Being short-listed...
It was very nice to get the email the other day, telling me my changeeverything 2009 resolution blog had been short-listed. Not sure how many were in the running, but I let that thought go easily enough. It reminds me of the first time I swam as part of mini-triathalons in my home town. After the event one of my partners called up with joy in his voice: “Hey dude, we got the bronze medal!” I was impressed. My first competitive outing as a swimmer, and a bronze medal to show for it! And then he gave me the punchline: “There were, of course, only three teams in our age category.”
I still have that bronze medal, and the silver from the next year (there were still only three teams in our age group, but we’d moved ahead in the rankings). They don’t speak to me about my athletic prowess so much as they speak about the fun we had, and the short, sweet ego-rush of getting a medal.
When I got the changeeverything news I did exactly as Kate suggested: I enlisted the help of my friends and families and colleagues, as well as my various dance partners. I urged them to vote, and bought their votes with promises of martinis or dances or whatever cheap and easy way I had to cajole them into visiting the site. I felt a bit of excitement. I got a bit of the rush, the competitive spirit of the thing.
The best part of the whole experience so far, however, has been the funny exchanges I’ve had with folks. Some have actually read the blog. Not sure if anyone has looked at the competition. It’s a bit of a personal popularity contest. And that’s cool. It’s given me another opportunity to connect in a positive way with people I’ve been out of touch with for a few months.
And I’m learning a few things about publicity and marketing, about how much fun it can be. All good things as I continue to plug away at the writing projects that I’m supposed to be making the centre of my attention in this time of less work, less money. (The reality has been that ever since realizing I had some time on my hands, small projects have fallen into my lap, keeping me pretty busy...)
Hasta luego...
