gratitude from a self-confessed blogging lover + how you can get in on the love.

hello, dear friends! i’ve got two important + fun purposes for this blog post.

1. to share a few of my thoughts about the blogging community.
2. to respond to some questions that i received because i was nominated for a little blog award. woo hoo (always feels good!).

i’ve been blogging on belovelive for 4 and a half years now. and blogging off and on since 2008 (on various other blogs). it’s been something that has enriched my life immensely. first and foremost, it is a place where i can “get it all out”. it is a spiritual discipline of mine in some ways, i suppose. a place where i process and think and question. and just send it out there into the great cyber-beyond.

however, once i started blogging here, on belovelive, in 2011, during my first year of living abroad, things changed. i never stopped blogging for myself. but, i found another added perk of blogging.

the community.

i have literally found friends from blogging. “met” people all over the world, sharing stories of joy + woe with each other. i’ve even met a few people in real life – creating friendships that i am certain will last a lifetime. and there are quite a few of my old reliables that i am dying to get together with one day.

mostly, though, it is a constantly changing field of people that i am connected with (therefore, i don’t have a blogroll on the side of my blog – it would be way too long!). and yet, even though there are readers that come and go, just as i come and go as a reader for some peoples’ blogs, there is a core group of bloggers + readers that have been with me for years. and for their love, support, and friendship, i am truly thankful.

as for right now in life, i must say that i am overwhelmed by the love and support and inspiration that you all – long timers or new readers –  share with me and my love. it is so humbling to receive your comments, your cheers, your words of love and companionship, even though we may be miles apart. and, especially right now in my life, your continued presence here is just mind-blowing and so damn appreciated.

from the bottom of my heart, i thank you.

and now on to the second part…

in connection with this beautiful blogging community that i’ve been able to be a part of for the past years, i am also constantly “meeting” new people through our blogs. it’s just so freaking exciting to connect with someone new over a shared point of view, interest, etc.

one of the most recent bloggers that i have connected with is elizabeth from the crumbs of my life. you can find her blog –> here. 

the other day, i was excited to find out that she had nominated me for a little blog award called the liebster award. woo hoo! i love blog awards.

i also love lists + questions, which is what this blog award is all about. basically, i’ve gotten some questions from elizabeth to answer, so i’m gonna get on it. then, i’m gonna pay it forward with a few questions of my own.

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If you were a sandwich, what kind would you be and why?

a good ole southern BLT: bacon, lettuce and tomato. it reminds me of summer days with my family. so, i’d be a big ball of nostalgia and yumminess all at the same time.

What is your favorite color and what do you own that is that color?

i’m thinking that green is my favorite color. it’s the color of nature. the earth. life. peace. it’s a grounding, calming, life-giving color that means authentic, organic, warm, realness to me. at least, that’s how i feel about it. i actually only own one green cardigan sweater + a green dublin t-shirt. most of my clothes are black. why, i don’t know. i think i just love wearing simplicity. am i weird?

You have to give a TedX presentation – what is your topic?

my topic is my book. my memoir. all about finding a creating a life filled with peace – and sharing my story of my journey to peace.

What was your best vacation ever?

gaaaaah. such a tough question. but i love it! i’m gonna have to go with the time (our honeymoon!)  that i drove across the united states – coast to coast – with my love. it was such an amazing feeling of complete freedom + adventure. the sights, the shenanigans, the impulsive joy. yep. best. vacation. ever.

summers with my entire family at the beach are absolutely a close second.

What is the best present you have ever received?

another toughy. damn, elizabeth, i sure am having to think a lot. hehe.

i feel that i have received so very much – and i have. i’ve been so blessed that it’s very hard to remember gifts and things i have received. and, when i think of it, time spent with people is the best gift that i have received. just their presence. but, if i have to think of a material thing, what comes to mind is a camera. or actually, cameras.

for years i have loved photography. and my parents have always supported that love – something that my dad and i have in common. there have been various christmases or birthday where i have asked for a camera – from little point-and-shoots as a kid, to more complex dslr’s as an adult. and, over the years, my parents have given me different cameras as my interest has grown.

for that, i am so grateful. the cameras have allowed me to explore, capture, and learn the art of living in the present moment.

