I woke up this morning after about six hours of sleep and immediately turned on my phone wiped away some drool. Then I turned on my phone. 76 new emails were loading, dozens more would follow a few minutes later. That’s when I knew it wasn’t a dream.
For the third time in less than two years, one of my blog posts has been Freshly Pressed. This time, it is Growing Up Millennial.
To say I am shocked, would be an understatement. To say I am overwhelmed, would be an even bigger one.
At 4:03PM Monday afternoon I looked at my stats page and realized someone had accessed my blog via a referral from Twitter. I thought it was strange. I don’t share my posts on Twitter. I did a quick, savvy search on Twitter and found the Freshly Pressed account.
There it was. A quote from my post and a link to my blog.
I would’ve fallen over, but I was sitting in a chair that had arm rests. Thank goodness. I thought I was dreaming. I thought I was hallucinating. I thought it was a joke. My heart beat quickened. Someone get a stethoscope!
I made a note on my phone and wrote down some thoughts because I knew if this was real, I would be writing a post like this very shortly. Also, I wanted the Doctor’s to know what was wrong with me if something happened.
This is what I wrote at the time:
-Freshly Pressed around 4:05PM.
-Feels like I’m going to throw up my last seven meals, but other than that I’m fine.
-Was at 93 likes before an earthquake hit my post.
-5:27PM: Is it over yet?
-Overwhelmed
-Gonna celebrate by putting a DVD in and binge watching The Killing. Only fitting.
-This is the weirdest dream ever.
This was the third time I was being Freshly Pressed, but I still had the same reaction as if it was the first time. Like I said, I felt like I was going to throw up my last seven meals.
Many people think “fame” – I don’t even know if I would call this fame – is something they would love. I would call being Freshly Pressed a “momentary spotlight”. It won’t last forever, and that’s perfectly fine with me. I’m freaking out over a few hundred email notifications, meanwhile celebrities on Twitter get thousands of tweets directed at them every day – many of them negative.
What made this Freshly Pressed experience unique was there was no email to warn me. The first two times, I received an email from a WordPress editor telling me what was going to happen. Then about two days went by before it was on the Freshly Pressed page.
This time, no email. I found out on my own through social media. How ironic, right? For a post about Millennials.
In the last 24 hours I’ve received hundreds of emails telling me someone has followed my blog, reblogged my post, or commented on it. I wish I was exaggerating when I said “hundreds.”
My notifications have been a clogged toilet for the last 24 hours. Nothing is going down. Sorry for the visual, that’s the best I could come up with!
I’m so lucky. I don’t know how this happened to me again. There are so many great bloggers and great posts that I read every single day that deserve this honour just as much, if not more than I do.
I have no tips on how to be Freshly Pressed. WordPress may give you tips, but I can’t.
Just speak from your heart so your mind doesn’t have to and good things will happen.
I’ve written 162 posts, three of them stand out. They were the three that were Freshly Pressed. However, they stood out to me the second I hit “Publish” – before I knew they would be featured. They felt different.
Like a quarterback throwing a perfect pass, those posts felt good right out of my hand. As soon as I released them, they felt right. I don’t know how to explain it. A sixth sense took over.
I just want to thank everyone who has read Growing Up Millennial. Thank you for your comments and nice words. I truly appreciate it.
I also want to thank the WordPress editors for selecting my post. There are not enough “Thank You’s” I can send your way, even though I’m Canadian and we say it all the time. I am proud to have the Freshly Pressed badge on my site.
I also want to thank my followers who were with me before my latest post was featured. I don’t know what to call you. Family? Friends? A talking picture? A person on the other side of the world? Someone I’ll never meet? All of the above seems appropriate.
You’re all so kind and the pleasure is mine to read your blogs and learn about who you are and what your life is like in your corner of the world.
In my post I said “Technology brought the world closer together, while simultaneously pulling as apart.” Thanks to technology, WordPress has brought us closer together. I’m forever grateful.
I’m still overwhelmed and still feel like throwing up previous meals, but it’s worth it. This is amazing, and I have all of you to thank for it.
Now then, we can’t celebrate properly without pizza and cake, so wash your hands and let’s dig in!
I knew this would happen! Congrats, Paul! That was definitely a Freshly Pressed- worthy post, no doubt whatsoever 🙂
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Thank you! And thank you for being a fan of my blog!
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Congratulations!! This calls for cookies!
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Thanks Mindy! I’ve put aside 10 packs of cookies just for us..everyone else can share the other 2 packs.
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Hahaha good thinking!
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DON’T THROW UP! Just keep writing!
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I’ll try not to!…throw up that is.
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Congrats!
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Thanks!
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Yayyyy Paul! Stop throwing up from excitment so we can eat pizza and kick hot beverages!! You can have an extra slice of pizza since you’re a wordpress super star now.
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“Eat pizza and kick hot beverages”…music to my ears! Fortunately, I haven’t thrown up yet so we can eat and kick as much as we want! Thanks Meghan!
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And I knew you when you were writing about weird habits in buffet lines! Congratulations, Paul. Now go unclog that … notifications pipeline. 🙂
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Hahaha I’m thrilled you remember that post!
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And the one about lessons learned youth sports with your father and going the one about going back to the university and knowing people but feeling all alone … Quite a few, really, the point being that more than the “FP 3” made a difference to me while I was reading them, and still do, Paul. You’re a good writer, with a way that relates to a wide age range. Please take that with you today, too.
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I really appreciate that, thank you!
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Congrats, Paul!!
*hands you my stethoscope* lol.
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Thanks I need that.
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Complete nutter. Lol.
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Congratulations! I’ve never been Freshly Pressed 😦
Am happy for you!
