Blog Award Paralysis

I’ve been nervous of writing this post. I don’t want people to think I’m ungrateful. I don’t want people to think I don’t appreciate their readership or their support or their kindness. I love getting feedback; I love reading your comments; I love the fact that I may have inspired someone/anyone! But I don’t think I am comfortable participating in Blog Awards.

As a rule, to accept these awards, there is a requirement to then go on to nominate other blogs. And this is one area where I struggle and feel gripped by a paralysis of indecision. I love many blogs, for many different reasons. But to choose a particular number and nominate them feels fraught with danger to me! What if I miss someone whose feelings may be hurt by my not nominating them? What if I nominate someone who also feels paralysed by it? Am I adding to their pressure, to their to-do-list?

The other aspect that is hard for me is accepting praise. I try to keep in mind this quote from Shantideva:

While there are some who criticise me
Why rejoice when others praise me?
While there are some who praise me
Why be offended when others criticise me?

In trying not to take criticism too seriously, I strive also not to take praise too seriously either.

Cheryl Wilflong, The Meditative Gardener has a great post about this.

She says, “Praise is fleeting. Blame (the opposite of praise) is also fleeting, believe it or not.

We try ever so hard to build a “self” up with praise (or tear our-“selves” down with blame). Yet praise and blame simply blow through our lives like a breeze or like a tornado. Then they are gone. Gone. Really gone. “

So, in accepting an award, it feels a little like I am trying to pin down the praise, trying to make it solid. It just doesn’t feel right.

So, to those who have nominated me for an award, thank you, but I prefer not to accept.

Virtuous Gracious, thank you so much for nominating me for the Hug Award. I am flattered and honoured.

Ross, thank you so much for nominating me for the Versatile Blogger Award. I am flattered and honoured.

Eranttranscendentalist, thank you so much for nominating me for the Very Inspiring Blogger award. I am flattered and honoured.

I hope I haven’t offended anyone with this post, or seemed ungrateful or churlish. I wanted to get it out in the open.

So, please, if you would like to award me then award me simply with your presence, your continued readership, your comments. I love to receive them and I open my heart to you.

Thank you for reading.  It means a lot.