Tuesday, April 30, 2013

"Z" for "Ze end" and "Zillions of Thanks!" - My A to Z reflections post : The April Experience

Before I embarked on this journey of  "A to Z" I was skeptical , conscious and little scared as I felt I would never be able to make it to "Z". I have been blogging from nearly 5-6 years. Initially it was just a once in a blue moon blogging which started with my first poem "here" . I started with poems and slowly progressed to short stories , articles and much more. I still remember that amazing evening when a fellow team mate encouraged me by saying that I should move all the poems from email drafts and rusted folder with title "personal" on my office desktop to a personal blog :) Those were initial days of corporate life and I had my doubts. My language was bad and my skills were minimal and who will read it on my blog ?

He insisted and after too many thoughts I went ahead and created my blog on "Infyblogs" (blogs of Infosys where I worked.) I was surprised to see the response. Slowly my network increased and as every one suffers due to mundane working hours there was an instant connection and a "feel good" factor when ever I read the blogs. It was my respite in office and I can't narrate in words how much I miss that space now !  I made many friends and also enemies via blogs but all in all the roller coaster ride was a life time memory. I am still in touch with them via few groups on FB.


As part of the A2 Z challenge "Corinne" the best cheer leader ever came up with this brilliant idea of creating a group "A2Zers" which motivated me in every possible way. I loved all the Pablo tales and the rest of the posts too :). There were sunny days , balmy days and also rainy days but no complaints and no regrets as I am about to end this journey. Zillions of thanks to all those thoughtful people who bothered to read my lengthy posts till the last full stop and traveled that extra mile to comment. It definitely boosted me. I came across many bloggers out side India. I really enjoyed reading Deecoded by Dee (http://deecoded.blogspot.in/) and Kristen's blog (http://kristenhead.blogspot.in/) which were a mix of all emotions. Commenting for sure was challenging and I couldn't cover many blogs which I wanted to due to difference in timezones and due to lack of time. I did what all I could and made it sure that I atleast visit those who visited me. All in all it was a great journey and I would love to travel through the same path again next year. Have to see how it goes. I am both happy and sad that the journey is ending. Happy as I can give more attention to my husband and sleep little more :P  Sad as there won't be something entertaining and exciting to look forward to from tomorrow!


Anyway I want to keep this post as short as possible so that many read it :)   Lastly a big thanks to Corinne and also a special thanks to "laxmi" for her unfathomable support and appraisal and needless to say I love the way she weaves magic around words!


I simply loved the every day tid bits by Cynthia (http://cynthology.blogspot.in) . Will for sure be missing them. Liked Preeti's posts and her thoughtfulness to read and acknowledge back (http://mywhitewindow.blogspot.in/). Enjoyed Roshni's Kiddo's tales. Revived my own childhood ( http://www.bigaandlittlea.com/) . Got tempted by Ruchira's travelogues (http://nirjharani.blogspot.in/) . Loved the out of the box thinking of Shilpa (http://shilpaagarg.blogspot.in/) and thoroughly enjoyed her comments too :). If Sridevi's (http://sridevi-datta.blogspot.in/) poetry made me thoughtful Vidya Sury's every day posts and ideas (http://vidyasury.com) increased my knowledge! Missed her comments due to her vacation :-/.  Had fun interacting with Priya and reading her .( http://iwrite-myblog.blogspot.in/). Vinita 's posts made me laugh and also think (www.blogwatig.com). Janaki's poems were warm (http://www.janakinagaraj.com/). Few of Meera Srilakshmi's posts (http://meeraah.blogspot.in/) were my favorites! I used to wait for a thoughtful and straight from the heart post by Naina Madan (http://whilethecoffeebrews.blogspot.in/) even if it was posted late some times :) . Nandana's (http://cheerfultornado.blogspot.in/) posts are always enjoyable . Loved Shail's clicks at http://shutterbuglady.wordpress.com/- and needless to say Lucy stole the show.  Bhavya's story idea is great and am still waiting to see how it ends today i.e. the "Z" day (http://ursilence.blogspot.in) .Some day Some where's Suzy Que (http://suzysomedaysomewhere.blogspot.co.nz/) took me every day to some where  !


