Thank You for Your Encouraging Heart

     You have probably noticed that everyone seems to be on an award kick lately.  How wonderful is that!  I think it is great that we all have a mutual admiration for each other and once in awhile we need to affirm that respect and admiration by making sure others know how we feel about them.   Too often we take for granted that those around us know we care about them.  But do they really?  How can they if we don't tell them.  

      As you might have guessed by now, I love all these awards that are being passed around.  I would love to give one to every blogger I find just for having the nerve to put their innermost thoughts out there for all to see.  I'm never sure if we are all brave or just plain crazy; but one thing I do know is that we do have a lot of fun and meet some awfully nice people through these meetings of the minds.  I feel very blessed to be a part of this blogging phenomenon and I hope it continues for a very long time.

     Receiving one of these gracious awards is like receiving warm fuzzies over the internet.  It's like a hug from an old friend.  It's an affirmation that someone likes what you do.  So to whoever started the idea of blogger awards, thank you.  

      Now for the real point of my post.    I'm sure all of you remember back to the first few months when you first started your blog.  I can't speak for the rest of you but I was really green.  I knew absolutely nothing about blogging and didn't really expect anyone to read what I wrote.  To my surprise, a few people did start reading; and then a few more.  People started to leave comments on my blog.  Wow!  I was blown away.  People who's blogs I found fascinating and written very professionally actually left encouraging comments on mine.   I felt like Sally Field, "You like me;  you really like me!" 

    

      Thanks to the encouragement of these kind-hearted bloggers, I continued to blog and now have met some of the nicest people in the whole world right here in our little world of blogging.   With all of these awards going around it made me think that there should be a special award for those bloggers who care enough to encourage and mentor new bloggers.  I definitely have a few of these people on my list.  So I decided to share the love and encourage you to do the same if there are people who have helped you along the way.     It's never too late to let someone know they have been beneficial in your life.  

      Occasionally we are lucky enough to find those special people who have a heart of gold and an encouraging spirit.  They make you feel good about yourself and make you want to do better at whatever you attempt.  Those people have an Encouraging Heart.  And now there is an award just for them.

      Unlike many of the awards, this one comes with no strings attached.  You don't have to tell us anything about yourself or even pass it on to others.  It is simply a thank you to tell you that you have encouraged me and I appreciate it.  You took the time to care and it didn't go unnoticed.  The only thing I ask if you receive this award is give yourself credit for what you have done for me.  Then, and only then, if there is someone who helped you along the way when you started out, show them you care by passing it along to them.  But only if you want, remember, no strings attached.

      So, without further ado, I would like to present this special award to my encouragers and mentors who have been such a blessing in my life.  If  you don't see your name please know that I do appreciate every person who stops by my blog.  These are just the few who have gone above and beyond to make me feel comfortable and welcome in this world of blogging.

In no particular order:

Kelly - Diminishing Gene Pool 

Beth -  Word Nerd Speaks  

Daphne -  my distant husband
Jo -http://jo-mywanderingmind.blogspot.com/
k~  Bloggit Write
Julie -  Healthy, Wealthy and Wise: NOT...but learning

Marlia - Marlia's World

     If you haven't already visited these wonderful ladies, please check out their blogs now.  It's because of them that I am still around today.  Thank you beautiful ladies, from the bottom of my heart.  I hope I can encourage someone at least half as much as you have encouraged me.

Until next time....that's my view.

Kat