The Golden Bloggerz Award

The Golden Bloggerz Award is a peer’s recognition chain, to motivate dedicated fellow bloggers.

Many thanks to Chen Song Ping for this nomination!

The Golden Bloggerz Award was created by Chris Kosto of Golden Bloggerz.

Tell your audience 3 things about you: I’m a father/ I love adventure / I have a desire to help others.

These are the five questions posed to me by Chen.

If you read the post of a new blogger, how can you support them?

A big part of support is to post a meaningful comment, offer to host them as a guest, share their blog on social media.

Have you experienced moral support from fellow bloggers?

Yes, many times and in the ways mentioned above.

What do you learn most from fellow bloggers?

I’ve had the good fortune to travel vicariously and learn about so many people and places.

How many hours a day do you spend on blogging?

My main goal is to continue writing my second novel, so blogging is secondary. It all depends on the material I am writing about. I do not blog everyday, but on average, a blog takes me about 30 minutes to write.

What are your goals in blogging?

I wish to connect with as many people as possible. I enjoy posting pieces that bring smiles or thought.

The rules

1. Place the award logo on your blog.
2. Mention the rules.
3. Mention the award creator and link to their blog.  
4. Thank whoever nominated you and link to their blog.
5. Tell your audience three things about you.
6. Answer your nominator’s questions.
7. Nominate 10-20 people who deserve this award.
8. Ask the nominees 5 questions of your choice.
9. Let the nominees know of their nomination by commenting on their social media or blog.
10. Share links to 2-3 of your best/favorite posts.

Favorite posts

Closing The Door On 2020

A Quote For Courage

Photos With Caption To Make You Smile And Think

My Nominees (only if they wish to participate- no pressure)

WordDreams

View from the Back

Baydreamer

Francisco Bravo Cabrera

Willow Croft

Mydangblog

By Hook or By Book

GP

Blessings By Me

Poetry, Short Prose and Walking

Five Questions:

If you could speak with one person from history, who would that be?

Do you prefer sunrises or sunsets?

Have you ever done anything for the adrenaline rush?

What’s your go to comfort food?

Do you have any pets?

Closing the door on 2020

Years ago, when I was a Correctional Officer at Kingston Penitentiary, separating the two worlds of prison and personal life was vital to maintaining mental, physical, and relationship health.

Access in and out of the massive complex was via a heavy, eight-inch-thick, steel door, that could only be unlocked by an officer working a control inside. It would close with a thunderous bang. This entry/exit point was called the North Gate.

The North Gate, Kingston Penitentiary

When I arrived, the sound would remind me that I’d entered a different world, one in which the abnormal became normal. After a shift where anything and everything did happen, the sound of that door banging shut would be my cue to leave the day’s drama behind. I’d step out onto the sidewalk where cars and cyclists sped by, and parents pushed their babies in strollers, oblivious to the walled world they passed. I had just reentered the normal.  

This post is not about prison or my past life, it’s about you and how you choose to close the door on 2020 . . . a year of abnormalities that became normal.  How do you heal from this and move on?

Unfortunately, we will all carry some scars from this past year, depending on your experience and resilience . . . everyone will be affected.  I’m not trying to be negative, just realistic, that’s just the way the human brain works.

Now for the positive . . . you can heal from this and move on. Yes, I know that the abnormal continues into 2021, but there are some signs that we are turning a corner. Vaccines are rolling out, and hopefully those who need it most will receive it soon.

So many things happen that we are not in control of, but we are gifted with the ability to control our thoughts, and if we cannot stop the obsessive ones, to seek help.

Thoughts beget emotions, which beget actions.

My father, a wise man, used to say, ”Garbage in, garbage out.” If you feed your mind bad thoughts, your emotions will follow.

So now might be a good time to think about a way to close that heavy door and move forward to a life of peace.

A few things that may help:

-develop an exercise routine and stick with it (plenty of exercise videos available, if you are confined to an apartment)

-get professional help; many clinics offer virtual meetings

-find positive distractions

-develop an attitude of gratitude; there is still good in this world and always something to be thankful for

-practice mindfulness; live in the present

-talk to a trusted friend

-meditate

-pray

-use the Capture/Check/Change method for dealing with negative thoughts. This one takes some practice. It works like this: As soon as a negative thought comes, you Capture it, then Check to see its validity, finish off with Changing the thought with a positive (might I suggest the attitude of gratitude)

-seal off those bad thoughts in an airtight container. It was a heavy metal door for me, yours could be a large safe, an indestructible bubble made from Hubba Bubba gum, or a titanium box . . . whatever you choose, try to stuff all those baddies in there and seal them off.

You are not alone in all of this and it too, shall pass. There is still hope and good in this world.

I wish you  and your families all these best in this upcoming year. Stay safe!

Six-Word Story

John answers the call of nature!

The Abyss

Starve the Beast

I wrote a poem that brings out some of own experiences with anxiety. Though it may not work for everyone, I’m often able to stop some of the anxious/ negative thoughts from developing into by switching to thoughts of gratitude. (I have nothing against tigers)