Liebster Award nomination – and my own nominations

4 June 20155 June 2015 / Waves and Pebbles - random thoughts and writing on life, memories and creativity / 5 Comments

I would like to thank Danica Aquino for nominating me for this award in her blog www.thedirtydiaries.wordpress.com. Knowing nothing about the awards, I have checked out the rules which seem to vary across WordPress.

So the rules I am passing on for the bloggers I nominate are:

1. Thank person who nominated you with link to their blog.

2. Display award on blog.

3. Answer 11 questions about self, provided by person who nominated you.

4. Nominate 5-11 blogs for award with less than 1,000 followers.

5. Create new list of 11 questions for blog owners nominated.

6. Write and publish blog.

7. Inform people nominated and provide link to award blog.

8. Pass on the rules.

Answers to Danica’s questions (I’ll do my best!)

1. (Just for fun). If you were a character in the movie The Purge, who would you first kill and why?

Since I haven’t seen the movie, that’s my excuse for not answering what might be a difficult question!

2. If you are going to change something physically in you, which body part would it be and why?

Extend my spine by a couple of inches between my waist and shoulders – instantly slimming and a bit taller.

3. What is your all time favourite book and why?

Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Very inspirational and also later saw the film. Feel I was meant to read it. Had a very strange experience. I went into my local bookshop to ask if they had a specific book – non-fiction on life coaching. Instead of going to the non-fiction section, the shop assistant headed to the fiction section and took Eat Pray Love from the shelf. I had never heard of it but had to buy it as felt it was a sign. I was right. The timing was perfect for me and part of it was set in Italy where I really wanted to go. I have since watched Elizabeth Gilbert on Youtube, she herself is very inspirational – the book was about her but written like fiction.

4. Who is your favourite personality, dead or alive, and why?

difficult to name one person … Tends to change over time. Maybe it’s a bit controversial but I do like Simon Cowell on TV – X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent. He has played a part in enabling so many people to follow their dreams. Yes there is also heartache and disappointment but I think that more people benefit from his work than not. I do think his programmes have the feel good factor – but I know many people can’t stand his programmes and all the hype.

5. What or who is your greatest inspiration?

I discovered life coaching many years ago, eventually training to be a life coach. I have used the positive approach in my own life to help overcome difficult periods, including depression, and have been able to use it in my work. It has made a real difference to my life and enables me to inspire others when I don’t even realise I am doing it. Alongside this I am also inspired by creativity in its many different forms.

6. What genre do you prefer to read: romance, SciFi, satire, young adult, adult or classic?

I have acquired lots of books over the years, firstly loads of cookery books which I would sit for hours and read, and secondly, personal development, health and life coaching books. The fiction books I like to read are light-hearted romance, something that just takes me away to a different place and has some humour in it. I think it’s because of my interest in people and relationships, and I need something that I can just pick up and put down, and still remember what is going on – I’m a slow reader …

7. Given the chance to talk to your younger self, what would you want to say?

Don’t worry so much about what other people think.

8. What is your greatest dream?

I would like to spend time travelling through Europe by train, especially going to Italy and some of the special trains through amazing scenery in Switzerland. I would like to write and complete a book, I have made many starts. I would like to practice as a Life Coach, have my own business. Most especially for my family to have happy lives.

9. What are the top three countries you want to travel to and why?

Italy – I would love to visit Rome, Venice and Verona, and to explore the different regions including the coast. I am drawn to the culture.

Spain – to revisit after spending a wonderful weekend there on a hen party. The coast and weather was fantastic and it was much nicer than I had imagined.

Ireland – to visit Dublin and see other parts of the country. It looks beautiful and everyone I know who has gone there has loved it.

10. What is your one characteristic (not physical) that you think stands out among others?

hmmm, not an easy one to answer. I am quiet, perceptive and a ‘thinking’ person – mix the three together and that is my one characteristic!

My nominations for the Liebster Award are:

1. daringtolivefully.wordpress.com

2. Ramblings of a wandering mind – sjackson424.wordpress.com

3. lamochiladesol.wordpress.com

4. talesofoblivion.wordpress.com

5. magicalcorner.wordpress.com

6. caresafoundation.wordpress.com

7. nomaggsrush.wordpress.com

8. myfairvagabond.wordpress.com

My questions for nominees are:

1. Describe in 3 words what your blog is about.

2. What do you think is special about blogging?

3. What role do you think blogging plays in preserving and sharing memories?

4. What is your ideal outcome from blogging?

5. What 5 things do you value most in life?

6. How do you have fun and relax?

7. How important is creativity in your life?

8. Sometimes it is the simple things in life that give much pleasure. What simple things do you enjoy the most?

9. What are you most proud of?

10. If you could be anywhere right now, where would you be and what would you be doing?

11. Is there anything that you really want to do in life that you have not yet done?

Thanks Danica for this experience – I have enjoyed the process and hope that those I have nominated will consider accepting this award. Any questions, just send me a comment. Hope I have met all the rules – here goes – publication and the Liebster Award!

Reflecting on a poem written when a special friend was fighting cancer … It now seems so relevant to me

3 June 20153 June 2015 / Waves and Pebbles - random thoughts and writing on life, memories and creativity / Leave a comment

As I continue to sift through my journals, I have discovered my initial writing of this poem a few years ago.

