Unique Times

Hi Friends,

I am very honored and humbled by all of these awards. Thank all of you so much for both nominating me and reading my blog posts. The biggest joy for me, is to meet fellow writers and develop a community of support. I love writing and reading what you all have to say and I get so excited to read what you have hot off the press in the morning (ok and sometimes noon & night). Our exchange and daily banter, makes my day brighter so thank you. I never thought I would say that because I don’t enjoy other social media platforms but this is FUN! And as you know, if you’re reading any of my posts, I’m working on having more fun which is actually a lot of work for me since I’m in a huge learning curve at the moment. Ha, ha. If I am to be completely honest, I am also overwhelmed and embarrassed that it’s taken me this long and have let them accumulate, but I have been chastised by my family for the amount of time I’m spending writing these days along with my full time profession. I’m trying to make a concerted effort to be more available and close my devices down for part of the day. Who knew they could be so addictive and difficult to learn but I’m not ready to be a dinosaur…..YET!

Just to warn you, this is going to be a long post so if you want to scroll down to the awards and see who the amazing bloggers are that nominated me, scroll down to the bottom. And perhaps you’ll see your name there as well with a nomination, if you are dreaming of getting an award.

First off, I want to say to all of the bloggers that have received awards; Congratulations and to let those who haven’t received one yet, that you will. But, I’m gonna warn you, be careful what you wish for and remember, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Just remember, speak from your heart and share your message of truth to the world and people will feel your heart through your fingers as you tap away on your key board. The other thing I want to say is that the first time you get an award you will be over the moon (at least I was) and think you hit the jackpot or as Kumar said; “there would be a big party” to celebrate him. I told all of my family and friends and I even put it on my newsletter because I was so excited. We’re still waiting for that celebration Word Press. Lol! I remember spending ALL day working on it completely frustrated because I could barely figure out word press to begin with. The worst was, my kids and my assistant found it difficult to navigate as well, so I was on my own. To be fair, Word Press does not give these awards out, bloggers do.

The Purpose of awards:

It’s a way that other bloggers acknowledge your work and for you to share your admiration with readers as well, by picking others that you find read worthy, after being nominated. I’m adding this section here because I really didn’t understand all of this in the beginning and had a heck of a time navigating it, and if it wasn’t for Pooja at Lifesfinewhine, I’d have lost my mind!

I knew I wanted to write a post about Awards when I read people were feeling bad about not getting one so I thought what better time since I have been behind the 8 ball with 8 awards waiting for my attention. It occured to me to Google Word Press Awards and I found a great one here from Michelle Weber titled Isn’t It Lovely to understand Blog awards. Michelle is an editor for Word Press on The Daily Post that sums it up and answers all of your questions really well, so check it out.

When you get an award, you have a few choices:

1. You can accept and thank them profusely for nominating you and start your write up right away. You don’t have to do it that second but don’t wait and let them add up because it’s easy to forget someone that nominated you like in my case (sorry if that happened). So, write them down in your notes somewhere or start a post and save the permalink (google that or use chat) and add them to your saved post as you get them.
   
   
2. You can just say thank you very much, I’m honored but I don’t do awards. It’s just fine as it takes time and it depends on what your motive is. You aren’t going to some pie in the sky but you will draw more SEO (Search Engine Optimization) according to some and if you are trying to grow a following this can be helpful. If this is a hobby and you just enjoy writing, DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT! See Pooja’s post from Lifeswhine on How to get more Traffic for some Great Tips on SEO’s and DO (domain optimization). It’s enough to make my head spin but I’m slowly getting it. When in doubt forget about it, and just write but as you get launched check these tools out. Rising Star’s article on How to Create the Perfect SEO Content, is great and he also goes into D.O. (domain optimization). He also created the Ideal Blogger Award. Smart cookie, I’d say, with some really great tips as well.
   
