What was I thinking? Being introduced to the street article site after reading a school mate's article, and in my present situation, I began to write. I hoped it would help me in the future with spelling and grammar, something I was atrocious at during formal training at school.

The first article got published, followed closely by the next two, rejections aside, and then the challenge arrived in my “in box.” Thirty articles in thirty days. Now having never stood back from a challenge, and always being disposed to try anything, with many a failure and regret, I accepted and proceeded to draw up a plan of titles, I could never regret accepting this challenge, could I?

The eleventh line of my plan reads, “why did you accept this challenge?” The simple answer to myself, "you really did not understand all the implications, and it only took you thirty seconds to decide." Why do some people think everything is easy, and never really consider all that it entails? I wonder what went through the minds of the explorers of old? Magellan, Raleigh, Marco Polo, Livingstone, Stanley, and even later, Sir Edmund Hillary, all accepting challenges that could have had dire consequences.

Hillary's ascent of Everest, a magnanimous effort. (Magnanimous is that the correct word? Open the word check, no incorrect, now what word should I place here, so as not to appear an idiot? Magnificent, that's the word I was looking for. Gosh, this is not as easy as it seems.)

Hillary's ascent of Everest, a magnificent effort. Did he consider all the possibilities before attempting the climb, possible death as a result, probably never crossed his mind. The early explorers boarding ships and sailing off into the unknown. They must have heard how the world was flat, they could fall off, did this deter them? No!

Why then am I feeling the challenge is too much to complete? After all thirty articles, at say 500 words each, only converts to 15000 words, I don't think I know so many. Yet I will soldier on, why? Because at my age I am still learning something new. Every time I hit the grammar and spell check button, and the screen lights up with red, blue and green lines, (there always seem many,) I know I am about to learn something new, a new discovery, and a better understanding of the language that I have spoken for so many years.

I have always maintained, throughout my career, that listening, looking and asking questions is the basis of a good education. Listening to others talk without engaging in the discussion, is so educational, your opinions are not always required. Many occasions your ideas or thoughts corroborated by the errors of others discussing the same subject. Asking questions of those that are obviously your peers and the observing of items, tests, and the writings of others, an education tool given you by God, to use.

I have found with my writing, that by listening to instructions on the net, by looking at others articles (especially the top 20), and by asking questions on the internet, I am learning to write the subject chosen for me by birth. At this age, it is a wonderful experience, and one I would challenge others to attempt, write an article and see it published, the euphoric feeling of achievement when that email of acceptance enters your box, is second to none.

Go on give it a go!