Thank you so much to Cheyanne, a lovely young woman who blogs at Hospital Princess in which she shares her personal journey living with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and its other comorbid conditions including dysautonomia and gastroparesis for tagging and nominating me.

What is the Sunshine Blogger Award?

It is a nomination given to bloggers by bloggers.  If someone nominates you, it means you’re one of 11 people whom they find inspiring and brings sunshine into the lives of your readers.  If you decide to continue to tradition, then follow these simple rules!

Rules for the ‘Sunshine Blogger Award’:

• Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back to their blog;
• Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you;
• Nominate 11 bloggers to receive this award and ask them 11 new questions; and
• List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award in your post and/or on your site

Questions and Answers
Here’s what The Hospital Princess asked me, and my answers to them:

1. What inspired you to start blogging?
   It was a remark by an online friend who also at the time was blogging. At the time I didn’t have a concrete diagnosis, but we both suffered from chronic dizziness and after reading some of my personal writing and knowing my story living with an undiagnosed condition she suggested creating my own blog to share my journey and to help myself and others going through a similar experience.
2. Instagram or Twitter? Why?
   I would have to choose Twitter; I also have an Instagram account but much more active on Twitter mainly because I hate having my picture taken, always highly critical of my looks.  I also feel that I am much more eloquent with words!
3. If you could choose another “niche” for your blog, what would it be?
   It would definitely have to be writing about books as I am an avid reader.  I have so many books but still always find myself buying more as I discover new and exciting authors and titles within the bookshops that I frequently inhabit.
4. You can travel back in time. What age would you be?
   I would travel back in time to when I was 16 and going through a tough time at school, suffering from depression. I would give myself a big hug and reassure myself that it will be OK and that these feelings will pass.
5. Professionally, what are your future goals?
   I have no idea.  At the moment with my health, I am just trying to get through each day.  But I would like to do more writing, either for online platforms or even get published in a magazine.
6. Who is the biggest supporter of your blog and life in general? How do they keep you motivated?
   Of course, my biggest supporters will always be my parents. But outside of my immediate family, it would be my best friend Aisha who makes an effort, despite her own health struggles to read my writing and my blog whenever I publish something new and has even proofread my writing.  Her support and encouragement always keep me motivated!
7. What is your favourite song lyrics? Why?
   I find lyrics in the song ‘Do You Hear the People Sing’ from the musical Les Miserables particularly inspiring and motivating.  ‘Even the darkest night will end, And the sun will rise’ is a beautiful reminder that nothing in life is permanent and the pain or the negative feelings we are currently experiencing will pass just as the night ends giving way to a new day.
8. How do you promote your blog?
   I promote my blog through my social media channels – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.  I also am members of various groups on Facebook to help share and promote my new blog posts.
9. Most embarrassing moment?
   I once fell off a stage as I went up to collect an award which was very embarrassing, especially as there is still evidence somewhere as my parents were recording it!
10. What do you dislike the most about blogging?
    It’s not so much about blogging per se, but it can be frustrating when you take the time to share the blog posts of fellow bloggers, but they don’t return the favour.  It doesn’t happen a lot, but some bloggers don’t even thank you which is frustrating as I think especially within the chronic illness community we should all support each other.
11. How have you changed as a person since starting your blog?
    Well, I’ve certainly gained more perspective and insight into my experiences with living with a long-term health condition, have become more eloquent when describing my symptoms with doctors and other consultants, which may have helped in getting answers and culminating in a diagnosis.  I have grown in confidence as a writer and as a person.

My nominees for the ‘Sunshine Blogger Award’:

1. Emmie from ‘Illness to Wellness: A Journey‘
2. Heather from ‘Dinsoaurs, Donkeys and MS‘
3. Chiara from ‘The Millennial Patient‘
4. Amy from ‘Destined2Roam‘
5. Ash from ‘Finding Rainbows in The Dark‘
6. Em from ‘That Silver Spoonie‘
7. Lara from ‘Mummy Seeing Double‘
8. Jen from ‘Tripping Through Treacle‘
9. Rebecca from ‘A Punk with MS‘
10. Caroline from ‘PoTS and Spoons‘
11. Sarah from ‘A Life Less Physical‘

My List of 11 Questions: 

1. What inspires your blog posts? How do you come up with new things to write about?
2. If you had to choose just one social media platform to use for the rest of your life, which would you choose and why?
3. What fictional character do you most identify with and why?
4. If you could be one person from history, who you would choose? Why?
5. What has helped you reach acceptance in your journey with chronic illness? Or do you feel you have yet to reach acceptance?
6. My latest blog post is about my favourite box sets to binge-watch. What was the last show you binge-watched or are currently watching?
7. What lessons have you learnt from living with chronic illness?
8. What blogger or bloggers do you admire the most? What have you learnt from them?
9. Who gives you strength in your everyday life?
10. What are your biggest struggles in everyday life?
11. If you could accomplish anything in your future, what would it be?

Thank you once again to Cheyanne for the nomination! It’s such an honour and so lovely that you thought of me! 🙂