Counting Stars in 2024: 8.5 million reasons to feel thankful and fortunate

In 2024, this blog turned 20 years old. Few blogs last that long and being able to celebrate it has been a source of joy for me.

Counting Stars turns 20 years old with the same freedom and without any subvention
How Counting Stars is made and who decides what should be covered in this blog

In addition to that, I was just looking at the blog statistics. In 2024, Contando Estrelas had 8.5 million page views. In addition, 3.4 million users came to this blog. I don't know how others would interpret these numbers, but as far as I'm concerned, I have 8.5 million reasons to be grateful to those of you who read this blog and to feel lucky, since other blogs don't even come close to achieving audience levels like these.

I have known for some time now that the success of a blog post does not depend on me. I like to write about topics that concern me, but these topics may not be of interest to many. In addition, social media algorithms do not always favor a website with a Christian and liberal-conservative discourse. In fact, some are openly opposed to these values. Let us remember that in November Facebook closed the Counting Stars page without having had any infractions and without giving any explanation as to the reason for the closure. That social network has gone so far as to identify the image of a cross published on this blog as "violence", limiting the dissemination of the article that contained it and other articles published here for equally absurd and unfair reasons.

Despite everything, I insist: I feel grateful and lucky because there are many people who come here every day and who spread what I publish every day, giving me a part of their time and attention. Even if this blog only had 100 visits, I would still feel grateful for them, since it is a great gift that people who have much better things to do dedicate a precious part of their time and attention to reading what I write, even if they do not agree with everything or even with anything I say. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Of course, I remember that this blog would not be possible without my family, who have been giving me support and advice for years when it comes to writing. With support like this, even if all the storms in the world come, Contando Estrelas will withstand it, God willing (and I say this because as a human being, I know that anything I set out to do will depend on Him and His will). I also thank Isaac for all the technical support he has given me for years, and the people who write to me to suggest interesting topics and to send me very kind words about the blog. As I said: I am very lucky. Thank you all and happy 2025!