Nowhere else have I encountered people who take the time to pat each other on the back and say “Good Job!” like bloggers do. That’s because we all realize how much effort it takes to create a blog worth visiting and we understand the value of encouragement.
It makes me realize how much nicer a world it would be if we took the time to recognize and reward effort everywhere we went. Maybe we think to do it with our kids, but wouldn’t it be nice if it spilled over everywhere. Makes me think about how Andrew and I have some of the most creatively talented, intelligent, interesting employees you could ever want to spend time with, people who look after our business like it was their own, people who are just plain cool. And it’s been awhile since they’ve heard that from us. Ah, excuse me while I jot a note to Andrew… Okay, back.
So, anyway, I’ve been the recipient of a few blogger awards recently. Therese, from The PetsitUSA, presented me with the Thoughtful Blogger Award.
It’s an award for “those who answer blog comments, emails, and make their visitors feel at home on their blogs. For the people who take others’ feelings into consideration before speaking out and who are kind and courteous. Also for those bloggers who spend so much of their time helping other bloggers design, improve, and fix their sites. This award is for those generous bloggers who think of others.”
And Shelly, over at This Eclectic Life, awarded me with The Power of Schmooze.
It’s an award for those who have the natural ability “to effortlessly weave their way in and out of the blogosphere, leaving friendly trails and smiles, happily making new friends along the way. They don’t limit their visits to only the rich and successful, but spend some time to say hello to new blogs as well. They are the ones who engage others in meaningful conversations, refusing to let it end at a mere hello – all the while fostering a sense of closeness and friendship.”
Since the two above awards are so similar, I’m gonna lump them in no particular order into one list of ten.
Girl at Girl and DogNomad at Planet NomadJen at Prairie FarmeressTherese at The PetsitUSALinda at LopingLouBobMichelle at ScribbitJenn at Simply Not SimpleThree Collie at Northview DiaryJan at the Poodle (and Dog) BlogElaine at Five Acres With a ViewJoni at My Piece of HeavenMeredith at Poppy FieldsMountain Dweller at The Mountain DwellerCaffienated Cowgirl at Just This Side of Normal
Okay, so that’s more than ten, but who’s counting?
And there you have it. The epitome of thoughtful schmoozers, one and all. All bloggers should be so lucky to have people like these share their blogging world.
Linda over at LopingLouBob tagged me for Blogs That Rock, but she put her own little twist on it, naming five of her favorite “other” (as in non-running) blog reads. I’ve included the badge here for anyone who wants to use it.
I’ll start my list with Moos at Karbon Kounty Moos. She is a truly amazing person. Just read her “about” page and you’ll know what I’m talking about. She’s facing a horrendously unfair situation with her cows — courtesy of our government — and would probably appreciate a few new faces stopping by to say hi.
Karen over at Live the Power has a very inspiring blog. As the saying goes, she walks her talk. (Karen, I know I still owe you a meme, and am waiting to collect a few more to do together.)
Therese over at The PetSit USA worked tirelessly day and night to provide the latest updates on which pet foods had been contaminated. Her other posts are always interesting too.
Em over at About a Girl is an eleven year old living in the Netherlands with her family (I met her through her mom, Jenn, at Something to Say About Life in the Netherlands). Em likes to write stories. I like to read what she writes.
I just love Girl’s attitude and outlook on life over at Girl and Dog. Not that she needs me to, but I love rooting for her.
To be fair, I’m creating the Rockin’ Guy Blogger award for the guys.
I’ve met some terrific guys through their blogs and their comments here. And, yeah, I know, it may not be cool for guys to admit it’s fun getting awards, and I don’t expect you to put this button (which I so thoughtfully created for you) on your blog, but I’m still going to acknowledge your work. So there.
Rory, at both Hamelife (Scottish for home) where he writes passionately on parenting, and Clean Cut Blog where he offers great blogging tips along with other interesting stuff, was my first guy commenter. He fell in love with Cait’s wit and wisdom. After visiting him, I fell in love with his adorable Bethy, his take on parenting, and life, and his sense of humor.
Ranjit at BooBoo, Ginga, and the World of Dogs won me with his humor (a very funny guy), and the way he loves his two dogs, BooBoo and Ginga.
Bob over at Bobbarama slices and dices life into humorous bite-sized pieces. I don’t know where he comes up with half the stuff he does but he invariably cracks me up.
