Category Archives: A to Z Challenge 2019

#AtoZChallenge2019 Reflection

 

reflection

When I reflect on my experiences during the 2016 and the 2019 A to Z Challenge I’m struck by the difference the second time around.  In 2016 I was a newbie to blogging and very unnerved by the intensity of the build-up to A to Z Challenge 2016.  There was so much to learn and others seemed to know so much more about the whole experience.  I scheduled ahead some of my posts but, for the most part, prescheduling was random.  I was very ambitious in what I wanted to do.  I wanted my theme ‘Lessons Learned’ to reflect my life journey and what I’d learned looking back. When the Challenge ended I put it in book form through Blogger to share with my family.

In the 2019 A to Z Challenge, my approach was much less intense and stressful.  I planned ahead and I prescheduled my posts.  This time I chose a theme less ambitious yet very interesting for myself and others.  There wasn’t as much anxiety and worry about making a mistake. My theme was April World Holidays and I learned a lot:

day 27 lettering

Sketch by Mary Lou

I realized that this is LIFE also.  Having a vision. Preparing ahead.  Not worrying about mistakes.  Do what you can. Be open to learning and, most of all, have fun!

Here are a few of my A to Z Blogger Friends that I met along the Challenge 2019 road:

1)Arhtistic License 

2) Best Bookish Blog

    3) Charles Health ~ Author

4) Hopes and Dreams

5) Hot Dogs and Marmalade

6) Katy Trail Creations

7) Martha Reynold Writes

8) Sue’s Trifles

9) The Sound of One Hand Typing

10) Trisha Faye

11) Word Wacker

❤

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Here are my STATS for April 2019. Much less than the 2016 Stats. And that’s okay! I tried to focus on those blogs that fit best into my own website theme which is supporting a positive healthy aging in midlife and beyond. 🙂

Stats for april 2019

#AtoZChallenge ~ April World Holidays ~ Letter Z

 

Letter Z

Image by Mary Lou

April World Holidays

Zoo Lovers Day

(Click on link for more information)

Zoo 2

Image from Pixabay

“Each year on April 8, National Zoo Lovers Day is observed.  This would be a perfect day to visit a zoo and be one of the millions of people who visit them each year. Enjoy seeing your favorite animals swinging from the trees or splashing in the water and have a fun-filled day.

A few zoo facts:

  • The Vienna Zoo is the oldest existing zoo and was opened to the public in 1765.
  • The United State’s first public zoo, Central Park Zoo, opened in 1874 in New York.
  • There are 350 zoos in the United States
  • Approximately 175 million people visit a zoo each year.
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom has had more than 9.8 million annual visitors.
  • More than 3.2 million people visit the San Diego Zoo each year.”

Zoo Lovers Day

 

AtoZ2019Z

 

This past November 2018 I took part in the Nibvember 2018 Challenge.  Day 27 prompt was Lettering and I came up with the design below.  It’s easy to see where my inspiration came from as I’d participated in the A to Z Challenge Lessons Learned in 2016. So, feeling the call to try once again for A To Z Challenge 2019, I decided to sign up for this years using this design as my inspiration.

day 27 lettering

(c) Image by Mary Lou

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My theme for 2019 A to Z Challenge is:

  April World Holidays from A to Z

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Here’s what it’s all about:

A to Z Challenge 2019

 

#AtoZChallenge ~ April World Holidays ~ Letter Y

Letter Y

Image by Mary Lou

April World Holidays

Yuri’s Night

Yuri’s Night 2019

(Click on links for more information)

Astronaut at spacewalk. Cosmic art, science fiction wallpaper. Beauty of deep space. Billions of galaxies in the universe. Elements of this image furnished by NASA

Image from Pixabay

“Yuri’s Night is the World Space Party. We hope to see you dream, explore, and celebrate with us at the hundreds of YN events held around the world each April.

“Circling the Earth in my orbital spaceship I marveled at the beauty of our planet. People of the world, let us safeguard and enhance this beauty — not destroy it!”
— Yuri Gagarin, 1st human in space.”

Yuri’s Night 2018

 

AtoZ2019Y

This past November 2018 I took part in the Nibvember 2018 Challenge.  Day 27 prompt was Lettering and I came up with the design below.  It’s easy to see where my inspiration came from as I’d participated in the A to Z Challenge Lessons Learned in 2016. So, feeling the call to try once again for A To Z Challenge 2019, I decided to sign up for this years using this design as my inspiration.

day 27 lettering

(c) Image by Mary Lou

********************

My theme for 2019 A to Z Challenge is:

  April World Holidays from A to Z

********************

Here’s what it’s all about:

A to Z Challenge 2019

 

#AtoZChallenge ~ April World Holidays ~ Letter X

 

Letter X

Image by Mary Lou

April World Holidays

(X) Ex-Spouse Day ~ April 14th

(Couldn’t find any ‘X’ Holiday in April)

X

Image from Pixabay

“National Ex-Spouse Day is observed annually on April 14th.  This day recognizes one’s ex-spouse.  The question has been asked why would one want to celebrate their Ex? We are not sure there is an answer to that question.

For a wide variety of reasons, sometimes marriages just do not work out. Recent statistics show that the divorce rate for first marriages is at 50 percent.  Some people find that they get along better after a divorce than they did during the marriage. Unfortunately, all divorces do not turn out that friendly and the experience can be painful and traumatic.  Regardless if it is a friendly separation or not, there needs to be a way to manage the situation when children are involved.”

Ex-Spouse Day


AtoZ2019X

This past November 2018 I took part in the Nibvember 2018 Challenge.  Day 27 prompt was Lettering and I came up with the design below.  It’s easy to see where my inspiration came from as I’d participated in the A to Z Challenge Lessons Learned in 2016. So, feeling the call to try once again for A To Z Challenge 2019, I decided to sign up for this years using this design as my inspiration.

day 27 lettering

(c) Image by Mary Lou

********************

My theme for 2019 A to Z Challenge is:

  April World Holidays from A to Z

********************

Here’s what it’s all about:

A to Z Challenge 2019

 

#AtoZChallenge ~ April World Holidays ~ Letter W

Letter W

Image by Mary Lou

April World Holidays

World Health Day

(Click on link for more information)

World Health Day

Image from Pixabay

“Universal health coverage is WHO’s number one goal. Key to achieving it is ensuring that everyone can obtain the care they need, when they need it, right in the heart of the community.

Progress is being made in countries in all regions of the world.

But millions of people still have no access at all to health care. Millions more are forced to choose between health care and other daily expenses such as food, clothing and even a home.

This is why WHO is focusing on universal health coverage for this year’s World Health Day, on 7 April.”

World Health Day 2019

(I realize this may not happen entirely and I respect those who still strive to educate and bring healthcare to  those who don’t have it.  ❤ )

 

AtoZ2019W

This past November 2018 I took part in the Nibvember 2018 Challenge.  Day 27 prompt was Lettering and I came up with the design below.  It’s easy to see where my inspiration came from as I’d participated in the A to Z Challenge Lessons Learned in 2016. So, feeling the call to try once again for A To Z Challenge 2019, I decided to sign up for this years using this design as my inspiration.

day 27 lettering

(c) Image by Mary Lou

********************

My theme for 2019 A to Z Challenge is:

  April World Holidays from A to Z

********************

Here’s what it’s all about:

A to Z Challenge 2019