Although I spent all of April participating in the A-to-Z blogging challenge, we’re not quite done yet. All those who played are invited to write a reflections post.
I had a fabulous time this year, my fourth year playing. I’m crazy about abecedariums and any excuse to create them delights me. I really enjoyed writing; and no, I wasn’t one of the participants who prepared their posts in advance. For me that adds to the hectic excitement of it all, and I like being in the creative flow of the moment. I equally enjoyed visiting other blogs, and made a concerted effort to visit a great many. What an assortment of intriguing things folks chose to write about. I loved scoping out posts of current friends, and I’ve found lots of new blogs and folks to follow – how fun! While there are truly too many to mention here, you know I love to share treasures, so I’ll be pointing you in the direction of some of my faves in upcoming posts. I feel pretty strongly that we shouldn’t stop sharing, engaging, and celebrating each other just because the challenge container is closed. In the meantime, I want to extend big thanks and love to everyone who stopped by and commented during the challenge.
I understand we all have our own reasons for participating and our own ways of navigating said participation, and that’s how it should be. I will say though I was somewhat surprised, although not entirely as I think this is just simply the nature of the game, that not everyone shares my views about commenting. No, how can that be?! While in my book, common courtesy suggests that if someone visits my blog, I will return the favor. I get that not everyone feels this way. And I also clearly understand that my blog is not a right-fit for many people. I’m totally fine with that, and I believe absolutely we should give our attention to those things that delight us. Still, here’s the thing for me: Blogging is already often considered old school, and as we are increasingly collectively swept away in responding to each other with effortless clicking of “likes” before quickly moving along, I can’t help but fear we’re really irreparably losing our ability to engage with each other in meaningful ways. Alternatively, I don’t think I’m the only voice in world and everyone else exists to listen to me, period. I may have stepped up on a soapbox there, but there it is, out in plain sight, one of my life’s tenets – let’s be kind to one another.
I’m offering a shout out of thanks to all the members of the A-to-Z team – kudos for all your work. I especially loved the daily posting forms allowing us to not only see postees, but also sort the list in various ways.
I loved creating an abecedarium manifesto of wonders, curiosities, and delights currently captivating me, based on unusual, obscure, or simply charming-to-me words. Because it is a manifesto, it really ought to be read in whole, and so as part of this final reflections post I’m posting the manifesto in its entirety, with links to the individual words if you want to check out their meaning.
I welcome autognosis and its invitation to ever open my awareness. I want to live with deepened and expanded knowledge of who I truly am, and I want to embody that knowledge fully.
I am a steadfast adherent of balneal indulgences that relieve stress and promote well-being.
Here’s what I know for sure: the world is filled with coruscant treasures that invite us into deeper awareness. All around us there is always magic and nuance, the bold and the only hinted at, all waiting to be recognized if we have the eyes to see.
I cherish a world that encourages dabsters. May we all pursue to the level of expertise what brings us joy, and may there always also be room to tinker.
I relish euneirophrenia and the echo it brings from one dimension into another. I want to start all my mornings this way.
I feel very blessed and celebrate the foison in my life. May our hearts always be open to understanding all the true ways we are infinitely resourced, and may we find the joy in it all.
I love living in a world where gnomes can offer truth and guidance, often with a touch of humor. Wisdom teachings can be found in the most amazing forms.
I am committed to creating and living in a halcyon world where peace, loving-kindness, and serenity are valued currencies.
I’m inspired by International Klein Blue. I find it delightful to live in a world where there’s always the possibility of finding new colors, and there’s nothing preventing us from painting our lives any way we wish.
I celebrate living in a world of jessamy. I deeply appreciate beautiful fragrance and its magical ability to take one to both expected and unexpected places.
I am dedicated to kalology and opening my heart to both see and appreciate all the beauty that surrounds me; and inviting myself to share all my beauty as well.
I value the lemniscate as a reminder that everything is naturally in a state of endless flow, seeking integration and wholeness and from that a new level of expansion.
There will always be challenges to face, but I believe the margaritiferous nature of life invites us to heal into wholeness. With time, wisdom and devotion, what we build of our lives is the treasure we bear and what we have to offer.
I delight in my nubivagant nature. Clouds can be such a helpful reminder of how energy moves; how things shift; how not to hold on so tightly; and how to be both powerful and dance lightly.
I rejoice in being a strongly osmatic creature, able to deeply appreciate the scents around me; and I want to add my own fragrance to the medley as well.
I revel in the Pierian influences that invite me into creative self-expression and help me experience the world as the astonishing place it is.
I embrace quiddity, celebrating both the eccentricities each one of us expresses, and yet knowing ultimately we all carry the essence of oneness.
I am unabashedly a rosarian – I will always walk the rose path and welcome the gifts of these flowers, both hidden and undeniably apparent.
I revere the sibylline nature of the world and the life I live, and hope always to be a translator of the mysteries.
I wish to be a Truepenny – radiating my pure true essence in ways that bless all those around me.
May every utinam I hold in my heart be one I pursue with my actions.
