Monday, March 31, 2014

Tomorrow's The Big Day! #atozchallenge






When I found this picture I immediately knew it was the one.  That's what I feel like.  At last count there were 1930 of us crazy folks taking part in the biggest blog hop of the year.  The April A-Z Challenge starts TOMORROW.  I'm trying not to freak out, just as this guy is, with the biting of his lips and the holding back of the tears, but you can see it lurking.

What am I afraid of?  What's the big deal. Well, it's complicated.  It's not really fear as much as a WOW. I wish I was more prepared.  

Then there's the perfectionist side that says, "You'll never get everything done."  

The co-host side of me says, "What if a lot of people drop out?"  

The competitive side says, "What if people don't like my posts this year?"

The egotistical side says, "What if I don't get any more followers?"

The organizational side says, "What if no one follows my directions?"

Then reason takes over.  I love it when she does that. I should invite her over more often ;-)

All those "what ifs" I listed aren't at ALL what this Challenge is about it.  Those don't matter. Those are NOT the goals.

Here's why I do the A-Z, and here's why I spend so much time behind the scenes making sure it runs smoothly:

We are building a community.  We are trying to make the world smaller.  We have participants from all corners of the globe.  We can make friends with people continents (and 15 hours time difference) away.  We can meet people just like us, and bond instantly, or we can meet people whose lives are so completely different from ours we marvel.  

We can find blogs about topics we'd never have even known existed if we hadn't stumbled upon them in our wanderings around the list.  We can network, make friends, and expand our reading list.

The point is not us, it's THEM.  Those bloggers waiting for us to stop by.  1930 bloggers have laid out the welcome mat, and if they're Swedish, the coffee will be on and the array of goodies set out.  Bring flowers.

I'll see you tomorrow when "It's very Swedish..." begins.  You'll learn what that means then.

~Tina, excited and anticipating and shoving the anxious aside


Photo Credit

18 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Well said, Tina! We can't worry about the what ifs. We can only do our best and enjoy the sense of community this promotes.
Ready for the Challenge - bring it on!

Unknown said...

Even though I'm not participating, I can't wait to see all the post!

A Beer for the Shower said...

This was so well said that we almost wish we had taken place in it this year. But if I had to draw something every single day I'd probably go mentally unstable and my drawing hand would just wither away and fall off.

Best of luck to you, and we're excited to see what you come up with. Oh, and new followers are great, but you've also got some pretty cool ones who are already following you along for the journey anyway... :)

JoJo said...

Good luck to everyone! Remember to turn off your CAPTCHA!

Mary Aalgaard said...

Awesome. I have most of those same What ifs. I'd like to marry a member of the Reason family! Or, at least, have one move in. Ha. Oh, and speaking of Swedish coffee, I mentioned it in my E is for egg post.
Cheers!
Play off the Page

Kate @ Another Clean Slate said...

It's going to be fun!!

Jo said...

I've already posted 2 of my posts. I think it will be fun if not a tad harassing trying to visit as many as possible. I just read the theme for one of my new people, she is going to bake 26 pies and write about each one. Very ambitious. Lot of hard work too.

Jo said...

Forgot to say she is Melissa Mock at Hungry Enough to Eat Six.

shelly said...

I feel like that baby looks, too. I've had issues with Google Chrome crashing on me. So I've only got posts A to H completed. And then there are some letters I had no idea. So I found some eighties bands and will post their music videos. After all, it is an eighties story.

Chocolate-covered almond hugs!
Shelly

Andrew Leon said...

A to Z has never proven to be much of a thing for and followers. It's probably because I write too much.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Tina .. well written .. so pleased I've been working with you a la minion style ..

See you tomorrow .. cheers and thanks for all your brilliant reminder posts .. enjoy it ! Hils

Gail M Baugniet - Author said...

This is all very exciting for me. I love your point about meeting new people. That is my main goal of participating in AtoZ.

I definitely look forward to reading your posts to learn what it means to be Swedish!

Anonymous said...

Woo Hoo - that photo is too funny. We could all post that. Hell, we could post your whole list of what if's. And then you reminded us what it's all about. The global reach and talent in the blogosphere are truly astounding. A ticket to ride and no luggage to carry. See you tomorrow, Tina. For kaffee.

Ida Thought said...

Over 2000 now Tina -I'm close enough in Denmark to be drinking coffee with Swedes, both are new cultures for me and I love the lifestyle - all the best, the start guns have blasted

Brian Miller said...

smiles. good luck with that...2000 is a ton of people...and hopefully they believe int aht community as well...and catch on to what you all are doing...

Joanne said...

Life is Good and we are challenged. Indeed, we shall make new friends. Have fun

Anonymous said...

Great points Tina! I'm very excited for my first A to Z. Of course I'm still scrambling to finish all my posts, which makes it feel like wrapping presents at 2am on Christmas Eve.... if Opening Day and the series finale of How I Met Your Mother were also on Christmas Eve :/

Rachel said...

I needed this. I'm also freaking out about the Challenge (as I will explain in my A post). This was reassuring and it made me smile. It's a good reminder about why I enjoy it and want to do it this year also.