[Note: For those folks who came here via High Calling Blogs, well Bubba, lemme just say I'm truly honored you're here, and I'd like to extend a warm welcome and a tip o' the hat to ya! I hope you like what you see. Better yet, I hope y'all decide to join us (and yes, even become a subscriber) as we share lessons learned from life, the universe, and you know, everything. Hey, I just dusted off the furniture, so if you like, pull up a chair, grab your favorite beverage and come set for a spell. Trust me; you'll be glad you did.]

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Hey, whaddyaknow? You made it through yet another month (sound of cheering). And now that we’re here on this amazing, incredible, out-of-this world first Monday of the month, it’s time for yet another of everybody’s very favorite things.

No, ya big galoot; it’s not time for the ice cream truck (that’s, er, later – trust me)! Nope; it’s time for the next edition of the world famous, ground breaking, cholesterol-busting What I Learned From… groupwrite project! (Cue the band; cue the fireworks; and forget the cholesterol, pass me some – hey, who ate the cake?)

This time, I’m proud to say, we’re looking at a topic I think you would agree has probably touched virtually everyone who’s – ever – lived. Even, if you can believe it, your humble Proprietor.

Our topic this month is:

So the question of the day is, have you ever experienced stress? (OK, so it’s a rhetorical question.)

Hey, we all have, right? I mean, stress is basically unavoidable (facts of life and all, you know). But the real question is, what did you learn from it? Now that’s where the rubber meets the road!

After all, the whole point of our What I Learned From… projects is to prompt you (yes, you!) to write a story, a paragraph, a poem, a soliloquy – whatever – about something you learned from stress. It’s easy, it’s fun – and hey, you’ll be contributing to the General Body of Knowledge! And what, I ask you, could be finer than making a non-fattening, no obligation, tax-free contribution to the G.B.K., right?

How It Works

Hey, it’s easy! You are free to write pretty much anything you like – as long as it relates to the topic. Be specific. Be non-specific. And, since there is never a restriction on length, be as eloquent – or as brief – as you like. The main thing (which I think we can all agree should mainly be the, uh, main thing) is, be yourself!

Not only that, but if you’re feeling particularly inspired, write more than one entry! (I’ve written as many as three for one project and many folks have written two.) As a bonus, each entry earns at least two links back to you from the Zone. All I can add is: Go for it, Bubba!

OK, here’s the deal.

Typically WILF projects are open for contributions for one week, so that means I’ll be taking your entries from now thru midnight on Sunday night, October 12th. BUT (and please note, that’s a BIG ‘but’), if you miss the deadline, no need to have a hissy fit. Write your entry and send it to me anyway, and I’ll do my best to get it added to the list of entries later.

Standard Disclaimer: 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. Not to mention you’ll be sent to bed early without your supper. Hey, I’m just sayin’.

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

1. Write one or more new post(s) on your blog. As I said, feel free to be as eloquent (or concise) as you like. C’mon; show off for us, why don’cha?
2. Include a link to THIS POST (uh, the one you’re reading now).
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, October 13th, 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 preserved for posterior posterity with a permanent spot in the WILF archive page.)

As always, groupwrite projects are open to anyone (you don’t even have to have a blog to enter – just send it to me and I’ll post it as a guest post). Remember, we only have 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, though: I reserve the right 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 let’s see what ya got!

[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 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. My muddah thanks you, my faddah thanks you, and I surely thank you for your consideration. As a token of my appreciation - have yourself a cookie!]