Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2022 Reflections

 

 Well, we did it!! We made it to the end of the 2022 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge! I hope you enjoyed visiting The Book Connection. I know I enjoyed visiting new blogs throughout the month.

As I reflect upon last month's posts, I am glad I chose a theme. This allowed me to focus what I was talking about each day. I am glad I scheduled most posts ahead of time and scheduled seven days at a time. That allowed me to visit more blogs and leave comments each week. 

I learned about poetry, boxing, conspiracy theories, books and authors new to me, and read some wonderful short stories along the way. 

I'm looking forward to next year's challenge and hope my schedule allows me to participate. 

How about you? Did you participate? What did you learn along the way? Do you think you will participate next year?

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Zoo

Welcome to Day 26 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest. 

ZOO

To end our Blogging from A to Z Challenge for 2022, I want to talk about those furry little members in our lives that are good friends and who offer companionship and comfort. Well, not all of them are furry, right? Maybe you have a bird, a lizard, a fish, or a pig. No matter what type your animal friend is, we are grateful to have them. 

We lovingly call our four cats and the dog a zoo, because morning and evening feeding times are definitely zooish around here. I honestly don't know how farmers handle so many animals at once. We have loved many pets through the years, and we have lost several along the way due to age or disease. But, they are always worth it to us, and we can't imagine our home without them. 

I hope you'll share more about your pets in the comments. Congratulations to all who participated in this year's challenge. What was your easiest letter? What was your hardest letter? Will you join again next year?

Theo 

Travis & Dwight

Boots

Giggles

R.I.P. Tito

R.I.P. Tiger

R.I.P. Stubby

R.I.P. Miller

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Yes

Welcome to Day 25 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest. 

YES

Many people, myself included, are encouraged to say no more often. We say yes so often our schedules are overfilled and self-care goes out the window. There are, however, things we might want to consider saying yes to more often.

Say yes to trying new things.

Say yes to believing in yourself.

Say yes to having faith that even if you can't see it right now, everything will turn out okay.

Say yes to doing one thing each quarter that makes you step outside your comfort zone.

Say yes to listening more than you talk. 

Say yes to living each day to its fullest. 

What do you say yes to? How has it changed your life?

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Xena

Welcome to Day 24 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest. 

XENA

If ever there were a hero series to attract men and women alike in the mid- to late 90s, it was Xena: Warrior Princess. First appearing as a villainous warlord on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, by the end of Xena's story arc, she reforms and goes off to make amends for her past evil deeds. Xena: Warrior Princess then spun-off due to the character's popularity. 

As a demi-god, she had amazing strength. While proficient with many weapons, her chakram remained the favorite. Of unknown origins, Xena throws the chakram and it ricochets off objects before returning to its owner. 

Xena was known for an unforgettable battle cry. Her battle garb made her instantly recognizable. According to Looper, two of Xena's costumes are ensconced in museums, and the United States military looked into her outfit when redesigning battle armor for female soldiers. 

The character of Xena became a role model for many reasons: she owned her mistakes, she empowered others around her, and she was viewed as equal to her male counterparts (by herself and others), to name a few. 

Did you watch Xena: Warrior Princess? Did you have a favorite episode? Were you okay with how the series ended? 

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Alice Walker

Welcome to Day 23 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest. 

ALICE WALKER

Alice Walker is a writer, poet, and activist who, according to her website, won the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction in 1983 and the National Book Award. Her biography states she is a staunch defender of not only human rights, but of the rights of all living beings. 

Walker coined the term "womanist" in her book, In Search for Our Mother's Gardens. Howard University states womanists place special focus on issues facing black women, men, and families. There are numerous journal articles written on this topic. 

She has a new children's book out titled, "Sweet People Are Everywhere." The poem addresses a young boy getting his first passport, taking the boy––and the reader––on a journey through a series of countries around the globe where “sweet people” can be found.

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Vacation & Valued

Welcome to Day 22 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest. 

VACATION & VALUED

What we all need from time to time is a vacation from life; time away from the day-to-day grind to recharge and refresh. Vacations don't always have to be this ridiculously planned, scheduled down to the minute getaways. You don't even always need to leave your home. It can simply be taking a few days off to do something you enjoy or to accomplish something on your to-do list that you can't during your regularly scheduled work week. Because we go to the Outer Banks in July, I know I'll have some real estate work to accomplish while down there. However, the simple freedom of knowing I can't possibly show houses because I am hundreds of miles away, makes it easier to handle. Then we have the beach, going out to eat, and time to just sit and read. 

