THE A TO Z CHALLENGE – 2018
Every year I tell myself I won’t be doing 26 posts in one month – it’s too much to do, it’s too time consuming, it’s too hard to come up with that many new ideas, and the list goes on. But, here I am back again for my THIRD year and keen to jump into the A to Z maelstrom again.
I can’t believe that I’m excited about this, but the Challenge has sucked me in and I’m keen to take up the mantle again, and also to see what other bloggers are writing about – I learn new stuff and I meet new people – what’s not to love?
MY THEME FOR 2018
So……here I go again! For the 2018 A to Z Challenge, my theme for this year is going to be:
THE A TO Z(EN) OF LIFE via the Dalai Lama
BEING "ZEN"
I am one of the least "Zen" people I know - my life can be quite frenetic at times, and I'd like a little more calmness. I can’t think of a better person to guide me through the A to Z(en) of life than the Dalai Lama – he’s cool, calm, and collected – all character qualities I aspire to, so I’m hoping I learn a few lessons along the way and that others enjoy sharing the month with me.
Stay tuned for April 1st when the A to Z Challenge kicks off and I hope you pop in each day to read what the Dalai Lama and I come up with – it’s going to be ZEN! It will also be short and sweet (500 words or less in each post) and I'll have a quote for you to pin each time as well - because everybody loves a great quote....
Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.
Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.
Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.
Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.
Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.
My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.
Sleep is the best meditation.
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
The purpose of our lives is to be happy.
SPEAKING OF QUOTES:
Here's a few quotes from the Dalai Lama himself - he says a lot of sensible stuff!Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.
Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.
Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.
Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.
Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.
My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.
Sleep is the best meditation.
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
The purpose of our lives is to be happy.
See you on April 1st!
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Can't wait to start reading along, Leanne!
ReplyDeleteSSG xxx
I hope you pop in to visit regularly SSG - I need all the encouragement I can get!
DeleteThank you for the inspiration, Leanne. I have just signed up for this challenge myself. I am thoroughly impressed that you are taking on the third year of this challenge. At this point, I am just hoping to make it through at least Day One (A). See you there!
ReplyDeleteYay Donna!! Go you!! I'm glad you're joining the party - there's no shame in not making it to the end, but I bet you push through because you finish what you start (unless an exciting trip entices you away...)
DeleteAll the best for the challenge Leanne! I've never been game enough to take it on but I'm in awe of those who do (and who go back year after year!)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouraging words Kirsty - I wonder why I do it to myself every year, but for some reason March Madness inspires me and before I know it, I've signed my April away and I'm diving into the depths of the A to Z yet again!
DeleteGood on you Leanne, three years in a row, woohoo! I'm still wondering whether I'm courageous (or, ummm, silly??) enough to do this, being a newbie and all!! I have a week or so left to decide.......... so I might see you there xx
ReplyDeleteYou could soooo do it Sue - you just need to keep your posts short and sweet so you don't crash and burn halfway through (a fate many A to Z-ers suffer). It's a great way to push yourself to write more - and you could make an e-book at the end if you were really keen!
DeleteLooking forward to reading your posts Leanne and learning to bring more calm to my life. Good for you to take the challenge again and thank you for encouraging me to try again this year. It will be great to have each other to spur us on in the challenge.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you're doing this with me Sue - we will be each other's cheer squad as we push through to the end. I'm excited to get started and I have "A" ready and raring to go on the 1st of April!
DeleteDitto what Sue says. Ready for more calm, which I always type first as CLAM...wouldn't have more clam, too!
DeleteAwesome theme Leanne! I'm not participating this year but will cheer from the sidelines! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteIt's great to have support from someone who's "been there and done that" and knows the enormity of the undertaking Sanch - any cheering comments will be accepted with gratitude xx
DeleteI’ve never considered doing these types of challenges but I take my hat off to you all for taking it on. I look forward to your posts Leanne and wish you well 😊
ReplyDeleteThanks Deb - you can switch between Sue's posts and mine - we'll be sweating it out together to make it through to the end of April without having a nervous breakdown along the way! Poor Sue only jumped in at the last minute so she's even braver than me.
DeleteA great theme! I'm borrowing Zen for my Z post this year ("Zen and the art of online dating"), so I'm looking forward to reading all your posts. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to loan Zen to you Laura and I'll be following along with your online dating tips - I have a husband but you never know.....
DeleteYou gave me a chuckle. A to Z is one of those things that seems like it will be such a hassle and then we can't resist doing it again. Glad you're back. Your theme might be good for getting us in the right frame of mind.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Arlee I don't know why I do it to myself every year, but it's irresistible. I'm hoping I'll come out of it feeling very Zen and I'm really looking forward to all the connections and commenting - that's what makes it so much fun.
DeleteLOVE your theme and Mr Lama's quotes. Very cool! Looking forward to following you again 💖
ReplyDeletePS: our themes will interlock at the letter W. You'll see why when we get there.
Hi Tamara - I'm so glad you're onboard with it again this year - we'll be rocking along together and now I'm dying to see how we intersect on "W"! Bring it on :)
DeleteWow. Your theme sounds pretty intriguing and I am looking forward to reading your posts. All the best for the challenge.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Shalz - are you not joining in this year? I'll still be thrilled to have you in my corner cheering me on :)
DeleteYour Zen posts will be much needed for me during the challenge. I keep asking myself why, why, why I'm taking it on when April this year will be crazy-busy for me. But, I love the A to Z Challenge, so what can I say besides, "I'm in!"
