My Crystal Anniversary at HubPages (15 Years), by John Hansen

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   ChitrangadaSharanposted 2 months ago

   Please take some time to read this well expressed poem by John
   https://hubpages.com/community/my-cryst … t-hubpages

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      bravewarriorposted 2 months agoin reply to this

      Congrats, John for hanging in! HP just celebrated my 14th year (notice I said HP and not I!) Once upon a time ago I'd be doing a happy dance, but as you stated in your poem, HP has gone through many changes that have driven many - if not most - of the loyal, prolific writers away. Your poem sums it up beautifully and echoes what many of us veterans are feeling.
      
      Thanks for giving us the opportunity to comment on John's post, Chitrangada!

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         Jodahposted 2 months agoin reply to this

         Thank you for your congratulations, Shauna. I understand your statement that HP just celebrated your 14th year here. It does make me sad to think what this site was once like compared to now. I am pleased that there are still a few of us original hubbers around, even if we rarely post new content. I always said I would still be here at the end. So let’s see.

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            bravewarriorposted 2 months agoin reply to this

            John, I'm not apt to post new content because of the changes, but I find many of my HP friends still pop in on the forums. That's as far as I want to go right now, Even many of  the friends I've made over the years who have left HP no longer touch base via email. Out of sight, out of mind. It's sad.

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      tsmogposted 2 months agoin reply to this

      Thanks ChitrangadaSharan for sharing John's poem with us!!
      
      John, I truly appreciate your creativity, which has inspired me. It seems it has been eons since seeingn any creative works her at HP that was reflected in your verse. I can both relate and empathize with you.
      
      I did learn something! That is that crystal is symbol for a 15 year anniversary. I use to be big into cyrstals with an emphsises on sacred geomety. I have a collection of geometic shapes made of varying crystals. I reamin fascinated of the supposed powers both the shapes and cyrstals possess for many purposes. Maybe look into it and get a crystal for yourself. Quarz crystal is the master healer of all crystals.

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         Jodahposted 2 months agoin reply to this

         Thank you so much, Tim. I haven't written any poetry here in months before this, but I guess the 15-year mark gave me a reason to. I appreciate your kind comment and to read my creative writing has inspired you.
         It is good you have an interest in crystals, and yes, maybe I should get myself a quartz crystal. My wife especially has a number of physical ailments that need healing. Thank you for sharing that.

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      Genna Eastposted 2 months agoin reply to this

      Thank you, Chitrangada, for posting this thread.  And congratulations, John, on your Crystal Anniversary.  This is indeed a treasured milestone -- one you have commemorated with a beautiful and insightful poem.  I agree with Lora in that you have been a loyal and inspirational member of HP for so many of us.  A former member of our unique and talented creative writing group that has sadly disbanded due to retirement and/or HP’s bitter changes in commercial and commentary capabilities recently remarked that Hubpages has to a certain degree “lost its soul.”   I join with you in wishing that HP realizes what it has lost and will “revert back to how it was in the beginning.”  Bless you.

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         Jodahposted 2 months agoin reply to this

         Genna, I am so grateful for your kind words, friendship and support here at HubPages. There are only a handful of us left from the original group of creative writers. Money was never important to me here, just the ability to interact and support one another. Bless you too.

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   ChitrangadaSharanposted 2 months ago

   Hello John,
   Many Congratulations for the big-big milestone at HubPages.
   You have expressed your thoughts so well and I am sure, many of us can relate to your sentiments.
   It’s sad to see so many writers leave this, ‘Once upon a time’ wonderful site. But as you have rightly pointed out, Changes happen and we have to accept them.
   Wish you all the best in your writing endeavours, wherever you write and publish.
   Thank you for sharing.

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      Jodahposted 2 months agoin reply to this

      Chitrangada, thank you very much for sharing my poem. I had to find a reason to write something here. There has been little incentive for some time, except for reliable friends like yourself who still share and read.
      I appreciate your kind words.

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   MariaMontgomeryposted 2 months ago

   Thanks, Chitrangada, for sharing this lovely poem by John Hansen. Thank you, John, for writing it. It describes how so many of us feel about HP. I don't participate in the forum very much, but I'm glad to see your poem. My earns have been dropping monthly for quite a while, but the strangest thing is this month. It says my earnings the last 7 days are $0.98, yet my earnings so far this month are $0.40. How can that be? I find I have lost the desire to write here, but am not ready to try blogging again. Thanks for letting me air my thoughts.

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      Jodahposted 2 months agoin reply to this

      Thank you for reading this poem, Maria. My earnings so far this month are a whopping $0.60, and last month I made $3.80. So, any financial incentive is non-existent. Things have changed so much and so often here, that I am forever optimistic that whoever runs HubPages will say, “None of this has worked let’s revert back to how it was in the beginning, and start over.”  Wishful thinking I know, but we can dream.

