H is for Haphazard
On the surface, much of what we see in life appears random,
chaotic. Just an arbitrary collection of
isolated events that have no meaning to each other. I would postulate that the happenstance
appearance of everything around us is because we really don't pay close enough
attention to see the buried clues, and take the time to figure out what pattern
or blueprint is at work behind the scenes.
I've previously discussed my "wing-it" approach to
the A to Z Challenge, but like many things in this world, the true method to my
madness is hidden. I actually treat each
letter as a one word writing prompt, putting my creativity on the spot and
forcing it to rise to the occasion. So
what appears like a stream of indiscriminate posts, are actually connected by a
common idea. You could say that spontaneity
is my theme.
The same is true for the way I've tried to read/comment on my
fellow participants contributions. For
the first couple of days I stuck with the section assigned to me as a co-host, acting
as a pseudo-Sheppard if you will. Then I
changed to visiting just those blogs that commented on my first couple of
posts. The last couple of days I
switched it up and read a random selection of blogs from all over the
list. So although I may have visited
your blog just once, or not at all, I promise you this is not a disorganized
approach.
What about you? How
much do you let the haphazard creep into your life?
I've learned to let go of control in many areas of my life and let spontaneity take over which may seem a bit haphazard to some. But I'm happier.
ReplyDeleteThere has to be some semblance of order in our lives when we have caring responsibilities for others or jobs but at certain times I can be 'haphazard' which probably relates to me as 'going with the flow.'
ReplyDeletehttp://sallys-scribbles.blogspot.co.uk/
I try for haphazard. It goes against my nature. I do think that when you leave yourself open to "haphazard" you might have the best thing of all happen.
ReplyDeleteevery day. Basically the only thing that coincides with the A-Z theme is my titles. My titles begin with a letter of the alphabet but more often than not my post is about something completely different. Is that cheating? And I've been playing the follow game. Like you, I check out people who comment and then see if there's someone participating in the A-Z in their comment box that I haven't met yet. Whenever I try to use the real list, I get an anxiety attack. There's just too many choices!
ReplyDeleteSo much of my life has to be ordered in terms of running the house and looking after the kids that I cherish spontaneity, to me it comes in the form of ideas and imagining possibilities with writing.
ReplyDeleteI've been doing much of the same with my commenting. I was very organized at first, and then I went random, but now I'm going to try to visit every blog before the end.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to stop at paragraph one. Things are not always as they appear. There is a rhyme to most reason, even in Nature's tendencies to be spontaneous. Maybe the world around us has a plan: to challenge us with the unexpected, pushing us to think, grow, and learn about ourselves and each other. ('K, too philosophical this early in the morning. More coffee is needed.)
ReplyDeleteI love haphazard! I do like to have a plan in the back of my head in case things fall apart, but I do like bouncing around! :)
ReplyDeleteHaphazard scares me :) but I can handle little bits at a time. I have a difficult time letting go
ReplyDeleteI am too much about routine and organization I'm afraid. I've stuck to my regular pattern, adding more time to reach beyond what I normally do.
ReplyDeleteI always plan on being spontaneous.
ReplyDeleteMy life is a haphazard plan :) When I sit out and plan things I end up getting too caught up in the planning. First time to your blog and know I will be back to read more. :)
ReplyDeletehttp://kdstormclutteredmind.blogspot.com/
As we really have only an illusion of control over things in our lives... it's all haphazard to me. And yet... there ARE fractals.
ReplyDeleteI love that the word "hazard" is the root of the word haphazard...that sort of says all you need to know about my very haphazard life.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Even the word "haphazard" rubs me wrong....Ha Ha
ReplyDeleteI try to make my life a blend of haphazard and organized, without being overly attached to outcomes but putting my head down and running full speed ahead as much as I can.
ReplyDeleteI am much more organized this year with this challenge and it FEELS better, but right now I need to catch forward again... and its fine, too, I'm just adept at making it all into a game and not getting too stressed or anxious about any of it.
PS - Love the image of those houses!
Julie Jordan Scott
Fellow A to Z Challenge Participant
H is for Hilda/HD
On a Mission to Spread Word-Love Throughout the World
my haphazard seems like organized randomness. i make lists but am not rigid. other things come up that need to be dealt with
ReplyDeleteas for a to z, i'm visiting h today =) plus extras who comment
thx for hosting!
I think there can be too much hazard in "haphazard"! Even the word origin means hazards that come up by happenstance.
ReplyDeleteI prefer words like spontaneous, fluid, in-the-moment, Zen-like, organic, or even serendipitous.
But then, none of them would work for H-day in this challenge, huh?
