Wow! Thank you so much to Michelle over at trynabpainfreemomma.wordpress.com for nominating my blog for the Liebster award! I really enjoy reading her posts – I always find things I can relate to and so much interesting information on fibromyalgia. That’s what I’ve really come to like about blogging; it’s not so much about putting your own experiences out there but finding other bloggers to learn from. Some posts give you a helpful way to see things in a positive light, others express the same frustrations that you feel as a person living with chronic pain. There’s something very reassuring about realizing you’re not the only person going through the crazy fibromyalgia roller coaster! Of course there’s also all that great information about recent research, things to try, and strategies to cope, too. I’m honored to think that other bloggers might be getting some of the same things out of reading my blog!

What is the Liebster award? It is an Internet award given by bloggers to other bloggers. It follows similar rules to chain letters, in that you pay it forward to other bloggers after you receive it. ‘Liebster’ is German for ‘dearest’, ‘sweetest’, ‘kindest’. The name relates to the purpose of the award which is to give recognition to new bloggers – which is a nice thing to do! (You can find more information here at http://trynabpainfreemomma.wordpress.com/2013/10/12/id-like-to-thank-the-academy/ ).

The rules:

1. Link back and recognize the blogger who nominated you.

 2. Answer ten questions given to you, by the person who nominated you.

 3. Nominate ten other bloggers for the award.

 4. Create ten questions for your nominees to answer.

 5. Notify your nominees.

 6. And lastly, you may copy and paste the award on your blog!

So, on to answering the questions created by my nominee:

1. What inspires you to blog?

I started blogging because I wanted to share all of the things that I’ve tried and done to manage my fibromyalgia. I thought it would be helpful for me to have a place where I compiled all of the research, complementary and alternative treatments, meditation experiences, tips and tricks, and other things that I’ve learned help me. I also hope that it gives other readers something to add to their fibro toolbox. In the process, I have learned that the community of other bloggers makes blogging rewarding.

2. What are your other hobbies?

I am a hopeless nerd who always needs to be learning something. If I don’t get that kind of mental input I start to go crazy. At the moment I am taking free online courses at Coursera in everything from ancient Greece to psychology. I also enjoy reading, although it has to be an audio book, because my shoulders get too sore from holding an actual book. I like mystery novels (nothing too gruesome though) and fiction (with a happy ending). I like cooking, watching movies, taking walks outside, and spending time with friends.

3. Do you hope to make money blogging?

That’s not a goal I have at the moment. I don’t really like the idea of making money off of sharing my personal experiences, but on the other hand I can understand that if you had a very successful blog it would be tempting, especially for people like me who can’t work because of their chronic pain.

4. Do you hokey pokey?

Only at three in the morning!

5. What is the most inspiring place you’ve traveled to?

Traveling! I didn’t add that to my list of hobbies because it’s not something I can do at the moment, but I have spent a number of years studying and working abroad. Without a doubt the most inspiring place I have visited is East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania). I was with a student group and we visited a remarkable nonprofit who ran youth programs in a slum in Nairobi (soccer teams, homework clubs, a safe hangout area, and primary health care lessons). When I imagined slums, I definitely didn’t think it would look like what I found – music everywhere, hair salons, restaurants, people laughing, people inviting you in for dinner. Yes, all of this took place in the characteristic tiny aluminum shacks crammed together along garbage and waste strewn pathways. But it was Life in the face of crushing poverty. Incredibly inspiring.

6. What quote, and by whom, inspires you?

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I can,

And wisdom to know the difference.” – Serenity Prayer

7. If you thought the government powers that be would actually listen to you what would you say?

Inequality is unacceptable. Equality includes not just political and civil rights, but social and economic rights too. Everyone should have access to education, healthcare and meaningful opportunities. There is really no reason for developed countries to have increasing income disparity and other inequalities. We should also do more to ensure that developing countries have access to funds, technologies, and medications that they need, supported by fair political and economic policies.

8. What is your favorite movie genre? why?

This is a tricky one. I definitely like action movies, especially heist films. I also like dramas. But just like with fiction, I don’t really want to spend my time on stories that make you feel like life isn’t worth living, no matter how ‘compelling’ or ‘critically acclaimed’. Recent movies that I’ve enjoyed are ‘The Quartet ‘, ‘Mud’, ‘2 Guns’ and ‘Red’.

9. Whom do you hope to be an inspiration to?

My little brothers. Well, they’re great big hulking teenage boys now, but still much younger than me!

10. My life is _____the only one I’ve got, so I have to do my best with what I have!

My 10 Liebster Award Nominees …

http://myjourneythrume.wordpress.com/about/

http://seekingthegiftsoffibromyalgia.blogspot.com.au/

http://chronicchic.com/

http://discoveriesofgrace.wordpress.com/

http://fibro2010.com/

http://findmyhealth.blogspot.ca

http://glutenfreeandtheaustralianteenager.wordpress.com/

http://chronic-invisibility.blogspot.ca/

http://bignoises.wordpress.com/

http://www.livinglifewithfms.com/

Okay, so now 10 questions for my nominees:

1. What do you like most about blogging?

2. What is your guilty pleasure?

3. What to like to do on a Sunday?

4. What quality do you like most about yourself?

5. Who is one of your role models and why?

6. Who is your favorite author and why?

7. If you had to move to another country, what would it be?

8. Favorite TV show? Do you like to watch week to week or binge watch all at once?

9. If you had to make one wish, what would it be?

10. Cats or dogs? Pirates or ninjas?