Monday, April 1, 2013

Arlee Bird—Founder of the A-Z Blogging Challenge

What better way to start off the 2013 A-Z Blogging Challenge than to say “hooray and thanks!” to Arlee Bird.  2012 was my first year doing the Challenge and I’m returning, after addressing some ambivalent feelings (see below).  What a great idea he conceived, and judging from the many hundreds of people who participate, I’m clearly not alone with that notion.  Thank you, Arlee!

Ambivalence

Webster’s dictionary defines ambivalence as “simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings”.

That’s certainly what I felt as the 2013 A-Z Challenge sign-up window drew near.  I participated in the 2012 A-Z Challenge—successfully—but it was indeed challenging at times to post a blog worth reading every day, and I did fall behind at work because of the time I instead invested on the Challenge.  I wasn’t sure I wanted to put myself through that again.

This year won’t be much different—the Challenge competes with another conference; I haven’t yet identified topics for each letter, let alone pre-write many of them.  For a couple of days in April, I won’t even have an internet connection.

Then I thought about what was great from last year’s Challenge.  I did it!—and met a goal I’d set for myself.  I did it with the unwavering support of my sister—love you, Lanie!  (http://www.spontaneoussputterings.blogspot.com)   And I connected with a handful of people, many of whom will do the 2013 A-Z Challenge, whose blogs I bookmarked and followed in the interim.  I found stitchers, dog lovers, and IT technicians— interesting people with interesting things to say.  I find myself looking forward to catching back up with them.

I faced my ambivalence and made a choice among those contradictory feelings.   I will give the 2013 Challenge my best effort. 

Thank you for visiting and please come back!

12 comments:

  1. Whether you have all your topics or not I am looking forward to seeing what you do all month.

    --
    Tim Brannan
    The Other Side and The Witch
    Red Sonja: She-Devil with a Sword
    The Freedom of Nonbelief

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    1. Thanks for the encouragement, Tim--I'm looking forward to the challenge indeed!

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  2. That's one of the reasons I decided to do the challenge this year. I thought of all the interesting people I would meet.

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    1. And you will! Thanks for visiting, Mary!

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  3. Hi Dot.
    Nice to be here and I am in LOL
    though there are some problems you pointed out here for a full time, hope you can overcome the hindrance, Keep inform
    Keep posting
    I am
    Phil @ Philipscom
    An ambassador to A to Z Challenge @ Tina's Life is Good
    And My Bio-blog

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    1. Hi Phil, thanks for visiting and being an ambassador to the challenge. The encouragement is appreciated!

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  4. YAY! A huge part of my joy in participating last year was in sharing it all with you - the stress as well as the success!!! I, too, was ambivalent (great choice for "A", Sis!) this year...until you announced that you'd signed up, and then there was no other choice for me to make but to sign up as well! One down, 25 to go...and lots of fun in between! Love you! Great start!

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    1. Are you sure? I thought you had signed up so that's why I signed up!! I couldn't be in better company. Thanks for the support!

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  5. Thanks so much for dropping by my blog! I love beading too and incorporate them into a lot of my projects. It's addicting!

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  6. Good luck with the Challenge! But keep in mind--it's supposed to be fun, not stressful. :) I hope you enjoy yourself immensely!

    Jaimie
    Living in the Light

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  7. Good luck, Dot - from another Dot! When I scanned the list of participating bloggers and saw your blog title, I had to drop by. I will try to check in periodically throughout the month.

    And I like what you wrote about realizing, "I did it!" Yes, you did and you can do it again.

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  8. I too got in this last year with Elaine and finished! So let's to it again this year. Of course I am embarrassed to say I am posted both days today...I guess it isn't how you do it, it's how you finish!!

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