REFLECTION – Blogging from A-Z April (2015) Challenge
A-to-Z Reflection [2015] - Lg

AMAZING in a word, with huge thanks to Arlee Bird and all those wonderful minions, muffins, co-hosts and helpers. Without you, the challenge wouldn’t be.

it was an absolute blast all the way through, tough, exhausting, challenging, rewarding.

Firstly, I’d like to thank all who took the time and trouble to make comments on my blog. This gave me the oomph to continue – without your active participation I may have folded. It was wonderful to receive thoughtful comments on my theme on Dreams and to comment back, visit those blogs as well as jumping around here and there on the list, including those who were before or after me on the list. All posts by others that I visited were of such a high standard, thoroughly interesting, thought provoking, sometimes downright funny – laugh out loud!

Prescheduling was the only way to go for me otherwise I would have been lost in the stratosphere, although towards the end I was working like mad on drafts.

I would LOVE to list all those whose posts stood out and provide links but I’m not that computer savvy. I’ll have to have help from my son from afar to put up the survivor and reflection badges in the side bar in due course. How I got up the badge at the top of this post is a bit of a miracle. I copied and pasted it though I had to save it to blog images firstly.

Many in the list did not have the A-Z badge; I commented on many irrespective of badge or not; many did not comment back so those I gave up on.

Again, my heartfelt thanks to all. Because of you I feel like a survivor and what a great feeling it is!

sunflowerimages

The flowers are for Tina, in absentia …

66 Comments on Reflection Blogging from A-Z April (2015) Challenge

  1. Simply loved your theme, Susan. It was so insightful and inspiring. Thanks for sharing such myriad facets of dreams. And it was great to connect with you this April. Cheers 🙂

  2. Hi Susan – lots of comments – people really seemed to enjoy your Dream theme – and then we could all learn from the comment entries … I really need to spend time reading through them all … and checking out the concept of dreams elsewhere to keep the learning going.

    I had some wonderful referrals from your blog – who connected happily with me .. I’m delighted when the blogging world develops into further great friendships …

    The sunflowers are wonderful … I so miss Tina – as one of her minions we developed a great rapport … Cheers for now – and thanks for all the cross commenting and enthusiasm you gave my posts for my Cornish roots .. Hilary

    • Hi Hilary, thank you so much for coming by! I also loved the comments entries. And love the idea of others coming to you via this way – the best way to develop further friendships which I personally felt in my interaction with you and your spectacular Cornish posts. There are some wonderful people in this world as I continue to learn –
      Cheers to you Hilary and I hope all well. Susan

  4. Bravo! It really is amazing how many interesting bloggers there are in the challenge! I glad to see you survived another year! Looking forward to your 2016 writings.

    • Thanks Liz. Were you taking part? I missed you this time round? In which case I’m sorry because I remember you from last year and the year before ..

  5. Susan – I’m so glad you offered a bouquet in Tina’s memory. I was so happy to meet her prior to last year’s Challenge, and frankly she was the reason I participated. I couldn’t bring myself to do it this year without her, and I thought of her every time an A to Z’er scrolled through my Reader.

    I will continue to visit your Challenge posts because they are such a worthwhile seminar on that half of our lives – sleeping and dreaming – that we don’t understand and appreciate as well as we should. Thank you so much for providing all of your knowledge and research.

    My doc recommended I stop taking my sleeping med because studies have shown a longterm link to dementia. As I wean from that, try unmedicated sleep (?) or another medical alternative, my dreams have changed in both the plots, characters and even the time of night I’m aware that I’m dreaming. I will certainly be seeking info and support from you Challenge posts.

    • Thank you Sammy D. I did not know that it was on account of Tina no longer being with us that you decided not to do the A-Z this year.

      And thank you also for your kind comments re the thread on Dreams. I also did not know that sleeping pills may lead to dementia. PLEASE if you know of a non medical alternative, let me know. 🙂

  6. Loved your A-to-Z series, Susan… Your writing always transports me deeper into my metaphysical self, and influences me long after reading. Thank you for sharing your words and your thoughts and your knowledge; they’re all irreplaceable, invaluable gifts 🙂

    I’m also happy to let you know you’re one of the three winners in the giveaway for my Curaçao short-story collection — yay! Congratulations 🙂 Here’s a link to The Miracle of Small Things A-to-Z Giveaway Results post, and let me know when you can whether you’d like an e-book or a print copy, as well as how you’d prefer me to get it to you. If email is easier, just drop me a line at guilie.quietlaughter (at) gmail.com 🙂

    Thanks for joining in the guessing game, and for all the visits to my blog… Your comments made my day 🙂

    • SUCH a kind comment Guilie thank you so much! It was such a pleasure! As were your posts that were an absolute delight, learning more about the beauty of Curacao – even the word is musical!