Pappy’s Fella over at Pappy’s Dog Blog. He writes mostly about his Terrier mix with wit and warmth.
And Jeff at Think or Thwim writes about a collection of things worth thinking about. He definitely keeps me thinking.
Okay, that’s a wrap. Click and go forth!
I’m grinning from ear to ear over here in Eng-er-land.
Thank you so much, Karen. I’m thoroughly astounded that I was your first guy commenter – but really chuffed, too.
I know we have become online friends over the past few months, but it is honestly with no bias whatsoever that I have not read anything yet anywhere that could better The Steering Wheel.
Thank you, again.
Thanks for high praise on the Steering Wheel post. I actually had second thoughts on posting it. Andrew thought people might think that talk would have the opposite effect on Cait, making her more afraid. But it’s helped her a lot. Haven’t had to have another “fire” chat since.
Amen, I whole-heartedly agree bloggers and the blogworld are so fantastic– if we only took this out into the ‘real world’. Believe me I try, smiling at strangers and just saying hello. You never know what just a word can do for someone.
Thank you for the recognition, I love to blog and I hope it shows!
It certainly does! :)
YOU are so deserving of the “Thoughtful Blogger Award”. It’s always nice to be recognized and appreciated, thanks!
Thank you Karen. It means so much to me that someone I respect so much (and is a writer herself) enjoys my blog!
Wow. Wasn’t expecting this. Thanks for the award. Such a nice shoutout. I didn’t even know there was a Rockin’ Guy Blogger … and what a cool button.
You rock!
Congrats to everyone else on your list. Some I already visit, some I’ll visit for the first time now … after I finish Harry Potter.
:)
There wasn’t a Rockin’ Guy Blogger. So I invented it just for you guys. :)
Wow, chalk me up with the humbled and thrilled. And grateful. That is just extremely kind of you and I truly appreciate the thought.
I can’t wait to tell Emma about her award too, but first I will have to get her to put down the new Harry Potter book! :)
Oh how fun! You’ve got awards coming at you left and right…and rightly so!
Thanks for sending the thoughtful blogger award back to me!
You certainly deserve any and all awards that come your way. This is one of the finest blogs around. Thank you for including me in the fun!
Thank you very much, I feel honoured! I wil also be taking a peek at the others on your list.
Congratulations on well deserved awards. This is a great post.
Thank you so much for thinking of me Karen! I am beaming..this is an honor. These awards fit YOU to a tea! Your quiet, steady, kind and introspective writing and personality are a delight and so refreshing in blogland. This made my day…. :)
Thanks everyone for your support! Wouldn’t want to be doing this without you.
Very sweet of you Karen, thanks so much–and glad to see a guy’s award. There are so many great blogs by men I read and the awards are so often “female.”
Hi Karen, extremely honoured to hear such nice things about me. Thanks so much for the award… my first ever! Thank you for giving us something nice to read and think about – almost every day.
Now, does anyone question why I awarded you the Schmooze award? LOL. You are great, Karen. I hope I get time soon to check out some of your links. If I can get untangled from the yarn…
I just happened by for all of the awarding…if nothing else it gives me a great list of blogs to visit.
Thank you Karen! I am truly touched…a pat on the back certainly brightens one’s day!
Thanks so much! And I totally agree with you about the power of encouragement we possess to pass on to others. I find that my students respond so well if I praise them or encourage them even a little bit (they’re not used to it–both the Arab and the French systems are long on criticism and short on praise). I’ll be back to “collect” my awards and pass them on; I’d like to award them to you myself but I suppose that defeats the purpose. Consider it done in spirit, anyway.
Thank you Karen,
If you don’t mind, I would like the pass on the Scmooze award to some others, too. I like the meaning behind this one and hope I will always live up to it. And I like that you are thinking of the guy bloggers out there, too.
Absolutely, Meredith, pass these along. Sorry I didn’t make that more clear in the post.
Karen,
Thanks very much for the award. Pappy works very hard at giving me material to write about, and greatly appreciates the recognition.
Sorry not to respond sooner, but I’ve been out of commish for a couple of weeks.
I know you’ve had a lot on your plate. Hope Fred is happily settling in.
Just visiting from Scribbit and now you’ve provided a whole new slew of sites for me to visit!
Cheers