Sunshine Award

A big thank you goes out to Lauren at On Fecund Thought, who nominated me for a Sunshine Award!

A Sunshine Award is given to bloggers whose posts brighten your day. Here's how it works:

1. Include the Sunshine Award icon in your post.
2. Link to the person who nominated you.
3. Answer 10 questions about yourself.
4. Nominate 10 bloggers to receive the award.
5. Link your nominees and let them know they've been nominated.

Here are my answers to Lauren's questions:

1. What is your super power? Not a fake one, but something you are good at and can consistently rely on?
   Sifting through a bunch of details to find the bottom line. I guess you'd call that analysis? I can distill two pages of scribbled notes from a doctor's appointment down to a few pro/con tables and bullet points … for whatever good it does. There are literally boxes full of those notes in my closet right now.
2. What gift (apart from effortlessly making a human) do you wish you had?
   More energy. I know people who come home from a full day of physical work and immediately start cleaning something, before even pausing to sit down. I just stare at them and wonder, What species ARE you? 
3. Have you read a book more than three times?
   Yes, absolutely. I tend to skim books the first time, then go back and read the good ones more thoroughly—sometimes over and over, noticing new things each time.
4. What is your mantra?
   Make me a channel of your peace (from the St. Francis prayer). It's a tall order. I just focus on that first image: self-discipline is the structure of the channel, and mindfulness clears a space in the center. The peace isn't something I create; it flows through me in rare moments when I can get myself out of the way.
5. What's the best piece of advice you ever received?
   It was a question: Do you want to live a life based on fear or a life based on love? Whenever I'm in doubt about what to do, I try to choose the latter.
6. What made you decide to start blogging?
   This post explains. Basically, it seemed like a way to keep my heart open during difficult times, while connecting with others who are going through similar things, without wearing out my welcome with those who are NOT going through similar things.
7. What's in your handbag (UK) / purse (US) / "bag you carry around all day" (elsewhere)?
   Not much: cash, cards, keys, phone, mints, and a pen. I'm sort of a minimalist.
8. What's in your fridge?
   Not much: bean soup from the crockpot, vegetables for juicing, some half-used bottles of salad dressing, and a few leftover IVF meds way in the back.
9. Do you remember how you discovered my blog? Why do you read it?
   You commented on one of my posts, and it sounded like our situations had a lot in common. More than that, your words hit me in an almost physical way. I sit back and go, "Whoa. Yes, that's it exactly. I just never quite realized it before." Few people can face such difficult emotions head-on—let alone explain them so well, with both honesty and dignity, while right in the middle of it all. I learn from you. I'm encouraged and less alone. Last but not least, I want to be there to cheer when well-deserved good news comes your way!
10. What makes you feel fabulous?
    Sunrise, a mug of coffee in my lap, an empty road leading somewhere I've never been before.

Next up are my nominees and questions...