There are few more blogs and many more unique people whom I read as part of the challenge. The response I got back was overwhelming and inspiring. I sincerely hope this camaraderie doesnt fade . "Ze" in french means "The" ! Some native french speakers pronounce English article "the" as "Ze". Ze end always marks ze new beginning. Till then aurevoir !! ( I wish to learn french soon ;) ) and once again zillions of thanks to all the readers! Lastly two images made by me to represent the group effort we had put through out this April month!




That Pooh is definitely you Corinne:)
Miss you all !
I felt this reflects what ever I felt during the month of April hence this is my reflections post too! I will surely be taking this challenge again in April 2014 provided I have no major obstacles.

Thanks to Arlee bird and the whole 
 "A to Z"  family once again.
Love
Afshan.

56 comments:

  1. Emotions Overflowing in this!

    Loved this challenge. Never thought I could get to meet so much of new people out here in this space. So glad I did this(even thou i haven't finished the challenge yet).

    Keep Smiling :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. U will finish it and come out with flying colors.
      Just read ur Y Post :)
      Glad we met thru this challenge
      keep in touch

      Delete
  2. Keep blogging. You sure have a way with words. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such a wonderful writeup and summary of the challenge!! Loved it!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. WOW! Wonderful.

    कभी यहाँ भी पधारें और लेखन भाने पर अनुसरण अथवा टिपण्णी के रूप में स्नेह प्रकट करने की कृपा करें |
    Tamasha-E-Zindagi
    Tamashaezindagi FB Page

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great 'thanks' post Afshan. Even though your posts were long I used to read them because they spell sincerity and honesty and I am a sucker for both. keep doing this. Good luck blogging!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank U !
      Thats quite a compliment Kajal. Made my day. Thanks for every thing and hoping to read more from U
      keep in touch

      Delete
  6. Cheers to all of us :D
    but why should you miss us all ! :D

    We all will be around and blogging from time to time :D
    Lets hope we will all stay in touch all along :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ya that lifts the spirits for sure. Hope the bond and readership continues
      Keep in touch !
      GOOD DAY

      Delete
  7. As Arnold would say, trust me I'll be baaaackkk :D

    PhenoMenon
    http://capturedalive.wordpress.com/2013/04/30/zen/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thats so sweet Phenomenon :)
      Thank U . Glad we met. Keep in touch

      Delete
  8. Beautifully written, touching at the same moment feeling glad we met <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I echo what u told- Glad we met :) and keep in touch

      Delete
  9. You mentioned Corinne and Pablo. What about me? Not fair.;)Jose

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Am very sorry Jose !! Equally loved ur posts. ab corinne bolu ya Jose its ek duje ke liye ...Ki faraq ;) ?

      Delete
  10. Haaa will definetely miss this space :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will not let u miss this ;) Jokes apart keep in touch
      GOod day

      Delete
  11. Aww....I am so honored to share space with Corinne (though I don't know how I deserve it :-)) Thank you for all the smiles, laughs and chulbuli blogs (That wasn't a pun in case you don't like Salman ;-)
    You have a very childlike and endearing quality about yourself that shows even on a virtual screen. Never ever lose it. <3 you loads.
    Rock on! :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The way U encouraged mattered a lot. You might not be aware of that :P
      anyway chulbuli sounds cute though am no faan of pandey ji !! HE IS handsome though. Mom is a fan :P
      Thanks for ur compliments again. all the praises U shower are special and memorable :) !
      Keep in touch

      Delete
  12. Replies
    1. Thanks Ranjana for reading and acknowledging always !:)

      Delete
  13. Finally we come to an end of this challenge which has been a fabulous journey! Thanks a lot, Afshan for the mention and warm words. Love your enthusiasm a lot! Keep that spark alive! And see you around!
    Cheers :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks again Shilpa !!
      U r one among many whom I read a lot. hand in hand it was so easy to finish the journey
      Thanks for ur encouragement and appreciation
      Keep in touch

