Anniversary Tradition: 2nd Anniversary at Hubpages

Although there are three significant celebratory dates in the United States during the month of May, which are: Mother’s Day, Teacher Appreciation Day, and Nurses Week, I’m celebrating one of those ‘special moments’ here on Hubpages. May happens to be the month that I joined HP two years ago and submitted my first hub. Back then it was entitled, ‘Mother’s Day Madness’, and was a tribute to my own mother who passed away on Christmas morning 2003.

Since its first posting it was tweaked and molded into what stands today,Raising kids-a dozen positive parenting tips. It still is a tribute to my mother, but has memoir content along with a message for anyone looking for how to be an effective parent.

How to Improve Tip #1-be open minded to the ongoing process of editing your work. Although you may not see the need for this, if someone suggests that there is room for improvement listen to their advice. If your pride stands in the way you may never reach your highest potential.

Traditionally, wedding anniversaries are celebrated symbolically through various mediums. For example, the first year is represented by paper-how appropriate this was for my first year with all of the writing I did. The 25^th year is represented by silver and, of course, everyone knows that the Golden Anniversary is in joyous proclamation of 50 years of marriage. Well, it would be wonderful if my writing stood long enough to reach a Silver or Golden jubilee.

In the meantime, did you know that the anniversary tradition for year two is cotton? Hmm, how does that fit in with my writing goals? Well, I suppose I could say that I jump into my favorite clothes before I write, which is my cotton sweatshirt and jeans, (many of you may have noticed me wearing it in my home photos, such as in the hub: Heimlich Maneuver: first aid for a choking victim or, I stay up late in my cotton jammies to write into the wee hours of the morning and then hit the bed and dream of Hubpages snuggled in my cotton bed sheets and blankets.

How to Improve Tip #2: Longevity is one of the keys in traffic flow. When deciding on a subject to write about pick a long lasting topic that will become 'evergreen'.

Someone recently asked the question about daily writing. I don’t write daily and am happy if I get one hub in a week. I don’t have the luxury of having an 8 hr. job or working during the daytime. I live an hour away from work and my ‘day’ starts at 5:30 pm on my way to work and ends at 7:30 in the morning.

In addition, I have a nephew with special needs who I continue to guide. He has multiple challenges so it is not easy to be in the motivated mindset in the household. Still, I hope there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

My third challenge, besides long hours at work, is that I lost my local job last summer and the circumstances involving it began in April. So, from April through August, I was terrified with the knowledge that I was being targeted at work and suspecting it would end in the same way it had for a nurse the month before: OUT. I was correct and I was told I had to find another job before a mandated 30 day deadline or I would lose my accumulated time toward my pension. It was difficult to do anything else but focus on my job hunt, resume update, and interviewing, but, somehow I managed to write two hubs about the experience.

How to Improve #3-Read the Hubpages Newsletter for updated information. Find information in the Learning Center and apply these new things in your hubs. This includes adding keywords to your titles, tags and subtitles; adding different capsules; and, giving proper credit to photos. 

Most popular views: Catwoman’s sex appeal has almost 3,000 views at last count. I’m sure it didn’t hurt when I added the word ‘sex’ in the title.

Least number of views: is my latest one: Heimlich maneuver: first aid for a choking victim, which received a total of 68 views at this time.

Funniest hub: Humor and the belly laugh: how slapstick makes us laugh.

Fun hub to write because it contains an interview with an old high school friend: Bella Luna Inn: a beautiful B & B in wine country, California

Most comments: A journey to meet death.

Special hub: To my first born, my poem to my oldest daughter on her birthday.

Most emotional: A journey to meet death, my hub about my husband's death.

Most joyful: My grandchildren: why they fill my heart space, describing my four grandkids.

Most challenging: Cosmetic Aesthetics: Get rid of that double chin.

Most victorious: Hubbers hit the high road with 5k victories. This was a personal physical challenge that my sister, hubber Danette Watt, and I met.

Favorite hub topics: memoir/family, spirituality, health and well-being.

Least favorite: business topics…I don’t have any expertise other than what has worked for me on a personal level.

1. How to weather any kind of storm, emotionally, as in my work conflict; financially-as when Panda hit; and literally, when I slept in my car during my first hurricane: How I survived Hurricane Irene.

2. How to improve views with the use of keywords, backlinks, and sharing hubs.

3. How to maintain activity by participating in contests, forums and the WTI; and sharing hubs written by other hubbers.

4. How to offer my experience and support through comments in hubs and forums.

1. To participate in the contests as they come up.

2. To make a commitment to respond to at least one WTI per month.

3. To increase my hub publishings from 72 to 100.

4. To learn to use the special capsule of home movies and add that to my hubs.

5. To consider applying to the Apprenticeship Program.