Your H post is so down-to-earth and real...a very human approach, if you will. This is my first A - Z Challenge, and I thought I'd get all organized and get ahead of the game once I got started. I actually only found out about it on April Fool's Day, so I was a bit behind, but jumped in with both fee. Well, it turns out that crochet (the topic of my blog) is easier to write about when I'm inspired. Consequently, I'm working on a post for letter T, when I haven't even figured out a post for letter I (scheduled for tomorrow) yet. Oh, it will get written and published, and it won't be rushed or anything. This might seem a haphazard way to approach the challenge, but it's working, and I'm having a ball participating in this challenge because of it:) L is for long-worded...off to visit my next blog now. Thanks for the work you're doing for the challenge:)
ReplyDeleteI have organization in my disorganization.
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed over how many blogs you've visited!
So you've got organized chaos going on? Awesome!
ReplyDeleteI do work better under pressure. Hence I tend to write my posts last minute.
:)
Heather
Haphazard is how I decide what project I'm writing next. I have plenty to choose from, and somehow a choice must be made. No particular rhyme or reason, just something.
ReplyDeleteErin
All the time! I do plan stuff in my life. I mean, you've got to haven't you? Journeys, holidays and appointments. I'm NEVER late for an appointment and, to be comfortable, I have to be at the airport three hours before the plane otherwise I get nervous (drives my husband mad). Good H post!
ReplyDeleteOrganized chaos, that’s me. Or wait... maybe just chaos. :)
ReplyDeleteI may be a little strange, but I believe there is a reason for everything that happens in our lives. If the car won't start, then I wasn't meant to go out. Maybe I would have been in an accident. If someone dies, I believe there is a definite reason why they died when they did.
ReplyDeletei am not sure what i believe about everything happening for a reason--as a Christian, i believe all things work to good----so much is truly out of our control and that is probably a good thing--thought provoking post for me
ReplyDeleteMy mind is haphazard, but I don't approach my life in that way--I don't think. Or is that one of my haphazard thoughts. :)
ReplyDeleteTeresa
Sometimes I like haphazard, especially when things have been so insanely organized for awhile but after a few haphazard moments, I like the organized again.
ReplyDeleteHaphazard can be fun, and is good for the creative self.
ReplyDeleteAs for reading blogs in the Challenge now I know why I saw you the first few days and not thereafter!
I'm approaching the list of A to Z bloggers in an organized haphazard fashion. I do the prescribed looking at a few in a row in the ones following my name, then I hop around and click on blognames that appeal to me. I only comment on the ones that particularly pique my interest.
Is haphazard blog-hopping hophazard? ;-)
I'm not a planner. Very spontaneous. Haphazard seems to work for me.
ReplyDeleteI plan and I have lists, but with my schedule, haphazard and chaotic better describe my day.
ReplyDeleteI used to have a labrador named Hazard, who was sweet, but very Haphazard - grin!
ReplyDeleteI try to keep the chaos in my life to a minimum though...in a haphazard sort of way.
Texas Playwright Chick
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHaphazard rules me! I don't do well with routine and schedule... I prefer to take each day as it comes and see what it brings me! ;)
ReplyDeleteI wish I could be more haphazard! I'm a fairly planned, careful person. Funnily enough, though, my approach to A-Z commenting today was totally random. I jumped to the end of the list and happened upon some fantastic blogs. So, maybe I'll choose things haphazardly a little more often. Great post, DL!
ReplyDeleteGlad I stopped by. So much in life is haphazard, no matter how hard we try to control it. http://1000wrongs.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteHmm. Am I haphazard in any way?? Nah. I plan each day in a very meticulous way and everything always goes as planned.
ReplyDeleteThat's a bunch of malarkey, what I just said there. I have had one MS sitting for fifteen months and now it is time to make it all sparkly. I finally got my courage up to tackle it. And my A to Z? Just whatever I decided as I sat down to type. The best things in life can't be planned. They just happen. Right?
But you de man on blog commenting. I've pretty much seen you all over the place.
It's true, isn't it? There are patterns and logic everywhere if we stop to look hard enough, or if we can figure out *how* to look. My approach to commenting/visiting has been almost identical to yours. I tried to do it in a linear way, going through the list blog by blog, and then my head exploded (yes! literally!) so I decided to get more creative.
ReplyDeleteI did much the same way. I started very organized and now I've been mixing it up. Nice to stop by and meet you :)
ReplyDeleteLaura B Writer
I have more trouble trying to put the organised in the haphazard :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm a planner and love to organize things but can't imagine doing all that you are doing! Job well done!!
ReplyDelete