The year 2014 started off with a bang on WordPress.com. From landing on the front page of The New York Times to riding the viral wave, our writers enjoyed a great month.

First off, welcome to the 1,321,980 new sites and blogs that decided to fly with WordPress.com this month! We're glad to have you aboard, and beverage service will begin shortly. Wondering what you've gotten yourself into? Here are some January highlights!

We first met Christy after reading her post, My Grace is Gone (A Climb Out of Alcoholism). The sheer honesty and emotional intensity of the piece resonated with us — so much so — we not only bumped it to Freshly Pressed, we included it in our year-end Editors’ Picks …

The WordPress.com community is a truly global phenomenon. With bloggers spread across every corner of the world, the stories we encounter daily in the Reader give us an unfiltered snapshot of the world we share. Today, we offer you a free round-the-world ticket — through the personal perspectives of people …

One of the strengths of WordPress.com is the community — a global network of users, learning from one another and supporting each other. Earlier this month, Michelle shared blogs within the mental health community, and we’ll continue to highlight blogs that promote health and wellness. Today, let’s take a look …