I claim a vitative attitude and hope it’s contagious – may we all love our lives deeply and fully.
I am a devotee of wyobraźnia, and all the expansive possibilities our imagining invites.
I joyfully admit to xylophilia – I hold trees in great love and appreciation as guardians, ancient wisdom keepers, and deeply-rooted friends.
I applaud yeverous perspectives and the vibrancy and delight they invite me into.
As a zetetic, I’m looking for clues to keep my feet on the joy path and my heart attuned to loving-kindness.
And there you have it. I’d love to know what you think. Have a favorite among the words? Ever written your own manifesto? Considering playing in next year’s A-to-Z challenge? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
Please remain on your soapbox: “While in my book, common courtesy suggests that if someone visits my blog, I will return the favor. I get that not everyone feels this way.”
This fact is one of my biggest disappointments in the way that newish bloggers [and some arrogant oldish ones] behave. I am frustrated and disheartened by how many bloggers will “take” my comments, but can’t be bothered to visit my blog to “give” me any comments.
I, too, understand that I write a niche-y little blog, but I do so with the stated intention of starting comments and creating community. I’m careful about what I write so that everyone will feel welcome. While I am by nature generous of spirit having my generosity marginalized is making me less so.
Play nice, kids.
Indeed Ally. I absolutely think of you as a wayshower – a very engaged and engaging blogger inviting connection and community. For someone as committed as you are, I can certainly see how discouraging and disheartening this can be. More playing nicely please.
Lovely reflections post Deborah! I still have to put mine up. We have a few days grace I believe. Yours was always a joy to read, coming across new words and the depth behind them. Plus amazing and pleasing art work:) I always appreciated comments on mine and commented back. I was surprised at those whose blogs I managed to visit and left a comment did not comment back, nor visited mine. O well, so it is …
A favourite word? That’s a hard one – zetetic maybe …
Thank you Susan. The commenting issue is a curiosity to me, but as you say, so it is.
I think your choice of zetetic as a favorite suits you perfectly with your inquiring, seeking mind. I look forward to your reflections post, whenever you get to it.
I feel like this year had less collective visiting than previous years. Still, your blog was always worth returning to 🙂 And I love how the manifesto came out in the end! I think my favorite word was rosarian.
Thank you!
The Multicolored Diary: Weird Things in Hungarian Folktales
That’s an interesting observation. I’m curious to see what the survey results might say about that, as well as other people’s reflections. But in any case, thank you for your kind words, and for all your visits during the challenge. I had such fun doing the manifesto.
As a kindred rosarian, you know I’ve always got my eyes peeled (and ears tuned) for the rose-related folktales. 🙂
Hi Deborah – lovely that you’ve given us the whole of your Manifesto … I’ll be back to read it through – digest and absorb. I’m fond of Quiddity … eccentricities … but your concept was a delight.
I so agree about commenting back … and just generally being polite in the blogging world – congratulations – cheers Hilary
Thanks Hilary. While it was fun creating the manifesto letter by letter, it really does need to be read as a whole, to maintain its manifesto mojo. 🙂
I absolutely love your manifesto presented in this way, Deborah! I agree with you about commenting back and forth. True, there are people that I would not necessarily follow each and every post, but I did respond to each comment and searched for new people to check out as often as I could. I’m looking forward to the road trip to pick up some ones I may have missed.
I’m glad you enjoyed the manifesto as a whole Janet – I know it makes for a long post but I think manifesto protocol requires it. 🙂
I’m looking forward to road tripping as well – always a fun thing.
Very valid point – please use that soapbox frequently. I feel exactly the same way – so much discourtesy going around that it isn’t funny. Of course not every blog fits everyone’s taste, so? If a blogger has left a comment it’s the first rule of a bloghop (and even w/o any bloghop) that it should be reciprocated, regardless of interest. I think reciprocation this year was at the lowest I’ve experienced.
I found all of your words absorbing and posts fascinating. The whole idea of the manifesto is inspirational! Zetetic is probably my favourite 🙂 but xylophilia is a close second. Thank you!
Thanks Nilanjana. I love your choices of zetetic and xylophilia. And I totally encourage the creation of manifestos – I think it would be great fun to read yours.
I am finally getting to the reflections, that is reading them… I decided not to write one this year… I feel mixed about it all, and I don’t think it had as much to do with A to Z as where I am right now…
But grateful to have had a chance to enjoy your post.
Beth
I appreciate you stopping by Beth, and I appreciated your series as well. Wishing you all the best – and keep stretching!
Thank you for the daily treats in April Deborah.
I usually visited you when I had ample time to read your posts, ruminate a bit and sometimes go back to read again…loved it.
I like the idea of a manifesto. Mine would be a basic one addressed to my family which would probably say: Treat Arti like a goddess: Feed her, clothe her, look after her and then leave her alone to walk in the woods and to read! Howzzat? You reckon they’ll take to it?
Hugs and gratitude for your wise and wonderful words.
Thank you for all the kind words and visits Arti – we shared a most wonderful April didn’t we?