Copyright 2011 Alice Popcorn, Flickr, CC-BY, via Wylio

Sometimes when we least expect

life brings us such a clout

It takes away the certainness

and leaves such rays of doubt

Why is all there is to say

then numbness takes its toll

Leaving not a thread of power

or strength to set a goal

We may not know the reason

we may not have a clue

Yet here it is before us now

we are one of the few

Chosen is not how we feel

and not a choice did make

And there’s a hint of loneliness

like lost within a lake

Then when it all seems hopeless

and dreams will slip away

Our precious jewels come to light

and rise above the hay

People that we love so much

those that really care

Treasured memories, special thoughts

arise as much they dare

Our life is such a journey

the ups, the twists, the downs

And we can choose to dance along

and sometimes be like clowns

The happiness, the sadness

our feelings are the best

And it’s OK to laugh and cry

to worry and to jest

Life is a timeless moment

that mindfulness can bring

Don’t worry what the future holds

for now is here to sing

Yet let your dreams stream onwards

with hope for what’s to come

Such wonder in creative play

and life is like the gum

There’s strength for when you need it

and friends will stick around

The treasure map will come to life

and joy will then be found

You have the tools to make it

you have the heart and soul

The special person that you are

will find and seek your goal

Enjoy the days that follow

take from them what you will

Let angels guide you on your path

to bring you up this hill

Let love and laughter join you

amidst some sadness too

Till once again the sun shines bright

upon your life so true

Journal find Summer 2014 – poetic lines written following spiritual experience by the sea

3 June 20153 June 2015 / Waves and Pebbles - random thoughts and writing on life, memories and creativity / 2 Comments

Copyright 2013 Matthew Hartley, Flickr, CC-BY, via Wylio

Just found these words scribbled on their own following journal entries on a very special visit to Tenby in Wales, a lovely place.

Happiness draws me through the tunnel of light

the whispers so precious have given me fight

Where will it take me? Oh I know not for sure

but now it’s life’s journey, so precious, so pure

Poem on a much delayed train journey to Brighton – untitled

31 May 2015 / Waves and Pebbles - random thoughts and writing on life, memories and creativity / Leave a comment

Copyright 2011 Alexander, Flickr, CC-BY-SA, via Wylio

Just found this poem. I was on my way to Brighton to visit a school friend I had not seen for very many years. It turned out to be a very special day. This was written spontaneously on the very long (much delayed) train journey there after gazing out the window at the surrounding countryside.

I am life.

I am a leaf

growing out a place.

I live here,

here on the bank.

The trains pass me by,

no-one sees

‘cept those frustrated

with their time-thieved lives

and they are too blinkered to see.

I am a leaf of life.

Words – what would we do without them? Random poetic writing

30 May 201530 May 2015 / Waves and Pebbles - random thoughts and writing on life, memories and creativity / 2 Comments

Copyright 2012 Denise Krebs, Flickr, CC-BY, via Wylio

I have just stumbled across these verses written early one morning in the summer of 2010 sitting by the river whilst holidaying at Statford upon Avon. The desire to write and getting stuck seems to have remained with me!

Aren’t words the wonder of all

they bring such treasures our way

Without them we’d fall with nothing to call

and life would be dull day on day.

We’d sing, no lyrics would come

we would hum, laa laa, dee dee

What would be the point, well ok for some

but for most so lost would be.

So writers what would they write

no way to convey their thoughts

However they tried, as hard as they might

they would drift and be out of sorts.

How would we share all our joys

that come bursting through our voice

Whatever we feel, whatever the noise

the message is not our choice.

With no words no wonder is

unless an artist could be

With colour and light, some pencil and vizz

would say all there is to see.

Words are the key to my life

without them what would I do

Be lost for a while, my thoughts would be rife

till vision could see them too.

A lesson it is for me

to be the best that I can

A story will write, for all it will be

for children, for women, for man.

A puzzle this has become

it didn’t set out to be

I will paint and draw, I will sing and hum

till the words they come to me.

The Impact of Place – Wellbeing, Inspiration and Creativity

20 April 201521 April 2015 / Waves and Pebbles - random thoughts and writing on life, memories and creativity / 2 Comments

A short while back I talked about my creativity being blocked and trying to overcome this. I’ve not yet overcome my inability to immerse myself in a creative zone but I will share my thoughts and progress. Having spent two months in hospital, and a further month at home, mainly but not exclusively in one room, I have had little chance to get out and about and when I do most visits are for appointments at the hospital. In the past few days I have realised what is perhaps the obvious, the effect of place on my ability to relax, switch off and become entwined in my creative quest. At a basic level, I have had to relocate my bedroom to a lower floor, losing the broad view of the sky and my cosy writing corner. Then there is the effect of being restricted, not going out to walk and explore different places. So I turn to my memories and love of water. Water in all it’s natural forms is inspiring, be it sea, river, waterfall, stream or lake. In pondering this blog I recalled a holiday at Lake Bled, a most magical place in Slovenia. When I visited many years ago I had not started writing but I recall how I felt when I surveyed the view from the hotel balcony on the night of arrival and the many hours enjoyed walking alongside the beautiful lake. Perhaps if I can allow my mind to drift and recapture the essence of the special places I have visited – with a notebook to hand – I will be able to move forward with my creative pursuits. Even on a rainy day, Lake Bled is a magical place.