As I reflect on this year’s A to Z challenge, I find a smile
come to my face, satisfied to have completed another and already planning for
next April. Why smile? Well it feels good to accomplish something
that is, well, a challenge. It is always fun to reacquaint with friends
from the previous year’s challenge, meet new friends and cultures, and discover
talented bloggers to follow. It’s also a
real delight to find how I grow through the challenge. I appreciate alternative views a little more. I find myself more compassionate towards the
hurting. I understand blogging, writing,
and thinking a bit better.
1.
Loved catching up with some blog friends I made
in last year’s challenge.
2.
Loved meeting new friends.
3.
Loved visiting with people from diverse cultures
and from around the world.
4.
Loved being challenged to write.
5.
Loved being challenged to think and grow.
6.
Glad to be back blogging again after such a long
hiatus.
7.
Sad so many didn’t finish.
8.
Glad I learned so much from some great bloggers
like Silvia at Silvia Writes,
who wrote on all things Romanian and Sharon at Shells, Tales, and Sails who taught us about all things fruit.
Did you know there was an ice cream fruit?
9.
Sad I wasn’t able to visit 5 new A to Zers every
day.
10. Glad
for those I did visit and revisit. I hope to
continue to check out others on the list in the coming days and months.
Things I learned that were helpful.
1.
It was valuable to check in with the challenge website as often as I could to see the daily post there. Often there were helpful tips to enhance the challenge experience. Also, those who are
commenting on the challenge website are among those who are surely continuing
and so they make good first visits.
2.
It was nice not to have a particular theme, but
I find that I enjoy visiting those who did, so I am thinking about
that for next year.
3.
I like being able to find out more about the bloggers themselves. So I appreciate reading the about me link and seeing their
photo. I may have to do a better job of
that myself.
4.
I really liked when someone recommended another
blogger, and I usually went over to visit them as well. So I did do that a few times. If I plan it out better, I'd like to include more recommendations or bloggers I found worth a visit. There are plenty I could and would recommend.
5.
Last year I planned it out a bit more. That was helpful especially when time got
tight. However, I feel less stress about
it at this year’s conclusion. Is that
because it wasn’t all new or because of just getting to it when and if I could? I don’t know, but I think, if possible, I’ll
plan ahead a bit next year.
Thank you to all who stopped by. Thank you to the all the A to Z team for your dedication in seeing this through and encouraging all of us. I don't know how you do it, but I know it wouldn't happen if not for you. I appreciate you. And thank you again, Lee, for your brainchild. Really enjoyed visiting with each one of you.
God
bless, Maria
A to Z Challenge, 2014 |
Smart idea to visit those who commented on the A to Z Blog.
ReplyDeleteI've featured my blogger buddies as part of my theme for the past four years. It was cool to see so many others doing it this year as well.
Glad you had a good time!
Thanks Alex. It's your feature that first made me appreciate mentioning other bloggers in my posts. You do a great job highlighting them and I have really appreciated that. Thanks for the great job you do with the challenge and always supporting other bloggers. God bless, Maria
DeleteHow cool that some of the same people participate each year. I wrote everything early in the month. I think I was on Z by the 15th...but I've already written all of May's blogs, too. The only problem is, sometimes I want to write about something immediately, so I have to bump something!
ReplyDeleteThat's amazing that you can do that, Stephanie. I can't think that fast! Appreciate you taking time to visit. God bless, Maria
DeleteWonderful Reflections post. You laid everything out very nicely. It's good to hear such a positive report as yours. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteLee
Wrote By Rote
An A to Z Co-host blog
Thanks Lee. You have definitely started a wonderful ball rolling. God bless, Maria
DeleteHi Maria. I just saw one of your comments on Silvia's last post, so I thought I'd hop over, even though the challenge is done. I'm a fellow A to Z'er and now your newest follower. It's nice to 'meet' you.
