I got nominated by Mental Health Blogger Fiona (@likeas_thewaves) for my first ever blog award! Woo-hoo! Thank you so much for this award! It is an honor!

So, if you are a member of the blogging community, you may have heard of the Sunshine Blogger Award. If not, basically it is:

The Sunshine Blogger Award is given by bloggers to bloggers that they believe inspire positivity, joy, and creativity within the blogging community.  Basically, it’s an award given to those who spread sunshine!

It is super awesome that bloggers have this way of supporting one another and showing appreciation for each other’s blogs!

Here are the rules of the Sunshine Blogger Awards.

• Thank the blogger who nominated you and link to their blog.
• Display the Sunshine Blogger Logo in your post or on your blog.
• List the rules in your blog post.
• Answer the 11 questions that are provided to you by the blogger who nominated you.
• Nominate 11 bloggers.
• Provide your nominees with 11 questions (different from the ones you answered).

My responses from Fiona’s Questions:

What is your favorite book?

“An Unquiet Mind” by Kay Redfield Jamison- before I had even read it, I thought of ‘The Calculating Mind’ as a description for how my manic racing mind felt. Then, I saw the book title ‘An Unquiet Mind’ and was like, damn, THAT is what I meant. BRILLIANT. The book itself beautifully illustrates an experience that is not so beautiful: life battling suicidal depression, mania, and even psychosis.

Which of your blog posts are you most proud of?

I’m most proud of the blog posts which I post even though I am hesitant to do so… the ones that make me feel vulnerable and open. The ones I write honestly and sometimes even to a ‘brutally honest’ extent. I don’t want ‘fluff’ pieces. I want pieces that have meaning and that people can connect with and really FEEL.

What quality do you value most in others?

Integrity

What is your best joke?

I don’t have planned jokes like ‘knock-knock’, ‘three guys walked into a bar’ or ‘yo momma’ ones haha. Sometimes, I say some sarcastic comment and others find it funny, so I guess I am a spontaneous comic?

Who is someone who had a big impact on your life?

My little sister, Mia dearest. She is only 14, but somehow she is so much smarter than I was at her age. She is 5 ft of sass and sarcasm. The past few years have been incredibly challenging as a family due to my bipolar disorder episodes, but she has always been supportive and loving, even in my darkest moments. I cannot thank her enough for all that she has and continues to do for me.

What’s one aspect of blogging that you dislike or find challenging?

I HAVE REALLY NEGATIVE, DEMEANING COMMENTS. I love to hear other people’s perspectives. That is not the issue here. I would actually not like to have a room full of ‘yes men’ who just agree with every single thing I say or write. What I mean is that it should NOT be seen as okay to attack a writer for their article or opinion. If it is factually inaccurate, the comment can show that by providing a resource that suggests that the article is wrong: that is fine! However, it typically is someone that finds some idea or statement offensive somehow, twists the words and meaning, then insults the very character of the writer. That is NOT okay and I will never support those type of interactions.

If you had to choose one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Probably something that involves carbs, like mashed potatoes, pasta or bread… smh.

What is your least favorite movie?

I’m probably going to get a comment about this one, but I honestly don’t get the obsession with the Star Wars series.

What is your favorite scent?

For the fancy stuff: “Chance” by Chanel

Everyday scents: the smell of honeysuckle in the spring

What is one way that you cope with bad days?

Art therapy? Drawing, photography/editing, writing/blogging, painting… I like art… you get it.

Where is your favorite place?

Wherever my favorite people are

My Nominees:

1. David Susman PhD: Resources & Inspiration for Better Mental Health & “Stories of Hope” series
2. Uncustomary Housewife blog & ‘Not Alone’ Series
3. Hannah Blum’s HALFWAY2HANNAH Mental Health Blog
4. Jenny Lawson’s ‘The Bloggess’ Blog
5. Hyperbole and a Half
6. Charlotte Underwood: Mental Health Blog
7. Dyane Harwood’s “Birth of a New Brain” blog
8. Mental Health @ Home Blog
9. Julie A. Fast: blogger
10. Natasha Tracy: “Bipolar Burble” Blog
11. Shawn Clark: health writer and blogger

My questions:

1. Have you ever thought to make your blog anonymous, especially if it is on a ‘stigmatized’ topic such as your own mental illness? Why or why not…? If your blog is not on your own mental health, what do you think of others disclosing their conditions in such a public manner as a blog?
2. How have you learned to deal with those who may [perhaps harshly] criticize your blog, post, article, vlog, or view?
3. What do you love the most about the blogging community or blogging itself?
4. What piece of advice would you give to those who are looking into starting their own blog?
5. If you could have coffee with any writer, blogger, or advocate, who would it be?
6. What is currently your favorite song?
7. What upcoming event or thing are you looking forward to the most?
8. Which movie, tv show, or documentary does an incredible job accurately portraying mental illness/symptoms, diagnosis, or treatment?
9. In your opinion, what is the biggest issue regarding the impact of stigma?
10. Dream vacation: where would it be?
11. What [or who] makes you smile no matter how “down” you feel?

I love this Sunshine Blogger Award concept! Please keep it going! Super excited to see the results!