   
3. You can ask for help on how to copy and paste it into a blog post etc. without feeling embarrassed because you don’t know how to do it. Hey, It’s the first time you’ve done it, so cut yourself some slack. Google it or go to the question mark on the bottom right of your write post area. And if you have a paid site you can do a live chat which is exactly why I paid so I could have access and then I forget to use it. As a disclaimer; YOU WILL FORGET ALL OF THIS so don’t worry, just write your content and get it out there. And remember, there is always Pooja and you can even email her-:). It’s amazing she’s still talking to me. Ha, ha!
   
   
4. Make sure to thank the person who nominated you and just be clear on whether you will accept or not.

Tips to help:

1. Before choosing your nominees, save yourself some time and look at their site to see if they accept them or not or if they’ve just received the one you were going to nominate them for.
   
   
2. Don’t take it personally when they don’t do it. I’ll never forget how surprised I was when the amazing bloggers that I nominated turned me down. I mean, why weren’t they as excited as I was? Someone I nominated actually said “ha ha, I’ll go check it out”. I was mortified but you know he did, and he ended up making a nice comment on my award. And now we are bantering friends which is great fun.
   
   
3. It could be stuck in spam so ask them to check and see if it’s there. That’s happened to me a few times. I just found out where spam was tonight and I had 14 messages pending. oops! But see, that didn’t stop me from growing a following (which is in it’s infant stages) and writing. Remember, writers write!
   
   
4. You do not have to nominate others if you don’t want to but if you have time, it does keep bloggers blogging and building a following.

So all in all, be clear this is one of the biggest ponzi schemes ever (sorry to burst your bubble) but in a good way though and the creators of the awards are brilliant for starting it. I do think it’s a good thing that keeps people writing and honing their skill. Like, I said Writers write. Not much different than anything else in life: bikers, bike; marathoners, run; photographers, take pictures. To get good in writing you have to keep your “pencil” sharp.

I also wanted to let you know that I will continue to participate in awards if I can find the time so please don’t take it personally if I say no. If I can I definitely will. I’ll most likely be opening it up for anyone that wants to claim the award.

So Let’s get to the Awards I received:

I am very honored to receive the Sunshine Blogger award from 3 different incredible bloggers. My sincere gratitude to Grudging Fret and Swetha and Nawazish for nominated me for this award. You all are great writers and I find inspiration in your writing and enjoy our friendly exchange and support. To all who reading this please do have a visit on this site.

Gruding Fret of A travellingHeart, started blogging when the lock down hit and is loving sharing her hidden thoughts and optimism in the light of God. She is inspired by her parents, friends and inspirational bloggers. She writes on many different subjects and I personally enjoy the variety in her topics and heartfelt posts and her willingness to speak out when others might shy away from a subject. Watch her as she grows on this site and in the world.

Swetha of Business English writes to help others with the art of language making it easy and breaks things down into digestible steps so no one will have to suffer due to lack of skills. She also has a B.E. in Computer Science which helps to impart her vast knowledge. She has a lot of interesting articles and is quickly gaining a following with her awards. Someday, look for her in the air Sky Diving as she is taking flight in the world of Business English.

Nawazish The Lightening Bug ignites the page with her stories of truth and optimism speaking on subjects of real life maters, that actually matter. You will find Choice & Change writing on subjects on caste, creed, sex, age, religion, patriarchal norms in society and how to navigate them. She speaks directly without sidestepping issues with great visuals and is provocative and funny. On her page she has an opening that says “A Simply Complicated Perfectly Flawed Mess”. I love that! It sounds like our world right now. What I love is her support of other bloggers and you will always see her giving a beautiful message of praise to others.

Thanks you 3 for nominating me and a chance to introduce you to those who yet have had the privilege of meeting you. I do hope you enjoyed reading about yourselves and If I misconstrued anything please let me know. You are all 3 talented and we are lucky to have you all in our Word Press World as friends.

