Birthday Gift

It’s true, it’s true, I turn forty years old in ten days.

What do you get the guy who has everything?

I admit I’m not the easiest to shop for, I can be quite particular in my preferences of this cable versus that one, but the good news is the gift I most want for my 40th is something everyone can do.

I want you to blog.

Publish a post. About anything! It can be long or short, a photo or a video, maybe a quote or a link to something you found interesting. Don’t sweat it. Just blog. Share something you created, or amplify something you enjoyed. It doesn’t take much. The act of publishing will be a gift for you and me.

That’s what I want for my birthday. If you link to this post and use WordPress the Pingback system will notify me about your post and it will show up in the comment stream, but I’m okay even if you don’t use WordPress, just post something and send me a link. You can start a free site on Tumblr or get a domain that can be your home on the internet with WP.com.

You’ve got ten days! After the 11th I’ll close the comments and pingbacks on this post. But I’m so curious to read what people write.

That’s it! No wrapping paper or bows. Just blogs and blogs and blogs, each unique and beautiful in its own way. (Oh! And put $10 toward the Bay Lights so we can get the contributor number as high as possible.)

213 thoughts on “Birthday Gift

  1. How about instead of 1 posts I give you over 1000? Been blogging regularly since 2006, mostly on WordPress, and love everything about it! Here’s to more weird and wonderful blogs in 2024 and beyond.

  2. Happy Birthday, Matt! Wishing you a day filled with joy, laughter, and unforgettable moments. May this year bring you success, happiness, and all your heart desires. Cheers to another fantastic year ahead!

  3. Happy Birthday! Seems like just yesterday I was thinking, “Wow, he’s only in his twenties and doing all this”. 40 is a great milestone. Every decade is. 😉

  4. Matt, I wish you a very happy birthday. Plant a seed, call that your dreams and aspirations, water it carefully and attend to its life, in doing so you will also take time out to ponder the wonders all around you.

  5. 40 years. Happy Birthday young lad! I remember it well although for me, was almost 30 years ago. More proof that WordPress and coding does endure into our old age.

  6. Happy Birthday, Matt! Thank you for making it possible for us all to express ourselves and publish online. I didn’t realize how much I needed this outlet of blogging until I started doing it. Now, I’m 1000+ posts in, and I don’t know how I’d live without my blog(s). WordPress and Automattic have changed my life, and I’m grateful to you for the opportunities you create for all of us. Your birthday request is a gift to us as well as our posts being a gift to you, and I blogged for you (and me) today: [The gift of doing](https://andreabadgley.blog/2024/01/03/the-gift-of-doing/). I hope you have a wonderful birthday — I’m glad you were born :).

  7. I want a return gift from you Matt. At least on blog post once a week from you 🙂 The more the better. Deal.
    We all love reading your blog post. Write anything even if it’s silly.

  8. Hey Matt 🙂

    There’s a song by one of the King Crimson guys that goes something like “I’ve got all the time in the world” — but he didn’t.

    Anyways, LOVE this post! 😀

    I realize that it’s a big part of the MISSION: to democratize publishing.

    Maybe my mission is a little bit broader — to democratize communications? So not just writing, also reading, communication in general. Basically: using language (which I consider to be the world’s largest open source technology 😉 ).

    I may very well write about this post @ Wants.Blog — whether or not time keeps on ticking, ticking, ticking, … 😛

    🙂 Norbert

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  10. HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY MATT!

    Here is my blog and I was very happy to hear you say on Tim’s Pod that you have changed your mind about medical cannabis which is what my next will be about!

  11. Happy Birthday Matt!

    Wishing you all the best for a new year and I hope you enjoy your sabbatical.

    I owe a lot to you for getting started with the web. These days I run Remote Jobs and Gigs.co and now I’ll commit to personal blogging this year.

    All the best,
    Derek

    P.S. How’s Lilly Belle?

  12. I’m 37, I’m constantly thinking of ways to create impact. I never stop learning and I never miss an opportunity to help a colleague. You know, the creed. I printed the a8c creed and it’s in my wall. I’m pretty sure you’ve not only made internet better, but also you’ve made many people to be better.

    The greatest gift you made to all of us is everything you’ve built, from WordPress to our culture.

    I hope before my 40s I can create the impact you have created in the world.

    Happy birthday and keep rocking!

  13. Okay! Logistics!

    I am approving these comments manually, and reading everything that comes in. If you left a link as a pingback and a comment I might have deleted one and approved the other. If your site felt spammy it to me it might not show up. Will get through them all! All it takes is time.

    WordPress has a feature where previously-approved commenters are auto-approved, and I have that on, but it doesn’t apply to pingbacks, so be generous and careful with that.

    Finally, this is so much fun!!!

    1. Thanks Matt!

      I’m not sure if my comment went through. If not, Happy Birthday and please say hello to Lily Belle for me.

      Enjoy your sabbatical too!

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  15. Happy Birthday Matt!! It amazing all you have done to help democratize publishing and all the other things you done to help the global community. Have a great rest of your bday!

  16. Happy birthday, Matt. As a beginner, I found WordPress great to start with. Even though I no longer use it for my humble personal needs, I find it endearing to read this weblog. Here’s to another 40.

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