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blogger-recognition-award

Thanks to Magarisa (Becoming Unstuck) for nominating me for The Blogger Recognition Award. She is a creative writer, poetry, fascinating fiction and deep contemplations. As a new blogger just like me, I relate to her uncertainty in entering the blogosphere, but also the catharsis relief that writing provides.

I appreciate her reblog of my ‘blogging therapy‘ concept post a month ago, which I haven’t forgotten about. 😀  Thanks to all those who expressed interest and volunteered to help.  Planning in-progress… updates soon.

Here are the guidelines for the award:

  1. Select 15 other blogs you want to give the award to.
  2. You cannot nominate yourself or the person who has nominated you.
  3. Write a post to show your award.
  4. Give a brief story of how your blog started.
  5. Give a piece of advice or two to new bloggers.
  6. Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
  7. Attach the award badge to the post (right click and save, then upload.)
  8. Comment on each blog and let them know you have nominated them.
  9. Provide a link to the original post on Edge of Night.

How my blog started:

It’s funny how life works.  If it wasn’t for the intense crisis of depression with my wife, I would never have considered starting a blog.  As I briefly described in my  ‘Begin Again’ post, in my desperation to figure out how to hold my marriage and family together, I bought a number of bipolar disorder books, focussing on the partners role in support & recovery.  The first book I started reading, Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder, Fast/Preston, strongly recommended journalling. So I decided to use blogging as my online journal, as I worked through the book’s exercises.

Even before this, when the depression crisis first became severe in July 2014, I discovered some research supporting the emotional health benefits of blogging.  This motivated me to initially setup the blog, with the intention of inviting my wife to contribute, so we could both share in the benefits. This is still a work-in-progress… but I do see movement.  She’s always keen to provide material for my Funny Friday posts!

Finally, if  I (a Family Physician with mental health training) have had such a hard time dealing with this crisis, I can only imagine how much harder it would be for other partners without that background.  As I hopefully navigate me and my wife through this incredible challenge, maybe my experiences may be able to help others.  Your comments, questions and feedback are always welcome.

Advice to new bloggers:

  • “Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.”  (Jon Acuff)
  • It’s hard to come up with a truely unique tip for new bloggers, because so many experienced bloggers have already covered that.  But I guess this is the secret.  You are the unique part in this blogosphere world.  There is nobody with exactly your life experience and creativity. Just write whatever inspires you… anything.  Experiment with words, like you would with paints on a canvas.
  • My biggest advice is set aside specific time for your ‘precious’ blogging. If you don’t feel blogging is precious yet, stick with it – you will!

My nominees:

There is no pressure to accept this award – except if you don’t, all those ‘bad things that happen when you don’t pass on a chain letter, shit…’   JOKING!!  It’s supposed to be fun, maybe provide a writing inspiration and share a little blogosphere-love around your blogosphere community!

My Child Within

mythoughts62

(not so) completely. miserable

The Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally

plotlessone.com

Katzenworld

bipolartohappiness

The Caffeinated Writer

debwashere

Silence The Ego

A Comedian’s Notebook

kidscrumbsandcrackers

fromthecsweet

living in stigma

newenglandnomad