The 3 Most Murderous and 2 Most Marvelous Words A Blogger Can Say

August 28th, 2008 by Easton Ellsworth

I don’t matter.

Darkness and Light

Those are the three most despicable words you could ever say as a blogger. Or as a professional.

Or as a human being.

I don’t matter murders your faith, your hope, your courage.

I don’t matter exalts your despair, your doubt, your fear, your failure.

I don’t matter may be why you stopped when your blog stuttered. Why you looked back when it got hard. Why you remain silent.

Why so many bloggers will skip Blog Action Day. Why one more person will die alone.

I don’t matter is a lie. A damnable lie.

I don’t matter shoved me mercilessly to the very brink of doom one dark night in 1998. Those three words would have murdered me had a dear friend not rescued me from the abyss with an embrace I shall never forget.

If you never listen to anything I say ever again, listen to these two gloriously true words:

You matter.

And so your blog matters.

You will never know in this life how great a difference you will make and how many lives you will bless through your devoted service.

Remember these words. They saved me 10 years ago. They may save you or someone through you someday.

Please show this to a friend who needs it.

Thanks to Darren for the inspiration.

Photo by junku-newcleus

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Note: This blog is all about blog improvement. It’s what I do for a living. And I believe the best way to improve your blog is to sharpen your sense of vision and purpose – for yourself as well as for your blog. The rest becomes so much simpler after that.

Thank you for coming. I hope we can get to know each other.

10 Comments - Publish a Comment

1. Robyn TippinsAugust 28, 2008, 1:08 am

It surprises me that you ever had such a moment. You are certainly worthy and the world would be a darker place without you!!!
2. Easton EllsworthAugust 28, 2008, 1:08 am

Thank you Robyn. I know that to be true of every person.

I still struggle sometimes to believe that what I have to say can enlighten or heal or change someone. But I do know by experience that my words and ideas can inspire others.

Bloggers are their own limiters. There is no end to the good that a business or an individual can do through a little tool like a blog. We just have to open our eyes.
3. JoAugust 28, 2008, 7:08 am

Nice post. I think sometimes we get caught up in improving rankings, making money, etc. from our blogs and we forget that our first goal ought to be reaching out and helping people. This is a nice reminder of what we should be using our blogs for.

BTW, found you through your problogger submission.
4. Easton EllsworthAugust 28, 2008, 9:08 am

Thanks Jo. It’s good to want to improve your blog’s SEO or monetization etc. as long as you’re doing it for the right reasons. And the right reasons always involve people.

Good to meet you.
5. KristiAugust 28, 2008, 1:08 pm

That is so true. Everyone does matter. It reminds me of that quote “to the world you are one person but to one person you are the world.” You may not feel important enough because you do not have a million fans, but there is one person out there that you could make a world of difference to. And that is enough reason to say that you do matter!
6. Easton EllsworthAugust 29, 2008, 4:08 pm

Anyone know Ukrainian?
7. DrewSeptember 10, 2008, 6:08 am

Well said. True, we should make people feel they matter. We’re here not just to make money but inspire people and touch lives. So I say, you matter and your blog matters to me and to a lot of other people..so keep it up!
8. Easton EllsworthSeptember 15, 2008, 7:08 am

Thank you Drew. Money solves nothing by itself.
9. ames plazaNovember 12, 2008, 6:08 pm

this was so inspirational. sometimes i say the three dispicable words.
10. Easton EllsworthNovember 14, 2008, 2:08 pm

Thanks ames. I really appreciate it. I have struggled with depression before and I know how it feels to struggle against self-destructive thoughts.