The May Blogathon is back!

Tomorrow is the big day--the start of the 2010 May Blogathon. Initiated three years ago by Michelle Rafter at WordCount, this is a special event for writers who met on FreelanceSuccess. We wait for this event. In fact, some of us, like me, CAN'T wait for it. So I've initiated a few extra blogathons on my own, as some of you may know.

For those of you who don't, tomorrow begins 31 straight days of blogging. A group of more than 70 freelance writers will take on the challenge this year to blog once a day for the month of May.

Michelle has organized another great event this year; she's offering prizes, blog post ideas, special days for guest blogging--and so much more. She even had one of our fellow blogathon participants, Ron Doyle, design the official blogathon badge (see above). That's a first this year. So I'm inspired just thinking about all that waits ahead for us.

If you're asking: what's the point? The point is to help us all find ways to make the blogging experience work for us, both individually and as a group. Whether that means showing us that we can blog regularly without it killing us, that we can find time to post comments on other blogs, that we can learn new blogging skills (how do create video, for me, some day) or that we can attract more readers, that's what the blogathon does. It opens up room for more creativity. It allows us to find new ways to share a message. It gives us the opportunity to provide information to our readers that is valuable, entertaining and informative. By inviting others to participate with us, we can't help but take on the challenge to grow and learn.

That's what happens during the blogathon.

I hope you'll stick around for the next 31 days. You're going to meet new people, learn new things, and hopefully be entertained.

My theme for the month--INSPIRATION--comes from the ASJA writer's conference I just attended in New York City. I want the inspiration to continue, beginning tomorrow.

See you then.

My book takes a trip to New York City

At this year's American Society of Journalists and Authors Writers' Conference, my book appeared in the special display at Barnes & Noble. If you're in town, stop by the store at 160 E. 54th Street and pick up a copy of my book or the other books on display. (I bought Marcia Layton Turner's The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vision Boards) Our members would love your support. While you're there, you can learn about the ASJA Conference. This year's theme: inspiration. Let us inspire you!

Question of the Day: nurturing the self

What are you doing this weekend to nurture yourself?

I've entered a weight loss contest with my daughter. It's her and her daughter going up against me and my BF. We've challenged each other, as teams, to see which couple can lose the most weight in six months.

We're checking in with each other every two weeks to monitor our progress. Whichever couple loses the most weight that week, percentage-wise, has to make the other couple dinner at home. (We're also finding ways to eat healthier and at home; this looks like it'll be a good one)

So this weekend, I'm dragging my daughter out with me for a six-mile walk. For me, it's not so much about the weight loss as it is about being sure I'm staying healthy, exercising, eating right, and staying in shape. I need to firm up the old body. And I want that for my daughter as well.

So I mentioned that she and her husband could come with my BF and I on the regularly scheduled Saturday runs. I only run sometimes. Mostly I walk briskly. I'm too slow for the regular running group, so I choose whatever feels right on any given Saturday. Sometimes, we ride our bikes, instead. I especially love those days.

At any rate, we meet together afterward for coffee and catching up. It's a nice routine to have waiting when other obligations or events don't get in the way. It's definitely a great way to nurture the heart, mind and soul, and I look forward to when I can go.

This weekend my daughter's coming with me, and that's how I'm nurturing myself. On Sunday, I'm also hiking--because I do want to win that contest.

Exercise is especially crucial for me when I've got a huge project going on that would otherwise keep me glued to the chair and in front of the computer for hours on end, which is the case with me now. I need to stayed focused and unwind.

How about you? Is exercise a part of your nurturing plan this weekend?

(Photo above of Arizona Canal taken by Jackie Dishner)