Wow, what a great topic, y’all! Who, I ask you, hasn’t learned something from the smaller-sized versions of ourselves? Even if you don’t have kids of your own, there’s plenty to learn from when we were kids ourselves, right?

Anyhoo – a big ol’ Yeehaw! is in order for the participants in this month’s groupwrite project: What I Learned From Children. In fact, we had [updated again] 19 entries this time around! (sound of crowd cheering enthusiastically)

So take a look at the list below, in which all the entries are listed in the order in which I found ‘em. Do yourself a favor and drop by each writers’ site and start a conversation, why don’cha? You’ll be glad you did.

• What I Learned From Children, by Stephen Smith at …words
• Join the Action! by Kevin Martineau at Shooting the Breeze
• Six Lessons Learned From Children, by Deb Brown at Need a Little Advice?
• What I learned from children, by Todd Jordan at The Broad Brush
• Why – the Most Valuable Word in Business, by Brad Shorr at Word Sell, Inc.
• The tale of the bird, the boy and the big brave steps, by Emma Newman at Post-Apocalyptic Publishing
• What I Learned from My Children: Simplicity, by Meryl at Meryl.net
• What I learned from children, by Paul Merrill at Shiny Bits of Life
• Write, Produce and Direct Your Own Destiny Program(ming), by Jeanne Male at Job Life Architect
• Living Here and Now, by Ulla Hennig at Ulla Hennig’s Weblog
• What I Learned From Children, by Geoffrey Philp at Geoffrey Philp’s Blogspot
• What I Learned From Children, by George Angus at Tumblemoose.com
• What I Learned From MY Children, by Karen Hanarahan at Best of Mother Earth
• What I Learned From… Children, by Stephen Smith at …words
• 5 Elastic Bands and a Shoebox, by Anthony Bibby at Through the Window

And of course, here’s a few more from yours truly:

• Getting the Wrong Impression, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings
• Christmas Day, 2009, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings
• Jump With Joy! by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings
• The Day I Went Flying, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings

I’d like to thank all those who participated this month, and hope you enjoy some of the wild, weird, and sometimes even whacky stuff that goes on here at the Zone. Don’t forget to drop by next month for another exciting episode of As The World Turns What I Learned From….

And of course, a big ol’ tip o’ the hat to ya!

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[Note: This is my entry for Joanna Young's groupwrite project, Essential Lines of 2009. Care to join the fun? Don't worry; you have until December 27 to join us; just click on that cute little link and read all about it!]

If I had to pick what I would consider to be my “essential” post from 2009, well, it would have to be my very favorite post of the year:

The Day I Went Flying

It’s a story from ‘way back when I was a mere child, a day that will genuinely live in infamy (at least in my memory banks, anyway). I’m tellin’ ya; there’s chills, thrills – and luckily, no spills! After all, when you’re faced with what amounts to a genuine, bona-fide Life Choice (and one of the more desirable alternatives is, “Be killed by a falling meteor”), well, you know you’d better get it right the first time.

What’s So Special It?

So why did I choose that particular post, you ask? Well, it’s like this.

This story, of all the ones told in 2009, epitomizes pretty much the whole spirit of the Middle Zone. After all, it’s about “lessons learned from life”, right? Well, combine that theme with storytelling – something else I love to do (and am fairly good at, if I do say so myself) – and to me, that’s what makes it a winner.

But what makes this one stand out above many other stories from 2009, though, is really pretty simple. It’s because it perfectly epitomizes how I do things here in the Middle Zone, which are, to wit:

• Get your attention and keep it (story-telling is a proven method)
• Make you laugh (or at the very least generate an ingrown chuckle or two)
• Teach you something (the benefit of bein’ here in the first place)

Now, in my humble opinion, this particular story does all three of those very well, if’n I do say so myself (and I think I just did!)

The Money Quote

Here’s what I consider the main thought, though; the nub of the gist, if you will:

These days, folks all over are facing things they’ve never had to face before. It’s like they’re tearing along in one direction, then – maybe even through no plan or fault of their own – they suddenly changed direction and found themselves launched headlong into space!

Does that sound like you? I’ll tell ya; I’ve been there more times than I can count. Well, don’t feel like the Lone Stranger! More and more of us are feelin’ exactly like that.

All I can say is, I hope you never have the same experience I had that fateful day. But if you do, then Bubba, get ready for the ride of your life! And take heart – you can survive it!

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Say, are ya up for a challenge?

Kind-hearted fellow blogger and red-haired Scottish lass Joanna Young (is that enough adjectives for ya, Joanna?) recently posed a challenging question with her Simply the Best: Group Writing Project.

