[Note from the Proprietor: I'd like to once again welcome the High Calling Blogs Community to this month's group writing project! A big ol' "Howdy" to ya and a tip o' the hat!]

Howdy, Y’all! Today is the first Monday of the month, and you know what that means, right? Hey – you got it in one! It’s time for our monthly What I Learned From… group writing project (sound of crowd going wild)!

Yessir, it’s time to demonstrate for all the world to see that we are indeed capable of learning a thing or two about what life has to teach us. How do we do that, you ask? We do it by telling stories about lessons learned from, well, whatever the chosen topic happens to be.

Unlike last month, though, I’m only giving you one topic this time: ANIMALS. But hey, it’s broad enough, don’t you think? So my fine feathered friends; now’s your chance to write a post about a thing (or things) you learned from the animal kingdom.

Perhaps it was the perspicacity you gained from that pet platypus you had as a child (er, sorry). Maybe you picked up some interesting insights from that orangutan who co-starred with Clint Eastwood in the movie Any Which Way But Loose. Heck, you could even write a soliloquy to the horse you rode in on!

The beauty of it is, it doesn’t matter! Hey, as long as one or more critters had anything to do with the story, well, ya got yourself a winner. (Just please – make sure no animals are harmed in the writing of your post. We wouldn’t, you know, want the little darlin’s to get their feelings hurt. Or anything.)

What to Do

It’s easy! Write anything you like, as long as it relates to the topic. Be specific. Be non-specific. And, since I never impose a restriction on length, be as eloquent – or as brief – as you like. But most of all, be yourself – and write something! And don’t forget the details…

Ordinarily, WILF projects are open to contributions for only one week. However, next weekend Mrs. MZM and I won’t be anywhere near an internet connection; we’ll be busy enjoying the free retreat we won, sponsored by Laity Lodge (you may remember the retreat writing project over at Success Creations and High Callings Blog? Can you believe Marcus pulled my number out of a – albeit very strange – hat? And I never used to win anything!)

Anyhoo; since we’ll be away, let’s just go ahead and make the writing project open for TWO WEEKS again. Yep; that means we’ll be taking entries from now thru midnight, Sunday night, June 15. (Now, that doesn’t mean you can wait until the last minute to write your post – and you know who you are!)

Oh, and let’s not forget the disclaimer: As usual, should you or any of your team be caught or killed, or, you know, break a fingernail or something during the execution of this project, the Secretary will disavow all knowledge of your existence.

To participate, here’s all you have to do:

1. Write a new post on your blog. As I said, feel free to be as eloquent (or concise) as you like. C’mon; show off for us!
2. Include a link to THIS POST (uh, the one you’re reading now), PLUS, please include a link to the High Callings post, too.
3. Send me an email (rhruzek@sbcglobal.net) containing your name, the title of your post, and the permalink of the post. (To make sure I don’t miss it.)

That’s all there is to it! On Monday, June 16, I will post the entire list of entries right here at the Middle Zone, so be sure and drop by to check ‘em all out. (By the way, that list will be mirrored in several places, so submitting an entry will net you multiple links around the Blogosphere, along with a permanent spot in the WILF archive page right here at the Zone).

As always, we have just two simple rules around here:

• For the sake of the general blogging audience, please keep it G-Rated. (Also please note: this is a request, not a demand, since after all it’s your blog and you can do what you want. Fair warning: I can choose to link to you or not.)
• Be nice.

All right, ladies and gentlemen; you know what to do! Grab the writing instrument of your choice and start writing!

[Further note from the Proprietor - I realize it takes time to write your entries, but would you mind too terribly not waiting until midnight on Sunday night, June 15, to notify me? When everyone waits to the last minute (you know who you are!) it sometimes gets a little difficult to get them all compiled by Monday's 6 am post time. I surely thank you, and as a token of my appreciation - have yourself a cookie!]