Tag: anniversary

The Diary of an Unhappy Nobody: Day 40

John GuillenLeave a comment

Today marks a grand anniversary for me. A year ago today I was able to go to work as an employee for Travelers for the first time. I have lots to say.

I’ve been incredibly open about my struggle to find employment in the months leading up to starting with Travelers. I quit my job at Half Price Books in July, 2016 because I felt like I was settling. Then spent months trying to get a job in law enforcement. Failed. Then spent several more months trying to get ANY job. Got some offers and REJECTED THEM. Why? Because I was holding out for the one I actually wanted. The one I’ve now had for a full year.

Travelers has allowed me to learn and do so much. I finally started investing in my future for the first time with my 401(k). I opened my first brokerage account. I’m giving more to charity than ever before. I’m traveling. I’m helping people every single day I go to work. I’m challenging myself. I was able to buy not one, but two new cars. I moved into my first apartment. I’m not worried about where my next paycheck is coming from. And maybe most important of all, I feel like I know a lot more about insurance than I previously did.

The list could go on forever. I’ve spent the last year of my life employed by a magnificent company. And the time is fast approaching for me to decide where I’m going next. Oh, what a difference a year makes.

D-Day

John Guillen8 Comments

Today is the 72nd anniversary of the Allied invasion of German-held France. It remains the largest amphibious invasion in recorded history.

Today is a day that should remind us that freedom is not free. More than 150,000 men and women from various Allied countries helped achieve victory on D-Day and in the days and months after.

The Allied casualties suffered were astronomical with most estimates putting the figure at a minimum of 10,000 soldiers. But the invasion was the result of months of planning and any delay would likely prolong the war in the European theater.

Some might argue that there had to be a better way to invade western Europe than to put so many at risk by storming the beaches of France, and I have a response to those who may think that. In 1944 Germany was on the defensive. Italy had been invaded. The Russians were pushing them further west. The opportunity to invade France was likely as ideal as it would ever be.

D-Day was a definitive turning point in the worst war the world has ever known, and the men and women who took part have earned our undying respect and gratitude for taking the fight to evil and coming out victorious.

June 6, 1944 is forever etched into my memory.

My lone hope is that I never have to live during a time in which such an event must happen again. We’re all human, and as of right now this is the only planet we have. More time spent helping people would better serve the human race rather than killing them.

First Year Blogging Anniversary & May Recap

John Guillen71 Comments

Screenshot_2014-06-02-20-18-45

Let’s first start with a quick recap of the month of May. April had been what I could only describe as a ridiculous month for me in terms of the amount of interaction that took place on this here blog of mine. And guess what? For the third month in a row I’ve set records for Likes, comments, and site views. Of course, it isn’t all about those things, but I don’t think a blog can be successful without a real audience, and I feel I definitely have that now. Let’s take a quick look at the numbers before I discuss my thoughts about my first year of blogging. The previous record will be in parenthesis.

Posts: 25 (26)

Likes: 584 (500)

Comments: 2121 (1092)

New followers: 365 (511)

Let me take a deep breath. Okay. 2121 comments?!?!?! Last month I thought 1092 was a stupidly high number and then BAM the number doubled. Holy mother of all things blogging. This is simply insanity. That is all.

Top Post

Reading Multiple Books at Once

Favorite Post

Help Wanted!

Post You May Have Missed

Introduction of my TBR Piggy!

I’d normally throw in a little commentary, but instead let’s just move on to talk about my first year of blogging.

I received the notification I knew was coming yesterday from WordPress telling me that I’d registered on the site exactly one year ago. This blog has been a huge delight since I first started it. I remember thinking how in the heck would I ever get people to read it. Then on my first ever blog post I think I got my first follower. She’s from Australia, but I checked recently and she hasn’t blogged in months. Oh well. No point in being sentimental about it.

Anyway, the major thing that’s happened during my first year of blogging has nothing to do with any of my 175 posts. I keep saying it, and I’ll keep saying it until you guys really realize it, but it’s all about the people I get to interact with everyday. Sure, many of you seem to disagree with me on just about every topic I write about, but that’s okay. Just don’t yell at me. I’m no good with that. I’ll just kick you in the shin and be done with you.

I’ve linked to this post a bunch in previous posts because it’s far and away my most popular post I’ve written. It has like five times the number of views as the second most popular, which was the top post from May. That’s crazy.

Print vs. E-Book: Which side are you on?

Thanks guys, for a great first year of blogging. Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere.