award

Outstanding Blogging Award – Culture Shocks

/ theresaly520 / 17 Comments

Thank you!

Featured Photo by Clifford Photography on Unsplash
Jyotsna Shenoy at Art Psycho nominated me for the “Outstanding Blogging Award”!

RULES:

  1. Provide the link to the creator’s original award post. (very important: see why in step 5)
  2. Answer the questions provided.
  3. Create 7 unique questions.
  4. Nominate 10 bloggers. Ensure that they are aware of their nomination. Neither the award’s creator, nor the blogger that nominated you, can be nominated.
  5. At the end of 2020, every blog that ping-backs the creator’s original post will be entered to win the 2020 Outstanding Blogger Award!

This award was originally created by Colton Beckwith

Jyotsna’s Questions:

Which book(s) have you read / are going to read in the last/next 10 days? Any books released in 2020 that you would like to recommend me?
My next post will be about all the books I’ve been “skimming and sampling”, but not quite diving in. For me, some books are like a snack rather than a feast.

However, my answers for this specific question are:

In the past 10 days, I’ve read Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson and Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. Lee’s cover is very beautiful and rather intriguing to me.

The next book I’m reading is “The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win” by Maria Konnikova. It was published June 23, 2020. I don’t know if I can recommend it yet, but I love card games and curious to see what wisdom Maria has to share!

Image Credit: French Poker News

State a fun fact about you that makes you stand out in any generic crowd, do you have any rebellious feature that makes a point in your bio?
I don’t know if this makes me stand out as many high school students in my class were expected to learn this, but I memorized the first ten lines of the Canterbury Tales in Middle English and secretly enjoyed it.

The Prologue is the first 30 seconds

I also really enjoyed the learning process of creating my own illuminated texts one autumn season, and wouldn’t mind taking a calligraphy class! Despite its impracticality, I enjoy the visual aesthetics of fancy penmanship.

As for the second part of this question about any rebellious features… I read this article by Personality Growth and was intrigued by its title, “Is Personal Responsibility the New Counter Culture?” This question resonates with me because my own sense of personal responsibility has caught people around me off guard sometimes.

Image by Mystic Art Design from Pixabay

There were times when my parents and I didn’t see eye to eye, but I didn’t rebel much against them except when it came to defending a few unconventional friendships that I’ve had. I guess I love reading about rebellious individuals and learning how they think by listening to their stories, but I don’t really participate in “typical” rebellious activities.

Though I consider myself well-behaved and well-mannered, sometimes, I think I shock people when I support highly idiosyncratic or bohemian individuals. This pondering leads me to think of this quote below:

Well-behaved women seldom make history.

Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

When I think of this quote, I think there are many interpretations. The link I attached to Laurel’s name summarizes what her intention was when she said this. Focusing not on whether women should misbehave in order to be memorable, but on the fact that there are many women who have done remarkable things throughout history yet are not recorded or documented. That’s slowly changing with social media and more female representation.

Give away a couple of your favorite latest Netflix series or Anime that you would want me to watch?

I can offer some variety for you. 😉 I don’t think I can say that these shows are my favorite of all time, but the latest Netflix series that have caught my attention as of late are: The Good Place, Mr. Robot, The Crown, Agents of Shield, and Chuck. Some are hilarious comedies filled with action and others are somewhat dark and intriguing.

Image Credit: https://wallpapercave.com/w/wp1865491
https://wallpapercave.com/w/BVJEsby

As for anime, I’ve been enjoying The Dragon Prince and The Vinland Saga. 🙂

Dogs or cats (or a third option)…and why?
I love petting other people’s dogs and cats, but I don’t think I could be an owner of either. I enjoy birds though! Lovely morning chirps!

Image by Foto-Rabe from Pixabay

Name 3 snacks that figure in your cheat diet!
Fried chicken, Crème de Pirouline Chocolate Hazelnut Wafers, Nutty bars!

What are your pet peeves (top 3)?
I think my pet peeves shift around every time someone asks me this question on an award. Right now though, they are 1) Passive aggressive behavior, 2) Bigots, 3) Complainers

For how long could you possibly unplug and stay clear from any social media? (time in minutes/hours/days?)

Some are more easier to stay away than others. I can stay away from Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for months. It’s more difficult for me to stay away from LinkedIn, WordPress, and YouTube.

My Questions:
(Inspired from https://icebreakerideas.com/icebreaker-questions-biggest-list-ever/)

  1. If you were sent to live on a space station for three months and only allowed to bring three personal items with you, what would they be?
  2. Be in the movie of your choice, what movie would you choose and what character would you play?
  3. What do you think is the greatest invention in your lifetime and why?
  4. What is the best gift you ever received?
  5. What is the funniest prank ever played on you?
  6. What was the best museum/gig/ play/game you have ever been to?
  7. What is the most bizarre encounter you have had in life (at work, personal, from travel, with friends)?