If you found an unmarked suitcase with $1 million in it – what would you do?

ok. i should say that i would turn it in to police. so, let’s just say that that’s my real answer. here’s my real dream answer: i’d buy a little apartment in uppsala, build a tiny house in the mountains of nc, find a little bungalow at the beach in north carolina, and get a cute cottage in the swedish archipelago. and traaaaaavel around the world. stopping to rest in all of my little homes along the way.

If you could invite any 5 people – living or dead – to a dinner party, who do you invite?

my grandaddy nick. julian of norwich. jesus. chris mccandess. my love. (i’d want to share it all with her).

If you knew today would be your last, where would you want to be?

i would most definitely spend the day with my love, my parents, my brother, my aunts, uncles, and cousins. basically a typical reynolds beach day. sun, surf, food, drinks, fireworks, laughs. it’s my version of heaven.

What is your favorite board and/or card game?

oh, i’m not really a game kind of person. i feel kind of boring for admitting that, but i am learning to embrace my non-interest in games. if i must play a game, i like pictionary and scattergories. hehe. but, please don’t make me play. i’ll watch and cheer you on. just give me a beer and i’m good to go.

What is the first piece of advice you would give to your 20-year-old self?

this is simple. when i was 20, i was a senior in college. i had all of these dreams and crazy ideas about living a life that was different than just your regular old get a job, live in the suburbs, kind of life. i wanted to explore. travel. live in different countries. volunteer. i wanted to do things differently.  however, also when i was 20, a chance to follow those dreams fell into my lap. but, i got scared. afraid of disappointing people or not living up to perceived expectations. i just wasn’t damn secure enough in myself. so, i turned down the offer and i settled for that life that i said i didn’t want to live.

here’s what i would say to 20 year old me: “trust your soul. you do not have to make anyone else happy except yourself. start with yourself. be true to who you are called to be.”

however, if i had not gone through everything that i’ve been through in these past 20 years, then i would not be 41 and living a life that i love. that “different” life was possible after all.

At what age did you first fall in Love?

hmm… i can honestly say that i have never experience such a secure, deep, true love as the one that i share with my wife. true story.

but, i’d be lying if i didn’t say that i have been in love before. i have loved a few different people. but i suppose that my first love was my high school boyfriend, david. we were together for 5 very impressionable years, but in the end, we are just not right for each other. as were the other guys that i have loved.

i don’t regret any of them, but i am so very grateful for the love that i have now. it surpasses anything i ever imagined.

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so, now that i’ve shared with you some of my answers to the questions that i received, i’ve got some questions for you (and by you, i mean all of you!):

1. What’s your favorite way to pass time? What do you enjoy most?
2. What is the best or hardest decision you have ever made?
3. Describe your personality with only one word.
4. What’s been the most important/transformative moment in your life during the past year?
5. What is standing between you and happiness?
6. What (or who) are you most grateful for?
7. Name one thing you’ve always wanted to do, but have never done before?
8. Where have you lived in your life? If you’ve never moved (or even if you have), where would you like to try living?
9. What is the most important/most meaningful thing in life?
10. In one sentence share what your wish for your future.
11. Where do you find your inspiration + motivation?
12. What is your motto in life?

the actual “rules” of this blog award are for me to not only pose some questions of my own, but to also tag some blogs. you know, share some of my favorite blogs with you. but, i’m not gonna do that with this post. i have another post coming up in a week or so that will be highlighting blogs that i read.

so, for now, these questions are for each one of you. i tag you all!!

and, if they seem deep or tough to you, remember that you are dealing with a life coach-in-training. hehe. and remember, there are no right or wrong answers, only answers that are right for you. so get to it!

have fun! and be sure to share your link to your blog post with all of the answers! and, if you want to keep it going, come up with your two questions too. it’ll be like a never-ending cycle of blog loving.

onwards + upwards! xoxo