      And of course you’ve made my day 🙂 🙂 🙂 thank you thank you thank you! I’ll think about how best to receive your lovely gift … I have a Kindle. Email may be easier on your side?

      I’m popping over now to the link you provided to check the other 2 who are winners!

      Thank you Guilie! 🙂 🙂 🙂

  8. My Dear Susan,
    You did a wonderful job and fulfilled all of my expectations completely. Thank you for all the love and understanding you put into each article. Your sincerity came through.
    Shalom,
    Patricia

  9. I just found your blog because it was highlighted by Arlee Bird in his post today. I’m looking forward to coming back to check out some of your A-Z posts on dreams. I love dreaming…one of the main reasons I love to sleep! 🙂 Hope to see you for the A-Z Road Trip…
    Michele at Angels Bark

    • Thanks Michelle! I’ve just popped into your reflections post and will be going back to your A-Z in due course to check out my kinda music 🙂

  11. You were such an amazing commenter on other blogs and so interactive with the people who commented on your blog. I felt encouraged each time you stopped by. In looking at your theme as a whole, it seemed like a very comprehensive effort to look at each aspect of dreams and dreaming. I’m impressed by your ability to write ahead and schedule. I tried this year, but only got as far as 24 hours ahead!
    Maui Jungalow

    • Thanks Courtney, you were pretty interactive as well on your very well researched and lived world in Maui. For me, the first A-Z was a midnight story, every single night. The 2nd (last year) was in collaboration with Susan Schwartz when we blogged on Aging & Becoming, so slightly easier! This year was up to date for the first half but towards the end was up in the late hours … 🙂 Your posts were always a pleasure Courtney, and thank you for coming by ..

  12. I enjoyed your series of course because of my interest in dreams. And your posts were so intelligent, thoughtful, and well written. There are some I still need to go back to visit.

    Thanks your participation–you added some high quality to the Challenge. We also appreciate your Reflections post.

    Arlee Bird
    A to Z Challenge Co-host
    Tossing It Out

    • Thanks so much Arlee! Not only for your very kind comment but because of being the co-host of this AmaZing challenge! I enjoyed your posts on dreams as well and your recognition of them as a valuable resource.

      I look forward to getting back into BOTB and your other posts which I always enjoy in due course. Have a great weekend!

  13. I was/am totally fascinated with your topic. I even started a dream journal (haven’t written in it much, yet, but I do have some vivid dreams, at times.) You did great. To put the badge on the sidebar, you need to go into your dashboard, click widgets and add an image. You’ll need to copy and paste the url that is under the picture on the A to Z blog.
    Cheers to a great April and writing success!

    • Thank you Mary. The more attention one pays to the dream the more they come (although there can be arid times in my experience when I don’t record). That is so great about your vivid dreams and writing them down. Just yesterday I was reading some very old dream journals and was amazed at the recurring themes portrayed in different ways …

      Thank you for saying about the badge and putting it up – I’ve transcribed that now onto a paper note. Just the word widget alarms me, but you’ve made it seem so simple thank you!

      And cheers to you and your continued success in whatever you do!

  15. Congratulations on finishing A to Z! Your posts were wonderful, beautifully written and so interesting. I’m so pleased to have found your blog. It definitely didn’t show that you were struggling with the drafts towards the end, in fact I thought there was a real calmness and almost zen like quality to your posts so whatever was going on behind the scenes you did a wonderful job! 🙂

  16. I so loved your theme Susan – kudos for a job very well done. And thank you for coming by and visiting me so frequently, leaving those much-appreciated comments. It was a fun and AmaZing challenge indeed. And what a lovely tribute to Tina – simply beautiful.

    • Thank you very much Deborah. It was always my pleasure to come by your posts and partake of the food of The Fool, always there in his wisdom, portrayed so well by you.

  17. Amazing is the right word. Both for the challenge and for your own remarkable posts. Truly wonderful. Thank you for a great month!

  18. What a wonderful gesture with the flowers, Susan. Very moving. I missed Tina’s presence. She really was a force around here, visiting, encouraging, doing her own blogs. And I so enjoyed connecting with you for a whole month, reading posts that, as I had mentioned, felt like an experience not just something to read. Wonderful, indeed. I agree with all your descriptions: exhausting, challenging, rewarding. Congrats on completion and on a job very well done. And thank you for being such a friend.

