A very lovely thing happened to me today…Steven Fox, a delightful young man from the UK, contacted me letting me know that he’s nominated me for two thoughtful blogging awards–the Inner Peace Award and the Sunshine Award. Steven has a great blog himself as he is blossoming into quite a young writer…..http://sfoxwriting.wordpress.com I highly recommend a visit to check out his work, as he even has a book now published—I think the dream of so many of us blogging.
If you’ve ever read any of my posts regarding awards–be it the Inspirational blogger award that I was awarded by Jolandi Stevens at http://dreaminginarabic.wordpress.com
or even professionally when I was awarded the Teacher of the Year award for my school system… I never feel very deserving. All because I know there are so many more talented folks out there…folks I look up to, admire and yield to for my own motivation and inspiration.
Blogs of more merit than my own such as Emma’s, in Queensland, whose blog is based and maintained solely on the memory of a dear friend who passed away not long ago and for his love of history and trivia—it is a blog which offers worldly historical information and tidbits, one I enjoy viewing each day in order to get my historical fix: http://addyourpieceofhistory.wordpress.com
Emma was equally as kindhearted and most generous when she nominated me for the Shine On Award–that was a couple of weeks back while we were out of town on holiday and unfortunately I’ve yet to fulfill the requirements for that one…. which certainly should not be taken as a lack of deep appreciation–again thank you Emma!!
I’ll be the first to tell you that those who know me may raise an eyebrow when they see the phrase Inner Peace and Julie associated together. But it is for this type of award that I am most honored because I think the ability to project such a beautiful attribute is truly gratifying. I’ve never been known to be too much “at peace” within. I’ve spent much of my life fretting and worrying. I want to be the positive one, the optimist, the glass is half full girl—Ottimista verses Pessimista, as my Italians friends will say….but sadly, within, I do worry.
I think this goes back to losing my mom to cancer. She was young, I was younger…it was all within 6 weeks..all from diagnosis to the end. My dad and I had barely processed what was going on when she was gone. From that moment, I can’t seem to help it, but I now tend to think the worst. Not for others, I always hope and put forward the best for other people and their life situations and truly believe that the best can and will prevail. It is, however, for me and my world that I tend to lean to the Eeyore (you know Eeyore, the little gray donkey from Winnie the Pooh) mentality of my dad….”oh no, we’ll (I’ll) never make it”…..
I fear. I fear losing those I cherish, I fear being too happy because that means tragedy can’t be far behind. I fear feeling good because feeling bad is on it’s way…it goes on and on….crazy I know. It doesn’t help my son being an only child and the sole focus of his mother’s (and dad’s too) worry.
I am a Christian. To be such means I trust in my God and Savior. There is to be no fear, no worry—He is to take my fear and my worry…as He took all of that with Him that day on the cross…as that was a day ushering in eternal Victory. I continue working on this with Him, truly I do —if anyone has had to bear this messy angst of mine, it has been Him—He is patient and kind and has yet to walk away from me….thank goodness….so maybe as I age, I may see an inkling of that “peace” slowly creeping into my being, taking over those screaming corners and areas of dread, gloom and doom….doing so quietly and, aptly, peacefully, as so it should be…….
So it is with great humility that I share this award with those of you who take time to read my blog.
Inner Peace is a desired goal of mine as it is THE desired goal for this quite un-peaceful world of ours.
Here is my prayer for inner peace for us all………..
Thank you Steven………
“Peace begins with a smile..”
Mother Teresa
Part of this award it that I am to share it with another……
I wish to share this with a friend who has actually two blogs. It is for her second blog that I wish to offer her this award of Inner Peace. If you visit her blog you will immediately understand. Her’s is a blog that deals with the incapacitating battle with and against depression. She has lived her blog and it is now her desire to pay it forward if you will– as she does so daily…encouraging others to hang in there, move forward slowly–one step at a time, one day at a time..always with the hope of joy and peace in sight…here is to you nonfatlatte, my friend Elizabeth…the voice of support, kindness, compassion, empathy—a true life coach who isn’t walking away even when things get tough…..
http://depressionthroughthepain.wordpress.com
cookiecrumbstoliveby 
Congratulations on your Inner Peace award. You write beautifully and are deserving of it.
I too used to live in fear of what if? Now I tell myself every day “Fear and Faith cannot coexist”. Whatever happens, God is beside you. Just take one day at time.
Thank you Katherine—I know what you say about fear to be true—the smart rational part of my brain knows it—it’s that irrational part that likes taking over :)….our’s is a Faith built on the unseen and I have constantly clung to that Unseen God—-I know He’s there…I’m a lot like Peter in that regard—head strong, impulsive— when told to come out on those stormy waters, taking those first tentative steps, I step out, yet only to lose focus due to the raging storm around me…and there I start to sink….but trying it again and agin till I get it right—that’s the key–perseverance in the face of the difficult!! Hugs to you….
This is where my brain is this morning—Joanne!!!!… by calling you Katherine—as from your blog in tribute to your mom Katherine—-I’ll blame it on the rain—keeping me in a fog–as the kids would say “my bad” 🙂 Hugs and apologies Joanne—and it should be noted I often call my son and husband one of the names of the cats……time for some brain exercises 😉
No worries. It has happened more than once! xo
and by accident I hit the like button–stating that I liked my own post—dear lord—it may be time to go back to bed, getting up and starting this day over—- mercy me
Awww Julie I got all teary reading that! Thank you so much
all true Emma—always thank you for making my day brighter 🙂
Thanks for paying it forward. Peace!
Sweet greetings, Summer