Sunshine Award

I am honored that my blog has been nominated for The Sunshine Award by Gina at Professions for PEACE.  Oh Gina, she is a lovely, love soul.  Her writing is authentic, her words breathe a sense of lightness into every cell of me, and her joy is contagious.  Read just one of her posts and you’ll know what I mean.  Thank you, Gina.  I am delighted.

This award is given to “bloggers who positively and creatively inspire others in the blogosphere.”  It’s my vocation/call in life to inspire others to follow what delights their hearts, act with compassion for themselves and others, and to cultivate community between soulful folks.

Being new at this “blog award” thing, I never really knew what to do with the awards folks have nominated me for (several are included below as I am now nominating THEM for this Sunshine Award!).  Gina’s award inspired me to do what brings joy to my heart.  Duh! I love it!  Some times I can be too literal!  So with that “freedom card” in my pocket, on to the Sunshine Award!  Thank you, Gina!

The steps to take, preferably with joy 
1. Include the award logo somewhere in your blog.
2. Answer these 10 questions, below, for fun if you want to.
3. Nominate 10 to 12 blogs you enjoy. Or you pick the number.
4. Pay the love forward: Provide your nominee’s link in your post and comment on their blog to let them know they’ve been included and invited to participate.
5. Pay the love back with gratitude and a link to the blogger(s) who nominated you.

The Nominees ~ These folks just delight my heart.  They are who are on my heart right in this moment.  Their blogs are the ones that are speaking to me right now and my heart wants to highlight these women.  What they write resonates with something within me and I am often brought to tears.  I am so grateful for the companionship of these writers.

Bella Bleue  Erin is a delight.  Her words uplift and encourage.
Being Zen Angela writes with a clear and authentic voice.  I always find something new, enlightening and challenging reading her posts.
Kindness Girl  Patience is a girl on a mission to spread kindness across the planet.  And an incredible photographer.
A Design so Vast Lindsey’s words are breath-taking, raw, and she puts into eloquent words what is stirring in my heart.
I Stop for Suffering Meg is one of those folks you trust and adore immediately.  She simplifies some pretty deep Buddhist stuff in a way that you say to yourself, “Ohhhh I get that!  I can do that!”
My two Cents Maria is an incredible shopper, witty, well-dressed, and a loyal friend who will go through your closet and tell you the truth…and bring YOU out through your wardrobe!
The Yoga of Motherhood Ali is a mom, yogini, world traveler and poet.  Her words are informed by decades of practice.  She’s the real deal.

The Questions about me…:

What is your favorite color?  
~  Depends.  In general – green.  On me – pink.  Any shade!

What is your favorite animal?  
~  I love dogs and cats too.  Bears, monkeys, pigs, cows…you name it.

What is your favorite non-alcoholic drink?  
~  WATER!

Do you prefer Facebook or Twitter?  
~  Ohhhhh I am still trying to figure out the social media thing.

What’s your passion? 
~  Following what delights my heart.  Inspiring compassion.  Delighting in connecting with other soulful folks.

What’s your favorite pattern? 
~  Swirls.

Do you prefer giving or getting presents?  
~  I stress about giving gifts when I “have to.”  I’m not much of a shopper.  So I tend to stress when there is a holiday or a birthday celebration.  BUT when I DO see something that makes me think of a person, I get it!  And I LOVE giving it to them!  I also love to make things.  I TREASURE it when someone takes the time to make me something.  I know how valuable time is now.

What’s your favorite number?  
~  Three.

Favorite day of the week? 
~ I’d have to say Friday.  It’s our “Saturday” since our work week starts on Sunday.

Favorite flower?
~ I tend to love wild flowers, even patches of clover (growing in our “grass” right now!).  Wild flowers make me pause, breathe and smile – knowing that something beautiful can grow anywhere.

So there you have it, folks, in case you wanted to know a little bit more about me.

But instead of me, focus on the blogs above.  The ladies are gems.  Deep.  Passionate.  Real.  And inspiring.

Ok, phew, I’m done!  For an extrovert I really don’t like such attention on me!

Ladies who were nominated — you can soak up the love in private and never mention it on your blog, or announce it to the world!  You know me, I’m about whatever brings you delight.

Love to you all, Lisa

Blog Award

This past month I was graced with being nominated for two blog awards.

Nikky gave me the beautiful blogger award. I am grateful to Nikky. She is surviving the abuse of her partner. She blogs to connect with others and share her story — to empower others and herself. Her words are raw, real, and authentic.

Angela nominated me for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. It is a delight to read Angela’s blog, Zen Being. She writes so beautifully about mindfulness and everyday life. Her posts challenge me, get me thinking, and bring me into a sense of “yes” — with life, my own self, my practice, and all living beings. I am grateful to Angela!

Just like so many of you who blog, I write the words that honor the stirrings and whispers within my heart. I know of no other way.

Blog Award, Thich Nhat Hanh, and ‘Dear Ones’

I was checking my email before heading off to do my night routine, when I saw that Julie from http://butterflyjulz.wordpress.com/ nominated me for the Liebster Blog award.  Liebster means “dearest.” 

Julie’s kind words made my heart softly smile: “I love coming to your blog… It’s like a warm fuzzy place I come to refill my heart… And because I adore your insight and all that you share, I nominate you for the Liebster award.”

It’s funny, over the years of “knowing” Thich Nhat Hanh (I would love to go to Plum Village someday), I incorporate his simple, beautiful and profound language into my heart and words.  He often talks about being a “Dear One” — treating each part of ourselves as a ‘dear one.’

My mom also suggested using this language with our children: “My dear son” and “my dear daughter” in the moment of when I’m feeling pretty stressed and wanting to use a harsh tone.  It’s a reminder, a meditation bell ringing in my head, to wake up and become mindful of my tone and the words I use to call on my little ones.

Thanks Mom, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Julie.

And to all us almost or already-there “forty-something” women, check out Julie’s blog.  I was mesmerized by these words of hers that so resonated with where I am at in my own season in life:

“I am stepping out of my comfort zone and taking my life in the direction that has always called to me but I was too afraid to follow for fear of rejection.  I am ready to embrace my sacred feminine and love myself completely.  I started this journey the day I was conceived, my first breath was the first on my journey, my first steps the first on my path, but… I let society dictate to me, I let family and friends form me, and inside my soul was suffocating.  It is my hope that other women will and can find the strength that is within her to hear the voice of our Sacred Mother whispering to her to love herself and to dance outside the flower-pot!”

Blog Award

My dear friend, Erin, at Bella Bleue Healing, gave me the Inspiring Blogger Award.  My first award!  Erin, is an amazing woman, mom, friend, photographer, and writer.  Check out her site!

Thank  you, sweet friend.

It’s just very sweet to feel a dear one’s support and encouragement.  Ok, so I am to share seven things about me.  Hmmmmm….Well, right now, this is what’s on my heart:

1.  I believe that as women (and human beings), we need to encourage and nourish and bolster each other rather than judging one another.

2.  I work at Georgetown University as the Wellness Counselor for Faculty and Staff as well as in their GUWellness department promoting wellness in the workplace.  I love the work!

3.  My daughter amazes me with her compassion.  Every time I say, “I love you,” She says, “And my brother, too.”

4.  My son calls me to be a jokester.

5.  I’m in a creative mode right now, of seeing some dreams start to manifest.  I can “hear” the screen door of the front porch of the house we’ll live in someday.

6.  I am a poet.  And it’s only over the last few years that I am sharing my poetry with the bigger world.

7.  I love our bed.  Yes, it’s a sleep number bed!