely a good idea to let ourselves acknowledge and celebrate our achievements! 😀
You’re so kind to remember some of these posts, and I value our ‘chats’ here and our friendship very much. These years particularly friendship in all its formats has been very much in my mind, how never to take these for granted. Sue and Mary will be missed very much. I am sure you will enjoy their works very much, as a poet Sue’s books will interest your especially, I think.
Wishing you a creative and beautiful year, my dear friend! Xx ❤️
Hi, Annika – Thank you for the nudge to check my own WordPress stats. Two of my top posts this past year were also on ‘friendship’.
What a beautiful tribute you wrote to Sue and Mary, They live on in their wise words and our fond memories,
Wishing you and your family a happy and healthy 2022~
Donna, I’m glad my post gave you a gentle nudge and it is a wonderful reflection upon the community here that your top posts were also about friendship! Such a warm and close-knit group craving the best for each other!
How true that Sue and Mary live on through their books. One of Sue’s book of poetry is on my bedside table and I recall Mary’s works well. Their overwhelming positive and wise spirits and their cheerful natures will always stay with me!
Wishing you a magical New Year filled with light, love and laughter! Xx ❤️
Annika, lovely retrospection on 2021. Your tribute to two blogger-buddies who have passed away is heartwarming –
All the best in 2022 to you!
Thank you for your kind words, Laura. ‘Retrospection’ was my initial title idea for the post itself.
Sue and Mary’s posts have been more than ever part of my life this year … they are missed very much.
Wishing you a great 2022, Laura! xx
Thank you so much, Laura … friendship is at the heart of blogging for me and they will both be sadly missed. Wishing you a wonderful and creative New Year! Xx
A beautiful post, Annika. Friendships are truly the key to our sanity. They take away our loneliness and embrace us in our ups and downs. Whether the friendships are virtual, as here on WordPress or face to face they are precious treasures. I am blessed to have you as one of these friends, Annika and may 2022 be a year of deepening friendships.
Carol, thank you for your beautiful thoughts and comment! You are indeed one of those treasures in my life and I value our friendship so much. Reading all the comments on this post I am convinced that the friendships formed here, and in our face to face interactions, will only strengthen and become increasingly enriching and inspiring! hugs xx ❤️
Such inspiring words as ever from you, dear Annika. ❤
Dear Annika, Your generous and kind spirit leap from the pages. I, too, gravitate to “the wonder of friendship…” And, yes, “…unbearable without the constant presence of friends…”
I still get goosebumps recalling ‘Duality of Walks.’ I shared your post ‘Mesmerising Marbles’ with my husband (I rarely share posts with him and he, too, found this story fascinating.)
I spoke from the heart with my review of “Oskar’s Quest” a wonderful book on many levels!❤️
Khalil Gibran’s quote is beautiful. Thank you for sharing your spirit with me, Annika. You always make a difference, often in more ways than you realize. I am still grateful and in awe, how our spirits crossed paths. ❤️
Bless you, my friend! ❤️ I have to ensure tissues are to hand as I read your comments – and this time more than ever! Your beautiful thoughts touch me to the core. I love how my posts have resonated with you and even shared some with your husband – I recall he even commented – I am most honoured! 😀
Here’s to our friendship always, to friendships far and close, to their deepening of the spirit! To being the light in each other’s lives – and not even knowing it! 🌟 love & hugs xx ❤️
Yes, the light in each other’s lives….thank YOU my friend! xx ❤️✨🦋
Two beautiful souls that are dearly missed. ✨
So true and I know you met Sue and were especially close to her – I feel for your loss. Alethea, your tribue posts to her are beautiful and full of wisdom.
Thank you, Annika. I still miss her deeply, even though her presence is still felt.
A lovely post, Annika. I too, grieve the losses of Sue and Mary. Wishing you a wonderful new year.
Thank you, Robbie. They are so very much missed and it feels unreal that we won’t hear from them again. I think you met Mary on your visit to Scotland and had a very special time.
