Deadly doctors, believing dangerously and creativity colliding with faith. My year in the rearview.
Deadly doctors, believing dangerously and creativity colliding with faith. My year in the rearview.
The most-read articles on Things I Wrote Down in 2023
Congratulations. You made it. Nearly a quarter of a century into the new millennium, we’re older and hopefully wiser.
Whether you’re a new reader of Things I Wrote Down, or have been here for awhile, I’m so grateful you’re here. May your 2024 be filled with beautiful things: words, memories and opportunities.
I put together a year in review of the content on my weekly newsletter that you, my readers, engaged most. Thanks for reading and giving me a reason to write. God’s rich blessings to you and yours in the new year.
~ AK
The most read posts on TIWD
It’s fascinating to look back at the data and see how people engage here. Two types of posts dominated the top ten: MAiD then faith.
The most popular content was the stuff I didn’t really want to write. Go figure! My articles about doctor-assisted suicide were by far the most read, drawing new readers and some fascinating conversation (most of which took place privately in my DMs).
MAiD featured prominently in the news, in my professional world and in my personal life. Matt, Daniel and I produced a docu-series about the issue when we learned that medical assistance in dying was hurtling the country toward a terrible reality: a Canada in which mental health would be a sole condition for patients to be granted the procedure. This shocking news pulled us into the national conversation.
And in the Fall, my aunt’s death at the hand of her own doctor—and by her own request—cemented my shock and concern. So I wrote about it.
Deadly medicine dominated the Top 5
The most read article here was If your doctor offers to kill you, get a second opinion, which I was compelled to write when I learned that someone at my church was offered MAiD and no longer felt safe to visit her health provider. How grim!
Following close behind was the article outlining our plan at Unveil to make a docu-series as we began to film in February in London, Ontario. This is a fight for the soul of our country was the second most-read article here. It highlighted our hope to offer the film for free (which we proudly did on UnveilTV) so that people across Canada could be informed, have the tough conversations, ask questions and truly see what Canada is walking into if we expand MAiD to include mental health (which, sadly, is what’s taking place in 2 months’ time).
When my aunt’s death took place, scheduled and organized by her and her doctor despite our pleas, I wrote Grieving after MAiD. Thoughts for families and friends who've lost loved ones to euthanasia. I’m so thankful this article has helped people in similar situations, who’ve also helplessly watched as their loved ones choose to die in this way.
The rest of the top 10 hit on faith, calling and creativity
I wrote a wide-range of content this year and themes of creativity and faith are always present. It was heartening for me that these themes resonated with readers.
Compassion: the dangerous, powerful weapon we must wield in these times
Wow! Netflix reached more people last night than the church has in 50 years
Beyond the Top 10, posts and articles with weekly link round ups and—gratefully—poetry, had the highest open rates and lots of reads.
I’m taking note as I plan content for the upcoming year, that so many of you went with me into some of the deeper places.
On my podcast, the most listened to episodes were:
Episode 5 of Mocktail Mashup in which Petra and I chatted about our recent move
My conversation with Tim Bratton about his traveling living room theatre production My Little Plastic Jesus
My conversation with
about creativity and how it thrives when we face limitations and new challenges
I’m so grateful that you spent time with me here in 2023. It’s an honour to connect with you and to know that you’re there, on the other end of this screen, reading.
Here’s to more meaningful words and connections in 2024.
The data speaks to me, but I love to hear from readers directly. What content do you want more of here on Things I Wrote Down?
Please drop me a comment or reply to this email and let me know!