RULES

1. Thank the blogger, who nominated you and provide the link of his or her website or blog.
2. Answer the 11 question given to you.
3. Nominate 11 other bloggers.
4. Ask your nominees 11 other questions.
5. Notify your nominees once,  after you upload your post

My Nominees are:

All of my followers! Its your turn. Yes, If you want to claim this award I encourage you to do it now!!! Use all 9 questions below. Or you can simply let me know your answers below.

My questions from Grudging Fret Are:

Take note, I have made my own rules here and am only responding to 3 so as not to bore you.

What’s your time killer?

I would have to say blogging lol. Also, prioritizing since I get on a project and have a difficult time stopping until I get it right. 🤪

Do you think that blogging alone can help you to share your thoughts?

I certainly don’t. I journal, write “letters to God” annually and in my heart daily. I love sending cards to people I love and like to keep the art of pen to paper with a stamp alive. Funny thing in lockdown, I haven’t been doing it since I’m glued to constant learning here and other platforms

Are you a good listener?

Well, I hope so since it is my job to be an active listener. I use a Socratic approach knowing that people have their own answers. Lately, I would have to say I voice my opinion to family members more than they might like and have been a little less patient; sorry about that. I’m noticing I like to resolve issues and if I hear the same problem over and over, I give my good idea a lot more than I used to.

My Questions from Swetha Are:

Name a blogger who has been always supporting you from the beginning:

Did I mention Pooja from Lifesfinewhine? lol. I think we all would agree, she is the kindest person ever and truly supports us in navigating this platform. We all have her email and she actually means it when she says email me anytime. Don’t forget to “tipping cows is bad but tipping Lifesfine whine is fine”. Thank you girl for being a great cheerleader and support to me and others as we continue to navigate this arena. 😘

What was the happiest moment in your life?

I have to say the birth of each of my children so sorry I can’t pick just one. Well, sometimes I could and would rotate one out from one day to the next. (Just kidding of course). 3 of the 4 were born at home. It was the happiest experience of being part of this magical unexplainable moment, where God is ever present. Being in the here and now with no beginning or end, just the present is a treasuered memory in my heart. Time disappears and the present is a meditation, drinking in the NOW.

What are your hobbies except blogging?

Hiking, learning to play the flute, singing, dancing, practicing the Uke. Drumming, swimming is becoming one lately to avoid the bloody heat and gardening.

Again, Thank you all for this award!!!

Thank you Rez for the Liebster Blog nomination! I truly appreciate this coming from you who brings life to words where you scribble your thoughts and poetry on the page. What an extraordinary contrast from her successful Financial Profession! She has profound witty twists and turns whether she is writing on daily life and love or stories with teachable moments and easy to follow steps to get you on your path to self care. Her visuals and quotes are so fun and uplifting and she is a gem with her support of my work, always commenting offering kindness.

Again, Thank You Rez, Reshimi to be exact, for this honor. I am most grateful!

Rules

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
2. Answer their questions.
3. Nominate 11 bloggers.
4. Ask your nominees 11 questions.
5. Notify the nominees about the nomination.
6. List the rules and display the award logo.

Questions From Rez:

Thank you Shruti for nominating me for The Liebster Award. This is my second time being nominated for this award and I really appreciate you your acknowledgement of my blog site and my writing.

Shruti is a med student who shares her musings of her heart and what’s important to her. She is clearly hard working in her field and writing has given her an outlet to find words on paper that are harder voiced. You would never know that judging by her beautiful smile and passionate and skilled writing. She is an eloguent writer, whether sharing her honest challenges or love of holistic health care that she imparts with us through tips, to survive and find acceptance. Her poetry is beautiful and sometimes chilling as you might expect from a Med Student.

Thank You Shruti for not only nominating me but for your constant support of me a a writer. Wow, did I just call myself a writer. LOL!

The Rules

1. Thank the person who has nominated you and provide a link back to his/her blog.
2. Answer their questions.
3. Nominate other bloggers and ask them 5 new questions.
4. Notify the nominees through their blog by visiting and commenting on their blog.