HI Annika, I did meet Mary and she gave us a tour of Dumfries. I was so fortunate to meet her when I did in September 2019 before the pandemic.
I’m so glad, Annika, that you payed tribute to the two bloggers. I’m sorry to say that I didn’t follow either of them. I wish I had. The friendships we make with our blogs are precious, perhaps even more so in these past two years when some of us have spent too much time alone at home.
Nicki, an interesting reflection if the last two years has deepened the friendships here on WP and I think there can be some truth to that. Last year as we were still ultra-cautious I only visited two of my friends to meet in person and it was almost a surreal experience at first and then we had a brilliant time filled with so much laughter and conversation! We all need a mixture of both friendships for balance within our lives … yet at times I wonder if, through the interaction here, some of my WP friends don’t know me better than those from my earlier years! 😀
I only wish I could have met Sue and Mary in person – I know some bloggers had that opportunity and they write with such warmth, fun and kindness of these visits. Even just through posts etc their lives have inspired mine!
Wishing you a wonderful and creative New Year, Nicki!xx
Though I never met Sue or Mary, their posts impacted many of us. When we leave Earth, it will be a life well-lived if we can influence others the way they have. Here’s to more friendships in the blogging community and the rest of the world.
Pete, thank you so much for sharing your profound thoughts here. How true that: ‘When we leave Earth, it will be a life well-lived if we can influence others the way they have.” There is such serenity and peace in that reflection … and yes, Sue and Mary have inspired so many of us!
Here’s to friendships, everywhere, in whatever form! 😀
A good way to end a tough year, Annika. The more difficult the times, the more valuable are friendships. But regardless of the situation, good friends are one of the most precious gifts we can have. The very best to you in 2022. –Curt
Thank you so much, Curt and I will raise a glass and toast to that beautiful sentiment – to the precious gift of friendship! 🥂
Wishing you and Peggy a fabulous, exciting and creative 2022 – can’t wait to follow your adventures!
Clink. 🙂 Look forward to having you along for the journey… –Curt
Lovely and moving. Health & Happiness to you in 2022 Annika!
Thank you so much, Cindy and I love the message … imagining it’s Oskar flying out with the lovely banner!
A beautiful post, Annika, and it left me in tears for our two friends who left us this year. They’re missed. I never look at stats, but now I feel compelled to visit and reflect on the friends who’ve visited and shared their thoughts and time with me. It’s the part of blogging that I most enjoy – the true friendships that grow with our heartfelt words and kindnesses.
And, of course, I’m glad my book made the top 10. Yippee! That’s pure excitement over here. Wishing you another year of friendship and blogging success. Hugs.
Diana, thank you very much. How true that Sue and Mary are missed so much and as Bette mentioned, they enriched all our lives of those who knew them here. The stats are surprisingly revealing if never visited before and I am honoured with the friendships formed here, across so many countries. A community that has a real heart and soul is the main reason! Here’s to friendship! 🥂
Wishing you a wonderful and creative 2022, Diana – I can’t imagine a year without one or two of your book releases! 😀
Hugs, my friend. ❤
Thanks for sharing your reflections and for the wonderful tributes to our dear writier friends Sue and Mary who have enriched our lives in so many ways. Gratefu for your friendship across the miles, dear Annika! Sending lots of love your way… 💞xo
Warmest thanks for your beautiful comment, Bette – we will all miss Sue and Mary very much and how true that they enriched our lives in so many ways. Your wonderful friendship over the years means so much to me, Bette. Love & hugs xx ❤️
Annika, another great blog entry from you. Thank you. Sadly, we have lost two lovely writers! May their words live on. I allowed a stream of consciousness for my blog today. Sometimes the memories just flash through our minds so softly and so mellow. Cheers to 2022. May it be a grand year. Life is good. oxox
Mary Ann, thank you so much! This post was one that seemed to write itself, my thoughts were on Sue and Mary and about the friendships here on WP when I came across the information about my most popular post of the year. It is fitting that it’s about one celebrating friendship. You write with such tenderness about memories and how sometimes they ‘flash through our minds so softly and so mellow’. Just so … other times careering through the mind they drown out everything else!😀 I look forward to popping over to read your stream of consciousness writing soon – it was my favourite form of writing for many years – wonderfully liberating and at times surprising!
