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 |
Thanks for being here, Maria and sharing your thoughts with us. Maria blogs at Delight Directed Living. Please pay her a visit.
~Tina, who apologizes for the late posting of this. 8th grade graduation festivities got the better of me. Mea culpa...
~Tina, who apologizes for the late posting of this. 8th grade graduation festivities got the better of me. Mea culpa...
14 comments:
Thank you, Tina, for including me on the tour and the A to Z challenge site.
Thank you Maria for enjoying the Challenge with us and for sharing your Reflections on the Challenge.
Lee
A Faraway View
So grateful I can be a part of it, Lee and honored to be asked to be on the A to Z blog. Thanks so much for all your encouragement.
Visiting new blogs every day is tough sometimes, especially when you're just trying to keep on top of your comments. I did notice more were recommending other bloggers this year, a theme I've used for the past four Challenges.
And yeah, I think it's easier with a theme than without.
Maria, that was a lovely Reflections post and it resonated with me as my views and experiences seemed to be quite similar in most cases.
I've been a little erratic this year (and with a theme, too) but I plan to complete all the pending letters and your post somehow makes me want to do it as fast as I can. Cheers.
Thanks for being willing to share your Reflections with us! We are happy to host you here.
Tina @ Life is Good
On the Open Road! @ Join us for the 4th Annual Post-Challenge Road Trip!
Tina and Maria, as always, the Challenge is a delightful experience simply because of the people I meet during the month. Organization does make it easier, but who has time for that? :) Again, thanks to the team. You rock!
You're right about mentioning other blogs. And I think I probably first got the idea from visits to yours, Alex.
Wow! Thanks Sonia. That's a wonderful compliment. I know it can be hard following up, but kind folks like you inspire me to get to it too.
You are very kind, Tina. It's fun growing relationships through the journey.
As always, you are an encouragement and an inspiration, Joy. Thanks.
Enjoyed reading your take on things.
Life & Faith in Caneyhead
Thanks Barbara.
Thank you for the links. I followed Sylvia's A to Z and look forward to learning about alphabetical fruit. Sue’s Trifles
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