On Sunday morning, I received a nomination for an award. And today, Thursday, I received another comment on my recent blog post letting me know I had received another nomination! The award is titled the Disability Blogger Award which recognises and acknowledges those bloggers whose niche is disability, chronic illness, mental illness or special needs.

Fellow blogger, Georgina from the Chronillicles blog had the idea for the award. She decided that disability and chronic illness deserved more recognition for their efforts and decided to create the said award.

The Disability Blogger Award Rules

The Disability Blogger Award Rules

• Thank your nominator
• Recognise Georgina from Chronillicles as the creator of this award and link her URL – https://www.chronillicles.com
• Use the Disability Blogger Award logo somewhere in your post
• Copy these rules onto your post
• Answer your nominator’s questions
• Write 5-15 of your own questions (they don’t need to be illness related)
• Nominate 5-15 other disability, chronic illness, mental illness, or special needs bloggers
• Comment on each of your nominees’ latest posts to tell them they have been nominated

Firstly I would like to thank the lovely Liz and Nikki who have kindly nominated me for this award. I am honoured and extremely flattered to be recognised amongst so many other wonderful writers.

Liz, blogs at the brilliant Despite Pain which offers readers many useful and insightful tips on how to forge a life despite pain. The blog also radiates hope and positivity that a happy and content life can still be found outside of chronic pain.

Nikki, from Brainless Blogger, is one of my favourite blogs to read. Nikki shares life with chronic illness and chronic pain in such a beautiful and eloquent, and despite the writing being deeply raw and personal, it’s profoundly relatable.

Thank you both.

Please do visit their blogs to enjoy their amazing writing and follow them.

Liz’s questions and my answers:

1. If you didn’t have a health condition, but you still wanted to blog, what would be your niche?

Books! Definitely books; sharing what I have been reading and insights into my favourite reads. Other than writing, especially, my work on this blog, books are my other passion. I have loved reading since childhood and can usually be found with a book in my hand. And my Kindle is one of my essential items on my packing list for holidays!

2. What is your favourite season and why?

Due to the symptoms associated with the neurological disorder I live, with, I often find that the hot and cold weather can exacerbate my symptoms. So, Winter and Summer can be problematic seasons for me, with flares becoming routine during the months these seasons reside. So, I would day Spring has become my favourite season – with it being not too cold and reasonably warm without the heat being unbearable. I also love all the colour and beauty that can be found during the Spring months, especially in nature. I do enjoy trips to the garden centre to peruse the beautiful and colourful flowers. And also, I am able to sit outside, even just in the garden, to get some welcome fresh air instead of being cooped inside the same four walls.

3. If you could time travel, which time would you travel to?

History was one of my favourite subjects when I was at school, and although I found it incredibly fascinating to learn about the periods in history we studied, the events and how people lived was usually unpleasant and gruesome. Place and events that I would not want to experience. Instead, I think it would be intriguing to visit the 60s or 70s when my parents were growing up and to meet and get to know my grandparents, especially those I lost before I ever really got to know them. It would also be interesting to know what my Mum and Dad were like before they became parents!

4. Healthy salad or chocolate brownie?

Although I enjoy eating healthily, allowing some semblance of control whereas our lives are usually controlled by our illnesses, I would have to choose the chocolate brownie! I am a bit of a chocoholic!

5. What’s the last book you read?

I just finished the incredibly moving ‘If Only You Were Here’ by Alice Peterson. It was a brilliant and captivating book, and a must if you enjoy an emotional read like me!

6. If you ruled your country, what would be your first new law?

What a brilliant question! I hate unkindness or bullying so I would create a ‘Random Act of Kindness’ Law to encourage people to be kind and help each other, even if it’s just in small, inconsequential ways. There are many horrible acts of violence in the world, so it would be lovely to see more good instead.

7. What is your biggest pet peeve and why?

People using disabled bays when they don’t have a blue badge! It is always annoying when I am out with my carer and am unable to stop somewhere I need to because there a lack of a suitable parking space, especially on days where my mobility is worse.

8. What’s the favourite blog post you’ve written?

Tough question as I didn’t realise how many I’ve written! One which I am proud of, and one which I loved writing was ‘Embracing The Warrior Inside.’ It’s a blog post that I can still look back and read, especially on days where I’m feeling low, and it reminds me of everything I have overcome and how strong I am. I hope everyone enjoys it as I had when I write it!

Nikki’s questions and my answers:

1. What is your favourite pain or illness distraction and why?

Reading; it’s one of my favourite past time’s anyway, but when I am in pain or overwhelmed by the other symptoms that I experience, I love how it can transport me into another world, or even allowing me to become someone else for a short time.

2. Do you have a creative outlet?

I have this blog obviously but other than that no. I did use to love making cards but found it to be very expensive and became very difficult due to trembling in my hands. Still, I do love writing though and keeping up with social media keeps me occupied.

3. What is your favourite book and tell me why

I have so many! My all-time favourite and one which I read, or at least try to is Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. It’s a classic, one which I have loved since I was a young girl. I don’t have any sisters myself, and loved the relationship between the four sisters; it’s a really heart-warming story.

4. When you are in a mental funk what do you do?

I look at my positivity board, filled with photographs of happy memories, as well as inspiring and uplifting quotes. Or if I am feeling a lack of confidence, I take a look in my jar of joy and remind myself of everything I have achieved despite chronic illness and the symptoms with which I live.

5. When was your last vacation and how was it?

My last holiday was last June, a cruise around Norway and Iceland, and a brief stop in Dublin! Cruising can be difficult, especially with a balance disorder and even more so when the seas are rough, but again it was a reminder of my resilience and strength in spite of the neurological disorder with which I live every day. And despite the many difficulties, I still am looking forward to future adventures.

My Nominees

The most difficult part is choosing nominees, especially as there are so many wonderful bloggers within the disability and chronic illness community. Even more so, when many of my favourite bloggers have already deservedly been nominated by other people. Many of the nominees are other bloggers who

Narrowing it to only 10 bloggers was incredibly difficult so I am sorry for anyone I have missed, as I think you are all amazing!

My 10 Nominees:

• Jen from Tripping Through Treacle
• Robert from A 30 Minute Life
• Jordyn from The Chronically Unimaginable
• Charlotte from FND and Me
• Claire from Through The Fibro Fog
• Elin from My Blurred World
• Emma from Not Just Tired
• Lynley from Top Lady Talks
• Rachel from What a Pain
• Alison from Thriving While Disabled

Make sure that you take a look at their incredible and inspiring blogs and look them up on their social media pages.

My questions for my nominees:

1. If you had to write about something other than disability/chronic illness/mental illness or special needs, what would it be and why?
2. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
3. What is the biggest thing you’ve learned about yourself since becoming disabled or chronically ill?
4. What is your favourite comfort food?
5. Name a literary character you can relate. What is it about this character that you can relate?
6. If you had to recommend one place to visit near to where you live, what would it be and why?
7. What is your favourite TV show to binge-watch when you are having a bad day?
8. What is the one blog post you are most proud of and why?
9. If you could recommend one blogger or blog to read, which would it be and why?
10. If you were suddenly only able to use one social media site/app which would you choose and why?

Your blogs and the work you do is brilliant, but I know what continued health struggles can get in the way of blogging, so there are no time constraints with replying to the nomination. Take your time and congratulations to all!

And thanks again to Liz and Nikki for your nomination!