Category: PostADay2011

Coming Out of the Blogging Closet

On By Margie.MercIn No Comfort Zone-2012 Challenge, PostADay201123 Comments

It’s easy to hide behind words and then walk away. Over the past year I’ve blogged about a wide range of things. I wrote about my grandson, writers block, getting my car searched in Salt Lake City, my favorite foods, internet tips and tricks, hikes and so much more. I have a lovely record of 2011 because of my daily posts!

What I didn’t do, was tell those closest to me about my blogging life. Most people are aware of the upbeat and sociable me but few realized I am also a world famous blogging personality who is highly sought for my genius and insight.

So my first action in the No Comfort Zone-2012 Challenge (NoCZ-2012) is to invite them to my blog, let them read my posts, view my photos and allow them to meet the online me.

Will they come and visit, read and comment? I hope so. Will they bookmark my blog or Follow me and stay tuned? I hope so. Will they take the NoCZ-2012 Challenge? Whooo Hoooo! That would be cool if they did!

I included this in my email to them…

“My first assignment is to write this and ask you to visit my blog and share it with a 3-4 others. The fact is, I am a writer and I love to write, interact, create and lead. Mostly I do it quietly and in secret, however, I’m inviting you to take a look around, click the Like or Follow button and leave a comment to say Hello!…”

And now you have it. I’ve come out of the closet as a blogger and my world isn’t going to end because of it. Whew!

On to the next challenge …

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Take the NO COMFORT ZONE-2012 CHALLENGE!  (NoCZ–2012)

  • DO something out of the ordinary and blog about it each week. If you are not a blogger, leave a comment on my page so we can follow your adventures!

Bold Life Theme & 2012 (No Comfort Zone-2012 Challenge)

On By Margie.MercIn PostADay201114 Comments

To bring in the new year, I changed the design of my blog to BOLD LIFE THEME. I figured if I’m offering a challenge, then I had better get bold – right here and now!

On the right side of this page are links to anyone that publicly said they wanted to join the No Comfort Zone-2012 Challenge. If you are part of this amazing group of bloggers, please let me know so I can include your link and follow your posts.

I also have a No Comfort Zone-2012 on the right column under Read More!  I’ll probably be posting in both places!

Some ideas for the upcoming challenge:

  • Read a book that makes me feel uncomfortable and figure out why I feel that way.
  • Add more sparkles and flair to my office attire (this will be really out of my comfort zone)
  • Write my novel – the one you’ve all been waiting for!
  • Ask for help (UGH!)
  • Tell 10 people that I am offering this challenge (it’s easy with bloggers who don’t know me but the challenge is to tell my family and friends and get them to follow me too!)

What have you been thinking about doing?

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No Comfort Zone-2012 Challenge Begins Soon!

On By Margie.MercIn No Comfort Zone-2012 Challenge, PostADay2011, Relationships18 Comments

First of all, it will be a challenge to write 2012, won’t it?

Step out of your comfort zoneI’m excited to receive some “I accept” comments and “I’ll cheer you on” comments. My mind is bopping and dancing with a variety of ideas of things out of my comfort zone. There are 3 right now that are tugging at me and I either have to write them down so I remember them tomorrow (ha ha) or just act on them and use them for my first round of blog posts. I’ll let you know what I decide.

FEEL free to spread the word and invite your friends, family and other bloggers to join in the fun!

Be sure to link back here so we can see how you’re stepping out of your comfort zone!

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Christmas is for babies

On By Margie.MercIn Education, happiness, No Comfort Zone-2012 Challenge, PostADay2011, Relationships11 Comments

I adore Christmas and love it even more now that I have a 3-year-old in my life. The lights, songs, glitter and presents are something unique and wonderful in his eyes. Excitement is in the air and the beat of Christmas is palpable.

Santa ClauseA child makes this all real for me in a way that takes me back to when I was a young mother watching my sons giggle with anticipation. And it reminds me of what a wonderful event Christmas was to me as a child. Funny how that goes away when I grow up…and when they grow up and leave the nest.

I’m blessed to have Christmas come alive. I am truly blessed.

I hope your day is filled with light, love and sweetness!

Merry Christmas!

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Christmas Eve Giggles…

On By Margie.MercIn happiness, No Comfort Zone-2012 Challenge, PostADay2011, Relationships4 Comments

There’s something special about Christmas Eve, isn’t there?

Christmas eve houseIt’s like waiting for someone special to arrive from a trip or the anticipation of a good meal or the unwrapping of the gift – before it happens. Once the person arrives or the food is tasted or the gift is opened – the thrill is gone. The special time that causes the giggles to percolate is in the planning, wondering, hoping and dreaming.

Every now and then it unfolds in a magical way. Other times … maybe not so special. But the leading up to this day is the best. Does this make any sense to you?

Happy Christmas Eve – May you be surrounded with love and may all your dreams be answered!

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Accepting the Challenge

On By Margie.MercIn happiness, No Comfort Zone-2012 Challenge, PostADay2011, Psychology4 Comments

no comfort zone 2012 challengeOver the past week or so, a number of us have been posting about and/or commenting about how great it’s been to participate in the WordPress PostaDay challenge this year.  And we’ve gone on to wonder what challenge we might step up to meet for 2012.  I know that, just as I have, many of you have been searching and looking for ideas that seemed to fit or that sounded like something we would be willing to do… Keep reading (Thank you Joss!)

 

Challenge Yourself and Thank Me Later!