I personally give your manifesto a golden seal of approval, and declare it worthy for posting on your refrigerator. 🙂
Hari om
Deborah, it has been a delight making your acqaintance and sharing in your manifesto… of which every word is precious! May our connection continue joyfully.
Due to my particular ‘niche’ the number of visitors was self-limited and commenters even less so… I am not in blogging for numbers but for quality connection and that is achieved. I was requested to do my posts by one lady whom I visited daily and commented, but ended up not hearing from her beyond one post of the A to Z. That was disconcerting! She is one of longer-term connections. It otherwise really didn’t bother me if folk came back from my commenting to them, and as mentioned on my Z reflection, it is my preference that folk don’t do the cop out ‘great thanks for sharing’, so rather no comment at all…
It was an interesting experience but it definitely confirmed my long-term dislike of “hopping”. I am, however, immensely grateful for the new pals found 🙂
Blessings and Light
YAM xx
That’s really curious about the request Yamini, but in any case it proved a good thing for the rest of us. 🙂
For me, I believe that a challenge such as this really needs to be done for the inherent joy of it, but then again, I’m always talking about keeping my feet on the joy trail. And it’s certainly been a joy spending April writing, reading interesting things, and meeting new friends. Win-win-win.
I visited your blog a few times but can’t remember if I commented or not. I think “dabsters” would be my favorite word from your manifesto. Congrats on finishing and for enjoying writing daily!
I think you qualify as a dabster Kristin, in the expert sense, with all your skills at genealogical research and engaging writing. It’s been a delight peeking into the slice of your family history during this challenge.
That’s an excellent overview of your Challenge observations. Thank you for your Reflections and most of all for participating again this year.
I also did most of my posts at the last minute just like I did on the first year of the Challenge. I agree it offers a certain heightened sense of excitement, but I did start lapsing on my visiting and commenting rounds in the last few days. That lapse seems to be typical for me and I think for many others. I guess we get tired.
Great job and look forward to your joining us again next year!
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
I agree Lee, I think challenge fatigue is a real thing, and knowing it’s likely to occur is helpful. In a way I know it sounds a bit ridiculous, but seriously, the challenge really has taught me all kinds of things about myself and how I navigate and my preferences – all bonus components to the actual task at hand.
I appreciate your visits and comments, and as I’ve said before, I’m really grateful for the existence of the challenge and the in-the-wings work of it all. I certainly plan on joining again next year – it’s way too much fun to miss.
Your site is beautiful and your abecedariums are enlightening! I missed several of them, but I plan to read them as I do my daily blog commenting. I also subscribed so I won’t miss future blogs. How wonderful to meet you this A to Z!
Thank you for your kind words Heather, and it’s been a delight for me as well to meet you. Looking forward to connecting at a slightly more leisurely pace. 🙂
I have great difficulty NOT commenting on blogs! I enjoy giving my 2 cents worth on what people write. I’ve always loved to read, and to give my opinion, so that could be part of it. 🙂
That makes me smile Margaret.
Well done on completing the challenge. I love your manifesto but didn’t get to read all of your posts. I’m hoping to explore them in the coming weeks. I love the word abecedarium, I don’t think I’ve heard it before. And I share your views about commenting. Although some of my visits were later than I would have liked (I was on holiday for a week during April), I still replied to every comment and commented back too.
Thanks Tizzy. Abecedarium is one of those obscure words I love so much. 🙂
Being away for a week during the challenge adds a little extra dose of crazy fun to April. Fun though the month was, I’m happy to be moving into the at-my-own-leisurely-pace mode now.
Thanks for being a part of A to Z this year! You had a great theme, and I enjoyed reading your posts. Don’t be surprised if some of the people that didn’t visit/comment back do so in the coming months: April gets a little crazy for some of us…
Thanks John for both co-hosting and for your visits and comments – all greatly appreciated. Indeed April is delightfully (and maddening) crazy, and I’m glad there’s always time for a road trip. 🙂
I was away through most of April, and am very much enjoying reading back through your posts as I catch up on what I’ve missed. But what I really came to say was, ‘I saw this and thought of you’ – this lovely blog post about blossom: https://aclerkofoxford.blogspot.co.uk/2018/04/blostma.html
How kind Kathleen – thank you. And goodness, what a fantastic link – you’re sending me down a fabulous rabbit hole to explore with that blog. Wishing you lots of lovely blossoms to enjoy!
How great to have the manifesto in its entirety so we don’t miss the forest for the delightful trees!
I agree about the courtesy of engaging with those who comment on my blog, but as an introvert who generally keeps my thoughts to myself (yes, I know, blogging is an uneasy choice there!) I really do have to stretch myself to leave comments. So while I don’t get a great many commenters on my blog, I appreciate them all very much but simultaneously don’t really blame those who don’t comment. I have no desire for commenting on my blog to be an unpleasant duty for anyone. I say, it’s fine to leave a comment with enthusiasm, or don’t bother at all!
I’m intrigued by your reference to other abecedaries you’ve made – I’ll definitely check them out.