Awards and Such

So, it’s seems I’ve been nominated for a couple more awards here on WordPress. I am continually astounded by the kindness of my fellow bloggers. It is so meaningful to hear that other people enjoy my words and find meaning in them, especially since I’ve personally felt so dissatisfied by some of my posts of late. It’s nice to know that those posts weren’t all for naught. So, thank you, thank you, thank you!

First thing’s first–

This isn’t an award, but a tag me thing. The Sonny C tagged me to write ten fun facts about myself. I really don’t understand these tag me things, other than they have successfully one upped awards in being the ultimate chain mail. However, it sounded kind of fun, so what the heck. I mean, I wont lie in saying I like to talk about myself (sometimes) and this is a nice opportunity for my fellow bloggers to get to know be better, if they so choose.

I personally will not be tagging anybody else to participate, however anyone who wants to share ten fun facts about themselves is welcome, I guess.

So here we go, ten facts about me:

1. Since my mid-teens, I’ve named all my journals. You know how Anne Frank called her diary Kitty? Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about. My current journal is Hetty, though I’ve also had a Violet and a Melody, to name a few. I became really attracted to this after reading The Diary of a Young Girl because I found it more useful for me to get things off my chest if it felt like I was actively writing to someone else. I guess you could say this is why I turned to blogging–even though I write for myself, I also find comfort in knowing that my words wont just be closed up in a book forever. Obviously, I know no one is actually reading my journals…it’s the idea of writing to someone else that is more comforting than anything.

2. I have lived on campus in a first-year residence hall setting all four years of college. I was a RA for two years and am now am a student Hall Director. Sometimes I question why I still live with freshman and their poor life choices, but  then I remember that I really do love it. I love the community that residence hall living provides and I love watching residents learn and grow throughout the year. I can’t imagine my college experience going any other way.

3. That being said, I’m so excited to graduate and get my own apartment. Residence hall living is great, but I’ll be ready to be done with it come May.

4. I studied abroad in Ireland for two and a half weeks in May of 2013. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget.

5. I hope to live abroad one day, even if it’s just for a short period of time. I really want the experience of immersing myself in another culture. Part of me wishes I would have studied abroad for a whole semester during college, but the RA thing kind of messed that up.

6. If I had time to minor in art history, I totally would. But yeah, graduation is so calling…

7. I have a younger brother.

8. My oldest friend, Nicole, and I have been besties since kindergarten. She was the first person I met at school and the rest is history. We’ve gone to different schools since 9th grade, yet we still manage to see each other pretty regularly…we pretty much aspire to be grannys together. 

9. I have been a pescetarian for almost four years. I went through a phase where I was a full-fledged vegetarian during my sophomore year of college, but now consider myself a pescetarian.

10. I need to learn how to cook. My skills are limited at best, and having a balanced and healthy diet is important to me. I’ll be glad to not live off the campus dining hall after graduation (yeah, four years of the dining hall has been rough), but that means I’ll need to cook for myself, something I’m not the greatest at right now.

As I said before, I have chosen not to tag anyone for this. It was fun and challenging to think up ten facts, but I don’t feel the need to pass this tag along.

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Sooo, to the awards!

That Traveling Nurse has nominated me for the Versatile Blogger Award. This is my second VBA (because I don’t want to type that out a bunch) and it means a lot to be recognized again for this. To me, the VBA means versatility and creativity within posts themselves and in the blog as a whole. I don’t really know how other people gauge this award, but I look at the name itself and see an award that is all about recognizing bloggers that exhibit a unique voice, one that recognizes bloggers who cover a wide range of topics in well-thought out and meaningful posts. The last time I accepted this award, I nominated bloggers that inspire me and make me think about the world differently. In this sense, the VBA is a really meaningful award and I can’t thank That Traveling Nurse enough for nominating me! If you’re looking for unique and interesting perspective, definitely check out her blog. Her VBA is much deserved!

Here’s the rules for VBA acceptance:

1. Show the award on your blog. (already done)
2. Thank the person who nominated you. (yup, done)
3. Share seven facts about yourself.
4. Nominate 15 blogs.
5. Link your nominee’s blogs & let them know.

So, thinking up seven more facts will be rough, but I’m up for it! Also, definitely wont be nominating fifteen blogs because again, that’s just too many.

So, seven more facts…

1. Apparently, two of my friends and I are participating in a triathlon in April. I’m excited because this is something I’ve never done before, but also kind of nervous. I will be doing the running leg of the triathlon. I’ve been running regularly for about a year and a half now, but I do it for myself…because a runners high is so powerful and staying mentally healthy is a top priority for me. I’m a much stronger runner now than I ever have been before, but the thought of participating in a race for the first time ever is certainly daunting.

2. I really want to visit the East Coast. I mean, I lived in Washington D.C. for eight weeks last summer, but the farthest east I’ve ever been in the continental United States is Baltimore, Maryland.

3. Growing up, my favorite Disney Princess was Cinderella. I had a Cinderella bedspread and everything back in the day!

4. I love getting snail mail–letters and postcards–from people and wish it wasn’t becoming such an obsolete thing to do.

5. I enjoy doing laundry and washing dishes. There’s something so routine and comforting about both…I find each task pretty relaxing, actually.

6. I have a weak spot for 80’s music. I sometimes wish I was a child of the 80s because man, rocking out to that music during that decade would have been something else.