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   Gianella Labradorposted 2 months ago

   Congratulations  on the 15th Year John! Hoping for more added years in your writing journey even if its outside HP

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      Jodahposted 2 months agoin reply to this

      Thank you,Gianella. I appreciate your kind comment and well wishes.

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      Jodahposted 2 months agoin reply to this

      Thanks so much, Gianella.

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   Lora Hollingsposted 2 months ago

   Congrats, John for reaching your 15 year mark!  You have been an inspiration to so many writers at hubpages with your awesome poems and writings. Once again, the writing in your new poem sparkles with wit and eloquence as you speak of all the changes that you have seen at hubpages over the years. I hope that you continue to write here but if you don’t, I hope that you will always share your wonderful gift on other sites. Bless you and thank you Chitrangada for sharing.

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      Jodahposted 2 months agoin reply to this

      Lora, thank you for your very kind comment. It is nowhere near what it was here, but the truth is, I just can't leave. I have made a decision that I will try to write something here at least once a month or so. This was the start of my online writing and as long as it continues I will keep a presence here.

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   Venkatachari Mposted 2 months ago

   Hi, John. Congratulations on your 15th Hubbiversary. Your association with HP and all of us has been as strong as a Crystal. I appreciate your great contributions here and the strong friendship with us all.
   
   I have completed 10 years and 8 months here. My target was to complete at least 50 articles and get all of them featured. That, I have achieved. So, if I add one article per year, that would be satisfactory enough for me. But, I will be active daily on Forums.
   
   Thank you, Chitra, for sharing the link to this beautiful poem by John.

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      Jodahposted 2 months agoin reply to this

      Thank you, Venkat, I really appreciate your congratulations as well as your friendship here at HubPages. Congratulations to you also to have achieved 50 featured articles. Yes, I intend to continue my presence here as well.

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   MariaMontgomeryposted 2 months ago

   Jonah, I wish they would say let's go back to the way it was, too. We can hope.

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      Jodahposted 2 months agoin reply to this

      That would be ideal, Maria. But too much to hope for I think.

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   Sherry Hewinsposted 2 months ago

   When I first came here in 2011 veterans of the site used to say "It isn't how it used to be. Apparently, they used to make pretty good money in the old days. Well, now 2011 is the old days, and it seemed pretty good to me. It's gotten so much worse. Throughout my tenure here there have been many times people predicted the demise of HP, but I hung in there. Now I can't help but despair for the future of this platform.

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      Jodahposted 7 weeks agoin reply to this

      Sherry, despite all the changes in the past the site seemed to ride the tide, and bounce back from setbacks … but I doubt it can this time.

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         abwilliamsposted 7 weeks agoin reply to this

         Hi John, as everyone else still here, I too, keep hanging in, and hoping for the best.
         We all have a lot invested!
         As others have done, I've backed up my work, but I can't seem to move on.
         
         I will stay until the restoration is done
         Or the lights go out --- one
         
         Love the poem, you are my favorite Poet. Congrats on 15 years!
         
         Angie

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            Jodahposted 7 weeks agoin reply to this

            Thanks so much for the congratulations, Angie. I said I would try to write at least one item here per month so let’s see how that goes. Anyway, like you I will stay in the hope the site is restored. If not, I will go down with the ship. I am glad to be your favourite poet.

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   Eileen Hughesposted 2 months ago

   Thanks John yes I have been here a long time too I and like you say in your poem it was very friendly back when we joined. I loved it here then I had pension probs so turned everything off. But I am back and no the commaraderie is no longer there in my humble opinion. I do miss the friendly comments as that was what encouraged people to write I believe

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    Eileen Hughesposted 2 months ago

    Just checked and I have been here 17 years the hats a long time but have never earned much.

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    Jodahposted 8 weeks ago

    Wow, 17 years, Eileen. You must have been one of the original writers here. I have never earned anything to boast about either.

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    Eileen Hughesposted 8 weeks ago

    Yes jodah it was a long time ago and have seen lots of changes too

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       Jodahposted 7 weeks agoin reply to this

       Yes, it is hard to believe how long it has been, Eileen. Too many changes unfortunately.

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    Vellurposted 7 weeks ago

    Congratulations, John, on your 15th year writing here. Your poem reflects the way many of us feel about HubPages. It was a wonderful site before all the changes began.
    
    Wishing you all the very best in your writing endeavors.

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       Jodahposted 7 weeks agoin reply to this

       Thank you so much, Nithya. There are still a few of us original writers around. I wish you well in your writing endeavours also.

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