Slowing down
A friend sent me this picture this evening as a reminder that I need to take a step back from writing, reading, advocating and generally helping others so I can “get better” again. We all know people with MS do not “get better” but I understood his reasoning… I need to sleep more, relax more and stop running around like a crazy chick (also his words, not mine :)) It has been a mad few months really. Stepping up my writing for the Ireland Blog Awards (being nominated and then shortlisted has finally started sinking in), going away for the MS National Day in Galway (stress about public speaking!), starting a writing course (not done a dicky-bird yet!), having to travel abroad because of the passing away of my uncle,…
I’m a writer!
When can you call yourself a writer? With that debate still unsolved, I continue to wonder if I can call myself so. After all, I am now a former Incident Coordinator, a former library assistant and therefore a former ‘employed being’ altogether. And that sounds rather bad for one’s ego when pondered upon too long. Asked by people what on earth I now fill my days with when I’m forced to dedicate most of my days to rest and sleep, I simply tell them “I write.” Instantly eyebrows raise higher than one’s crown chakra and a slight shaking of the head indicates the dismay – envy perhaps? – and inner thoughts that spell “this girl has lost it for good.”
Ooooh… :(
Didn’t make the finalist list in the Ireland Blog Awards competition but still quite happy to have been longlisted and shortlisted from 168 blogs to the best 28 in the Best Personal Blog category. Here’s to more blogging, writing and hopefully getting to the finalist stage next year! ©Willeke Van Eeckhoutte and Ireland, Multiple Sclerosis & Me, 2011-2013. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Willeke Van Eeckhoutte and Ireland, Multiple Sclerosis & Me with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Shortlisted!
After a holiday which wasn’t really a holiday – flying home because a family member passed away is hardly reason to have that excited holiday feeling – and trying to sleep while having half an eye fixed on the Ireland Blog Awards 2013 website every so many hours for the last week or so, I am now still trying to figure out how I got to being shortlisted in the Personal Blog category. Chuffed. Exhilarated. Stunned. In the past I expressed my surprise about that peculiar kind of twist of fate which later turns out to be a blessing in disguise, and yet again I have to admit that life really is a stage show. A show of which I continuously seem to misplace the brochure but manage to grasp…
Sunshine Award once again!
The Sunshine Award passed my doorstep again, this time awarded by Jean, a fellow Ireland lover and indeed an inhabitant of the proudest county in Ireland: Waterford. I gladly accept the award so as Jean’s blog always brings something new every day, a picture, story or poem, always written fantastically and with lots of passion. The Sunshine Blog award is an award given to bloggers, by other bloggers. It is given to “bloggers who are positive and creatively inspire others in the blogosphere”. Rule 1: Link back to your nominator. http://socialbridge.wordpress.com/2013/08/23/sunshine-and-celebration-gatherings-from-ireland-229/#comment-5180 Rule 2: Display the Sunshine Award image as you see below:
Contrary!
“You’re just being contrary!” my mum used to say. I think that from a young age, she must have found me indeed, a bit different than other kids my age. I wasn’t rebellious, in fact as a teen I was anything but rebellious, but you might say that I went through the usual girly teen behaviour so many of us poor women went through. I fell in and out of love with pop stars, loved singing and dancing and enjoyed an outdoor lifestyle with many of my friends. Perhaps my generation was the last one to grow up without mobile phones, without game consoles to play bowling without the actual ball and tennis without being on a tennis court.
Blog Awards Ireland 2013
Yesterday I found out that a friend nominated me for an Ireland 2013 Blog Award. Needless to say I am chuffed, and blessed! In return I want people to know how honoured I am to have gathered so many followers who are interested in what I bring. Even if you don’t blog yourself, you are the backbone of my reason for writing and I happily return the favour by reading and seeing your work. Reading individual stories often makes me chuckle and laugh, think and discuss. Since there are only a few days left to vote for the Ireland 2013 Blog Awards, I have a favour to ask you. Since finding out that there is even such a thing like Ireland Blog Awards, I’d be totally in awe if you…