I don't think anyone can place a price on the importance of feeling valued. Knowing you're appreciated, knowing you're loved, knowing people respect and trust you is priceless. It's important to show each other how grateful we are that they are in our lives and for how much they do for us. One of my favorite quotes is this one, because even if people can't see your value, your value is not diminished. It may be a struggle to see that, but it's true. 

What is your favorite type of vacation? How do others make you feel valued? How do you remember your value?  

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Unbeatable, Unlimited, & Unwavering

Welcome to Day 21 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest. 

UNBEATABLE, UNLIMITED, & UNWAVERING

The word "unbeatable" might make one think of champions; athletic champions, social rights champions, or academic champions. I like to use it in another way. When I don't let something get me down, I'm unbeatable. When I keep on plugging away despite the odds, I'm unbeatable. When someone tells me I can't and I decide to show them I can, I'm unbeatable. Some call that persistence. Some call that wherewithal. Some probably call it crazy. I just can't be any other way.

Unlimited thinking helps us achieve our goals. If instead of putting obstacles in our way or determining before we get started the reasons we can't accomplish a task, how about being open to dreaming big and envisioning ourselves achieving our goals? Sounds easy, but it's not. We have to take it in baby steps, but the more we do it, the more it will become habit for us.

Unwavering support is important to all of us. It is so much easier to face life when we know we have support along the way. Whether it be from family, friends, or colleagues, that unwavering support helps us succeed and push beyond our comfort zone.

In what ways are you unbeatable? How can you use unlimited thinking to achieve a goal? Who offers you unwavering support?

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Talent

Welcome to Day 20 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest. 

TALENT

Why are women so quick to dismiss their talents? Some cite a lack of confidence. However, Stéphanie Thomson, in writing her 2018 article, "A Lack of Confidence Isn't What's Holding Back Working Women," for The Atlantic, states research shows though women are told confidence is the key to professional success, the appearance of self-confidence is not equally rewarded in men and women. Researchers concluded, “Women were able to translate their self-confident image into influence only when they also displayed high prosocial orientation, or the motivation to benefit others.” Working women must balance self-confidence with modesty or they are seen as unlikeable and less hirable. 

I guess many of us feel uncomfortable with what we see as self-promotion. In addition, even if we can portray confidence, deep inside, we might wonder if we measure up. That's why this quote from Henry Van Dyke has always been a favorite of mine.

Personally, I feel all talents come from God, so if I am not sharing my talents to better the world, I am dishonoring God's plan for my life. That is part of what motivates me every day. 

What are some of your talents? How do you best use them to serve your community?

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Safe

Welcome to Day 19 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest.  

SAFE

My husband has a very different version of safety than the girls and I do. Rarely does he concern himself with who or what is around him when he walks down the street or visits a new place. The girls and I, however, observe the people around us, what the neighborhood looks like, and the proximity to safety complexes. When we visit colleges, I ask about their campus security response time, something that never crosses my husband's mind. 

Not all of this comes down to gender. My husband is tall and strong. My girls are petite but athletic, so they have physical stamina. That leaves me; little ole hates exercise, sits at her desk for extended periods of time me. Thankfully, I haven't had many scares, but I've had a few in the workplace that are the reason I carry pepper spray and a tactical pen, have a phone app that alerts select people and--if needed--the police with one swipe, scan the perimeter of vacant properties, and know my entrance and exit upon entering a building. 

I won't claim to be an expert, and not every piece of advice works for every person. Here are links to safety tips:

10 Must-Know Safety Tips for Women

Top 10 Safety Tips for Women

10 Basic Safety Tips

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Rebels

Welcome to Day 18 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest. 

REBELS

Rebels--fictional and real--resist conforming to social norms or rise up against the powers that be. When I think of real life female rebels from my years growing up, these women come to mind:

1. Betty Friedan, author of The Feminine Mystique
2. Barbara Walters, the first female co-host of a news show
3. Maya Angelou, poet and Presidential Medal of Freedom award winner
4. Sandra Day O'Connor, first female Supreme Court Justice
5. Dr. Sally K Ride, first American woman to be sent into space
6. Margaret Thatcher, first female British prime minister

Many women came before them and many came after them to advocate for women's rights, gender equality, and a brighter future for all.

