Z: The End and What I Learned

I don’t have a catchy title or word for the letter Z for the A to Z Blogging Challenge.

Bittersweet. That’s the word I’d use to describe the end of this road. I’m proud of myself for accomplishing all 26 posts for the month of April. I’m also somewhat disappointed now that it’s ending. Well, this challenge has taught me to keep going and maintain my commitment because I agreed to do it. That’s been the best part. Reflecting on the last month, here’s what I learned:

I hadn’t participated in a challenge of any sort in a few years. The last challenge I did was a food and exercise game that lasted two months. But this, my friends, has been very different. It was like being back in college. I literally wrote, edited or brainstormed a topic everyday for over a month. I’ve been eating, sleeping, reading, dreaming, discussing my afterdefeat blog. 

When I initially heard about this challenge, I said yes and blindly signed up. It seemed cool and somewhat challenging. I shrugged and felt lackadaisical about it. And then when March 29th hit, I realized I needed to get my head straight if I was going to do this in a few days. So, quickly I planned it out by creating a spreadsheet with alphabetical topics and spoke to a photographer/graphic designer about helping me. Zac Wasserman of Z Penguin Designs (his contact information is at the bottom of the post) has been professional and remarkable to work with. I’d highly recommend him for logos, custom graphics, web design, and one-of-a-kind photography. He’s also a great motivator!

Doing this challenge has been really good for me. I’ve been writing my blog for more than a year and I’m certain I want to keep at it. I’m also certain that I love Life Coaching, and the two go hand in hand for me. I’m proud to report that I’ve now published 87 posts and I’m getting my own column on The Good Men Project!

The A to Z Blogging Challenge taught me how to write faster and shorten some of my pieces. It also showed me blind spots in my writing, which I noticed by reading other participants’ posts. Seeing the social media prowess of other bloggers is something I long to learn and implement, as well.

Overall, this has been a fantastic journey for me. Having due dates and committing to something has kept me accountable and motivated in a way that was lacking. I’ve set new goals as a result of this challenge. It was really tough in the middle of the alphabet, when I felt busy with clients and pressed for time. Then, toward the end, I experienced a personal loss and have been having a rough time. I kept at it and decided not to slow down or quit, though there were a few days I had difficulty thinking of things to write about.

I give the A to Z Challenge two thumbs up! It’s a great challenge to do as a starting point for blogging or if you need accountability for your writing.

Thank you for reading my work, for commenting, for sharing, and for keeping me going. I’m humbled by the response I’ve had. Keep on the lookout for more original blog posts!

Join me! Please visit my coaching website, Coaching By Nina Rubin.

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Photography and graphics by Z Penguin Designs.

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