On top of Africa. Image via ninaspencer.com
Time to brush the snow off this keyboard and respond with this post regarding two wonderful awards handed to me these past few weeks.
Award #1 is called “The Harmony and Peace Award”, and was presented way back on Boxing Day by Prajakta of the blog “An Armchair Perfectionist“. Prajakta is one of my blogger friends who comes from Incredible India. Her blog has a way of making me feel at home, and in fact, she is also a runner, which is pretty cool. 🙂 Thank you so much Prajakta. It is an honour to receive this award. 🙂
The Harmony and Peace Award
The Rules are simple:
- Give this award to seven bloggers who have added Harmony & Peace, Love & Beauty and Positivity to the world you live in.
- Let them know that you nominated them.
- Acknowledge the blogger from whom you received this award
- Display your award on your blog, because you have earned it!
- Continue to live in Harmony & Peace
Here Are 3 of My Nominees:
1. “Walking the Walk” (34 Followers) I was following Henrik’s blog, even before I started blogging myself. In his blog, you will find the details of his epic journey of hiking The Pacific Crest Trail from Canada, all the way to Mexico, 4,000 kilometers, 5 million footsteps. AMAZING narrative and photography. He just completed it late December 2014. 🙂
2. “Journey of My Thoughts” (47 Followers) Coming from Incredible India, Sahasra’s other 2 languages besides English are Telugu and Hindi. The title of her blog is very fitting. She has a very transparent, tender heart that comes across in her writings. 🙂
3. “e180451” (14 Followers) When it comes to technology, I am still very much in the dark ages. So it was very exciting when this blog “found” me. Must have known I needed some help…lol. But I am learning lots reading the posts here. 🙂
I am going to stop at 3 nominees and name 4 more on the next award. My own little thing I like to do, is give the shout outs to bloggers with under 50 followers. (nothing in the rules about it, something I choose to do to help these small bloggers). They are wonderful blogs, but just have not been discovered. A month ago I did “A Very Inspiring Blog Award“, nominating bloggers with under 50 followers. In that month alone, one blogger went from 13 to 31 followers, another from 31 to 64, which would WELL OVER be 1200% per year. Wouldn’t it be something if banks paid that return on investment…lol! It was so exciting to witness that growth in readership! (and to see many of my readers in the comments of those blogs. 🙂
“Very Inspiring Blogger Award”
Award #2 is called “The Very Inspiring Blogger Award” (2nd time), and was presented by my Montana, USA blogger friend Ashley from “The Girl In Long Shorts“. Ashley was one of my earlier followers. She is a very gifted writer, doing freelance work, and is a contributing writer for Elite Daily. Not only that, she is in the process of writing a book titled, “30 Days to Happy”, set to be released on March 1st. Ashley, it is such an honour to be presented this award from someone such as yourself. THANK YOU! 🙂
Here are the rules for accepting this award (purely voluntary):
Thank the person who nominated you by linking his/her blog and display the award logo.
Nominate several other blogs. Link their blogs and inform them about the nomination.
Mention three things that inspired you the most this week (you can talk about last week’s inspiration too).
1. The 1st thing that I must say is the inspiration by the MANY comments from my post “My Secret Valley“. We may be just one person from our little corner of the world, but together and collectively, we CAN and WILL make a difference, in preserving our forests for future generation.
2. My 2nd inspiration are the people that go above and beyond. Been a rough couple of weeks, dealing with a gum infection that got spread deep into the jawbone from a long run. I haven’t written in over two weeks, and have struggled with reading and commenting on other’s blogs. And I haven’t even run. It’s been that painful. In all reality I should get be getting dentures. My mom got them at 32, my sister got hers much earlier than I am now. It is what I have inherited. And no matter how meticulous I am with my oral hygiene, when my body gets run down, I get infection in my receding gums, every one to two years. But dentures scare me. What if they fall out when I am running in a race, and the runner behind me trips and falls trying to avoid them, which in turn cause a major pileup up of runners who crash together in a heap. Enter my inspiration. My dentist normally closed his offices at 4 on a Friday. As normal his staff all went home, but a week ago he waited alone an hour for me until I got off work. Now that’s going above and beyond, in fact he never even charged me. I really don’t like taking medications of any kind, but the bloke who invented antibiotics is a genius. With the prescription my dentist gave me, my infection is now gone! 🙂
Personally autographed by author Nina Spencer!
