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Friday, October 31, 2014

The End (or is it?) {Day 31}

Today is the final day of the #write31days challenge hosted by The Nester. The challenge was simple - write every day for 31 days. I joined up with thousands of others and wrote. I missed a couple of days, but that's OK.

I still wrote. 

I didn't give up when I missed a day. I just picked up where I left off and wrote. 

Like a couple of years ago when I started working out but didn't see the results on the scale. I felt better physically and mentally, but wasn't looking pounds. So I gave up. I stopped working out. Even though I loved Zumba, I quit going to class. 

Also a couple of years ago I started writing a book with my husband and beat friend. We wrote and wrote and wrote. Then life got busy and crazy and just in the way. So the writing slacked off. Then eventually stopped. Though I loved colloborating and creating something with my favorite people, I quit. 

But this time was different. I could have given up after I missed a day, but I didn't. I kept going. 

I gave myself grace. 

This afternoon I was thinking about how sometimes we're our harshest critic. It is easier for most people to forgive others but so hard for us to forgive ourselves. We can give grace but think we don't deserve it. 

Yet we need to accept grace when it's offered. And we need to extend it to ourselves sometimes. 

So as the 31 days of simply writing series comes to a close, I challenge you to give yourself grace. This challenge may be ending, but the real challenge is just beginning: taking what we've learned these past 31 days and applying it to our lives. For me, that means to keep writing. To not give up when I get off track. To give myself grace even though it is super hard sometimes. 

What have you learned these past 31 days? 

12 comments:

  1. I've learned to persevere...to always listen to God when you don't know what to write about...to know that sometimes your writing isn't about you or the comments you receive or the number of "likes" you receive. sometimes it's about that one person who may have been inspired by what you wrote. It's about that one person who might have been encouraged by what you wrote. It's about that one person who's life might be changed about what you wrote. So, I agree with you...just write!
    Blessings-
    Christine

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  2. I too have learned to give my grace and applaud when I persist and don't quit. I missed about a week, not all at once. I will make it up though in November. :)

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  3. This was my first blog challenge and I learned quite a bit and thoroughly enjoyed it. I did not complete all the posts I wanted to, but I will keep going at my own pace. Before the challenge, I did write down everything I wanted to cover. I also looked a printable blog planners but with a printer that gets fiesty, also known as old and very possible not correctly set up, I found I was using pen and paper to make notes. As I have my topics written down, I will get them finished.

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  4. I'm a new blogger and this challenge taught me a lot. I also learnt about grace and enjoyed it a lot.

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  5. Glad I stumbled onto your blog. I will be back to read the rest of your posts.

    I didn't write a wrap up post about what I learned. I will have to give that some thought and do so. I surely don't want to miss out on those things learned.

    I did notice the same thing about myself, I persevered even though I wasn't perfect! And I like that person better than the one who thinks she has to be perfect.

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  6. Great reminder today. I have enjoyed getting to read more instead of write today, but will be back at it with our FFL. Let's do this!

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  7. There are so many blogs I want to go back and read from 31 days! It was difficult trying to write and read at the same time. 😊

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  8. So glad you stopped by, Susan! I agree, the person I am now is better than before, especially when it comes to giving myself grace. There comes a time when we have to realize that we're not ever going to be perfect, and embrace ourselves right where we are. Yes, change is possible and hopefully will come with time. But until then, let's give ourselves grace and continue on the journey. 😊

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  9. Glad you enjoyed the challenge and learned something along the way, Amanda!

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  10. Great insight, Christine! It's easy to get distracted and discouraged by the lack of stats. But the truth is, if just one person is touched by your words, that is all that matters! Even more so, simply being obedient to write what you feel your to write is worth the time and effort. So keep writing!

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