When I consider rebellious females from my reading, characters that I often speak about here come to mind:

1. Anne Shirley, Anne of Green Gables
2. Jo March, Little Women
3. Laura Ingalls Wilder (also a real person), Little House on the Prairie
4. Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games

I admire the strength and perseverance these rebels display as they resist and rise up. I applaud their commitment to making a difference in their worlds. 

Who are some rebels you admire?

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Quantum Leap

Welcome to Day 17 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest. 

QUANTUM LEAP

The science-fiction show Quantum Leap aired from 1989 - 1993. It starred Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell as Dr. Sam Beckett and Admiral Al Calavicci. The premise of the show is that during a government experiment on time travel, Sam steps into the Quantum Leap Accelerator and vanishes. Instead of traveling within his own lifetime, Sam finds himself trapped in the past, leaping into a variety of people and driven by an unknown force to change history for the better. Al, as an observer from his own time, is his only guide, appearing as a hologram that only Sam can see and hear. Sam leaps from life to life, seeking to right what once went wrong, and hoping the next leap will be his leap home. 

Though I am not a huge fan of science-fiction, I loved Quantum Leap. Probably because I enjoy history, and Scott Bakula isn't tough to look at either. :) 

One interesting concept of the show is that Sam could leap into any gender. IMDB states that Sam leaped into nine women or teenage girls. Here is the rundown on those episodes:

• "What Price Gloria? - October 16, 1961" - Sam leaps into the body of Samantha Stormer, an attractive secretary, who learns she was promoted because her creepy boss (Buddy) wants to sleep with her. Buddy is already having an affair with Samantha's roommate, Gloria. Though Buddy has told Gloria he will leave his wife, Sam knows he needs to convince her to break it off to avoid heartbreak and her eventual suicide. 
• "Another Mother - September 30, 1981" - Sam leaps into the body of Linda Bruckner, a divorced mother of three. Sam must prevent her oldest son from running away and never being heard from again.
• "Miss Deep South - June 7, 1958" - As Darlene Monte, Sam enters a beauty pageant. Not only must he prevent a fellow contestant from posing for nude photos, he must make sure Darlene comes in third place. [This episode might not be as well received if it aired today.]
• "8½ Months - November 15, 1955" - Sam leaps into the body of a pregnant  teenager. Her mother died and her father wants nothing to do with her. The child's father is off at college and wanted her to terminate the pregnancy. Unless Sam can convince her father to support Billie Jean, she will end up living a life of regret and searching for the child she gave up for adoption. [Not sure how well this one aged without watching it again.]
• "Raped - June 20, 1980" - Sam leaps into the body of rape victim Kate McBain. When he decides to press charges against the rapist, he discovers it will be hard to prove Kate's date raped her.
• "A Song for the Soul - April 7, 1963" - Sam leaps into the body of fifteen-year-old Cherea, an African-American singer who dreams of starting a group with her two friends. Sam and Al aren't in sync on why Sam is there. Sam believes it is to prevent one of Cherea's friends (Lynell) from running away. Sam thinks it is to improve Lynell's relationship with her father, who does not support her singing career.
• "Liberation - October 16, 1968" - When Sam leaps into the body of Margaret Sanders, he discovers she and her daughter were arrested at a women's lib rally. Margaret's activism puts a strain on her marriage, and Al fears the leader of the local women's movement will be shot unless she cancels the next rally. 
• "Dr. Ruth - April 25, 1985" - If you were at least a teenager in the 80s, you will remember Dr. Ruth Westheimer. In this episode, Sam leaps into Dr. Ruth's body as she is in the middle of her call-in radio show giving advice to Annie Wilkins, who believes her boss is pressuring her to have sex.
• "Revenge of the Evil Leaper - September 16, 1987" - Sam leaps simultaneously with ex-Evil Leaper Alia. As Liz Tate, Sam finds himself with Alia in a female prison where they are accused of murdering a fellow inmate. Zoey, Alia's observer, manages to leap into the same place and time, so keeping Alia's location a secret from Zoey, who is the prison warden, is the main challenge. 

Do you like when shows tackle tough issues? Did you watch Quantum Leap? How do you think it did in handling women's issues? 