Wishing you a magical and joyful year, may it be filled with creativity in all its artistic forms! xx
Annika, to you as well. Enjoy the journey wherever it may take you/us! oxox
Sending blessings of love, hope, and joy to you and yours for a wonderful new year, Annika! This is such a beautiful reflection of a difficult year. How joyous it is to celebrate the triumphs and honour our trials and tears. Much love across the miles. xo
Natalie, thank you so much for your beautiful wishes – I can sense the warmth and care all the way here!🙏 This is a post I had not intended to write until shown its direction as I happened upon my stats page – my thoughts were very much with my friends here on WP.
Wishing you a magical year, my friend, filled with love, laughter and light! hugs xx❤️
Thanks for your beautiful tribute to the friendships we make, the lives we touch, and those we have lost within our WordPress bloggers community ❤
Thank you, Rosaliene! The community here enriches all our lives and seeing the stats I couldn’t help but reflect on the wonder of the friendships formed on WP … and sadly the loss of two special people.
Wishing you a peaceful and harmonious New Year! xx❤️
Lovely post, Annika. All the best for the coming year.
Thank you, Anneli and wishing you a creative and happy New Year filled with light and laughter! xx
Thanks, Annika. I love having so much to look forward to. All the best to you.
It’s what keeps bringing us back, the friendships, isn’t it? I expect many authors start blogs as a promotional outlet for their books but the best ones are so much more than that and they become real friends. I loved Sue Vincent and her bubbling humour and spirit. Mary I came to late. Still raw for her family and friends. I haven’t read her book but I must. Life can be desperately sad as well as wildly joyful. Mostly we live somewhere in the middle. Sending hugs to you across the miles. I value your friendship. 🤗💗💗
Jo, thank you so much for your beautiful and philosophical comment, sharing your thoughts on friendship and life itself. How true about writers and the reasons for starting a blog – my writing tutor strongly advised me to begin one as I started my novel but within three posts my blog quickly morphed to include so much more about life in general. The friendships formed were a wonderful surprise and yes, definitely the main reason one returns! Bless, you write with warmth and compassion about Sue and Mary. I remember Mary planting some bulbs she hoped to see in very early Spring, incredibly sad and still doesn’t feel real. How true about the highs and lows of life, one can’t exist permanently on either plateau and a happy middle is ideal if possible!
Your last sentence touches me deeply and I likewise value our friendship very much. hugs xx ❤️
Sending hugs from a sunny Algarve, darlin 🤗💟💟
What a beautiful tribute .
Like you, I’m grateful for the connections made in this blogging community
Wishing you a happy New Year💝💝💝
Luisa, thank you very much. I wonder whether you were aware of the connections and friendships of blogging before you started? To me, it was a most wonderful surprise and one that ensures I continue – the sense of community is unique and special.
Likewise, wishing you a magical New Year filled with light, love and laughter! ❤️🌟
No, I didn’t really imagine that I would find the great pleasure of all these connections before starting
It seems to me that some friendships have strengthened over time and that there is sincere affection between us.
The blog has saved me during the pandemic💖💖💖
Ditto to your last sentence. For the first three months in 2020 I stepped back totally as I felt overwhelmed and since returning it has become a lifeline indeed! hugs xx
Annika, a beautiful look back on 2021! Congratulations on a very successful and fulfilling year, and many more. Happy New Year! ❤
Cheryl, thank you so much! ❤️ Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of our blogging success and I hope next year will be just as interesting and engaging! Hopefully, start to travel more and sneak some of these articles in! Wishing you a fabulous 2022! 🌟
A great way to end the year Annika, by considering which of your posts have meant most to people and then by giving a shout out to two bloggers that have left us this year. Wishing you a happy and creative 2022!