ReplyDeleteTrudy @ Reel Focus
Theme: Guess the movies from the taglines!
Hi Trudy - I ask the the "why??" question each year and yet I still get lured back in. It's such a great group to be involved with and I'll be following your posts again this year x
DeleteThis'll be good!
ReplyDeleteI hope so Diane - I'm getting them together ahead of time so I don't drown and it's been fun to do.
DeleteLove that quote so much. Says it all.
ReplyDeleteThanks Laurie - he's a pretty cool guy and I think he'll teach me a bit along the way.
DeleteThis is such a cool theme - I'll be there! Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteIt's so much fun to see familiar "faces" turning up again for the Challenge this year Alana - I feel like I'm part of the AtoZ family now I'm here for my third year. Looking forward to following your posts through April too x
DeleteI absolutely love your theme. I'd decided against doing the A to z Challenge this year as the schoolyear is frenetic in April but I'm so tempted. Good luck and I'm really looking forward to reading.
ReplyDeleteOh what a shame that you're not throwing your hat into the ring again Kalpanaa - but I'm glad you'll be around to support me and cheer me on through the month x
DeleteI recall this from last year and now here you are again! How quickly does a year go. I look forward to seeing (reading) what you blog about. Thank you for linking up for #ltw 12/52. Next week's optional prompt (& marking 1/4 of way through 2018!) is "origin of my name'. Denyse x
ReplyDeleteHi Denyse - I can't believe a year has zipped past either! I'll be looking forward to linking up with you next Monday to see how your name ties in with quarter of the way through the year!
DeleteI admire your discipline and fortitude for this challenge!
ReplyDeleteThanks Haralee - I'm not sure if it's bravery or idiocracy - we'll see (if I'm still alive by the end of the month!)
DeleteWhat great quotes, especially as today is International Day of Happiness. :-) I am impressed by your willingness to tackle the A-Z challenge and I look forward to your daily quotes. I believe they will be especially inspiring in light of my focus on the word "flow" in 2018. That seems a lot like zen. Thanks, Leanne.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know it was happiness day today Christie - the Dalai Lama is one of the happiest and calmest people I know - he fits the day perfectly. And yes, I think some of my posts will tie in really well with your word for the year.
DeleteHi Leanne looking forward to the challenge together. Thanks for co-hosting #MLSTL and I've shared on social media. x
ReplyDeleteMe too Sue - it's going to be fun having friends along for the ride :)
DeleteI could use a little more zen in my life too. Looking forward to reading your posts.
ReplyDeleteWeekendsInMaine
I figure you can never have too much Zen in this hustle and bustle age Karen :)
DeleteBravo, Leanne, for taking on another year of the A to Z challenge. Looking forward to reading your posts.
ReplyDeleteThanks Natalie - I need all the encouragement I can get to make it through!
DeleteI'm so impressed Leanne. And what a great series it will be - can't wait for some good quotes to Pin. Do you think anyone would be interested in an outfit a day for this kind of series? I'm not sure if it's a bit fluffy in the light of a series of Dalai Lama inspired posts.
ReplyDeleteThere is a HUGE range of posts and your idea would fit perfectly Jo - it doesn't kick off until 1st April and you just link your post to the daily thread on their FB page and/or in the comments on their blog. I just pick a few other blogs that look interesting and leave a comment - it's a fun way to get to meet other bloggers. You could throw together a quick Theme Reveal post this week and link it to the others on (https://www.facebook.com/atozchallenge/). Yours would be lots of photos and not much writing so shouldn't be too onerous.
DeleteYou're very brave Leanne to tackle daily posts for a month but I can't wait to read them all. I love your theme! Bring on April! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Min - I'm feeling quite on top of things atm - ahead of myself with my posts and on track. But I'll also be very relieved when I reach the end of the marathon!
DeleteI can't wait to read your posts. I can not imagine trying to write something everyday for a month.
ReplyDeleteI am completely amazed by bloggers who write daily - doing it for a month is exhausting enough for me - then I have the rest of the year to recover!
DeleteHi Leanne, I am not very Zen either. It is a laudable goal, however. I am not doing the challenge because I already have too many irons in the fire and that many posts totally intimidates me. I will enjoy reading your posts and others in the MLSTL community.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if the pressure will help my Zen-ness Michele, but I couldn't resist stepping up to the Challenge again (it's my Type A personality getting the best of me again!)
Deleteooooh A to Zen...I love it! And I'm tempted to join you - even though work is messy, I have a large freelance article to write & I'll be away for the last 2 weeks of April... Tempted...
ReplyDeleteI'd try to lure you to the dark side Jo, but unless you have the headspace for it, it would end up being a nightmare. Still.....it'd be great to have another friend to add to my AtoZ reading list each day x
DeleteLove your theme! How exciting! Thanks for sharing at the Blogger's Pit Stop! Can't wait to see what you link up next week! Roseann from This Autoimmune Life
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous theme. I'm not very zen either, but I love the Dalai Lama and is wise quotes. I'm following on Feedly and really look forward to seeing your posts for the challenge. Also, I love the colourful look of your blog.
ReplyDeletelove your theme. looking forward to reading along and hopefully, learning a bit of zen for myself too ;)
ReplyDeleteGood Luck!