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Possibilities

Welcome to Day 16 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest. 

POSSIBILITIES 

What a boring world this would be without possibilities. Perhaps our first introduction to endless possibilities comes from the picture book, Oh, the Places You'll Go, by Dr. Seuss. It opens this way:

Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You're off to Great Places!

You're off and away.

 

How much more successful could we be if we saw each day as starting off or continuing upon a great adventure?

Maybe we could be more like The Little Engine That Could. We take our next project and go at it one step at a time, focusing on our goal and believing we will achieve it, until we do. 

How about being more like Anne of Green Gables? Anne Shirley had every reason to be upset about life. Living in orphanages, abused by foster parents, and when the first truly wonderful thing happens to her--she arrives at Green Gables--Miss Cuthbert tells her they can't keep her because she isn't a boy. But Anne goes on do amazing things--attending college, teaching at a private school, writing a book--all because she had a huge imagination and knew what she wanted. 

Well, that is all fiction, right? Let's talk about Edwin C. Barnes, a man with no money and little education, who went on to become Thomas Edison's partner. You can read about Barnes in Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, but here is a glimpse from the movie.   

 

When we shared the letter C, we talked about women who faced challenges and brought about change. They, too, saw the possibilities of what could be, instead of what was. In conclusion, I will share a quote from Michelle Obama about decision making and possibilities.

 

Don't ever make decisions based on fear. Make decisions based on hope and possibility. Make decisions based on what should happen, not what shouldn't.

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Opportunity

Welcome to Day 15 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest. 

OPPORTUNITY 

In the years since I've become an adult, the opportunities for women have increased. Though I still make less than my husband, who has a four year degree, the pay gap has tightened. His Corporate America job also offers the benefits, since insurance is more affordable that way. Seeing the current focus on celebrating and empowering girls and young women, means a brighter future for our daughters. There is, however, still work to be done.  

In December 2017, the International Labour Organization published one of their InfoStories on "The gender gap in employment: What's holding women back?"  They updated this report in February 2022. They stated that in the United States, the labor force difference between male and female is 11.2% (male 66.4% versus female 55.2%). 

Helping out in their households is one reason women have a harder time finding work than men. Women spend three times more hours on unpaid housework than men do. Another reason is stated as maternity coverage. The report says that although most countries provide some maternity protection for employed women, almost 66% are not entitled to paid maternity leave. Lack of affordable childcare in developed countries impacts the probability of women entering the labor force. Both men and women agree that the largest barrier for women in paid work is the struggle to balance it with family responsibilities. Something we talked about with the letter B on April 2. 

Stepping back a bit in time, the April 2020 survey from Pew Research Center shows that while 54% believe men have more opportunities to get high-paying jobs, 94% think it is important for women in their country to have the same rights as men do. 

What is important to note as we think about opportunities for female entrepreneurs and business women is that a fair amount of discussion over the last few years has been how women-owned businesses are key to economic growth. In a March 2022 article, CNBC contributor Hannah Miao cited a Citigroup report that states, "achieving gender parity in business growth could boost global gross domestic product by as much as $2 trillion, or 2% to 3% of global GDP." The same report stated gender equality could generate between 288 million and 433 million jobs.

Here is a list of the Top 15 Most Famous Female Entrepreneurs published two weeks ago. Click here.

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Next

Welcome to Day 14 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest. 

NEXT

I had a totally different word in mind when I started this post, but then I stumbled across The Next Women and thought it would be interesting to talk about. The Next Women is a global community, a female growth network for entrepreneurs. Their website states this group invests in female founders, thereby helping these companies to build an environment of inclusion and equality. 

Yesterday, I participated in the At Home with Diversity Certification Course offered by the National Association of REALTORS®. Some of the topics this program covers are diversity, equity, inclusion, and fair housing. As president of our local association, I am committed to making our association as inclusive as possible, and hope to develop a leadership program that allows us to attract leaders who reflect the diversity of our membership. 

The Next Women seems to be based on the other side of the ocean. Maybe a United States chapter should be formed. 

Have you heard of The Next Women? What professional organizations to you belong to that embrace inclusion and equity?

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Mom

Welcome to Day 13 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest. 