My nominees

Image by floherrou0 from Pixabay

I think you guys are all troopers for blogging at all during a pandemic season. You all are invited to entertain the rest of us with these questions if you wish! Cheers! 😀

Ideal Inspiration Award

/ theresaly520 / 43 Comments

Inspiration is some mysterious blessing which happens when the wheels are turning smoothly.

Quentin Blake

Good morning! I’ve noticed that there are several new followers on my blog. Thanks for stopping by, I hope to visit you all soon! A few weeks ago, I was nominated by the founder of the Ideal Inspiration Blogger Award. “Rising Star” offers website design and development training, motivating ideas, and SEO blogging tools. Thank you!

Rules:
– Thank the person who has nominated you and provide a link back to his/her blog.
– Answer the questions.
– Nominate up to 9 other bloggers and ask them 5 new questions.
– Notify the nominees through their blog by visiting and commenting on their blog
– List the rules and display the Ideal Inspiration Blogger Award logo
– Provide the link to the Award Creator: Rising Star – It’s all about Inspiration

  1.  What inspired you to start a blog?
    My boyfriend gave me the idea after I graduated from college as I was pounding the pavement looking for a job. He thought it would help me have fun with the process. I didn’t really think too much of it at the time, but I’m glad he did because I found joy creating my blog.

  2. What inspires you to write?
    Life experiences, current events, and a burgeoning imagination waiting to be freed from the incubator of my heart and mind.

  3. Who is your ideal person?
    It’s difficult to say as an absolute ideal person doesn’t exist, but rather an ideal is something to aspire to. When I was younger, I looked to several saints for guidance. I would say that an ideal person is a servant: selfless and compassionate. I did come across a quote that left me awestruck:

    “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
    -Robert F. Kennedy

  4. How long do you think you will blog?
    I hope for the rest of my life. There’s no way to tell what will happen or how my blog will evolve, but as musician John Michael Montgomery says, “life is a dance you learn as you go.”

  5. What else you do along with blogging?
    You will find that I’m eclectic. My blog is the wild west where creativity roams. In the real world, I currently work as a technical writer for a cyber security and software development firm. I work on my master’s program in technology and innovation management. I help people address their health goals, identify their dream trips, and address any skincare needs. I intermittently volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and a youth literacy group. I love to garden and read. 🙂

Nominees:
I don’t know if your blogs are award-free. You are not obligated to respond, but I gifting you a compliment. Some of you I just started to follow. Thanks for inspiring your readers!

1) Rehana @ My Experience and Motivational Thoughts : She always shares a short thought provoking statement that will encourage you on your life journey
2) Angelie @ Voyage Onirique : I love her beautiful selection of images. I have borrowed some of them from time to time.
3) Zeeshan Amin @ Five Lessons: Success Stories for Angsty Professionals : He covers “famous historical figures such as scientists, entrepreneurs, leaders etc. and narrates their success stories while extracting useful lessons for others to emulate”
4) Newtan @ Newtan XYZ shares some excellent tips on personal development and success, how to improve productivity and growth.
5) Shankar Subedi @ Think Like a Plant share incredible macro photos of plants and bugs
6) 轻艺术 慢生活 (Light Art Slow Life) : I enjoy the author’s interpretations of various Chinese poems and slice of life posts.
7) Michelle Navajas @ michnavs : Her posts are rich with meaning and full of inspirational stories and ideas.
8) Guramrit Kaur @ Strong Traveller : A fascinating and informative travel blog full of beautiful places to visit.
9) Anya @ Anya Abraham : I enjoy her detailed discussion of a variety of topics and books. Tagging along her adventure through life.

Questions:

  1. What’s your favorite restaurant?
  2. What books are you currently reading?
  3. Where do you want to go when the pandemic is over?
  4. Share an image that features an aspect of yourself.
  5. What inspires you throughout your life?

Sunshine Blogger Award #5 from Proscenium – Life, Relationships, Movies

/ theresaly520 / 20 Comments
The Sunshine Blogger Award is per recognition award for bloggers who inspire readers by promoting positivity and bringing joy

Good afternoon everyone! I would like to sincerely thank Jason @ Proscenium for nominating me for a Sunshine Blogger Award. He hosts the fun Friday Follies photo challenge (hilarious entries from participants), takes interesting photos and gives a slice of his day while promoting other bloggers. Please stop by and take a look into his world!

Rules for Award:

  • Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link back to their blog so others can find them.
  • Answer the 11 questions asked by the blogger who nominated you.
  • Nominate 11 other bloggers and ask them 11 new questions.
  • Notify the nominees about it by commenting on one of their blog posts. (In my case, I tag!)
  • List the rules and display a Sunshine Blogger Award logo on your post and/or your blog site.

Jason’s Questions

Is what you’re doing now what you always wanted to do growing up? If not, what did you always want to be “when you grew up?” Was there a reason why?

