An Award And The Importance Of Thankfulness
I'm not sure Thanksgiving is even a necessary holiday anymore. It seems to have devolved into an excuse to stuff our faces, fight with relatives, watch football, and pillage retail establishments. Don't get me wrong. I'm not condemning any of the above activities (well, okay; I do condemn football but that's an issue for a separate post.) but I fail to see what any of them have to do with being thankful.
If you need to set aside a day to be thankful you're doing it wrong.
Gratitude and thankfulness are best served - and best serve us - when they are acknowledged on a daily basis. Even on the worst of days or the during the direst of circumstances taking ten seconds to acknowledge the things that are right in our little worlds can be the knot at the end of a frayed rope of despair. There are two things I do every day without fail. One is to tell myself first thing in the morning that I'm going to be a better person today than I was yesterday. The other is to remind myself just before I fall asleep of what I'm thankful for in my life. I don't always live up to my own expectations when attempting to execute the former, and I find myself falling asleep before I can rattle of the full list of the latter. That doesn't matter. What does matter is that it's a daily ritual.
Be a better person every day. Be thankful every day. Enjoy the holiday, but carry the sentiment into your daily life.
I'm so very thankful for each and every one of you that frequent this blog. Whether you are young or older, disabled or not, curvy or thin, gay or straight, male or female. No matter who you are I value you and the feedback you give me.
Speaking of feedback, a while ago the bright, beautiful Emily of Words I Wheel By nominated Spashionista for a Sunshine Award. To receive a Sunshine Award, a blogger must acknowledge the nominating blogger, share 11 random facts about themselves, and answer 11 questions the nominating blogger has asked.
I'll start with 11 random facts about myself:
- English is not my first language. It's not my second language, either.
- I am a first generation American, and a proud American at that!
- I have a trapezoidal birthmark (not telling you where!)
- I have no poker face and even less tact. I say what I mean and I mean what I say.
- I became an artist about 10 years ago when I got tired of putting my foot in my mouth and decided I wanted to let the images I created speak for me. I hope to get back to that level of creativity someday.
- Although I'm built quite generously for such a Petite person I exercise within my limitations every day and am in excellent health.
- I've never met a dog I didn't like.
- I don't do well with disingenuous people. If you like me I want it to be as I am. If you don't, that's fine. Just one face per person, please.
- I'm an incurable flirt. Always have been; always will be. I kissed every single boy in my Kindergarten class.
- My husband is the Sun in my sky.
- I can keep a secret better than anyone I know.
Now for the 11 questions Emily put forth for me to answer:
- What causes are you most passionate about? I'm kind of leery of the word "causes" because I think some people rally around a "cause" just to look cool or fit into a clique. I'm passionate about living by example and helping people understand that disabled doesn't mean doomed, timid, or fragile. I also do what I can to see that shelter and animal control dogs are shared on Facebook and other social media to give them a chance at a forever home.
- What project is on your to-do list that you keep meaning to finish? This questionnaire, for starters! Seriously, I'm learning that I'm far slower than I think I am, or would like to be, and am trying to be Zen about how many unread blogs and unfinished projects I have.
- What are you having for dinner tonight? I'm currently on the Atkins diet so chicken and a salad.
- Facebook or Twitter? Facebook; I can't even begin to keep up with Twitter!
- If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? I would love to visit the UK, see London, Liverpool (Beatle-land, of course!) and Ireland and Scotland, too. Barcelona remains the favorite place I have actually been to. If Rivendell was real I'd be there tomorrow.
- Apple cider or hot chocolate? Hot chocolate!
- Favorite cake flavor? I haven't met many cakes I dislike, either LOL! Currently it's red velvet.
- Why did you start blogging? To show the world that disabled women are beautiful, sexy creatures if they choose to be. To shatter the stereotypes that exist about handicapped women, especially when it comes to fashion. To create a legacy of choices and expanded perceptions for all those that come after me. To wear pretty clothes, high heels, smile, pose, and repeat!
- Windows or Apple? Windows and Android all the way.
- Dogs or cats? Dogs, of course! But I've met some wonderful cats, too.
- Who would you most like to have dinner with, dead or alive? Let's see; William Shakespeare, Mae West, George Harrison, Alphonse Mucha, Dante Rosetti, and scores of handsome men too numerous to mention ;-)
Lastly, I'm supposed to nominate 11 bloggers to receive the Sunshine Award. I will save this last step for another post - but I will do it, pinky promise.
Linking up with Tres Chic Style Bits, Monday Mingle and Fashionista Style Hop.