    • Thank you Silvia and thank you for being a valuable friend. And for your very kind comment. Congrats to you too!

  19. Thanks for all the support during the Challenge, Susan, and congrats for finishing.

    The people who didn’t follow back were frustrating. There were a few bloggers I really enjoyed reading, but I couldn’t keep up the effort if they didn’t return the favour.

    • Thanks J.H. I enjoyed your blog on horror and suspense very much! Congrats to you too for finishing! I agree re other blogs that were amazing and I commented for a while but when it was clear that there was no reciprocity coming, I too couldn’t keep it up …and time of course always a factor. There were many other people who were so supportive and whose blogs I really really enjoyed so my attention was on them and that!

  20. Dear Susan–I first met you during an earlier A to Z challenge, and I felt at that time that if you had been the only person I’d connected with, the thirty days of stress and sleeplessness would have been well worth it. That’s exactly how I feel this time around too. Each and every post you wrote lifted me up, inspired me, and made me think more deeply. You are a gift to the blogging world, my friend, and I cherish you.

    • So so kind Kern thank you very much indeed! I felt that way about you too, that you are a cherished friend. I was so pleased that you decided to take up the challenge! I remember you from an earlier A-Z too … and was always so pleased when you came up and I could just bask in your posts. We’ll keep up our contact 🙂

  21. Susan Scott, thanks for expressing interest in me doing the A to Z 2016 Blog.

    I cannot yet imagine myself getting through all 26 days of presentation, not anywhere close to the level and quality I have seen here! What I have experienced with your 2015 is, indeed, a high bar to vault over!

    • Thanks you for coming by Joseph! Forget about any high bars – had I thought of that I would have folded in 2 secs. if I’d compared myself to anyone else. Keeping them short helps – not that I kept to my own rule on many occasions ..

  22. And, to you, Susan, a bouquet of thanks for nudging me into taking up the A-Z Challenge, for your consistent and positive comments on my blog, and for your elucidating Dreams theme. And for being my friend.

    • Thank you Samantha, for being my friend, that is lovely and long may it continue. Well done for taking up the challenge!

  23. Your posts were on dreams but also ‘dreamlike’. I only went to your blog when I had time to read and reflect, and looked forward to it. Prescheduling is definitely the way to go (failed to do seven and paid for it with some late nights).

    • Thanks Sharon so much! I was in the same boat towards the end, tearing out my hair. I looked forward to yours about those amazing women inventors …

  24. Susan I am glad I connected with you, it was a beautiful encounter with you through your post, I just loved every post of yours, you were very intresting, creative, inspiring and authentic. I ensured that I did not miss any of your posts, and I had thoroughly enjoyed reading and commenting. Thanks for sharing.. and I hope to stay in touch.

    • Thank you Genevive, very kind words! And thank you for your lovely posts on your life in India. I hope too to stay in touch.

  25. Loved your approach, Susan. You have me pondering an activity for my students based on using one letter. I learned a whole lot about dreams, stuff I should know since I participate in those quite often!

  26. I echo your wise words of reflection. It is true, that the people kind enough to comment keep us going. I love your intelligent, heartfelt words. I’m both tickled and sad that the Reflection is over as NOW I have to figure out what else I’m going to do. I’ll be traveling a couple of weekends this month, one to visit my daughter and family over in Spokane, and the other to travel down to Cannon Beach to celebrate my husband’s birthday with his kids. Maybe I can come up with some “food for thought.”

    Again… Thank you for your delightful A – Z posts. I enjoyed them very much. Hugs, Gwynn

    • Thank you so much Gwynn! Have a good break – you’ll always have food for thought in your inimitable way. Hugs back at you, Susan.

  28. Thank you for expressing thanks. It is something we do too little of and perhaps too unconsciously. Your sensitivity reminds us of its importance.
    Thank you…
    Susan

  29. Susan, Lovely to keep our annual connection through this blog. I became more insightful about my dreams and enjoyed reading others’ comments also.

    Thanks for being here.
    Beth

    • Thanks so much Beth! Yes I agree lovely to have this annual connection…and the others’ comments were what made it …

      Susan

  30. My overall experience with A to Z 2015 challenge was superb! The invention of A to Z is great! It makes provision for all individuals who directly/ indirectly participated to grow Spiritually, Enrichment of Friendships, and Skills that provide Benefits to Humanity.

    • Thank you Joseph. Next year will you participate? We’d love to hear what you have to say through the A-Z!

    • Thank you Gillian. Dreams can bring a balance to these disturbing times we live in and we hear our own voice ..

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