Well this is my first song - Leaving on a Jet Plane, no doubt was the first for many here too. I’m lousy currently and not ready for any kind of recording, even for this forum, unless of course you want an upset stomach 
But it’s a start. Three chords. I’m having difficulty moving from D to C. My strumming pattern is very simple right now, as I hit the bass string of the chord and then strum through the chord on the next beat. One very encouraging thing is the list of songs you can potentially play after learning just a few chords 
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given that the chords aren’t that difficult, that’s one I didn’t really start trying to play until recently.
I’m more or less using the same strum you’re using for it. mostly because it sounds pretty good. sometimes simple sounds the best. and honestly that same strum works well for a lot of songs. and a slight variation on it will set you up for 3/4 time songs (B_D_U). where I live, bluegrass, folky, and old timey stuff tends to be deeply rooted in local culture so a lot of 3/4 time songs show up in jams.
I was playing with my wife and a friend recently (they were both on ukulele) and strumming whole notes on my guitar while they did their thing just sounded really good for that song. I started out that way because it was a new song to me and I wanted to get a feel for the rhythm before I did more. but when the whole note strums sounded great, I stuck with that the whole time.
whole note strums might feel really boring when you’re by yourself, but if you’re playing with someone else or even the original recording, it can really complement everything else that’s going on.
That’s very interesting and great that you get to play with others. Whole note strums are ok for me now. I am learning the basics of cross picking so that I can hopefully put the two together one day.
It’s great that you get to play guitar with your wife. One day maybe that will happen here two
Playing with others is great. If you can find a way to do it, definitely give it a go.
It was a real struggle for me at first, and for awhile. I’ve noticed that it’s not uncommon for groups that have been around for awhile to kinda forget what the raw beginner stage is like. When you only know a few chords, you don’t have a good concept of rhythm, and everything is slow because you are developing that muscle memory still.
I’ve pushed my local guitar group to make some subtle changes to be a bit more beginner friendly, and I think it’s helped.
I’m really fortunate with where I live now that music is such a prominent part of local culture. I found out that my boss at my new job just happens to play drums. I might wind up jamming with her at some point, even.
Previous places I’ve lived, music wasn’t so deeply ingrained. It was something you did in school as a kid, but as an adult you got serious and you went to work. I’ve been trying to learn guitar for over 20yrs, and it didn’t really start to stick until about a year and a half ago. I think part of it is that music is just everywhere here, so I have constant reminders to keep working.
Albert
I cannot see the link to your song. Has it been removed?
Brian
That’s a great song Albert.
I gotta find me the words and chords to it. I used to have it. I had me a book with a bunch of cool songs in it when I was a teenager. No idea what happened to the book. It’s gone. But I surly do remember playing that song and having fun doing it.
Keep working on your version man. Get it to where you like it and you’ll be hip!
Hi Brian - I didn’t leave a link yet - I didn’t want to upset people’s stomachs 
but thank you very much for being interested. One day soon hopefully and hope you’re having a great weekend!
Chordify is a great tool where you can see the chords and listen to the actual recording. It’s great to play along with as you are learning. Another thing you can do is search for songs that use the chords you are learning. For instance, for Leaving on a Jet Plane, I found it by searching for songs that use C D G chords. It’s a great tool!
Hi Mustela - I know what you mean. I wasn’t brought up in a musical home. Don’t fault anyone for that, but it’s true. I’ve been messing around here and there for a long time but never really taking it seriously until now. Glad to hear that you are moving forward and I wish you the best of success with your guitar playing. Hoping also you get to continue to play with others. That day is in my future hopefully 
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Funny thing about musical families. Apparently mine was more musical than I thought. But I didn’t learn that my dad played guitar in church BITD until I was visiting for Thanksgiving in November.