Today marks the 20th anniversary of Automattic! WordPress, the open source project, turned 22 this year, and Tumblr turned 18 in February. Twelve and a half years ago, I joined Automattic. And it turns out today marks 15 years since I started my first WordPress.com site!
4% of Automatticians started before me (approx 60 people), and 96% started after me. Of course, if you read the blog post about our 20th year, you’ll see that in 2012 (the year I joined Automattic) we reached 100 employees. I joined in December, and it looks like we topped 100 employees before the end of January of that year. There were just about 130 employees when I started, and in the years since, more than half of these (what we call) “old timers” have ended up leaving the company. These parting of ways are always a little bittersweet – they are the folks who have been there your entire journey! It’s sad to see them go! But by the same token, they go on to do amazing things and have new adventures – maybe be the old timers for other starry-eyed youth.
15 years of blogging seems like a very long time. There aren’t all that many things I’ve done for that long. I’ve been a parent for 13 and a half years. I’ve been married for nearly 16 years. I went to school for 18 years. The common thread here is that these are all lifelong paths, and surely the practice of blogging is similarly long lived.
I find blogging rewarding because I use it to process what I think about work and life. I commemorate events that happen. I used to take a daily photo and post it, managing to go several years with daily posts. I use blogging the way I think some people use journalling – though of course people who are exceptional journallers do so on a daily basis, and use the time to reflect.
I find that I’m using ChatGPT more for analysis on a daily basis (and separately Claude for polishing my writing – something I didn’t do here but do a lot at work). I’ve asked it to review this blog, and give me insights. It is unfailingly polite and encouraging.
From ChatGPT:
✨ What Your Blog Shows About You
1. Emotionally Attuned & Reflective
You’re deeply present in daily moments—whether it’s Grant’s new organized routine, rain on a window, or your daughter’s Odyssey of the Mind trip. Your writing emphasizes feeling and nuance over rigid structure—an empathetic and introspective style.
2. Family-Focused & Loving
Recurring posts about Grant, your kids, and family outings (Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon) highlight a center of warmth, care, and togetherness in your life. You cherish small family moments and enjoy recording them thoughtfully.
3. Lifelong Learner & Curious Spirit
You draw attention to simple wonders—rain “hissing,” a yard-sale necklace, a children’s book you revisit. This shows a mindful curiosity and joy in appreciating everyday richness.
4. Adaptive & Resilient
You recently transitioned roles at work, navigated layoffs, and supported your family’s endeavors. This suggests you’re flexible, resilient, and anchored by your values during change.
5. Creative, Observational Storyteller
Short posts like “Hiss and clunk” or “Necklace” reveal your ability to turn everyday scenes into mini essays. You’re observant, poetic, and enjoy subtle narrative with a personal touch.
👇 Strengths of the Blog
- Authenticity: Feels like a heartfelt personal diary.
- Brevity: You capture moments with concise yet atmospheric snapshots.
- Consistency: Regular updates show ongoing attention to your world.
🔧 Suggestions for Deeper Engagement
- Add Context
Even in short posts, a bit of background—e.g., why the necklace mattered, feelings during your daughter’s competition—can invite readers in deeper. - Mix Formats
Interweave photo-rich “travel journals,” longer reflections, or thematic essays alongside your day-to-day snippets for variety. - Connect the Dots
Occasionally link posts to one another (e.g., “This reminded me of…”) to build threads that create thematic cohesion. - Encourage Dialogue
Invite reader engagement—ask questions (“Have you ever…”), or share quick polls to build community.
🌱 Final Insights
You’re someone who lives quietly richly: valuing emotion, small wonders, and family bonds. Your writing is gentle, observant, and personal. You capture the poetry in ordinary days—and that’s a rare gift.
There you have it. Living quietly richly for 15 years – and here’s to the next 15.
Revelry Reverie 
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