Here are Shruti’s Questions to me:

What motivated you to start a blog?

I’m trying to remember… I think it was about 5 years ago since I was writing my newsletter. I think I was also processing a lot and wanted to share my story. I stopped since my practice was so busy and with the pandemic, a window opened up as a few doors shifted since I’m not driving to as many clients and doing more zoom sessions.

What’s the most attractive quality in a person?

Their honesty and ability to connect, look you straight in the eye and you can feel there heart without words.

3.What do you do to make a bad day better?

Well, honestly, I wear my feelings on my sleeve and you will just feel it if you’re around me. Later, I apologize (well, I’m working on that.. lol) and then I get out and get my body moving on either a walk or play music, do Tai Chi and Yoga or strength training.

Thank you again Shruti!!!

My Nominee’s are:

You guessed it, All of you and your questions are the same as mine above or you can use all nine in All of the Awards.

Thanks to Ingrid from Experiments in Fiction for nominating me for The Outstanding Blogger Award!

I am so honored to receive this award by such a powerful writer of words in her poetry and her travel escapades with such beautiful pictures, where you feel as though you’ve been to amazing places she describes, through her site. She writes about travel with Postcards from Slovene, Europe, the U.K. and Brittan. I am in awe of her tenacity and participation in the writing prompts and awards she has received. She has even started a couple of contests which I’m so impressed with, so check her out. Ingrid’s poetry is both captivating and transports you to places you go in your mind but may not be able to string them quite as beautifully as she does. When you are done reading them you feel grateful she has said them for you and given space to your feelings that you might be experiencing as well. Whether you visit a travel destination with her or her words of poetry, I promise you will feel uplifted and inspired. She will be a published poet and we will hold her book in our hands someday soon.

The Rules:

1. Provide the link to the creator’s original award post.
2. Answer the questions provided.
3. Create 7 unique questions.
4. Nominate 10 bloggers. Ensure that they are aware of their nomination. Neither the award’s creator, nor the blogger that nominated you, can be nominated.
5. At the end of 2020, every blog that ping-backs the creator’s original post will be entered to win the 2020 Outstanding Blogger Award!

This award was created by Colton Beckwith.

Ingrid’s Questions Are:

What is your ideal holiday destination?

While I love to explore new sites and tour it’s generally to sit at a beach and swim and read and write. With that said, I love architecture and temples and will not miss a sight and hit them all but I always end the day chilling.

For how long have you been writing?

Every since I was in high school I’ve written a journal and going back to them is hysterically entertaining and so elementary. I’m having fun remembering when…

If you have ever written a book/ or plan to: Give Details:

No, I’ve never written a book but, it’s on my bucket list. Well, I don’t know exactly what it will be but a teaching memoir of such. I don’t think of myself as a writer and I told one of my Godson’s, that also writes that, and later he texted me back and said. “You are a Writer, You Write”! It touched me profoundly! So dear. You will meet him soon as he is going to join our Writers Community. Ok, I’m going to tell you a little secret but don’t tell anyone promise?!? I’ve just started writing a book. shhh… that was scary to say. The cat’s out of the bag. Maybe I can get my cat Stargazer to be my editor. Lol. It will be a teaching memoir and I’m developing it now.

Thank you again Ingrid for thinking of me for this Honorable Award.

My Nominee’s are:

Ready? Yes, All of You who will accept.

Answer all of the questions I answered in each award.

I have been nominated for The Ideal Inspiration Blogger Award for the second time by K Million Dreams which as I mentioned was created by Rising Star. It’s always nice to pop on their site as well to give credit where credit is due. Thank you so much for this nomination and being so patient with me in getting it out.