What ya gotta do, see, is go through your entire list of posts from 2008 and choose (sound of scream) what you consider to be your best one.

Why would that be a challenge? Well, for one thing, the thought of narrowin’ it down to just one – out of about 200 posts this year – is enough to give me a severe case of the heebie-jeebies, if you get my meanin’. I can’t imagine how tough it would be for those of you who write every day! Sheesh! It’s sorta like Philippines Former First Lady Imelda Marcos pickin’ the ONE best pair of shoes!

But, what the hey; I’m never one to shirk from a challenge. (Well… OK, I may have shirked at least one challenge, sometime in the distant past.)

All righty then; lemme just go down to the basement where I keep my archives… (sound of creaky, rusty-hinged door opening… footsteps clomping down rickety wooden steps… muffled thump of a forehead hitting that stupid low-hanging pipe… various and sundry under-the-breath mutterings… sudden sound of a cat’s startled cry, followed by horrendous crashing, banging, and rattling noises… then… silence.)

Hey, I’m back! (Man, it’s dusty down there. Gotta get the cleaning service in one of these days…)

OK, with 17 days still to go (which of course leaves room for improvement), here’s the post I think is my best from 2008 (sound of drumroll):

What I Learned From a Generous Heart

This post is, in my humble opinion, the best simply because of the reactions it received. Not the number of comments, but mainly because of what was said. So far, it’s been a standout in that regard.

I mean, I never get tired of sharing this particular story. So of course anytime I get the chance, I can’t help but tell it again. It never fails to make me… well, let’s just say that when Mrs. MZM read it, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

But the really nice thing was the effect it had on readers! Sure, this story always touches me – after all, I was there, y’know? But discovering that it touched a few others in a similar fashion was mighty heart-warming, to say the least.

So, what do you say, folks? Would that post be your choice for the best of MZM 2008? That’s right; you’ll have to read ‘em all, now. Don’t worry; take your time…

Anyhoo -

If you feel up to the challenge of agonizing over that kind of choice, then I encourage you to run, not walk over to Joanna’s place and read all about it!

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Image credit: The Choices, by Orin Optiglot

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Just thought I’d let y’all know… I’ve got a surprise coming for you!

Yup; something really, really, (oh, what the hey; let’s go for one more) REALLY big is coming soon! And this time, it’s not coming to downtown Tokyo (sound of thousands of hapless Japanese running screaming into the night as Godzilla casually stomps on yet another building); nope, it’s coming right here to the Middle Zone!

Now, I’m not going to give you too many details just yet. (Come to think of it, I’m not givin’ ya any!) Besides, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if I told you everything right up front, now would it?

Suffice it to say: Bubba, this is gonna be a January to remember!

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In case you didn’t know, on Thursday this week we celebrate our Thanksgiving Day here in the U.S. And, to mark the occasion this year, my buddy Luke Gedeon is running a very special group writing project: Seven Things I am Thankful For.

Not wanting to pass this one up, I decided to take a shot at it. If you’d like to play along (and I heartily encourage you to do so), just write up your own list of seven things (or more… or less, whatever) you’re thankful for and make sure you link back to his original post.

And so, without further ado (because as you know, further do would make no sense whatsoever) I give you:

Seven Things I Am Thankful For

[Note: Click on the photos for a larger view]

My Faith – The first – and by far most significant – thing I’m thankful for is the fact that when I became a Christian just slightly more than 36 years ago, God gave me a new lease on life, if you get my meanin’. I’ll tell ya what, Bubba; for that incredible gift, I will be eternally grateful; far beyond what mere words could ever express!

My Spouse – I am incredibly thankful for the fact that nearly 27 years ago, Mrs. MZM looked deeply into my eyes and said those fateful words: “Bob, I’d like you to meet my friend, XXX.” Yup, that’s right; she was so impressed with yours truly, she tried everything she could to turn my attentions to someone else! But lucky for her (that’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it!), I’m not one to give up easily! The rest, as they say, is history.

My Life – One lesson that comes with a bit of, er, marinatin’, is that life is most definitely worth living! Strangely enough, that’s something I never knew back when I was still a young whippersnapper (defined here as under 30). In fact, I’m not sure it’s even possible for a younger person (relatively speaking, of course) to truly grasp that knowledge until they’ve been around a while longer. Oh, don’t get me wrong; my life has definitely had its ups and downs. But if – no, make that when – I manage to keep the right attitude, hey, it’s all good.

My Family – I’ll be the first to admit that my family relationship is not picture-perfect. But still; it’s not like we’re the Barrones, or anything (er, they put the fun back in dysfunctional.) After everything is said and done, though, the mark they’ve made on my life is indisputable. I’m grateful for the lessons learned (not to mention the things they let me, shall we say, experiment with). The truth is, I wouldn’t be the me I am today if things had been any different.

