As per tradition, here are my Reflections on the A to Z Challenge 2019-its tenth-anniversary edition, no less, and my seventh!
I started off the A to Z Challenge this year with a bang on four blogs. Amazing, right? But that fizzled down to two because I just couldn't keep up, thanks to work overload and deadlines that had to take priority over blogging. Which is a good thing because I don't believe in stressful blogging. And so I took it in my stride. Which worked out okay-ish, I think.
Personally, I think it is great to be able to consistently post daily for an entire month-so please accept my congratulations if you reached the A to Z Challenge finish line.
What did I do differently this year?
Rather than pantser through the month, composing my posts as I walked on my terrace the previous day, I had a plan of sorts for my posts. I announced that the theme is collecting smiles. Which makes sense because my posts were mostly about personal development and mindful living, with a couple of parenting posts and book reviews. I continued the Wednesday Wisdom series on Wednesdays-of course, in keeping with the alphabet for the day. The Gratitude Circle blog hop linky went live on the last Thursday of the month, as usual.
So, it was business as usual, since I did not really stick to the plan I made. But still, planning helps, because it is fun. Does that make sense? It does, to me.
Because of work deadlines, I did not have time to blog hop after the second week of April and consequently, that turned my blog into a quiet place, which is only natural.
I feel extra-happy about the posts I wrote this year because of the wonderful emails I received from some of my subscribers. It made me realize, yet again, that if I can make a difference even in one life, the effort I put into my blog is well worth it.
I also had the pleasure of reading some wonderful new blogs. Even though I did not comment on most of them, I did share them on social media.
Gratitude
To all those who dropped by via the A to Z Challenge blog hop.- thank you.
Special mention of Ronel Janse van Vuuren, who read and commented on 17 of my A to Z posts in one day. Is she fabulous or what? She is an award-winning author of young adult and children's fiction filled with mythology and folklore.
Thank you to my dear friend Jemima for mentioning me in her A to Z Challenge reflections post. I was tempted to just feature parts of her post in mine, as her reflections reflected my own.
Thank you to the 10th anniversary of the AtoZ Challenge - my favorite blog hop.
If you'd like to visit this year's posts, here they are. Click any image to visit the post. I'd love to have your comments!
The highlight of my A to Z Challenge Reflections, as always, is this: I am happy to realize, yet again, that the most important thing is to enjoy what I am doing and not stress over numbers. And that's what keeps me sane and enthusiastic. Here is a quote that reflects how I feel-it holds true for all aspects of life!
Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.
-William Faulkner.
