The past week was pretty fantastic, and I’ve written about the main reason. But with all the excitement and preparations for Brittany’s wedding, I’ve yet to share my delight and appreciation for the honor of being nominated for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award by In Blue, whose blog Make Believe Boutique is a great concept with a wonderful tagline: Sundries & Curiosities for the Adventurous. A Tribal Inquiry. A favorite recent quote from her blog:

Learning to trust the unfolding of one’s own life is awkward, painful work that often leaves one feeling exposed & vulnerable. A critical part is the willingness not to know where one is going. —Sherry Anderson & Patricia Hopkins

I’m grateful to In Blue, an inspirational writer herself, and motivated to go deeper.

The rules for this award:

1.Thank the person who nominated you.

2. Share 7 things about yourself

3. Pass the award to 7 nominees

So, here we go:

1. My earliest memory is at the age of 3 flying on an airplane with my grandfather, Popity. My birth parents were among the many who got lost in the sixties, and my sisters and I were lucky to be raised by our grandparents initially, but mostly by two of the most selfless people I know: my Mom and Dad, Binney and Chap. I spent a lot of time as a pre-teen and teen wishing I had a normal family and not understanding my birth parents. What wasted time that was. I was loved and taught how to love, work hard, think for myself, fight for what is right, and to forgive. I just hope to be able to pass some of it on.

2. I was at Woodstock. I was a year old, and this was with my young, free-spirited (biological) parents. Even though I don’t remember the festival, it must be buried deep in my psyche and may explain my early fondness for Alex P. Keaton and becoming a Teenage Republican, much to my Independent-minded parents’ chagrin.

3. Flashdance was one of my favorite movies as a teenager. I still harbor dreams of incorporating that final dance into my life’s work somehow. I can’t imagine life without music, dance, and art. And good grammar (non sequitur, but had to get it in here even though this isn’t a complete sentence and, ironically, now exemplifies poor grammar).

4. I love to laugh. To me, a sense of humor is one of the most important qualities in a person — either having it, my husband Daniel the best example in my life — or appreciating good humor, which is where I fall. Will Ferrell is one of my favorites, as are his movies Elf and Anchorman. Jim Gaffigan makes me cry with laughter, especially his skits on bowling, bacon, and laziness.

5. As Jimmy Cliff says, “You can get it if you really want, but you must try, try, and try.” I’ve been depressed, disappointed in myself, out-of-shape, and in cycles of unhealthy behavior. But this year my true self awakened; the paradigm shifted. No matter what comes, this is my wondrous life. I’m embracing every day, following my passions, living a good life and committed to doing good.

6. I hope to bring lifeyum to life someday. I envision an architecturally interesting space like a barn or old church (think high ceilings or exposed brick) with three areas: a studio kitchen for demonstrations and classes on healthy and great tasting food, including school lunch ideas (yumbelly); a yoga studio; and a comfy area for reading, meditating, gonging, connecting, and hearing from authors, educators, and anyone who can inspire us to be the change that we want to see in the world.

7. This award nomination was my first, bestowed on my 44th birthday: April 18. Nice.

Many blogs inspire me, but following are seven that currently have me rapt and to whom I pass the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. Hope you’ll give them a look:

Winsomebella

RealFunFood

Oh She Glows

IronicMom

RecoveringYogi

young, single, unprofessional

The Squeaky Robot