My Friends – Over the last 10 years or so, I’ve come to know some very special folks, both off- and online, who’ve been a veritable gusher of support, ideas and encouragement. I’ll tell ya; there were a few times I wondered how I’d make it through (like during that 4-year period of unemployment), but these folks were there for me! And now, with the relatively recent addition of my online friends, it just keeps on gettin’ better and better. I consider myself well and truly blessed to know y’all!

My Job – I’m always amazed when I consider how I ended up doing the particular job I do these days (I’m an engineering project manager). I mean, who woulda thunk it, y’know? Especially when I consider the somewhat haphazard way I got here after such a uncertain start! Still, what I do came about in the very same way who I am did – each day builds upon the one before. In the same way, what I do now is built upon the many things I tried (and failed at) and accomplished over the years.

My Writing – Finally, of the things I do these days, my ability (not to mention the opportunity) to write has been a constant source of amazement to me. Who knew, just a few short years ago, that writing was in my blood? I sure didn’t! But thanks to the encouragement of a few special friends, I’m getting more and more comfortable with it all the time. It’s not quite time for that Great American Novel yet, but I can feel it in my bones – there’s something in there, waiting to come out! We’ll see…

It’s Your Turn Now

So, what things are you thankful for?

Why not join us for this wonderful writing project? It’s only running through Wednesday, November 26^th, so I’m afraid you’ll have to hurry. All links will be posted at Luke’s place on Thanksgiving Day.

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Photo Credits:

Thanksgiving image via Wikipedia

Belsen Cross 2 b&w, by Jasmic

Siberian Wedding, by Gentil Garçon

Garlic roasted marinade

vintage family photo: everyone plus the dog, by freeparking

Friends Forever, by automania

Classic “not my job” image, by Simon Davidson

The writer, by photocapy

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Then…

Grey skies, time flies; many sighs -

Sad eyes, soulful cries; progress dies.

Now…

Blue bird, friends heard; kind word -

Hope spurred, undeterred; joy occurred!

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Curious?

Well, this is an entry for Liz Strauss’ “25 Words That Connect Us” project, a joyous little exercise that anyone can partake in! Wanna know how? Why, nothin’ could be simpler, fellow Bubbas!

Just follow that cute little link there and read all about it. But hurry – you only have until Oct. 16th to join in!

Not Only That

And, since this little poem was inspired by a sudden stressful event that occurred only this week, and in an amazingly ironic (which, as you know, means made entirely of iron) turn of events (because it’s WILF week and the topic is What I Learned From Stress), well, it turns out it’s an appropriate entry for that as well.

How about that? Two writing projects with one entry! You can’t beat that with a stick, I’ll tell ya!

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Photo: untitled, by iessi

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[Note from the proprietor: OK, here's my actual entry for Joanna Young's 4 x 4 Group Writing Project! But - yesterday's was still a bit of fun, don't you think? Hey, Joanna did say we could "make this project our own", didn't she? Bwa-ha-ha-ha!]

Actually, I’ve been working on this post ever since I first heard about the project. But you know how it is, right? Things kept getting in the way: there was this big, week-long, out-of-town conference to prepare for (and, of course, to attend), I’ve been a tad ‘down’ lately with what is apparently a severe allergy attack, and I couldn’t find my American Express card and was afraid to leave home without it because someone might, you know, get me.

Anyhoo – enough excuses! Let’s see if the ol’ muse is out to lunch residing at the funny farm taking a break up for it this time…

4 Places That Inspired Me

Having traveled quite a bit, I can name several places that stand out in my memory as having been absolutely incredible adventures – and natural inspirations for many of the stories you read here.

Paris – Mrs. MZM and I visited Paris together in April, 2000, and it’s something that will stay with me always. When we got married, I promised to take her there one day, and we finally made it! Come to think of it, I’ve written several posts about our time there.

Taiwan – This ranks as one of the most unusual places I’ve ever been, particularly because of the language barrier. Luckily most people speak at least a little English! As a growth experience, you couldn’t beat it, though, especially during Chinese New Year! (Sadly, Mrs. MZM couldn’t go with me on this one – but we were at least able to communicate well by email.) I learned one or two interesting lessons, too.

Venezuela – Diametrically opposite my stay in Taiwan was a horrendous three-month assignment in Venezuela. Although it’s probably one of the most difficult times (not to mention the most harrowing!) I’ve ever had to endure in my working career, there were still some things I managed to learn from it.