3. This last inspiration is more than an “‘Inspiration of the Week”. I feel it is more like “Inspiration of the Year”. With my gum infection, for two weeks there was no running, no gym, for fear of pushing the infection even deeper. I laid very low when I was off work. And last weekend I read an entire book, (yes, you read that right, I read ANOTHER book). What an inspiration, (not that I read a book), but what the book was about, and the connection I have made. The book is called “Kilimanjaro, A Time to Creep, A Time to Soar”, and authored by Nina Spencer. The book was given to me by a friend and neighbour, who knows the author. Nina had beautifully signed the book for my wife and I. On top of being a gifted writer, Nina is well known as a popular international keynote speaker. She is dubbed by the National Post as “One of Canada’s leading motivational speakers”. Nina had never even camped, up to when she signed up for Kilimanjaro, but here she was, about to climb one of the 7 summits of the world. During last weekend, as I read, it was if I myself was training hard for 7 months, and then it was if I myself arrived in Africa for a 9 day epic climb up an down the highest mountain in Africa. It was that well written. It was WONDERFUL and EXHILARATING! I found Nina’s contact information, and thanked her for the inspirational read, and for signing the book so beautifully. For a person of such high renown, I wasn’t sure what response I would get. It was INCREDIBLE. Nina is not just a gifted author, and a very much in demand keynote motivational speaker, she is a very “down to earth”, caring, personable human being who took time out of her busy schedule to write a lengthy response to my e-mail. We have since e-mailed back and forth several times and are even “following” each others blogs. On her website, http://ninaspencer.com/, Nina has several articles and blogs written, including her one about Kilimanjaro! Thank you Nina! 🙂
Image via ninaspencer.com
Let’s keep running! Here are my nominees for The Very Inspiring Blogger Award! 🙂
1. My Alpine Obsession (19 Followers) The last time is have climbed technically goes back to 22BC (22 years before children). I still love reading up on climbing a lot, and was more than delighted to cross paths with this blog. Please check it out. You’ll climb along on some epic ice and rock routes in the 2014 Trips/Adventures. The year 2015 is a clean slate, but will be no doubt be filled in, starting with a trip to Switzerland in February. 🙂
2. Child’s Eye View Blog (20 Followers) I really wish I had resources like this after my dad’s sudden death when I was 15. Author Ashley holds a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology and works as a clinical therapist. Focusing on addressing grief and depression in children, adolescents and young adults, I find the posts very helpful for myself in my own world, as well as being a valuable resource to reach out to others. 🙂
3. Rubber Hobos (49 Followers) At the end of 2010, Donna and her husband sold their home in Pennsylvania, bought an RV, and never looked back. This blog is about their journey, where they have been what they have been doing. The photography is beautiful.
4. Looking Closer (10 Followers) This is a very fitting name for this blog by Elizabeth, who has a beautiful sense of being in tune with nature. Living in an area surrounded by marshland containing lots of animal habitat, instead of keeping her photos, research, experiences and thoughts to herself, she offers to share them to us the reader. Thank you Elizabeth! 🙂
I hope you have a chance to look up these excellent bloggers (all under 50 followers), from these 2 awards.
Image via warinternational.org
Thank you for still running in another LONG blog post. Just want to close with something that has been on my heart a lot lately. It has do with human slavery. Even though slavery and human trafficking was said to be abolished 150 years ago, there are more human slaves today than any other time in history. In the website War International, it states about human trafficking, “It’s the fastest growing arm of organized crime all over the world, effecting more than 800,00 people per year”. In total there are currently 27,000,00 people trapped worldwide.
Image via justbcause.com
With no means of escape, these people would never have the opportunity to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, or climb Kilimanjaro, or go for an RV journey across America, or simple enjoy nature in your back yard, and write about it in a blog. In my case, they could never run, simply for the love of running (unless it is running to try and escape).
