The State of Montana is known as Big Sky Country. I never really understood why until I went camping one time along the Yellowstone River. Our campsite was located a good twenty miles from any real town or city, so ambient light was non-existent where we were.
That first night, laying on the ground in my sleeping bag, looking up at the stars, I finally understood why Montana had that nickname. I had never seen so many stars in the sky as I saw that night. It was one of those sights which leave you gasping, and it was one of those sights which also leave you humbled.
I felt that way again three days ago when I received notice that my articles and stories have been viewed one-million times.
Unbelievable!
This isn’t a pat-on-the-back sort of post. This is a “HOLY SHIT” sort of post.
There’s nothing special about me; at least I don’t think there is. I’m just a guy, one of over seven billion on this planet. I grew up in Tacoma, Washington, and really lived a very “under the radar” sort of existence. I never made the news. I really never did anything that I consider noteworthy. I’ve stumbled and bumbled my way through life, just like everyone else. I eat, I sleep, I work, and I love.
So the realization that my words have been read over one-million times is amazing to me. Thank God for the internet, right? It has allowed a nobody like me to have friends in over fifty countries and in fifty states without ever leaving my writing studio. It has allowed me to work on my craft and receive unbelievable support along the journey.
For an introvert like me, we are talking a huge bonanza I never expected.
My message to my writer friends: what we do has an impact.
When I first started out writing, I wrote a lot of articles about alcoholism. It was only natural that I do so since I’m a recovering alcoholic, closing in on eleven years of sobriety. Now I mention that because those articles were written seven years ago, and I’m still receiving emails from complete strangers, thanking me for those articles and telling me how much they have been helped by my words.
Complete strangers, helped by my words!
We make an impact with our words!
So treat this gift of writing with the respect it is due.
One million times!
Who would have thunk it?
Thank you, all!
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
Aw, huge congrats once again Bill and totally 110% well-deserved my friend!! Happy Tuesday once again now 🙂
Thank you Janine! It’s been a fun ride, my friend.
Happy hot Tuesday to you!
Hello Bill – That is one heck of a milestone. You have a popular weekly post on HP with often over 50 comments. You write novel after novel and ‘get them out there’. You earned this well deserved round of applause. 1,000,000 !!!
Thanks buddy, and yet I would be completely unknown if it weren’t for friends like you. 🙂
Hi Bill. Ordinary men can also achieve great things. Do not underestimate yourself, you have so genuinely helped so many.
aww, thanks Graham….I’ll forever think of myself as the kid from 18th Street who always tripped over the curb. LOL
Bill my friend you are exceptional. You understate your achievements and you do it so well that you humble writers like me who are also on this experiential journey. You give a profound meaning to your body of work through your rather simple words. I cant help but call you a friend although I am much younger to you. The thing is that your advice is so heartening that only a friend can say what you say. Keep writing Bill, you are seriously helping a million lives out there coz writing like anything art is contagious and it spreads like a virus.
Tarun, I will proudly call you a friend, and I thank you for your kind words. I want all writers to understand that what they do is important. We are the voice of our generation and the world needs us now more than ever.
Congratulations on your accomplishment!
Thank you very much, Donna!
I do think that what we say and do matters–and writers and their words–their ability to reach and touch a person emotionally–well those are attributes high on my list! Stay cool –trying to do the same down here!
Thank you Audrey and I totally agree with you…my goal is an emotional connection. Thank you again and stay safe. Rain coming soon here.
Congratulations on your achievements, Bill! And thank you for your encouragement to all of us who are trying to write. Cheers, Irina
Thank you Irina! I’m nothing as a writer without my followers.
Whoda thunk it, Big Bro? Congrats! That’s a milestone for sure. 🙂
I keep thinking I’ll write over there again, soon. I’ve got so many balls I’m juggling though, I’m like, welllll. LOL. But I credit HubPages for giving me a start and the confidence to pursue online writing. That fateful day in November 2011 ultimately led to the job I hold right now as the school’s marketer (well, it’s my old job, haha), but everything I do online informs the job I do for the school. I’m kind of blown away by that. 🙂
Thanks Lil Sis…on my way out the door to the Market…busy day ahead….hugs from your Big Bro!
That’s fantastic news, Bill. This confirms my belief that all of us have a mission to fulfill. The hard part is trying to figure out what it is. It sounds like you’ve found yours. Congratulations.
