![A-to-Z Reflection [2016].jpg](https://lorihenriksen.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/a-to-z-reflection-20162.jpg?w=581&h=276)
Apologies for my computer glitches this morning. Some of you have now received this three times.😱
I can’t remember how I learned about the A-Z Challenge. Wish I could remember so I could give that blogger a great big thank you. I’d been wanting to start a blog, but didn’t like the idea of writing without anyone knowing I was there. The Challenge offered me the perfect place to start.
I strapped on my hiking boots and set off to climb the mountain. Like Cheryl Strayed in Wild, I wasn’t quite prepared for the journey. First I had to learn how to add a bog to my website. No problem, I called on Maggie McLaughlin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggie-mclaughlin
who advises me on all things technical. By the end of March my image was of Maggie as Sisyphus at the bottom of the hill endlessly pushing me, the boulder, up the hill only to have me roll back. We both persevered and got the blog up and running.
I signed up as number 508, Thoughts While Walking the Dog, with the theme of Women in the 1930s.
With April looming on the horizon, I planned to have all my posts done and still be able to take my already paid-for vacation at the end of the month. Life has a way of wiggling itself onto the trail, and I had to take a detour from my plan. No worries. I’d just write two posts every day and be finished by mid-April. And that’s sort of how it worked out. Determined not to drop out or miss a post, I devoted myself each day, even Sundays, to write for the Challenge. But near the end I was scrambling.
Would I do it again? Yes. It was lots of work, but so much fun too. Next year I hope I’ll be able to stick to my plan and do more blog hopping and commenting.
One precious thing I take away is that I no longer fear “being out there.” Well, I do still have some fear, but now that I’ve done it, I know I can swim with the big kids. As a writer, I’m an introvert. But I do want people to read my writing.
My regrets are that I didn’t find or take the time to figure out the #AtoZChats on Thursdays, didn’t post on Facebook and only tweeted about the Challenge once, which might have something to do with being visible and a lot to do with my technical savvy. I also wish I had more skill in arranging and using photos and videos. There is time to develop that for next year.
I’ve connected with people around the world that I would not have found in a million years. Here’s a list in random order of some of the sites I’ve enjoyed reading.
http://www.historyroundabout.wordpress.com
http://www.pluckingofmyheartstrings.com
http://www.thecourseofevents.wordpress.com
http://www.lizbrownleepoet.com
http://www.joyofhealthbeautyandnutrition.wordpress.com
http://www.savingshards.wordpress.com
http://www.stephenyhoughtlin.com
http://www.doreeweller.wordpress.com
http://www.lifeaspotpourri.com
http://www.cassmob.wordpress.com
There are many, many more at:
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/sign-ups-for-2016-to-z-blogging.html
My thanks to the organizers of the Challenge. See you next year.
All right then. Let’s throw a couple.
Lori Henriksen 
May 11, 2016 at 11:03 am
HAHAHAHA … I love the Wile E. Coyote Genius Card. Excellent blogging throughout the A-Z blog challenge!
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May 11, 2016 at 3:25 pm
Thanks Maggie, I couldn’t have done it without you.
May 11, 2016 at 1:43 pm
Hey Lori!
You know? I understand you. For a long time, I thought I didn’t have anything interesting to say, that’s why I never started a blog. Then, when I decided I wanted to get published and so I needed a platform, I just had to start the blog, thinking I’d figure out something.
And I’m so happy I did. My blog is giving me a lot of good things today and I kick myself for not doing it before.
Last year (my first year) the challenge taught me that I shouldn’t be afraid to share what I know. Even after having started the blog and even after having reseached 1920s America for five years, I decided I wouldn’t blog about it. I didn’t (and still don’t) feel an expert and well… I don’t know, I supposed I was afraid.
But the challenge forced me to write 26 posts in a month, I needed a guidance and something factual to share. Well, it just had to be the 1920s, I had to cope with it.
And I discovered that, even if I’m no expert, I can nonetheless share what I do know. And it feels good 🙂
Today, my 1920s posts are the ones my readers like the most. And I like writing them. And I have to thank the challenge for this.
The reason why I’m telling you is that we shouldn’t let fear stop us. We’re doing a disservice to ourselve. If we have somethign to share, we shoudl do it 🙂
May 11, 2016 at 3:25 pm
Thanks for sharing your own story. It’s good to know I’m not alone. I found that in immersing myself in the 1930s for the blog I learned a lot of things I didn’t know. Like you I did a lot of research, still don’t consider myself an expert. No more fear.
May 12, 2016 at 7:18 am
I loved reading your posts (and am still catching up). I also wasn’t able to participate much on the Twitter chats or Facebook posts thanks to technical savvy and timing. That’s something I would definitely change next year. Great job on completing the challenge and thanks for the shout out!
May 12, 2016 at 6:30 pm
Thanks for reading and you’re welcome for the shout out. I’ve enjoyed your posts.