The other day my Spotify Wrapped hit and there were little surprises. I listen to a LOT of Taylor Swift.
2024 is coming to a close and there’s a lot to look forward to and a lot to dread about 2025.
It’s normal to look back on the year whenever December begins. There is so much that happened that makes me think “that was only this year??”. Time, like gender, is a construct and very much relative.
It’s also a time to look back and think about what you’ve done and accomplished and perhaps think about what you want to see happen in the next year.
I did a lot and I had a lot of fun. So, I suppose that is very much a win. I don’t want to jinx it as there are still a few weeks to go, but I was lucky to have a year where nothing tooooo awful happened.
Well, except for that one day in November but let’s focus on the positives.
Although I post a lot, I rarely think about who is reading this nonsense. Once I post, I don’t really think about it anymore. Whatever I wrote has been taken out of my mind and is out in the world and since it’s out of my mind, I don’t think about it anymore. It’s like throwing a rock into the lake. Whatever happens, happens.
Because of this, I am always a little surprised when someone comments on a post. It sounds silly but it’s almost like I forgot that I wrote whatever I wrote. I forget that others will see it and may respond to it. I have, mentally, moved on from whatever I posted.
It’s a similar thought when I look at my website traffic and stats.
Is my website successful? I do not know. It depends on how someone defines success. Does it bring in money? Well, no. Do I enjoy doing this? Yes. If you only consider return of investment on something to determine whether or not it’s successful then blogging is not recommended. This website allows me to sort out my thoughts and get them out of my head so I can stop thinking about them.
I feel that this website is good for my mental health. Well, for the most part. I can sort out my thoughts and listen to others in the comments and my perspective can change. I feel less alone in my thoughts and fears and desires and identity. When I started blogging I had no idea if anyone would read what I blogged, much less if they enjoyed it. But I suppose that was a good thing. Doing something for yourself is a good thing (if it does no harm) and worrying about, oh I don’t know, gaining followers or increasing site statistics can often cripple your ambition.
I suppose what I am saying is that web traffic and recognition are an afterthought. Honestly if someone tells me that something I wrote or a resource I shared helped them that’s really more than I thought would happen.
But we live in a corporate world where there are metrics for every possible thing you could imagine. Everything must have year over year improvements and profits and productivity must keep going up.
So in the spirit of capitalism, let’s take a look to see how hannahmcknight.org did in 2024:
So, that’s that. I am honored to be among so many other bloggers that I admire and am inspired by.
…I have a hard time accepting praise and recognition and will do everything in my power to deflect or downplay any accomplishments. I am humbled by these rankings and I am still bewildered that my blogging career (lol) started late at night after way too many glasses of wine. Alcohol can give someone courage or at least the lack of judgement to do something and out of all the things I could have done that night, I am thankful I started a blog instead of almost anything else.
But here we are. So much has changed and evolved over the years and thankfully I am now just over eight years sober. Who knows what I would be doing if I was still drinking.
Thank you to you all. I appreciate your time and attention and thoughts and perspective and support. Thank you.
Love, Hannah
Hannah McKnight 
Those statistics, while impressive, don’t quantify how important your writing is to people such as myself, and now seems like a great time to express my gratitude for all that you do for people like us.
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I’m so proud of you, Hannah. It’s been such a joy to read your blog and follow along on your, um, journey. Keep doing what you’re doing. I promise that it’s making a huge difference in the lives of so many.
Hugs!
Alicia
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Thank you for acknowledging, caring and considering the two sides of the coin when you write your articles, although SOs are not your target audience.
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You and Stana are required daily reading. I also enjoy the X/Bluesky posts and often wish I could try on what you’re wearing.
I’ve enjoyed your content since the Hannah’s Gotta days. It’s blogs like yours and Stana’s that helped me get out the door, and eventually to write about it (with thanks to Kandi for the slot).
We’re a niche audience, but an appreciative audience, even if we don’t always show up in the metrics.
Thanks, as always,
Dee
https://kandis-land.com/author/dee/
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I’m grateful that your blog was there that one night, over a year ago, where I mustered up the courage to reach out to you after dressing for the first time in decades, but not knowing much about dressing or having a clue that there was this community of people out here that so selflessly share their experience to help others that are finding their way. You are a God sent Hannah and you are doing good work!
Nadine 💜
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Hey, I’m also up there in the Best Crossdressing Blogs and Websites: number ten! Kind of nice to see that Hannah and I have something in common, in spite of running VERY different blogs. Cheers!
Amanda Hawkins
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Enjoy your postings and your rich imagination. Such a terrific model as well. Metrics are good for your self-esteem when doing well. Otherwise there’s always room for growth.
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I think congratulations are in order. Cracking the top ten in any category seems like an accomplishment. I am impressed that you have not only sustained the effort, but diversified into other areas, like WishList, and hosting the MN Tgirls.
You have come a long way since introducing yourself and posting a few pictures on one of the crossdresser discussion forums back in the day.
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This blog and your earlier one have been a real inspiration to me for years, Hannah. In fact, it was largely your pretty Hannah Gotta blog that encouraged me to start my own.
I’d say you speak to and for the transgender/crossdressing community way more than you think. So I give your blog a big endorsement, too.
I hope you’ll read the comments here as testimony of how you’ve improved lives. Keep up the wonderful work.
Sue x
https://suerichmond.blogspot.com/
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Hannah,
Thanks for all that you contribute to the trans community. You cover so much more than fashion, providing a clear voice on topics of relevance and importance.
Your contributions obviously have wide spread impact based on your rankings.
Happy holidays and all the best in the new year.
Cheryl
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