Short answer: yes and no. 🙂

Image Credit: Berzin @ Pixabay

When I was a young girl, I wanted to be a doctor “when I grew up”. I imagined taking care of a clinic full of sick stuffed animals who needed care. I just wanted them to be happy again so that we can drink tea together. I always felt called to help people feel better. I was sensitive to those who were suffering. In college, I attempted to do a pre-med track only to get burnt out in the process. I didn’t get much sleep in those years and didn’t eat properly either because of the stress of maintaining a decent GPA to get into medical school.

I was rattled and a train wreck three years into the program. I later explained to my parents that perhaps this isn’t the right path for me and decided to do some soul searching. I asked myself what were things that I enjoyed doing: listening to music, art, writing, crafty activities, gardening, tinkering with tech stuff. Changing my course wasn’t easy at first. In the course of my recuperation, I decided to participate in a “Trash-to-Treasure” environmental contest hosted by my school after reading a story about some inventive dresses made out of recycled products.

  • Glass Evening Gown – Photo by Don Marr
    Recycle Runway
    Approximately 12,000 pieces of crushed glass from the City of Albuquerque Recycling Program were individually glued to a 1930s style evening gown made from upholstery fabric remnants. Commissioned by the
    Glass Packaging Institute.
  • Aluminum Drop Dress – Recycle Runway

There was a deadline to the project so I decided to go with a simpler project. I was later inspired by a curtain made out of plastic bottle parts and enjoyed the process of connecting all the pieces together. Time just flew by and I had fun!

What is/was a relationship deal breaker for you?  Why? Is that the same for friendships?

As understanding and patient I can be, I’ve had quite a few deal breakers even in the midst some redeeming qualities they may have. Some deal breakers for me for relationships and friendships alike were individuals with abusive personalities, poor hygiene/uncleanliness, and laziness. It’s difficult for me to cut ties due to my desire to help people through problems, but there are times when it is necessary for my own well being.

  • Anyone who has been around abusive people knows that they create an incredibly toxic environment for you and they will drain you physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Sometimes, they can be logical and knowledgeable yet hurtful with their arrogance. Constantly taking a beating figuratively and literally eventually takes its toll. Taking care of myself means giving myself space from those sorts of individuals.
  • Poor hygiene has always irked me. It is very difficult to be in close proximity around someone who doesn’t bother to brush their teeth or take regular showers. I can take note of their compassion, but at a distance?
  • Laziness bugs me because if people won’t make the effort to work on a relationship, why be in one? It reveals to me that they don’t care, and if they don’t care, then I won’t feel adequately cared for. Laziness is different than resting or recreation. I’ve always been surrounded by hardworking people all my life and I’ve seen the fruits of that labor play out in various facets of their lives including their relationships.

What’s something you can’t go a day without doing?

“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” 

― J.R.R. Tolkien

Eating! Good food can instantly change my mood and worldview on life. I love the delectable colors of this vegetable skewer!

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”

― Virginia Woolf, A Room of One’s Own
Image Credit: Pixabay

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done for love?

There was a relationship I had which didn’t last, but it taught me a lot of important life lessons. The craziest thing I think I did for love was that I got down on my knees and cried in front of this individual. In hindsight, it doesn’t sound too crazy, but at the time I refused to be vulnerable because I didn’t want to show any weaknesses. I set up so many walls that guys used to think that I didn’t have feelings. They would never see me cry, and I never wanted someone to take advantage of my heart. The moment I tore down the walls I built for myself, I was open to what was going to happen, and that scared me.

Genius lyrics –
“.. When you built your walls too high
And there’s no one to love you
When you trap yourself inside…”

What scene in a movie has evoked the most feelings out of you?

There are certain scenes in movies that stand out in my memory. Life changers.

Typically, the ones that have evoked the most feelings are the ones I don’t think I’ll ever want to see again: war, WWII, Holocaust. Movies about featuring the depravity in the Holocaust like Schindler’s List, Sophie’s Choice, Boy in the Striped Pajamas. The final scene in Schindler’s List where Oscar talks about saving one more life, the scene where Sophie is asked to choose which of her children shall survive, the scene where the boys go to the gas chamber…

Though I have never watched Passion of the Christ, I assumed it was going to evoke many feelings. My family and I avoided it for the brutal violence and the newspaper report of a woman getting a heart attack while watching it in the theater.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, some movie scenes that evoked incredibly positive emotions was the Amazonian training scene in Wonder Woman, the grandmother remembering her father in Coco, women achieving their dreams in Hidden Figures, Circle of Life in Lion King.

11 Nominees

You are not obligated to respond to this award nomination, however it is a wonderful way for me to recognize your blogs! Thank you for being here!

Questions

  1. What will be your next inspiring endeavor?
  2. What is your native language? Are there any other languages you would like to learn?
  3. Describe your favorite restaurant.
  4. What was the last compliment you received?
  5. What is the most courageous thing you have ever done?

Thank you again for reading! Have a wonderful day! 🙂