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Thanks! Getting Freshly Pressed happens to so few bloggers, I almost feel bad for getting it three times. Almost.
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Don’t feel bad. You obviously did something right!
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I won’t. Thanks!
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Pizza for everyone! I just ate a piece as I was reading this post, Paul. HAHA Then when I hit the part about throwing up… well… enough said. Congratulations 🙂
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Ah sorry about that grammyg! Hope you still enjoyed your pizza! If not there is a lot here for later.
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Can’t come tonight. Gotta take a nap now so I can stay up to watch the hockey game later. Can’t believe it doesn’t come on until 9 o’clock tonight. Hockey & Pizza… winning combination, eh? Sorry. Didn’t mean to say the “eh” part. Heck. Yeah, I did. Sorry. HAHAHA
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You’re hilarious. Yeah it’s on so late because it’s in Anaheim and they’re in a different time zone! Enjoy the game!
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I’m pulling for the Blackhawks just because I’m a HUGE TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING fan and I want the BH to win the Western title and the LIGHTNING to win the Eastern then the LIGHTNING will beat the living daylights out of the BH and I get bragging rights with my one obnoxious friend. Speaking of being obnoxious… GULP… I just reread what I am posting here now!!!
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I wouldn’t mind the Blackhawks/Lightning finals either! But I’m afraid Chicago might win if that’s the final. We’ll see! And you’re not obnoxious! Feel free to comment as many times and say as much as you want! You’re one of my favourites.
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I’m kinda sorta fond of you, too, Paul. Not THAT way… you’re like another son to me 🙂 Gonna go now and get ready to watch the game IF I can stay awake, that is. G’nite!
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It is too bad I couldn’t be there from the beginning, but I will be here until the end.
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Happy to hear it! Welcome aboard!
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Happy to be here!
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That is just wonderful news, you deserve the recognition, happy for you! ❤
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Thanks Moxie!
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Congratulations Paul. That post was very deserving. I’m glad it was recognized in this way.
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Thanks, George! Still a bit surprised by it.
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Congrats! That’s a huggeee milestone! 🙂 I can imagine your reaction, but you deserve it! 🙂
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Thank you very much!
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You’re welcome very much!
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I specifically told WordPress, it was the post on “Canadian Culture” that was where they could find my gifted responses! And from there they could trace them back to my blog, where everyone of my posts would leave them no choice, but to award me multiple Freshly Pressed Badges! Obviously, some dolt at WordPress misunderstood me! Now I have to start rebuilding the bridge back to my little hole in the wall site all over again……………oh sorry Paul…….. congratulations. Now where was I, oh yes… rebuilding the bridge…
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Good luck with the bridge! I hear suspension bridges are strong. WordPress must’ve messed up which Paul you were talking about.
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So that’s what happened. Two Paul’s too many, There was a flaw in my plan after all. Well I guess one of us is going to have to change our name. I’ll change mine to the Canadian version of Paul… from now on I’ll be Pablo. For some strange reason, I feel like doing a painting now. :O)
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Sounds good. Maybe you’ll be mistaken for Mr. Picasso this time.
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Who’s that? ;o)
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Hey Paul, Congrats!
You deserve it! Continue writing the way you do & you shall be featured on Freshly Pressed many times over! 🙂
And, the pizza’s on my tab! :p
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haha thank you! I’m excited for the pizza!
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Haha 🙂
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So glad I got to read your brilliant post and share it…looking forward to more gems 🙂
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Thank you! I hope my future posts live up to the hype!
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I’m sure they will 🙂
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It was definitely worthy, hence I even re-blogged it myself. Very well written and thought provoking. Congrats!
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I’m closing in on 50 reblogs but you were one of the first! Thank Jason!
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That’s so great! Just started following (thought I already was – whoops!) so I need to lurk through your posts. I’ll start with that one haha
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Thanks! Hope you enjoy them!
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Someone, in charge of selecting Freshly Pressed, must think you are cute. (and the fact, maybe you have interesting posts… but 9 times out of 10… someone is crushin’ on ya or wants something from you.) Hahaha!
Well, YEA for you! Wohoo.
Oh and note to both Pauls: I have Poopy Picasso story that would tie in well with your comments about PIcasso and flushing comment in blog post. All humor is going down the toilet.
I’m might post about Poopy Picasso soon…
Sandi
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Hahaha this is why I followed your blog.
I think you might be on to something, maybe I’ll change my picture to a colour and see what happens haha. Can’t wait to read about Poopy Picasso!
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Well, shoot, now the expectation is too high darn it- I don’t know if I’ll be about to rise to the occasion. I should have done it first, and then said something. Hahaha 🙂
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Okay, Here it is http://wp.me/p63Yja-6B
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This should be good!
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CONGRATS MANNNNNNNN! You def deserve it 🙂 WHOOP WHOOP!
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THANKS CHELSEA!!
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well done
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Congratulations Paul! You very well deserved it! 🙂
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Thank you!
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Welcome! 🙂
Check out my blog if you can! 🙂
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Stop bragging. You’re making some of us feel inadequate. LOL.
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Haha! I hope you’re somewhat kidding.
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That’s what the LOL is for. 🙂
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🙂 Thought so!
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I know you get confused by my comments, so that shall be our code. But just so you know, I would never post anything mean. I would just keep it to myself, hahahaha. LOL
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Got it! Silence = You hate it. hahaha
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Well congrats Paul. By the way, first time here. Thank Mon for sending me this way. 🙂
Umm, you got quite a character attached to you don’t you? I can sense it in your words. I’ll probably be sticking around. I’m gonna go read that post you mentioned now. You’ve got me intrigued!
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