The rules:
1. In 20 minutes you are to create your post, including writing, checking, proofreading, editing and adding any images.
2. Mention the person who gave you the challenge and include a link to their website.
3. After 20 minutes you must publish what you have created.
4. You are free to write about any topic you choose.
5. Once you have done, you must choose three of your blogging friends to do the challenge, include links to their website.
6. Let your challenge nominees know via Twitter.
I was nominated to do this challenge by Linda V Lind over at Rocking the Spectrum. Take a pop over and read her fabulous post about The Art of Receiving Compliments.
Many apologies for any errors and ramblings in this blog – 20 minutes is not very long !
My Friends…….
are a massive part of my life. So much so, that when I was completing our adoption paperwork we had to create something called a network of support. There are 10 of us in our close group and in the end I was asked to narrow it down, but I couldn’t. In the end, ‘The Girls’ ended up in one box.
I was older before I gained my closest friends. I moved away from home for university at 18 and then again when I finished university for a while meaning that I have left many friends behind. In an ideal world we’d still all be in touch but apart from social media contact, the distance and life makes this difficult. I finally found my set of friends when I settled and started working in a small primary school (later amalgamated with 2 others). I met them all at work and although only three of us currently remain there, the friendships have outlasted. We range from aged 38 to 60, we are in different stages of our lives e.g. young/older children, retirement, married/not married but it doesn’t matter.
It’s hard for all 10 of us to get together at the same time and it rarely happens but thanks to Whatsapp – we are in touch almost daily.
I have an extremely supportive husband, I don’t need my friends because they fill a gap from the perspective but here is what they give me.
They don’t judge!
At some point in our lives we have all needed a shoulder to cry on, a helping hand, a rant, a good laugh to cheer us up or just someone to get totally drunk with and let ourselves go without being judged.
They make me laugh!
We are a weird and wacky bunch. On Saturday some of us went out for early Christmas cocktails and I cried with laughter most of the day. Laughter really is the best medicine and for those few hours – any other crap in our lives was thrown out of the window.
We aren’t the same!
We are not at all similar in many ways. We all have different perspectives on life, love, religion, books, TV etc but it doesn’t matter. We embrace it and go with it. It makes us interesting and interested.
I trust them!
I’m not a trusting person and I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve been through phases where I would cancel outings and meets because I didn’t like how I looked or thought I wouldn’t be missed. Whether it’s an age thing or I’ve just gained confidence, I know my friends are here to stay. They aren’t bothered whether I’m wearing a designer outfit or my jeans and a t-shirt, they aren’t bothered by how much I weigh, what my hair may look like or my make up. They don’t care if my house looks like Toys ‘R’ Us has exploded in it, or how clever I am. For the first time I know I have friends for life!
I haven’t shown them any of blogs yet. This si the first one I’m sharing with them in the hopes that they will know how much they mean to me. To The Girls – I love you all! And Thank You for returning it so beautifully.
3 Bloggers I nominate for this challenge are:
Karen at – https://themommylady85.wordpress.com/
Kelly at – https://muminadaydream.wordpress.com/
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Woah, this is a challenge I probably wouldn’t be able to complete. It takes me ages to write a post.
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I’m a waffler – i can write quickly but it doesn’t make sense ha!
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[…] was challenged to do the 20 mins challenge by herding cats who wrote about friends […]
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I’ve popped over
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This is such a good post , hope your friends like it . Ive never really been one for closing friendships my sister is my best friend so I’ve always been ok with just that however over last few years I have developed friendships with some mums from school and it’s really nice
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I have met these guys over the course of 15 years and it’s the first time I’ve felt secure in a friendship and I’m 41. Some of them have read it and liked it (i haven’t really shared my blogs with family and friends). They are amazing.
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Ah that’s good you feel comfy sharing some now though. I didn’t show anyone for years!!!!
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I was so nervous but even if it’s terrible, I’m doing it!
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I’m sure your friends will love this post, it’s a honest tribute to them. We all need friends like this.
#mixitup
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I’m very lucky. Thanks for reading. 20 minutes was not long enough to express everything I felt.
