Tuesday, May 6, 2014

A-Z Reflection 2014

       My third year of doing the A-Z Challenge is in the record books and I made it, I survived!  In years past I had no earthly clue what I was going to post from one day to the next.  Each day seemed like an accomplishment.  I racked my brains for something to write about and wrote whatever came into my head.  I visited as many folks on the A-Z sign up list as I could, returned comments to those who visited me, and all in all had one hell of a great time.


     This year was different.  This year I joined an A-Z support group on Face Book.  They were so organized that they had a big ole theme reveal before the kickoff of the challenge.  They organized us all into teams and made a spreadsheet which I followed like a Bible throughout the entire month.  I planned a month chock full of haiku, 55 fiction, and zentangle art.  I had posts ready to go long before the day so all I had to do was post, share, and comment my happy ass off.    That is exactly what I did.  I also made sure to answer all of my comments and return the love.   I admit that I am still working on answering and returning comments on the last few letters.  On the downside answering comments and visiting blogs constantly became a chore and sucked the fun right out for me.  I had it so planned that very little was left creatively to be done.  On the upside I do believe I created some of my best work during this challenge and my little piece of real estate here in the blogosphere saw more traffic, leaving more comments than I would have ever dreamed possible.



        Another great thing came out of this year’s A-Z challenge.  The artist that had just recently begun to make reappearance in my life came back full throttle.  I had an epiphany of sorts realizing that I love that artist side of myself.  When I allow it to emerge, I discovered my soul was reborn.  My heart soared.  I discovered a happiness and sense of wellbeing that my life has sadly lacked.  It is a part of me I should have never given up.  On the upside sticking to art, poetry, and 55 fictions for an entire month worked well for me.  I enjoyed creating all of it immensely.  Given the response my work received during the month of April, I got the message loud and clear that I am doing exactly what I should be.



       When the A-Z was over, I walked away from my blog.  My husband came home.  I enjoyed life and a much needed rest.  I celebrated another birthday.  I got away, enjoyed the beach
and had fun.    I went into the A-Z Challenge this year filled with anxiety and dread…and survived.  I feel like I climbed Everest.  I cemented friendships, feeling closer to my fellow A-Z participants and blogging friends than I ever have.   I even managed to make some new friends along the way.  Would I do it again?  If you would have asked me after I posted Z, my answer

would have been a resounding “hell no! I will never subject myself to this frenzied chaos again!”  But then, after 6 days to let the dust settle…I realize I am nuttier than a fruitcake…and hell yes, I know I would do it again.  I will probably be one of the first to sign up when April rolls around.  This year I learned that I thrive in chaos.  Being organized and having it planned makes me bat shit crazy and stresses me out.   I need the adrenalin rush being clueless gives me.  On the other hand, it was nice being posted first thing in the morning with nothing else left to do but read and comment but then a steady diet of reading and commenting is exhausting and soul sucking. For me, finding a balance and striking a happy medium is essential for survival in future challenges.   When the dust clears, lessons were learned and I had the time of my life.


56 comments:

  1. I enjoyed reading your reflections, Kathy and am glad you enjoyed the challenge so much. Isn't that wonderful that you rekindled your love of drawing and art once more? You are very talented at it and that's great you're doing it again. I could never be so organized having the posts done ahead of time. I like writing it on the day of the letter. Something more exciting that way and I'm a last minute type anyhow. Must be that adrenalin rush and thrill of discovery.

    And yes, you have to find a happy balance between reading other blogs and commenting as it can get so draining. You feel you aren't being sincere and it gets robotic after a while. You want to be supportive to everyone but we only have so much time and energy to go around. I didn't do a lot but tried to get to some each day and try and offer a positive or encouraging comment of some kind.

    Real life does call to us occasionally, too! Luckily I'm not that houseproud so didn't notice that the house suffered since it suffered before anyhow. LOL!

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    1. Cathy, LOL!!! I am so pleased you enjoyed my reflections and could identify with them. I think I like the adrenalin rush too. :D Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  2. Have to go play in real life at sometimes too, nice reflection post and great the artist is back in full form from you.

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    1. Pat, sometimes you just have to get away from the computer and live so that you have more to write about. I am so pleased you enjoyed my post. Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  3. I congratulate you - clever, classy, talented, batty lady!

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    1. Glen, thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  4. Way to go Kathy! I loved all your A-Z posts and how you mixed it up with 55, haiku and those awesome zentangles!!!