MOM

I've held the title of mom for almost 35 years now. Hard to believe, since I feel no different from when I was in my 20s or 30s. There are a variety of terms to describe moms. Here are a few I've held:

• Teenage mom
• Unwed mom
• Single mom
• Stay-at-home mom
• Working mom

I was two months shy of my 19th birthday when my son was born. His father and I never married, and we split up when our son was 18 months old. My husband and I met in high school, but we didn't date until about three years after we graduated. I spent 11 years as a single mom and worked three jobs for five years just to make ends meet. My husband and I married in 2000, and I spent 18 out of the first 40 months we were married pregnant. Though I returned to work after the Lil' Diva was born, after the birth of the Lil' Princess, I stayed at home with the girls for 11 years. In 2014, I returned to the workforce.

Though I mentioned working mom as one of my titles, I've always felt that term isn't appropriately used. Stay-at-home moms and those moms who pursue a career are both working moms. They just work in different ways. Believe me, one can be just as exhausting as the other. At this point in my life, I've pursued a career, but I contributed to my household in other ways when I stayed home. Every mom deserves recognition for her efforts, whether they take place in the playroom or the boardroom. 

Little side note on the girls' nicknames. I explained earlier in the week how Lil' Diva came to be. See J if you missed it. The reason we call our youngest the Lil' Princess also has a story behind it. Driving in the car one day, she was being naughty. So, I told her to stop it or she would have a time out. She responded, "You can't punish me. I'm a princess." So, in the blogging world she became known as the Lil' Princess. 

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Listening

Welcome to Day 12 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest. 

LISTENING

If there is one thing I consciously work on as a leader, it is active listening. It is something I've always struggled with, which doesn't surprise me, since my mind runs at a frenetic pace. The Center for Creative Leadership states, "Active listening requires you to listen attentively to a speaker, understand what they’re saying, respond and reflect on what’s being said, and retain the information for later." 

Sometimes, I'm so eager to get my ideas out, I don't fully listen to what the other person is saying. Though I tend to be a mostly digital person these days, to be a better listener, I bring a pad with me to meetings and write down bullet points. That allows me to repeat back what I believe the person said to make sure I understand. 

I'm working on eliminating my interruptions as well. My mind has random thoughts racing through it all the time. I know if I don't say what I think, it will be lost. That, however, can make the person who is speaking feel frustrated. 

I also find that if I focus on asking more questions or pose a thoughtful question to clarify the person's idea, it allows me to step back and really think about what they are saying. 

The great thing about honing these skills for the workplace, is that active listening also improves my relationships at home. Family members want to feel they are heard and understood as well. 

What are some tips you have to improve active listening?  

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Kindness

Welcome to Day 11 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest. 

KINDNESS 

When I typed "working with kindness" into Google, it returned 322,000,000 results. The top result is an article from the Harvard Business Journal titled, "Don't Underestimate the Power of Kindness at Work." In the same year (2021), Indeed's Editorial Team wrote an article titled, "15 Effective Ways to Show Workplace Kindness." 

Kindness in the workplace is not a new concept, but based upon the Google results, many articles were written while we found ourselves amid the pandemic. If we needed to learn anything since the pandemic began, it is the importance of being kind to each other. Many people lost loved ones. Many people were sick or out of work or both. Parents and educators had to learn how to teach students remotely. Students had to navigate learning remotely. The things we took for granted, like shopping and going out to eat, were taken away in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. 

When I wrote my book, A Christmas Kindness, I wanted to help my children see the importance of thinking of others and being kind to everyone because we never know what someone else is dealing with. Celebrating kindness early on makes spreading kindness in the workplace easier, because it is a concept they are growing up with, so that it becomes part of everyday life. As this article from Workhuman states, kindness at work boosts productivity, builds trust, and creates a positive culture. Though some might believe kindness is a weakness in a leader, I find it is essential to success. 

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Joy

Welcome to Day 10 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest. 

JOY

When my girls were little, I did my best to keep them in the same routine for bedtime: supper, playtime, snack, reading time, then lights out. I think we all appreciated a schedule of knowing what would happen next. 

One day, snow had been falling for a good part of the afternoon, and my husband arrived home from work later than usual. Supper was late, which threw off the rest of the schedule. As the girls undressed for bed, it was easy to see they weren't ready. On the spur of the moment--which is not a me thing--I suggested we get our winter stuff on and go outside to play. 