Andrea, your wonderful comment means a lot to me – thank you! 😀
Wishing you a likewise happy and creative New Year … it is fantastic to read about your successes this year! xx
What a beautiful and heartfelt tribute Annika. Like you, I’m grateful for the connections made in our blogging community and marvel at the variety of people, cultures, topics, and love shared here. Thank you for being in my life and heart. Hugs and Happy New Year!
Brad, heartfelt thanks for your wonderful comment and likewise!
Sue and Mary were so loved here on WP and so very much on my mind this year – I had to write a tribute to them.
Here’s to another wonderful year of blogging for us all; treasuring the community within it!
I’m so grateful for our loving community. To a year of more love and kindness.
An enticing post. I love the summary of your articles. They brought back memories. The Khalil Gibran quote–doesn’t get much better.
Thank you, Jacqui! It is unusual for me to write a post about the previous blogging year but I was struck how ‘Friendship’ was so popular and it ties together that this is exactly what makes WP special. Furthermore, it is sad to see some of these friends pass away.
I’m glad you liked the quote – a keeper for sure!
A beautiful post on friendship and awesome tributes to great bloggers. Congratulations on a fantastic year of blogging, Annika and Happy New Year 2022.
Kamal, bless! ❤️ Thank you so much – even though this year has seen me write far fewer posts than usual I feel the connection with everyone here is far more profound which is incredible. Mary and Sue have been on my mind so much I just had to mention them … they’ve touched so many lives here on WP and through their work and books.
Wishing you a magical and harmonious year, Kamal!
Yes and I used to follow Sue and she was a great Blogger. Always welcome dear Annika. Happy New Year 2022 and may it bring happiness and joy for all of us.
A perfect post for the end of the year. The friends I have made via blogging are like gold. I too feel a huge hole has been left by the loss of Sue and Mary. I have decided to smile because I was fortunate to know them rather than cry because they are gone. Happy Happy New year my dear friend!
Darlene, now your lovely comment has me smiling! Yes, let’s celebrate the friendship of such two special women and writers, how lucky we were to know them here. Your thoughts have given me a lift today, thank you.
Wishing you a wonderful and creative year, Darlene! ❤️
To friendship! Happy New Year, Annika.
Neil, I’ll toast to that! Friendship, near and far!
Hope you have a great 2022!
Lovely tributes, Annika. Congratulations on a good year of blogging, and here’s to more of the same in 2022. Happy New Year!
Thank you, Clive. They were both such special people, wonderful writers with incredible wisdom – they will be missed so much.
The stats came as a positive surprise as I have spent months away from blogging this year and it means a lot that others understand the absences and like all friendships, they continue seamlessly.
Wishing you a very Happy New Year … look forward to learning much more from you about music, my Spotify is becoming quite eclectic!
I didn’t follow either but have seen good things written about them. I lost my early mentor to cancer – she was 45 – so I know how devastating it can be.
People will continue to find you, even if you go walkabout for a while!
Happy New Year to you too, and thanks for your kind words. It’s good to know I’m having a small impact on Spotify, as I don’t use it myself! 😂
What a moving tribute!
A Happier New Year to you and yours, Annika!! 🙂
Patricia, thank you.
Wishing you a lovely and harmonious New Year to you and your family! xx
Friendship. It’s what lights me up. And I’m so glad to be among friends here at WordPress. AND so glad to have connected with you. Thank you, Annika, for being real.
Um, those stats: Wow. Well deserved. Hats off to you, lovely lady.
Sue Vincent. I heard lots about that sweet soul in Colleen’s group. I even felt I knew her.
She lives in our midst. 👏
Glad I read this tonight.