7. I have really small feet and have many pairs of children’s shoes in my wardrobe (it’s about half and half–half kids, half adult shoes). Being able to shop in the children’s sections for shoes is nice in that they are cheaper than adult shoes, but man, shopping for dressy shoes, especially heels, is the worst. It’s nearly impossible for me to find nice, formal shoes because they’re generally too big in the adult section and so not professional enough in the kids section.

Alright, the nominees for this round of the Versatile Blogger Award are *drumroll please*

Word Nerd and Jump Rope

Word Nerd is a blog by an absolutely amazing writer whom I came across a few weeks ago. Since then, I’ve fallen in love with her writing style and always eagerly await her new posts.

Jump Rope is a blog by Meghan, whom I go to school with out on the prairie. She has a unique perspective on life and her posts are filled with a zest and passion for life that can brighten anyone’s day.

And this wraps up the VBA part of this post!

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Speaking of Word Nerd, she has nominated me for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award. I’m quite excited for this award, since it’s new to me. I’ve been aware of this award, as I’ve seen it it making the rounds on WordPress. I feel so honored to be awarded this award and I can’t thank Word Nerd enough for the nomination!

The rules are to nominate seven bloggers (I only have three lined up), answer some questions from my nominator, and then leave some questions for my nominees.

So, without further ado, here are the questions Word Nerd has asked me:

1.  If you  had no restrictions, what one thing would you choose to focus your time and attention?  Why?

Oh my goodness, I would have to say reading and writing. I just wish I had more time to read the books I want to read on my own time, which is exceedingly difficult to do as a college student with a lot on her plate. I write quite a bit already because I make myself make time for it, but still. It would be wonderful to allow my reading and writing to build off each other so utterly and completely…reading to become a better writer and writing to become a better reader. That would be the life. Why? Well, reading and writing hugely important parts of myself and I can’t imagine my life without them.

2.  What is the hardest thing you have ever had to do?

Overcoming my anxiety and depression last year. I have never experienced so much darkness, but I am so much stronger for making it through.

3.  What is one thing you have done to make a difference for someone?

I like to think I’ve made a difference as both an RA and a Hall Director in both the lives of residents and in the lives of my staff members. I hope I have, at least.

4.  What one talent or personal trait are you most proud of?

I’m really proud of my writing ability and even prouder that I have been writing for myself regularly for about a year, after years and years of not doing so.

5.  Why do you blog?

I started blogging shortly after I broke up with my boyfriend of almost two years in August of 2013. It was a way for me to sort out my thoughts and try to understand myself better in a period when I wanted so badly to be in control of everything. I soon realized how important writing is for my well-being and how blogging is an opportunity for me to force myself to write. I blog for myself, to understand myself, to discover things about myself. More recently, I’ve discovered how wonderful blogging is for building meaningful connections with others. Now, while I continue to blog for myself, I also blog because of the wonderful community I’ve found here on WordPress.

6.  What one thing do you know that you wish the whole world would understand or accept?

You’re the only person who can actively change your life. Other people can support you, can cheer you along, but that power to truly make change happen in your own life resides solely within yourself.

7.  What one thing have you never done but would love to do some day?

Gosh, so many things. I guess I’d like to publish a book someday.

8.  What do you like the most and why?

I don’t even know how to answer that question. I like so many things! I guess I like that I have this life and have the opportunity to make so much out of it. That’s some I like a whole lot.

9.  What one possession would you most hate to lose?  (This is a material thing, not a person or a relationship, because we cannot truly possess them.)

My sock monkey, Henry. I know that might sound juvenile, but I  truly associate so much comfort and safety with Henry.

10.  What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning?

Okay, I’m the worst at getting out of bed in the morning unless I actually have something planned. I got up at noon this morning, people. I stay up late and get up late. I’ve heard it said you’re not a true grown up until you find joy in getting up early and making something out of each day. Well, I guess I’m not a true grown up yet. Really though, I would say I’m motivated by the knowledge that I have the tools to make something out of my day, to make it worthwhile, to make a difference of some sort. I don’t have a whole lot of motivation on the weekends, though. Basically, I’m your typical college student.

As for the questions for my nominees (who will be announced shortly), here they are:

1. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

2. What has been your greatest learning experience thus far?

3. Who/what/where do you draw your strength from? (you can answer for all three W’s or just one…it’s up to you!)

4. What blog post of yours are you most proud of and why?

5. Your philosophy towards life in a few words…what is it?

6. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? (apologies if you do not eat dairy…I myself get ill from ice cream, but still dream about those days when I could scarf down Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough without getting an upset stomach)

7.  What does your dream home look like?

8.  What is one thing you hope to have accomplished in ten years?

9. What is your favorite book?

10. One thing that fills you with joy…what is it?

Alright, with that, the nominees for The Sisterhood of the World Bloggers award go to:

Oh Me, Oh Meagan —  Diary of a 21st Century Girl  — You are living your story

I have nominated these three bloggers for two reasons–first and foremost, they have beautiful blogs that deserved to be recognized. Secondly, they have been supportive of my blog throughout my own blogging journey…I believe that the spirit of this award should warrant not just recognition of the quality of the nominee’s blog, but also the way in which the nominee interacts with others in the blogosphere. These three bloggers are gracious, caring, and so wonderful. I’m glad I’ve been able to get to know each of them a little bit through blogging.

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Whew, did that take a while!

That wraps up my awards and such for the night. Now I think I’ll go hibernate for a while. So. Much. Writing. Just. Happened.