The Ultimate Blog Challenge is a challenge for bloggers who want to improve their site, be more consistent with their posts, and increase viewership. It was created and is facilitated by Paul B. Taubman, an international speaker, presenter, and trainer focused on website strategy and online marketing. This quarterly challenge asks bloggers to post everyday (if possible ) and connect with other participants, by reading their posts and commenting.
I have registered for the Ultimate Blog Challenge for October and this month I will try to post every day. (If you follow my blog, I apologize ahead of time that you will get an email every day. I so appreciate your subscribing and I don’t want to irritate you.) I haven’t participated in this quarterly challenge in a while and I really want to finish this time. I have participated in 6 challenges and completed the challenge (posted blogs everyday) 2 times.
With my invisible disability of aphasia, which affects my speech but also my writing (inability to express words and ideas fully, word finding difficulties, grammar [skipping important words, leaving out small words and trying to remember to use the correct tenses and pronouns] and spelling inconsistency), and reading, it's hard. It definitely is a challenge to do this blog consistently and especially every day will be a challenge. But having this challenge will make me stretch. And stretching is importance for improving.
Throughout the five years since having the debilitating stroke, I have tried to challenge myself to get better. At first it was practicing every word that I wanted to say - using apps and asking people to say the words so I could imitate the movement. I kept important words on index cards to practice every day.
Then it was practicing sentences; then paragraphs and conversations. For writing, I started copying recipes, writing short emails, then progressed to writing this blog (2020) and finishing a project to present to the hospital where I went for the stroke (2023). All along challenging myself to do more and more. I believe that this has helped me to get where I am today.
This blog challenge stretches my abilities in many ways. Not only trying to write interesting blog posts everyday (requiring persistence and motivation), but reading and responding to fellow blog posts (reading for meaning, staying on topic, organizing thoughts and responses).
In the most successful Ultimate Blog Challenge, I wrote about topics on certain days of the week. I think I’ll do this again this month. I think it helped me organize my thoughts and kept me motivated.
This month, I will have:
Aphasia Moments Mondays (where I share videos I post on YouTube)
Self esteem Tuesday (discuss this very important aspect of stroke recovery)
Wordless Wednesday (I’ll share pictures I take)
Thankful Thursday (probably self explanatory)
Free Write Fridays (where I write whatever comes to mind that day)
Self care Saturdays (self care is not selfish, here I will share some suggestions)
Positive self talk Sundays (affirmations for the day)
In addition, every day, I will share an “Aphasia Moment”. I started a podcast called Aphasia Moments on YouTube where I talk about the good, bad and definitely funny aspects of living with communications disorders. It is hard to document my experiences and this will probably help me to remember what happened.
So, on to this new UBC. I look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones. Let's keep each other motivitated for these 31 days.
Until tomorrow...
Glad to see you back, Cheryl. You are rising and meeting your challenges very well. I could learn from you. Having a plan is a good lesson. I tend to just write off the cuff.
Welcome back Cheryl! I like how you have a topic for each day of the week! Looking forward to checking them out!
Cheryl, what an inspiring post! Taking on a challenge is such a powerful way to push boundaries and grow. I love how you highlighted the importance of stepping out of our comfort zones. It's a great reminder that real progress often comes from the moments that challenge us the most. Thank you for sharing this motivational start to the UBC!
My best friend had a stroke 15 years ago when she was in her early 40s. She had (and continues to have) a very long recovery time. I am always thankful to still have her in my life. She teaches me how to be kind and accepting and she has supported me through the deaths of my parents and, now, my older sister.
Because I have auditory processing disorder, I understand about challenges to communication. So, we have a lot in common. But I've never experienced a stroke. Your stories are valuable to me and can help me understand my bestie even better.
Good luck in completing the challenge. I am doing it, too. I hope that I finish it,…