We’re two and a half hours from Midnight (new year) Happy New Year. I bless you and wish you more miracles. xo
Selma, your wonderful comment has me in tears … bless you, dear friend. Yes, I am real and that is exactly what I wanted to convey in the post. In spite of distance, often never meeting, the friendships formed here on WP are often more real than those in the physical world. A surreal situation and one brought home with the passing of Sue and Mary. Your heartfelt thoughts are incredibly moving and reflect my own emotions.
Here is toasting to friendship, close and far, as you edge towards 2022 in a few hours – I’ll raise a glass to you in eleven and a half hours! Wishing you a joyous and harmonious New Year, Selma! ❤️
I like to think that Sue and Mary are together, up above, enjoying each other’s company. Happy New Year, Annika!
Bless! Jennie, that is a beautiful thought and I would like to think so too. They did get to meet in real life and they wrote how much that meant to them and the friendship that grew ever stronger.
Wishing you a very Happy New Year and look forward to following your posts again in 2022! You bring the inner child within me alive!😀❤️
I did not know they had met in person. That makes it all the better they should be together in heaven! Happy New Year, Annika. I’m so glad I inspire your inner child! 😍
Love it! 😀And a very Happy New Year to you and your family, GP! 😀
Thank you, Annika!
A beautifully written round up for the year. Your meditation on the meaning of friendship is wonderful.
Bless, thank you so much, Bernadette! The friendships formed here and in our lives are a true blessing … and something I appreciate more than ever in today’s new world. Wishing you all the best for the New Year! xx
Congratulations for all your blogging achievements this year. Here’s to many more this coming year ❣🙌
And what a heartbreaking it is to think that some of our blogging community partners aren’t with us here anymore. I do know about Sue Vincent. Such a kind person she was.
May both these beautiful souls rest in peace. 🙏🏻
Thank you very much, Ritish and it was a revelation to me about which posts proved so popular — with this great community here I shouldn’t be surprised an older post about friendship still resonates with many!
The loss of these two special people is very sad and even harder to reconcile oneself to the fact from afar. There again, they live on through us all. It is great you knew Sue …I was in awe of the phenomenal work she undertook in the last months of her life! Her book of poetry is on my bedside table.
I particuarly appreciated your focus on friendships in your look back on reflection on 2021. I am so grateful to be part of the WordPress writing community. These friendships have made a big difference in my life.
And likewise, the friendships here have a huge impact on my life and without you all I would not have continued blogging. As I happened upon the stats page I was astonished to see this older post of friendship as the most viewed and then realised this just reflects the wonderful nature of everyone reading my blog! Thank you so much for your lovely comment here, Liz and for visiting some of the other links! That’s great! hugs xx
You’re most welcome, Annika! I never cease to be impressed by the lovely people in our blogging community.
You made statistics come alive. I enjoyed reading about your popular posts and your strong ties to fellow bloggers. You put into words what many of us think and feel. Happy New Year!
Anne, thank you so much! Seriously, statistics was my dreaded topic at school and I don’t often look at mine here. I’m glad you felt I brought the stats alive and it was enlightening and enriching to see what has proved popular over the year. I feel honoured and lucky with such wonderful friends here on WP! Wishing you and yours a wonderful New Year! xx
Have a great year ahead 🌹🙏🌹
Thank you and wishing you a very Happy New Year, Jas!
Annika, this is so beautiful! I’m forever grateful at WordPress for bringing us together. Have the happiest of New Years xx
Thank you so much, Charley! It’s lovely to have met you here too and I thoroughly enjoy our chats and sharing of books, bakes, writing etc! Happy New Year to you. xx
I agree. I have made some lovely friendships here.
Happy New Year to you. All the best for 2022. 🍀
Lynette, it is a wonderful blessing of blogging and not one I was at all aware of before I set up my WordPress blog all those years ago. Wishing you a happy and harmonious 2022. xx