Aruba – During my engineering career, work assignment locations have usually been in some of the most out-of-the-way, unheard of places you could imagine. But this time we hit the jackpot! Mrs. MZM and I both had the privilege of living there, not once, but twice (once – good; the other was – not so much). Hey, it’s a dirty job, but somebody’s gotta do it, you know! Yep; sometimes the toughest decision of the day was – which beach to go to after work. (Except for the odd iguana or two, it was pretty nice.)

4 Experiences That Inspired Me

Well, gee… how do I narrow it down to just four? OK, how about these:

When I was a kid (that’s human, not goat) my grandmother once changed my life forever.

I had an epiphany once, and it changed the way I looked at my career.

Then there was that time the weather made me reevaluate my career goals.

And I surely can’t leave out the time I knew Mrs. MZM and I were M.F.E.O. (made for each other)!

By the way, some have made a comment or two about how me and weather always seem to be at odds with each other. While it’s true that many of my most inspirational moments occur due to some sort of weather-related phenomenon (three of the four listed above, for instance)… well, OK – they’re right *sigh*. Never mind.

4 People Who Inspire My Writing

Well, now here’s where it gets, well, sticky. There have been so many wonderful influences on my writing, particularly from you good folks online, I hardly know where to start! But here’s four that stand out:

Liz Strauss – Liz is probably the one person who most influenced me in the right direction way back at the beginning of 2007. (I’ve always regretted the six months I’d wasted, before discovering Successful Blog!) Every blogger worth their salt will know of, or have been influenced by, her tremendous giving spirit at some time or other. For newbies and old hands alike, this is where the personal touch in blogging starts!

Joanna Young – I know Joanna well enough to know she won’t mind getting second place to Liz. For some reason, when we first “met” we just sortof hit it off. Her site, Confident Writing, is on my “must read” list – no matter how stuffed the RSS reader gets. Besides having a delightfully Scottish outlook, her site has provided a never ending stream of good writing pointers, ideas and friendship. Thanks, Joanna! Maybe one day me and the missus will be able to drop by for tea and toast. (But not, I beg you, haggis.)

Brad Shorr – Always one with a word of encouragement or inspiration, Brad has also “been there” from a while back. I always get a kick out of his “Word Nerd” and cartoon posts. At his site, Word Sell, Inc., Brad has a way of slicing through the baloney and getting to the heart of sales. And once I figured out the truth (that we’re all in sales, no matter what we actually do), I’ve never failed to find something great in everything he writes. Way to go, Brad – keep on, Brother!

Mike DeWitt – Even long before I deliberately guessed his age, er, low, Mike has been one of the most steadfast supporters of our monthly WILF projects. No doubt enduring unimaginable trials from being the only male in a house full of women, he’s been a great source of inspiration to me (and not just because of that!) Especially that trek down (and back up) the Grand Canyon – whew, I get exhausted just thinkin’ about it! Keep on keepin’ on, my friend! Sorry I missed ya last week, but maybe sometime I’ll be able to buy you that cuppa coffee I’ve been promising. (And don’t you owe me a steak – or am I getting the two confused?)

4 Other Inspirations in My Life

Mrs. MZM – OK; I know, I know – you’re probably thinking to yourself, this one’s a “gimme”. But it’s true nonetheless and must be acknowledged (and no, it’s not because she’s reading it, either, ya big wisenheimer!) The fact is, I wouldn’t be anything like the person I am today without her, and she has, by far, inspired me and fulfilled me as a person more than anyone else on this Earth. Here’s my favorite example: One day in 1993 I turned to her and said something to the effect of, “Hey, I think I want to finish my engineering degree.” Her immediate response: “Go for it!” What a woman! I love you, Sweetheart!

An attic – Yep; you read it right – an attic influenced my life. How, you ask? Well… you’ll just have to read it.

Where I didn’t go – Taking a bit of liberty with this one, but the fact is, I’m as much the person I am today because I didn’t do these things, as the things I actually did - if you get my meanin’.

Jesus Christ – I deliberately saved the best for last. Ever since I gave my heart to Him back in my University days, He has been hands down the most steadying influence to what would have been an otherwise wayward life. No one single Person has ever come close to what He’s promised – and delivered – in terms of hopes, dreams, and, well, assurance. Hey, I’m still not perfect (as far as I know, only one Person ever was!), but I freely admit my life would have been pretty much a disaster without Him.

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Well, I’ll tell ya; this has definitely been a heckuva “eye-opening” post for me! (Get it? the eye? it’s open? Oh, never mind) The thing of it is, we rarely appreciate all the influences in our lives. Thanks, Joanna, for inspiring me to take the time to sortof “take stock” of ‘em all!

Go ahead; try it yourself!