The four of us had so much fun running around and tossing snow at each other. The girls decided they wanted to swing, so Paul and I brought them into the backyard, lifted them into their swings, and pushed them. After a few pushes, an enormous smile spread across the Lil' Diva's face and she exclaimed, "This is the happiest day of my life!" 

Recalling this memory, even after all this time, has a profound impact on me. The Lil' Diva at that stage was tough to impress and tough to make happy... hence the nickname. That this spur-of-the-moment decision allowed her to experience such joy touched my heart. It is one of the fondest memories I have of the girls' childhood. 

We can manufacture happiness, and it is often short-lived. But joy is different. We cultivate it. Joy brings about long-lasting feelings of peace and contentment. 

When I learned to loosen up on how rigid I was with our schedule and work in some spontaneous activities with our children, this helped the Lil' Diva to be more content. She didn't know when these spontaneous events would occur, but she could look forward to them. Bringing her joy brought me joy, and it made those tougher moments easier to handle. 

What is something that brings you joy? How do you cultivate joy on a regular basis?

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Inspire

Welcome to Day 9 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest.

INSPIRE

As a leader in my association, I feel part of my role is inspiring others to achieve their goals. At the end of my installation to President of the Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley in January, I spoke about the association's 2021 accomplishments and shared my goals for 2022. Below is the conclusion of that speech:

What I hope and pray for every member of this Association is that you put together something that’s good this year. You dream big. You push yourself farther outside of your comfort zone than you ever imagined. That you’re just as unafraid of failure as you are of success. And as you journey along your path, remember that the RAPV is part of your team, providing you with the tools and resources you need to take your business to the next level.

I had changed my speech at the last minute, because we were supposed to have our first in-person installation since the pandemic started, but omicron had other ideas. So, I opened this message speaking about how we had learned to pivot and adjust over the last two years. Then I shared a quote from attorney, author, and health care activist Elizabeth Edwards.

Resilience is accepting your new reality, even if it’s less good than the one you had before. You can fight it, you can do nothing but scream about what you’ve lost, or you can accept that and try to put together something that’s good.

 A lifelong pessimist, I've done my best to embrace positivity and optimism. I share inspirational quotes on my Instagram stories and Facebook page. Here are some for us to consider today.

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Help

Welcome to Day 8 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest.  

HELP

Why is it so hard for women to ask for help? In her 2011 article on the topic, Katherine Stone, creator of Postpartum Progress, discusses "5 Reasons Why Asking for Help Sucks." I can relate to four of the five. 

Rejection

When I ask for help and don't get, not only is it disappointing, it's hurtful. It's not like I ask for help every day, so when I do, I really need it. I have to admit, my temper flares, too. 

Fear of seeming weak or incapable

This one tends to apply in a career setting--at least for me. When I started in real estate, I had come from several roles where I managed personnel or ran an office. Real estate was all new to me and, despite 40 hours of classes, I felt like I knew nothing. Regularly, new issues or questions arose that I didn't know how to handle. I felt like I should know the answers and shouldn't need to ask for help. These days, I don't mind as much.

Belief that we shouldn't need to ask for help

I briefly mentioned that above, but let's bring this back to a family setting. Imagine coming home after a long day at work. You rush in, put down your laptop bag, barely make it to the kitchen table before being surrounded by hungry animals, and then people are asking when supper will be ready. Oh, and the laundry basket is full, it's trash day, and you have about three more hours of work to complete before bedtime. 

There have been many days when I look like the woman above. Instead of asking for help, I grumble inside my head, "Can't they see I need help?" Then I huff and puff around the house getting all frustrated. I should probably be angry with the stubborn mule who won't ask for help when she needs it.

Fear of losing control

This is definitely a workplace issue for me. I'm considered the disciplinarian in my house, so I don't worry about losing control here. As a leader, I can find it hard to allow people to help. What will they think of me? Will I be viewed as ineffective? Will I lose respect? 

So, how do we change our views on asking for help? I certainly don't have the answers. I'm still growing and changing in this aspect, too. I did, however, find these articles helpful:

https://www.amanet.org/articles/the-lost-art-of-asking-for-help

https://oilwomanmagazine.com/article/how-to-ask-for-help-and-actually-get-it

https://ewfinternational.com/how-successful-women-leaders-ask-for-help

Do you struggle with asking for help when you need it? Can you think of a time you asked for help and it worked out great?