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    1. JoJo, I am so pleased you enjoyed my efforts during the month of April! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  5. Seems like u had an awesome budday, Kathy and enjoyed ur posts during the challenge. Whatta pleasure to read ur posts and art. Superb, cool lady. In a way, this time, I kept a low profile and didn't really know bout the support group..hehe..I need to pay more attention next time:)

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    1. vishalbheeroo, I am so pleased you enjoyed my posts in April, especially my art which holds a special place in my heart. Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  6. Its a great feeling to have finished, but I am happy to have hopped around and read some great blogs. Thanks for the info on the support group. Maybe they will have it next time... I could have used it LOL!

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    1. KT, Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  7. It is amazing to be a part of such a huge challenge and be able to say that I survived. Congratulations :)

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    1. Shine, that is definitely the best part of all the madness...living to tell the tale! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  8. Loved your very creative and interesting 55ers, Haikus and Zentangles this April, Kathy! I had both the experiences of being organized and being in midst of the chaos too. I had scheduled more than half of the posts but the last few ones, I was writing a day before. I managed to post all of them at dot 12.01 am, but I think, planning and being organized works for me better! :D Glad that we survived this challenge and forged some wonderful friendships on the way! :) ♥

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    1. Shilpa, I am so happy you enjoyed my efforts in April! I was definitely more relaxed during the month of April than I ever had been before having so many posts ready to go. Still it would have been nice to have some creating to do in order to break up the monotony! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  9. Kathy, you are like me :) Third year in this challenge, still figuring out our direction, learning valuable lessons. Loved your artwork and 55 ers. Finding balance is the key to surviving this marathon.

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    1. sulekkha, every year seems to be a big learning adventure. This year was probably the best for epiphanies in my case. I went from believing I couldn't write fiction, couldn't create art, couldn't write poetry to doing it...all month long. If someone would have told me 3 years ago that I would have done that for a complete A-Z challenge I wouldn't have believed them. Thank you so much for stopping by and for your sweet comments!♥

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  10. Congrats Kathy. Enjoyed your posts especially your awesome zentangles and thank you for diligently visiting mine. I have so much of commenting and replying yet to do.

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    1. Suzy, I am so pleased you enjoyed my efforts! Thank you for stopping by and for all your sweet comments and encouragement! ♥

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  11. I think your thoughts about the challenge resonates with a lot of us... And being part of the group certainly helped me in visiting others...loved sharing the journey with you Kathy :) Cheers to us and to many more challenges...And happy belated birthday :)
    Reflections on A2Z Challenge-Random Thoughts Naba

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    1. Nabanita, I loved sharing the journey with you too! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments and birthday wishes! ♥

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  12. Beautiful way to speak of AtoZ , Kathy :) Lovely, this is. I loved your Zentangles, Flash fictions and the haikus that you so beautifully wrote for us. I'm in awe of your talents, Kathy <3 Hugsss and Cheers ! Let's meet again :)

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    1. Sreeja, I am so pleased you enjoyed my efforts. Thank you for stopping by and leaving me with your sweet comments, a smile on my face, and a song in my heart.

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  13. Great job, Kathy! So glad you found your passion again. I'm not sure I'm going to do the A to Z again, but I know you will and rock it too! :)

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    1. Corinne, I am too. It is really a great gift. Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  14. What a lovely reflection post, Kathy! So real and straight from the heart, that's how it felt to me as I was reading it. It is so good to read how you re-discovered the 'artist you' through this challenge. Your birthday photo is so cute :) Best wishes for the year ahead. And of course I will be seeing you around in the blog-o-sphere :)

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    1. Beloo, I am so pleased you enjoyed my post! Thank you so much for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  15. Congratulations on completing the challenge, Kathy! And thanks a lot for your constant support! Hope to keep in touch through blogging :)

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    1. Nisha, thank you so much for stopping by to read and for your sweet comments. It was my pleasure! ♥

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  16. Great job keeping up with the posts! I never could've done it. I noticed you'd been absent and wondered if you hadn't taken some time off to recover :) Aren't we all nuttier than a fruitcake? Hmmm.... or perhaps us crazy ones are just drawn to each other... whatever, I loved following you on this journey (even if I did cheat and read several in a day when I fell behind... see, I can't even read them on time!)

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    1. jannatwrites, I have kind of taken a bit of time away from my blog and writing to recover. I honestly think if I wasn't crazier than a bed bug I would never survive the normal day to day!! I really appreciate you stopping in to read as often as you did and all the lovely encouragement you always give me!! The A-Z was one hell of a marathon. If I would have had to run it I would have been dead at the end of Day 1! HA HA HA

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  17. Kathy, you definitely have to continue with your art. Your Zentangles are fantastic--I love how you use color. Between you and Laurel, the talent and enthusiasm for this art form is so contagious. I'm getting more and more interested in trying it myself.

