Sunshine Blogger Award Nomination!

Wow!

What an honor! I’ve been nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award on Substack by fellow indoor rower, Ed Bonapartian, https://substack.com/@nodustontheseshoes. 

I’m relatively new to Substack, and I really appreciate the sense of community here. Thanks Ed!

Ed said he nominated me along with several other bloggers, because we “bring joy and positive energy into the world despite life’s adversities, or perhaps because of them”. That really is the goal in my posts (mainly the positive energy part!), and it feels good to be acknowledged!

Ed also said that he  finds my posts “quite inspirational”. It’s so validating to know that my thoughts about life, health, strength, nutrition, and fitness are making an impression. I was drawn to Ed’s Substack partly because we’re both indoor rowers, but even more so because of his deep reflections on life.

Here are the Sunshine Blogger Award Rules:

• Display the awards’ official logo somewhere on your blog.
• Thank the person who nominated you.
• Provide a link to your nominator’s blog.
• Answer your nominator’s questions.
• Nominate up to 11 bloggers.

The Sunshine Award allows bloggers to nominate other bloggers for recognition who are considered creative, positive, and inspirational. I chose 4. You can see the list with links below. 

Here are my responses to Ed’s questions:

1. What do you write about? I write about issues around (mostly women’s) health, family, aging well, as well as mental and physical strength and empowerment.
2. Why? I’m inherently a teacher and a helper. As a strength, fitness, and nutrition coach it’s a joy to see others (again mostly women) find a sense of personal empowerment through my coaching. An important part of coaching is active listening and sharing. When I write my blog it’s an extension of the things we talk about, and things I want to expand upon, which I hope will engage and help readers in their own journeys.
3. What’s a truth you are learning to live with? As I’ve aged I’ve become more and more aware of the finite number of years we have on this planet – we don’t know how many days, months, or years… So to make the most of my time on earth, it’s not about being constantly frenetically busy, but about being conscious, reflective, and vulnerable.
4. What is a small ritual that keeps you grounded? Breathing intentionally throughout the day. There’s an incredibly wonderful physical and mental effect using controlled breaths, stimulating, or calming the vagus nerve.   
5. What’s something you believe deeply, even if it is unpopular? I believe that as a nation we’re being constantly brainwashed by industries like the oil, gas, and auto industries. They are inextricably linked, and by keeping people dependent on driving, nearly 40,000 people are killed each year in the US. This belief is based upon data, and the reality that streets and roads are public space. I am among many other advocates for safe streets, but many drivers feel entitled to the road, and will argue that streets are for cars, perpetuating the dangers to other drivers and people outside of cars. I’m an advocate for safety on streets and roads in my city of Asbury Park, and involved in groups at the state level in NJ. @asburyparkcompletestreets
6. When do you feel most alive? When I’m with my kids and their families. Chaos and fun!
7. Who are you when you are not creating or working? A mom of 6 married kids, and a grandma of 15. I love seeing them at our home, and in their environments, and watching the grandkids learn and grow. Kids’ brains and bodies are incredible! I love volunteer teaching middle school kids how to row! It’s a crazy fun hour each Friday afternoon during the school year, and I don’t consider it work. 
8. What’s the most exotic place you have ever visited? The Republic Of The Marshall Islands, which we visited when my son and his now wife worked there as teachers for 3 years. This is a place with a tragic history that many Americans know little or nothing about. The testing of nuclear bombs irradiated the islands after WW2, people still suffer the effects, and now the islands are dealing with continuing sea rise. Marshallese people are the most open, generous, and loving people we have ever met. 
9. If you could have a conversation with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be? Amelia Earhart, the brave adventurer. Willa Cather, Pulitzer prize-winning author of some of my favorite books.
10. What do you want to be remembered for? I hope I’m remembered as a person who lived with intention. Dedication to family, advocacy for social justice, equitable mobility and safe streets, and to my strength and fitness clients.

I’d like to nominate the following writers for their talented and heartfelt work. They touch on things that are important in my life. 

Midlife Diaries: https://amybyrnes.substack.com/

Dr Jen Gunther, The Vagenda: https://substack.com/@vajenda?utm_source=feed

Letters From Love With Elizabeth Gilbert: https://substack.com/@elizabethgilbert

Heather Cox Richardson:  https://substack.com/@heathercoxrichardson

The War On Cars: https://substack.com/@thewaroncars?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page

Are you a blogger?

What are your favorite blogs?

I’d love to know!

x

Polli