Million Dreams started her blog May 11th and has been trail blazing ever since increasing her following an is now beyond 100 likes. YAY! It shows when someone speaks there truth and stands up in the face of adversity what can be done. She writes uplifting messages from her heart and credits her family, friends, word press community and first and foremost God for her inspiration. She has some beautiful pictures on her site. I love her favorite quote at the moment ‘ If people are doubting how far you can go, go so far that you can’t hear them anymore “.  That says it all as she keeps dreaming against all odds to be silly and sing her song which I so hope to hear. Will you please make a video of that?!!!! Pretty Please!

Thanks again K Million Dreams for nominating me and always commenting with a positive outlook on my blog. I am grateful.

RULES: 

1. Thank the person who have nominated you and provide a link back to his/her blog.
2. Answer their questions.
3. Nominate up to 9 other bloggers and ask them 5 new questions.
4. Notify the nominees through their blog by visiting and commenting on their blog.

List the rules and display the “Ideal Inspiration Blogger Award” logo. Provide the link of the Award creator of ideal inspiration blogger award as Rising Star from as https://idealinspiration.blog/

If today is your last day on earth, what would you do?

Oh, I would hang out with my family and furry family and best friends with catered food of every delectable delight and of course chocolate. I’d be here at home and play music and dance with a great band and I would sing thank you for being my friend. We would laugh and cry and tell stories and swim.

When you feel like things aren’t going your way, what do you do?

Do them anyway. I have learned that when they are in your heart, you follow it and trust the messages you are gettng even when you can’t make sense of them. I’m not afraid to drop something all together if that’s right but only if I get a loud and clear message. I keep going until that’s the case. Life always leads you to where you need to be, if you get out of your way and follow your heart. And BTW it isn’t always easy.

According to you, what’s the key to self acceptance?

Loving yourself exactly the way you are so you can accept all aspects of yourself. Let’s face it, it’s easy to love yourself when things are going great but can you embrace your shadow side (we all have one), when they aren’t and hold yourself lovingly and gently? That is key!

My Nominee’s are:

YEP, All of you; now start writing your answers to all 9 of the questions.

I have been nominated for The Vincent Ehindero Blogger Award by
Mehran Zour of Power of Words. Thank you so much Mehran for this honorable award and look forward to getting to know you more.

Mehran and I have recently met and I have truly enjoyed his posts. He is Pakstannian and he educates and shares essays and topics that are interesting and important to all of us. He writes on subjects such as self esteem which is crucial in a crazy mixed up world so we don’t get lost in lifes agenda. His thoughts on employment, urbanization and poverty are always empowering and educational guided toward tips to make change which is vital to our existence.

The Rules For This Award Are:

1. Thank the person who nominated you with a link to their blog.
2. Make a post of the award (with a photo of the logo).
3. Post the rules.
4. Ask 5-10 questions of your choice.
5. Nominate 10-30 other bloggers (or more) and notify them.
6. Thank the originator of the award. Please follow Vincent Ehindero.

Questions From Mehran:

When did you realize that you loved writing?

I truly am not sure but it is something I have done for as long as I remember.

What is the purpose behind creating this blog?

My purpose is to share my pearls of wisdom I have learned from so many great teachers and mentors in my life. If I can help one person my mission is achieved and I think through writing we can touch so many more people. It just became apparent that there was a book in me that I was born to write. Shhh.. remember it’s a secret. lol.

Blogging is your hobby or profession?

_{Hobby, turning to a profession. Wow, did I just say that?!?! Remember, don’t tell anyone.} LOL!

My Nominees for the 8 awards I received are:

Pooja from LifesfineWhine. You have the record of Awards I think so what’s 8 more?!

Rising Star: It’s time to play after giving so much.

We can’t wait to hear your answers.

And Anyone else that wants to Claim one or all of these awards, please accept and start writing.

My Questions:

Pick one from each category.

Thank you so much to everyone who has nominated me for these awards, and to all of you who read and engage with my posts.
I hope of some of these tips are useful in the future for your own blogs.

I appreciate you liking (if you do of course), commenting and sharing if you are so inclined.

Blessings,

Cindy

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