Robert Hruzek on Dec 15th 2008 at 6:00 am inspiration, projects, writing

My Best Post from 2008

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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13 responses so far

13 Responses to “My Best Post from 2008”

  1. # Brad Shorron Dec 15th 2008 at 7:25 am

    Robert, You had so many great posts this year, but this was certainly a fine choice. You’ve set a high bar for yourself in 2009.

    Brad Shorrs last blog post..12 Marketing and Writing Book Recommendations

  2. # Mike Shieldson Dec 15th 2008 at 7:31 am

    Yes, most definitely :)

  3. # Joanna Youngon Dec 15th 2008 at 11:17 am

    Great choice Robert, that post certainly had a profound impact on me.

    I loved your description of rummaging through the archives too!

  4. # Robert Hruzekon Dec 15th 2008 at 12:11 pm

    @Brad – That’s kind of you to say so, Brad. But you’re right; now it’s up to me to top ‘em next year. Yikes! :-O

  5. # Robert Hruzekon Dec 15th 2008 at 12:13 pm

    @Joanna – Come to think of it, it was pretty profound for us, too! And hey, don’t worry; I sustained no permanent injury! Unless you count the, er, whackiness factor…

  6. # Robert Hruzekon Dec 15th 2008 at 12:13 pm

    @Mike – Thanks, Bubba!

  7. # johnon Dec 15th 2008 at 3:24 pm

    That is an amazing story, with a lot of good lessons in it. I don’t think I would get tired of sharing that one either.

  8. # Robert Hruzekon Dec 15th 2008 at 7:40 pm

    Thanks, John! It certainly bears repeating. And I plan to!

  9. # Lillie Ammannon Dec 16th 2008 at 12:19 am

    Great choice, Robert. You’ve a lot of wonderful posts, but that’s probably my favorite.

  10. # Robert Hruzekon Dec 16th 2008 at 6:38 pm

    Thanks, Lillie! ‘Course, most of the time, the last post is usually my favorite! But this one is pretty special to me and Mrs. MZM, so it’s a winner in our book.

  11. # Wilson Ponon Dec 19th 2008 at 1:58 am

    Well, I totally agreed with your thought here, Robert and I think that “What I Learned from Generous Heart” project is amongst the best and worthy…

  12. # Robert Hruzekon Dec 19th 2008 at 8:18 am

    Thanks, Wilson!

  13. # Simply the Best Posts of 2008 | Confident Writingon Dec 30th 2008 at 2:02 pm

    [...] From Robert Hruzek at the Middle Zone [...]

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