When we were asked to write a post “about your journey into blogging and what sets you apart from other bloggers”...I shuddered.That is one of the hardest questions to ask - very challenging !
All my life I tried not to compare myself to others but it has been hard because I knew from an early age I was different to my peers. I was set apart for reasons I had no control over.I was the odd one out because I had prominent birthmarks, one large one trailing down my left arm and many other Café au lait spots - brown , milky, coffee coloured spots.Though, I didn't know till I was 23yrs old that I had a genetic disease called Neurofibromatosis.
Later at 8yrs old, after a school yard accident I lost sight in one eye and wore glasses - then I had a turn in my eye (one eye was cross-eyed or turned out ). I was bullied by exclusion and verbal taunts. I became a studious child who enjoyed the library, writing and reading other peoples stories to keep away from my tormentors. I tended to have a small select group of friends. I never partied hard and I always preferred a quiet life watching from the sidelines, an onlooker.
I have never been competitive and nor taken competition too seriously - I was often in the last 2-3 kids picked for teams and never nominated for school prefects etc. I was judged for and by my appearance. Popular, I was not - I was always just glad not to be the LAST child picked - truly I was so grateful for that . Though I did have a sort out position on the school debating team because I was a quick thinker and could out smart opposing teams arguments.
So who I am ?
What brings me here today, as a blogger ?
My blogging journey began with the first part of my IVF cycle after I read an article about Tertia and Julie and their blogs in the June 2005 Reader's Digest Australia. I wanted what they had: the circle of friendship and support. Originally, I wanted to journal my grief , and the journey to conceive via IVF (my first natural pregnancy ended in 2004 when our daughter was stillborn at 26 weeks gestation). It evolved a little differently because I stopped blogging and re-started when my twin boys were 9 months old ( I was a little busy).
Over time I have steered away from infertility and loss because I felt so blessed and felt I needed to move on and let others fill that niche because my grief was less intense. It was too far off my radar to be honest and authentic.
I feel very blessed with the people I have met through blogging - the friendship and the connections and the honesty of some bloggers in revealing their own adversity, adventures and triumphs. I love the social side of blogging and connecting with other bloggers and strangers who don't judge me for my appearance.
I feels incredibly humbled and happy to be nominated in the company of some very fine bloggers, some I am proud to call real life friends. I say this sincerely. There are also many other fine bloggers who have not been included in this list.
There is nothing about me really sets me apart from the other 49 bloggers. Like this famous song ..
We are one, but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come
We share a dream and sing blog with our own voice:
I am, you are, we are Australian bloggers
All of us have traveled different journeys to bring us into the competition and into blogging. We all have stories that count and matter. I don't like asking for people to vote for me for being different or above any other.
The idea that there will be a counting of votes and the alphabetical list re-numbered from first to last is daunting. Yet, I agree that someone has to recognised for their talent and the work they put into building their blog and connecting with their readers.
Five will be above the line (The Top 5 will go onto phase 2 challenges) and 45 of us below.
To some it is just a little fun, though others take competing for a prized trip to New York Blogher very seriously. Of course I don't want to come last !! but so be it. How can I ask you to vote for me blog or even my friends.
I have no expectations of winning at all , I don't have a dream to travel to New York Blogher or higher aspirations. I will continue run my own race, merrily. I hope to always have my blog to express the things that mean something to me and share them with others. To ...
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” Leo F. Buscaglia
Though I wouldn't mind being the Top Blogger for the chance to drive around in a brand spanking new Ford Territory for a year!
So you can vote for me or any or all the blogs you love because one lucky person has a chance to WIN $5000 cash just by casting a vote. Choose carefully because you will only be able to access this vote form once.
♥