Image via seasonoflight.net
One of my favourite Christian bands is Tenth Avenue North, which is trying to bring awareness of human trafficking with this song called, “For Those Who Can’t Speak”. To give you a little assignment while watching, try and figure out why lights are being turned on and blinds opened.
~Carl~
theoldfellowgoesrunning 
That’s a great song! I just watched a documentary about human trafficking, it’s incredible how under-reported and yet rampant it is…so sad. Awareness will definitely help though, so good for you for writing about it!
On a separate note, thanks for the shout out, I appreciate the mention!
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Thank you so much Jimmy. It was a long blog, I really appreciate you sticking with me right to the finish line, even including the video. 🙂
Your solidarity regarding human trafficking means a lot. I take my freedom for granted too much. Glad there is some documentaries being made on this topic. I have not seen any myself. The video is what got me aware of it, and then I started digging deeper. As you mentioned, it is really under reported.
You are very welcome on the shout out my friend. Hoping it will bring some visitors your way. Your reply came before I got a chance to get over your way to say I nominated you….lol. The award part is entirely up to you, if you want to carry it forward, (some bloggers do, and some don’t). Either way Jimmy, congratulations on your Harmony and Peace Award. You have a great blog, and deserve it! 🙂
~Carl~
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I love how you champion great causes!! Amen!!
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Thank you so much April. This is actually something I do in my Sunday services, is to set aside a segment and talk about an awareness issue, and what can we do. It may be signing petitions/writing letters, doing something tangible like volunteer/give or one of the most powerful things….pray!
And sometimes when we are aware of an issue, people are much less likely to judge.
I appreciate you stopping in to read and comment! 🙂
~Carl~
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That is wonderful. Exactly what Christians should be doing!!
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Congratulations Carl. And it very thoughtful of you in nominating new people. Well there was a movie in here that talks about human trafficking and sort of slavery. And I understood how filthy it is! It should be ended for sure! Well Said
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Thank you Trablog. There are so many excellent bloggers out there, I am finding, that just have not been discovered. I know my blog is not big, but if the shout out brings new visitors to these blogs, it makes it all worth it! 🙂
Thank you for your support to end human trafficking. It does take place in Canada, but it is extremely hidden.
This was a very long post. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment! 🙂
~Carl~
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You are welcome 🙂 Yes, what we all need is an early encouragement as bloggers and as in life.
Well I also write long post and you do read them 😀
Well did you forget about the hand writing day? 😉
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Ha, ha, I did remember hand writing day, but only got one letter written. Thank you for inquiring! 🙂 I guess I should have written a post about it. I really need to be more spontaneous….like YOU! 🙂 This last post was a whole week in draft form before it finally got published, which is way too long!
Hope your day is going well! 🙂
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I did write a post about it 😀
Well I have my pictures to support, so I look at them and write something.
Hope you are also having a great day 🙂
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Found it! And what a GREAT post!
😀
Thank you so much for the “shout out” Trablog. This is very kind of you! 🙂
My day is just beginning. Currently it is -18, and it is to reach -10 today. Cold, but sunny! 🙂
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My pleasure 🙂
It is definitely cold for me!!! Have a great day 🙂
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So nice to hear from you again, Carl! Your awards are (as always) well deserved. I hope you get yourself all healed up soon – it’s almost training season 2015! 🙂
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Ahhh, thank you so much!
I’m pretty much as good as new now…..but….yikes, got a half marathon just over a month away in Burlington.
It will be a “cool” experience, being still our Canadian winter. 🙂
Thank you for stopping by to read and your kind comment! 🙂
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Carl – great post! Thanks for bringing attention to such an awful truth as human trafficking and I hope you get all healed up soon! A gum infection sounds completely awful. Always love your writing. All the best!
Ashley
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Thank you so much Ashley, and thank you so much for the award! 🙂
I am feeling much better! 🙂
Please keep me posted regarding your book release, and links to how to purchase a copy. Your “sneak preview” was excellent! 🙂
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Congratulations on more well-deserved awards! 🙂
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Thank you very much Sami. I really appreciate this! 🙂
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Congratulations Carl 🙂 And thank you for your lovely words! I will start doing rounds of your nominees.