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Great post in 20 minutes! Though I have my best friends from school, my friends from work are of a different kind. I’m 25 and they range from 23-62 and they’re all amazing! Some of them have seen me at my lowest and some have seen me at the highest but there’s never an air of judgement.
Cheers xx
Rachel | http://www.myspottedblog.com
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I’m so pleased you have great friends too.
To be honest the post was completely written in 20 minutes – I’m a sucker for rules but I did have the idea before hand anyway. I just did it quicker than I was planning.
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I love it and you are the most wonderful friend to have.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Aw Tonia. It’s so lovely of you to comment. 😘😘😘 many of my happiest memories are with you guys 🧡
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You did so much in 20 minutes!!
Brianna | https://briannamarielifestyle.com
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I love these linky idea posts where you just post something and then suggest others.
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It’s z really good way of networking your blog. Trouble is I now have too many good blogs to choose from x
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Oh this is fun, I love a good challenge to get your adrenaline going X #mixitup
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Thanks – It really showed me how much I could get done in a solid 20 minutes.
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Keep u the good work. 🙂
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Wow, this is defo a challenge! How on earth did you write so much and so well? It takes me forever to write a post and even then it’s got mistakes 🙈 Sounds like you have a lovely group of friends 👍
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Thanks for reading. I have fabulous friends x I thunk that’s why it was so easy to write so much x
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Yeah straight from the heart 💓
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Great post! I don’t think I could write a post this fast haha but you did a great job!
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Love this and i have friends just the same they are worth so much #Blogstravaganza
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Aren’t they? They’re amazing when you find the right ones x
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Great post! And what a challenge! I will try this 20 min challenge sometime…
Thanks for sharing.
📚💛
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Your friends sound wonderful, which is obviously a reflection of who you are! It is so important to have a tribe of people who support you and who you support back. I know for me recently when my anxiety was interfering with my life it was my friends who came around to help my hubby and take kids to school for me and just bring me cake. I think like you say maybe it is because we are older and we accept ourselves more and accept others more. What a lovely, feel good post! Thanks for sharing it with #Ablogginggoodtime
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Thank you for hosting and reading xxx my friends are amazing xx
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You wrote all of that in 20 minutes?? I am very impressed. Sometimes, however, you simply have to go for it! 10 in a close group, I am amazed you can ever get togetehr atl all! That must take some major effort. #thatfridaylinky
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The effort for all 10 is huge and usually only happens on special occasions. I was really surprised with the piece after 20 minutes.i think I need to be more productive and focussed when writing and I can produce so much more in the time.
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Wow, what a challenge. I’m not sure I could write anything in 20 minutes. Though it wouldn’t leave time for all the second guessing I do with each and every post so that would be a huge bonus. Maybe I’ll give it a shot. I love this post; your friends sound fab. You’re all lucky to have each other. X #thesatsesh
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Thank you for reading x My friends are fabulous. I try not to second guess and although 20 minutes was short, I often don’t spend a huge amount of time on my posts. I try not to over think.
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What a lovely post, friends are so important #thesatsesh
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Thank you 🧡
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Wow you did fantastically well for 20 minutes! It’s a really lovely piece. And I think you’re right, you know you are with real friends when you can be your absolute true self with them, it doesn’t even feel like trying. You are very lucky to have them #thatfridaylinky
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Thank you. And thank you for reading x
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What a lovely tribute to your friends. And thanks for the intro to other blogs, happy to have found yours as well. :).
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Thank you x 😘
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Great challenge and a lovely post! Thanks for sharing with #Blogstravaganza 🙂
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Thank you for hosting x and for reading
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Nicely done! Friends are so great and it sounds like you have some amazing ones!
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I really do. Thanks for popping by x
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Back from #blogcrush
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What a wonderful challenge and you handled it very well indeed. I very much enjoyed reading your thoughts about your network of friends. #theatsesh xx
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Thank you for reading xxx
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20 minutes?? That’s not a lot at all! Would def need no kids in the room to complete this challenge! #ablogginggoodtime
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They were at school and I was in the zone. The time limit kept me focussed x
Thanks for reading x
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[…] I know I’ll come away feeling different. My friends (you can read about their awesomeness here) will take me as I turn up. Messy hair, no make up, same clothes I’ve worn all day – […]
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