On By Margie.MercIn Education, No Comfort Zone-2012 Challenge, PostADay2011, Social Media8 Comments

Hi there,

It’s me again. I want to talk a bit more about the No Comfort Zone-2012 Challenge. I think it’s gonna be great and it’s not just because I thought of it.

End of your comfort zoneWhat I adore about this challenge is that when I do something different – my brain cells start popping (that’s a scientific term, I’m sure of it!), growing and exercising and because of this different activity, my brain gets stronger. Just like with your fitness routine, you’ve got to shake things up. Let’s do that!

The ‘use it or lose it’ theory is put into play in my challenge. In a longitudinal study, called the MacArthur Study healthy people were tracked from middle age into their 80’s and measured  any changes in their physical and mental function as well as their lifestyles: what they ate, how much they exercised, and their leisure and social activities. There were 3 distinct areas that made a difference over time.

  • They were more consistently physically active than the others. They took daily walks and other forms of exercise, for example.
  • They remained mentally active. These are the people who, rather than parking in front of the TV, did the crossword puzzle every morning, browsed the library shelves regularly for new and interesting books, dabbled in hobbies and crafts, or played bridge three times per week.
  • They had a personality quality some have termed “self-efficacy.” They met challenges with the confidence and desire to solve them, rather than being ground under the wheels of misfortune. (Found in Memory Loss and the Brain)

In other words, they tried new things on a regular basis and they the world became their oyster.  Just like the No Comfort Zone-2011 Challenge  invites you to get out of your comfort zone and make some noise, dance the jig, meet new people, write sizzling blogs (and link back so I can read them!)

Perhaps at the end of the challenge I have a prize for you? Maybe you can help me think of something?! Let me know …

Time is ticking!

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No Comfort Zone: Weekly Challenge 2012

On By Margie.MercIn Education, PostADay2011, Relationships, Social Media20 Comments

Where do I go from here?

I’ve been hearing some wonderful suggestions on 2012 challenges. Read a book a week, take a daily walk, take a photo a day, make a list of 101 items to complete in 1001 days, 1000 words a day challenge, read classic books, get fit, and on and on.

No comfort zone tagWhat I’m looking for is a “Get out of your comfort zone” challenge. I’ve looked high and low and realized I have to create one all by myself.

So if you’re ready to shake things up a bit,  keep reading to learn about the No Comfort Zone Challenge [NoCZ-2012]. Here’s my challenge:

  • Once a week from Sunday January 1, 2012 through Tuesday January 1, 2013 plan to do something out of the ordinary and blog about it each week.

These things don’t have to be earth shattering but they have to be different from your ordinary course of action.

Whether you decide to take a different route home, read a book by a new author or a magazine about a topic you are unfamiliar with or drink a new type of wine or work on a crossword puzzle, visit a new website, increases your daily steps, try a different workout routine, listen to new singer, try a new food, attend a poetry reading or lecture and then blog about it.

Some things you choose to do may be dramatic; most things will be changing the way you usually do things like brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand or listening to a different radio station as you drive.

I plan to shake things up – care to join me?

If you decide to join, include this No Comfort Zone image on your website and invite others to join as well. Then let me know so I can visit you and see what you’ve been up to…

Visit my NoCZ-2012 page and see what others are sharing and get ideas for your weekly challenge.

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Challenging Thyself

On By Margie.MercIn Education, PostADay201115 Comments

Last year we took the Postaday2011 challenge when we decided to post to our blog daily. We told others, we committed publicly and we began.

As we did, we found there were some people we especially liked. We followed their blogs and they followed ours. We commented, we shared and we grew.

The year is ending and I will not be joining the 2012 postaday challenge. Instead I will look for something else and I will blog about my new endeavors.

One cool  idea is the Good Reads (goodreads.com) reading challenge. If they have one for 2012 I will join it and commit to one book per week. It may not happen but it’s something to strive for, right?

Another challenge that caught my attention is Day Zero Project http://dayzeroproject.com/ which asks you to list 101 things to do in 1001 days. The neat thing is you list an activity then a include the date by which you want to finish it. That’s the secret to making it happen. The website is actually a social network where you can see what others have listed and what they have accomplished. This site is one huge bucket list of ideas. 1001 days is about 2.75 years. Very do-able!

The blog 1000 Awesome Things (is also a book now) has a great list of ideas that you can put on your list if you need something to focus on. http://1000awesomethings.com/ Many of the things they list are silly (stare at the clouds, stay in bed, eat ice cream for breakfast, etc) but it’s a fun read.

What shall it be for me? I need to think and decide. If you know of any sites that could get me energized, let me know – Please!

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I’m so versatile!

On By Margie.MercIn Communication, Photography, PostADay20116 Comments

Just wanted to let you know that Judy at Jayjaysfavorites nominated me for the Versatile blogging award.

rosesIt’s such a treat for my blog to get special attention like this and to be noticed in a realm where there are so many other blogs. I am honored and appreciate the gesture behind it all!

These are the rules that every nominee must comply with:

1. Thank the award-giver and link back to them in your post. (check)
2. Share 5 things about yourself. (check)
3. Pass this award along to 5 recently discovered blogs you enjoy reading.(not yet)
4. Contact your chosen bloggers to let them know about the award.(not yet)

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5 things about me:

1. Easter is my favorite holiday.

2. I am the middle child (that means I am child number 5 out of 10!)

3. I am in awe of all the open sky I see in Colorado

4. I adore being a nana.

5. The rules said to tell 7 things and I changed it to 5 (HA!)