Also, thank you for pointing out it is Awareness month for human trafficking – a sensitive issue and less talked of in social circles somehow compared to others. I will listed to the song 🙂 They are a discovery.
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Thank you Prajakta, and thank you for the Harmony and Peace Award. 🙂
I appreciate your comment on human trafficking. Yes, this is an issue that is so little talked about. Your most recent blog post, “To give or not to give” broke my heart when you mentioned in India, some beggars would have to hand over their “earnings” to ringleaders. That is so sad.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment! 🙂
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Carl,
You more than deserve every single award.
You are a most generous and kind human being.
I appreciate learning more from your words, videos and books you share. And will also check the blogs you mentioned. You are so right to introduce them to all of us.
I wish you even more generosity and kindness in your heart so you keep t giving so much good to others.
Warm regards.
Lucile
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Lucile,
I am so humbled and touched by your extremely kind and generous comment. This REALLY made my day! THANK YOU SO MUCH! 🙂
You have a very beautiful heart. Thank you so much for your friendship! 🙂
~Carl~
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Sorry I’m a little late over here…but congrats on your awards! *clink, clink*
I’m off to check out your nominees 🙂
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Never late Amanda, it is always such an honour to have someone of such renown as yourself stop by. 🙂
Thank you so much for the congrats and checking out the nominees! 🙂
~Carl~
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You’re very welcome 🙂
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I visited all of your four nominees, thanks for the links. I just love discovering new blogs, new places. Thanks for sharing. And all the best for you.
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My pleasure Cecilia. Thank you for stopping by my blog and visiting the nominees.
All the best for you in return! 🙂
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This is one of the best “award” posts I’ve read. Thoroughly enjoyed it and will check out the blogs you mentioned. 🙂 You gave me a bit of inspiration after a long and crazy day. thanks!
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Awww, thank you so much Lilka for your more than kind compliment.
Thank you for reading and sharing. Sincerely hope today goes smoothly for you.
Blessings my friend,
~Carl~
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Carl, congratulations on the awards, most well deserved! I love your approach, and how you selected your nominees for the awards, a wonderful opportunity for your community to be introduced to new bloggers. You have written a lovely post, accepting so graciously and passing on the awards with even more grace. Carl, you are an amazing and wonderful person! I’m pleased to hear that you are feeling better! Thank you for bringing more awareness to the huge problem of human trafficking, and including the music video as well. Please take good care, and again, congratulations!
Always warm wishes,
Pepperanne
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Thank you so much Pepperanne, this means a lot. When I think of someone who is gracious, I think of you, with your touching replies to those who comment on your blog.
How to respond to awards has always a difficult one. Appreciate and very honoured when I get them, but I know they are not everyone’s “cup of tea”, always wondering how to go about passing them on. And never want it to come across as a “packaged” type of post. I guess I am a ‘rule breaker’…lol…..:). Thank you for reaffirming me with your supportive words about this post. 🙂
I can’t imagine what it is like to be a victim of human trafficking. Very, very sad.
Thank you for reading, and your ongoing support and friendship.
Sincerely,
~Carl~
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Great post, Carl. I love Tenth Avenue North, too! A great avenue to raise awareness for an overlooked tragedy.
Congrats on your much-deserved awards, friend!
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Thank you Paige. I always appreciate your support so much.
Saw Tenth Avenue North in concert a couple of years ago with my oldest daughter. They have such genuine hearts.
Thank you for taking the time to read, and for your most supportive comment my friend! 🙂
~Carl~
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Salute you for your spirit. Your all round presence in Blogosphere is commendable. There is a lot to learn from you.
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Himanshu, my friend, thank you so much. We do learn from each other. I appreciate and commend you for the simplicity of your travels, and sharing so profoundly the beauty and spirit of India.
Thank you, and thank you for reading! 🙂
~Carl~
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Congratulations on the awards. I am glad for You.
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Thank you so much. I appreciate this! 🙂
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