Thanks so much, Zulma! Indeed, I may have found mine, but I feel like there is so much more I should accomplish.
One thousand views! Congratulations! Writers like you make a difference in the lives of others. You choose your words wisely. They are truly valuable to me.
I appreciate that, Marlene…..it’s a nice milestone. Now on to 2 million.
Hi Billy…
Now tell me on Oscar night will I be allowed to wear cutoffs as I watch to win the literary awards?
Been following the wild fires over your way. I can imagine it is some smoky… keep us posted at how things are going.
Are you around this fall, may take a jaunt over your way as I have one more attack on the fish in BC planned.
Congrates Bill… well done my friend.
Rolly
Thanks Rolly! I’ll reserve a seat for you at the Oscars…wear those damned cutoffs. Yep, I’ll be around…going to Oregon the first week of October but that’s it for traveling for this guy.
Hugs from Oly
Yes, Bro.
We make an impact with our words, thoughts and deeds. Needed as ever today as has been necessary for millennia! So good of you to remind us. A million views!! I commend you highly for being a useful and accessible instrument of the Divine. Praise be!!
Thank you Manatita! Blessings be with you, my friend!
There’s something special about you Sir. The name William D, Holland. OK, you’ve said a million views unthinkable ? yet real. You writers are making an impact with your words… changing lives, changing world. A positive impact.
Thank you my friend.
Michael my friend, there is something special in all of us, but thank you so much for your friendship and kindness.
One million! That’s brilliant, but doesn’t surprise me 🙂 There’s something so endearing about your honesty, modesty and humanity, and you’re one of those people who make this world a better place. There’s too many big egos in charge of our lives and they don’t care a toss about any of us, but you’re an encourager who makes people feel as if they matter. …Here’s to the next one million readers, my dear friend!
Well, Sarah, you just made my day special. Thank you so much for those kind words. I’ve caused pain during my lifetime, so now, in my time remaining, I’m just trying to counterbalance it with some kindness and love.
I know the feeling. Sometimes we cause pain because we’re hurting inside ourselves for one reason and another. I believe that life is like a testing ground, in which we’re learning until the day we die (and possibly afterwards …who knows?). I’m guessing that you’ve learned your kindness and how to love from others having been kind to you and loving you with what the psychologists call “unconditional positive regard”, and now it’s your turn to pass that wonderful kindness and love on to others, some of whom might be in that hurting and pain-causing place you were previously in. The saddest thing in the world is someone who has never been shown love or kindness, so they don’t even recognise its existence or trust anyone who tries to show it to them.
Very true, Sarah, and what an incredibly sad and lonely life that would be. Love literally saved my life, so I don’t take it for granted.
Dear Bill,
It doesn’t surprise me that you have had a million readers at Hubpages. You are one of the most prolific and consistent writers I have ever met. From day one at HP, you reached out to others with your words and your message. So many of us made our start at that humble little spot on the web and branched out from there.
Congrats on your milestone and your impact. Thanks for the encouragement to all of us who put our hearts and minds on the page in the hopes of helping others.
That is so sweet of you, Sharilee! Thank you very much. I’ve said it before, I’m only at HP because of people like you. If not for my friends I would have left that site a long time ago.
Bill
Sorry I’ve taken so long to get here. All I can say is awesome bro, and an accolade well deserved.
Well done.
Thank you Lawrence, and apology not necessary!
Aaaah HOLY SHIT indeed, Bill! Congrats!!! I can’t think of a better person to have such a huge achievement. Honestly… when I think of how you’ve stuck to your craft and had such a clear vision – just to write and be yourself and inspire other writers, it makes me smile. It’s inspiring. And from one fellow writer introvert to another, I’m so happy to have “met” you through HubPages all those years ago. Here’s to the next 7 years! 😀
Thank you Mel! If you were here I’d give you a big hug,from one introvert to another, and tell you how happy I am that we are friends.
Congratulations!!! It’s so amazing what you’ve accomplished since the first days “met” you over on HubPages! You’ve really entered in and encourage me to do the same. Thanks for always writing engaging posts by just writing what comes to mind and by being you!
That is very kind of you, my friend. Thank you for the years of friendship.
Congratulations, Bill! You have earned all 1,000,000 “bytes” into your writing! Enjoy and thank you for being such an encouraging writing friend!
Awww, thanks Karen! That number still blows my mind, and humbles me.