Celebrating Our Blogging Community

“I think tolerance and acceptance and love is something that feeds every community.”

Lady Gaga

We are a community, scattered throughout the interconnected global world that is fast paced and ever-changing.  We are a community that celebrates diversity – customs, culture, languages, art and food. We are a community that shares our voices through poetry, music, dance, humour, art, and photography.  We are a community that is strong, courageous and tolerant. We are a community that wants to be a positive force for transformation – together.

Blogger awards are a way to affirm our community spirit and purpose.     It is also a means by which we can build our blogger connections. Whenever I read an “award” post, I know that I will be meeting a whole new group of bloggers.

When I first pressed the publish button, the first two bloggers who welcomed me to the blogosphere were Cristi at Simple.Interesting and Maarit-Johanna at Literature and Culture.  Over the months, their encouragement and commitment to excellence has been a guiding light.  Cristi and Maarit-Johanna create remarkable blogs that inspire, challenge and have a driving energy that draws others into their sphere.  I have travelled the planet several times over via Simple.Interesting.  With Literature and Culture I have become a time traveller to the ancient world and a student of philosophy.

Cristi and Maarit-Johanna have nominated me for blogger awards.  I am honoured to accept these awards. The best part about being nominated, in my opinion, is the opportunity to nominate other bloggers who have inspired my journey.

Each award nomination asked that I provide some facts about me.  I’m a baby boomer who lives in Vancouver, Canada. My decision to start blogging was to fulfill my father’s last request that I write, which was something far different from my chosen vocation.  On October 25, 2011, the day that my father passed away, I closed the door on my career and headed out into the unknown.  I researched my options and spoke to several social media academics/experts before choosing blogging as the venue to write.  I now know that reading posts of fellow bloggers is critical to realizing the full extent of the social media experience.  In a short time I learned:  The opportunity for knowledge and information exchange crosses geographic/demographic/generational borders and has unlimited potential for growth. Our community is packed with talented and highly motivated, professional bloggers.  I appreciate their efforts and recognize the hard work that goes into creating amazing spaces where people can dialogue.

Beautiful Blogger Award:

Cristi and Maarit-Johanna nominated me for the Beautiful Blogger Award, which has the following rules:

1. Link back to the person who nominated you. Simple.Interesting and Literature and Culture

2. Post the award image to your page

3. Tell 7 facts about yourself (see above)

4. Nominate bloggers and let them know about the nomination

Anarya Andir’s Blog:  A delightful and generous blogger who captures our imagination with her scribbles, thoughts, and a few forgotten memories…

Angies Grapevine: Angie shares what she thinks is fun and interesting stuff.  Her 4 totally awesome kids, 2 dogs, 2 cats, a degu rat, 10 fish, and totally amusing partner make for humorous and joyous posts.

Belle Grove Plantation Bed & Breakfast   This B&B, the birthplace of James Madison, is on my bucket list.  Once you visit – it will be on yours, too!!

Brett Batten Brett is an author, advocate and educator.  He shares his remarkable journey to help others understand the complexities of living through difficult times.

Back Road Journal  A dynamic and fascinating blog that celebrates new beginnings, discoveries and the “back roads of life.”

Emmy Cooks  Seattle is famous for many things and one of those “things” is this amazing blog. The photos are enough to make my mouth water…

Lauren Olivia & Company Passport  Lauren and Kathleen are designers who search the world for products that celebrate diversity.  They are inspired by the words of Gandhi – “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”

Hearing With The Eye: Daughter of a wildlife photographer, Sumithra says that books, music, travel define her life.  What more can there be…

Tell Me About Yourself Award:

Cristi and Maarit-Johanna nominated me for the Tell Me About Yourself Award, which has the following rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated you: A huge thank you to  Simple.Interesting and Literature and Culture
2. Tell Seven things about yourself that you haven’s shared yet: (refer above, however I really think you should know that I cannot resist Chai Tea, that I walk with walking poles, try to sing opera, talk to dogs and cats, and am thinking about learning the Celtic harp.)
3. Nominate 7 bloggers.

Hoof Beats and Foot Prints: A compassionate blogger and adventure freelance photojournalist, who explores the world both on foot and by horseback.

Indifferent: A wonderful Romanian Blogger who has profound insights on the differences within our lives and suggests that we do what our heart dictates.

Orofiorentino: A feast for the senses: music, poetry and photography.  I always come away refreshed.

PJBrez Photogrphy: Patrick, a professor of English Studies, residing in Korea, has dedicated his site to exploring the world “through cheap lenses and any film he can get his hands on.”  No digital photos!!!

Mix&MatchMeme: Meme’s blog is called Mix-and-Match because there is not a single theme she wants to write about.  That means there is always a surprise waiting for you when you visit her blog.

AnElephantCant: I was intrigued by the tagline – “Random thoughts and images, some serious, some humorous, some pointless” – and signed up immediately.  So will you.

Cindy Knoke: Whenever someone writes – “I Blog therefore I am” – you know that you are in for an adventure.  Book reviews, travel ideas and customized recipes are presented with an international flair.

Prolific Blogger Award:

Cristi at Simple.Interesting nominated me for the Prolific Blogger Award, which is defined as “a prolific blogger is one who is intellectually productive…keeping up an active blog that is filled with enjoyable content.”  This is indeed an honour coming from someone who has, as of today, close to 180,000 hits.  The rules are very simple:

1. Every winner of the prolific blogger award pass on this award to at least seven other deserving prolific bloggers (and link to them; and notify them about their nomination at their blogs).
2. Every prolific blogger please link back to the blog from which he/she has received the award.

The Why About This: Penny generously shares her love and joy of life through the lens of creativity.

Vicky Nanjappa: Vicky’s tag line: Journalism for Vertebrates lives up to its promise. His posts are thought-provoking and informative.

Russel Ray Photos:  I met Russel Ray when he “camped out” on my blog!  And I have been following his lively blog ever since.  His wit and wisdom are addictive!!!

The London Flower Lover:  A blog of wisdom and beauty.  Every time I visit, I am welcomed as a long-time friend and kindred spirit.  Pure joy!!

Henning Home Every post is filled with great music, beautiful ideas and thoughtful dialogue.  Get your translators as this blog is in German – a great way to learn a new language!!!

Phil Lanoue Photography:  A sports photographer who found a greater calling in nature.  Be prepared to experience undiscovered worlds.

A Frank Angle: I can always count on exciting and refreshing dialogue every time I visit this blog which is quite often.

My thanks to my blogging community – the best is yet to come…

And remember that “under cherry blossoms there are no strangers.” (Issa, Japan)