      Delete
  14. AAwww , Afshan , you are such a Seetheart and your enthusiasm is so infectious :) I am glad I was able to connect with you in the course of this challenge . May our journey continue :) I am humbled by your awesome mention :) Hugs to you girl . Stay blessed always :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ok that was me Afshan ...Always keep forget that I am on Mom's account :)

      Delete
    2. I was so glad that ur mom read the blog ;) Then I realised its u half way !! Thanks for ur time and comments even if You were occupied or busy
      Equally humbled SRI!
      keep in touch and god bless

      Delete
  15. Afshan, yours was one of the two blogs that I always saved for reading last. Not only because they were so long, but also because I wanted to spend time in reading the whole thing from start to finish before writing down my comment. I am going to miss your chirpy and cheerful voice.

    On the other hand, maybe not. I'll be around always, within shouting and reading distance of your blog. how's that?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's a compliment
      Feels so good to think that u used to save it for last- like good things in the last :) I will try to write regularly . That is something I learnt from this challenge
      :)
      I will love to have u around
      Good day

      Delete
  16. Afshan I am so pleased to know you - you are so sweet. Thank you for mentioning my blog. I've enjoyed reading yours and I will be back to read more. Love and hugs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Love and hugs back to u !
      M sure we will stay in touch
      Keep writing

      Delete
  17. Glad to have crossed paths afshan; keep the fire burning and the enthusiasm flowing :) loads of cheers and hugs. keep in touch

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks priya
      Me too glad to know u
      Keep in touch :)

      Delete
  18. Thanks for your visit to my nature blog. To answer your query, the satellite image was taken with my National Geograpic Maps app.

    Duncan In Kuantan

    ReplyDelete
  19. What a heartwarming post! Luci sends tail wags in appreciation of your mentioning her!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Afshaan all I can say is that I'm glad I discovered the warm and generous person you are over the last month. I'm looking forward to continuing to be connected. ♥♥♥

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. May be u will know my cold side too ;)
      Jokes apart I m lucky to know u
      . We for sure will stay connected
      Love
      Afshan

      Delete
  21. Aww thank you for the mention! Zat ees a fasceenating story of how you started ze blog. Zees weel not be ze end of our blog hops surely. I have enjoyed reading your blogs as well. - as ze french would say anyway. Haha! Congrats to us!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks dee for the cute comment :)
      Had fun reading your blogs . Do keep in touch

      Delete
  22. Dudette, I enjoy reading your blogs too, especially in the challenge. :)
    Congratulations on completing and hugs for introducing me to it. Much grateful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Am glad u took it up
      Keep blogging
      Hugs right back to u too

      Delete
  23. Congratulations on having made it!

    http://effervescencia.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Awww, thank you so much for mentioning me! I'm going to be joining the reflection post and mentioning everyone I followed on there. Have you heard about that? It will be another blog hop on May 3, just for reflecting on the challenge. Thanks again!

    #atozchallenge, Kristen's blog: kristenhead.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ya I heard of that. May be I will submit same post for reflection!
      Glad to know u via the challenge
      Keep in touch

      Delete
  25. Well done on completing the challenge.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Congrats on completing the challenge and loved your final post. Corinne has been the driving force behind this group.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Awww Afshan. Such a sweet post, too many emotions. I have no idea why, but reading your post made me feel like I'm sitting in the college auditorium, listening to the farewell speech by my batchmates :P

    I am so glad that this challenge happened, that I found you :)

    Love and Hugs
    Bhavya

    ReplyDelete
  28. Congratulations for making it ! it was nice meeting you, loved the way you expressed, nice cute pics. thanks for sharing !

    ReplyDelete
  29. Lovely Z post, Afshan and so happy we connected through the challenge. Happier we live in the same city!

    Thank you for the kind mention, and your support throughout April. I am back now and definitely look forward to keeping in touch regularly.

    Love, Vidya

    ReplyDelete
  30. Great post Afshan and thanks for liking my Blog as well and listing so many comments :)...glad to conecct with you and Congratulations once again :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Great post and congratulations on completing the challenge...Thanks for liking my blog and for your lovely comments as well :) see you around :)

    ReplyDelete

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