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    1. ElaineLK, it is definitely a discipline I will have to relearn. Back when I was in college for graphic design we were trained to create great stuff daily...constantly. It may take a bit to get back to that mindset. Now I have to feel it. It will come. The more art I do, the better it looks as I work out my rusty kinks. You should try it. Tangling is relaxing and fun. Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  18. What a lovely way to think of the A to Z Challenge, Kathy! I just wrote my own reflections post...and found the the biggest feeling was of gratitude and happiness. Glad we're connected. A very special thanks to you for your support. I love that you rekindled your passion to do what you enjoy doing. I certainly love your writing!
    Love and hugs.

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    1. Vidya, I am so glad we have too. You always bring sunshine my way when I need it most. Thank you for stopping by, for the encouragement you have always given me, and for just being the driving positive force you always have been. You are a dear friend and I am blessed to have found you. ♥

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  19. Your artwork and poetry were a delight, Kathy. Thank you for constantly supporting me. The AtoZ challenge was an exciting experience for me, and intend to do it again.

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    1. Michelle, I am so pleased you enjoyed my work throughout the month of April. It was a pleasure reading your stories. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your sweet comments. ♥

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  20. Wow! What a glowing report. I know what you mean about reaching the end and just wanting a break, but then looking back to see the accomplishment behind you. You did well and congratulations. And Happy Birthday!

    Lee
    An A to Z Co-Host
    Tossing It Out

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    1. Arlee, thank you so much for stopping by, for your lovely comments, your birthday wishes, and making the A-Z challenge a reality for so many. It is truly a marathon that bloggers brag about completing much like runners brag about finishing the Boston Marathon.

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  21. It definitely can be soul sucking to read and comment all day, but you know, it does improve your reading speed. Seriously. Have to look at the bright side, eh? ;)

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    1. Crystal, I never really thought of it that way!! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  22. Congrats on successfully and happily completing the 3rd yr of A to Z Challenge and the cake looks lovely , Kathy.
    Finding a balance and doing what you love is the essence of living.
    (I have accessed your post thru Reshma's blog, Cerbral babble)

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    1. Kalpana, The cake was awful good. Still a bit left but not for long!! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  23. Congrats Kathy for completing three A to Z ers. You are a champion. Hats off to you for Hat Trick. Your posts were all very positive and encouraging. Kudos that you regained your artistic mind once again.

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    1. Usha, thank you so much for stopping by to read my reflection post and share your kind words and encouragement! I am so pleased you enjoyed my posts! ♥

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  24. You had a fantastic AZ run-- and I think ot was partly cos you had it all planned out! I understand about the lack of creative high-- maybe leave out a few posts next time to be written on the spur of the moment ? ;)

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    1. D, that is an excellent suggestion! Thank you for stopping by and for your encouragement throughout the challenge! ♥

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  25. I agree it was the time of life ..all were flowing in that current at the same time tring to create some impressions too.....congratulations for completing the challege with stlye .....Good luck!!!

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    1. shellymona, thank you for stopping by and for the good wishes! ♥

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  26. Congratulations on completing the challenge!! I am so inspired by everyone that I'm considering joining in for next time!! Looks like you had a great birthday :)

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    1. beingFab, my birthday was simply one of my best yet and next you...you have to do it too! Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  27. I am still not feeling too recovered from the challenge. But I always come back for more the next year. ;) I did have a theme, which helped, but I didn't have most of my posts prepared ahead of time. I really hope to be able to do that next year. But I usually wait till the last moment to choose a theme, so I dunno...

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    1. Trisha, I am still floundering 13 days after the fact trying to get in gear and put my creative cap back on. I have been sick which hasn't helped one bit. Having a theme and having it planned certainly helped some. Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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  28. What a great reflections post, Kathy. I may have to check out one of the groups next year, for my 3rd 'A to Z challenge'. I'm still working my way along the road trip, trying to visit new A to Z bloggers or revisit those on the road trip list that I may have come across before. I think I did read some of your Haiku earlier in the challenge, but it becomes a blurr after awhile. Thanks for your thoughts. They are helpful. Maria @ Delight Directed Living

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    1. Maria, so pleased you enjoyed reading my thoughts on the A-Z. It is a great challenge and even if it is a bit stressful, it is always worth the effort. Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥

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