ReplyDeleteDeb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com
Nice to meet you too, Debi. Whew, It's been more than 2 weeks and I'm just catching up with replies, but I'll be by to see you. God bless, Maria
DeleteSeeing other places is a good way to spend the Challenge. I too enjoyed connecting with people I don't visit often.
ReplyDeleteIt is great to reconnect and go around the world. Thanks for the visit. J.L. God bless, Maria
DeleteCongratulations for finishing, Maria! Like you, I learn the most about blogging by paying attention to the way I interact with other blogs. What kind of blogs engage me? Do I have the patience to read long articles? Is it easy to comment? Is there an "About" page where I can read more than just a little Blogger bio? If these things matter to me when I visit a blog, they probably matter to people when they visit mine. Lesson learned. :)
ReplyDeleteI love how succinctly you put that Colin, encapsulating everything I thought about as I considered my reflections. I appreciate your insight and comments. God bless, Maria
DeleteGreat reflections post! What a wild ride the challenge was, great job on finishing it!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jayne. Glad to be on the journey with so many great people. God bless, Maria
DeleteCongrats for having completing the challenge ! its tough to visit too many, but I made it as many as I could by keeping my posts short. You have organised this post and presented it well ! thanks for sharing !
ReplyDeleteKeeping posts short is a great idea, for writer and audience. Thanks for your visit. God bless, Maria
DeleteCongrats on finishing the challenge! I like your idea of visiting those who comment on the AtoZ blog posts. I also want to include recommending other bloggers next year.
ReplyDeleteGlad we took the journey together, TaMara. God bless, Maria
DeleteWhat great reflections! I agree that having someone recommend another good blog is a fun way to discover new writers yourself, and I'm glad I discovered yours! Love the Scripture reference in your profile - it's always been a favorite verse of mine!
ReplyDeleteThanks, John Mark. I have been blessed by visiting your blog. I'm sure I'll be mentioning yours one of these days. God bless, Maria
DeleteI agree with Arlee, very well written Reflection. Would you like to use it as a guest post at the A-Z Blog? As I read through the Reflections, I'm inviting exceptional ones to be featured. If you're interested, please contact me with another quick comment, or drop an email to tndowney at gmail.
ReplyDeleteThanks for following! Glad you'll be on the road trip with us!
Tina @ Life is Good
On the Open Road! @ Join us for the 4th Annual Post-Challenge Road Trip!
Oh I'm excited you want to be included! Please send me your post IN HTML and I'll get it on the schedule. I'll give you a couple of dates to choose from. We can iron it out by email. tndowney at gmail.
ReplyDeleteTina @ Life is Good
On the Open Road! @ Join us for the 4th Annual Post-Challenge Road Trip!
Great to be honored by the A to Z team. Thanks Tina. God bless, Maria
DeleteI agree with your good tip about visiting the A-to-Z home during the challenge. There is often helpful hints and strategies given in addition to motivation.
ReplyDeleteMary @ The View from my World
Absolutely, Mary. So glad for the A to Z teams helpful hints. Thanks for visiting. God bless, Maria
DeleteI was head bobbing to every point you made! We did it!
ReplyDeleteWe think alike, Ronda. God bless, Maria
DeleteMaybe I should do it next year? A book a day? Ummmm....you'll have to help me think it through. April is usually a very busy month, so I haven't done it in the past.
ReplyDeleteHow gret would that be doing it together, Heidi. I say go for it! Love you. God bless, Maria
DeleteYay! We made it! I'm not so sure about next year, but I think this year was awesome and I was so glad to take the journey along with you. Here's to new friends and a stellar April!
ReplyDeleteIt's been great visiting with you, Crystal. I'm sure I'll be doing lots more. God bless, Maria
DeleteGreat points. You shared many statements that I wasn't sure how to put into words. Thanks for visiting me. You are so kind. I look forward to reading more from you!
ReplyDeleteThanks Melanie. I hope we become great blogging buddies. God bless, Maria
ReplyDelete