This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my Disclosure Policy for details.
One of the things I love about blogging is the community of bloggers I’ve connected with. What a supportive group of people. We don’t compete with each other. Rather, we read each other’s blogs, walk alongside one another, even when we live on opposite sides of the world, and encourage each other.
My blogging friend, Lisa Mitchell, recently created the Encouraging Blogger Award. I am honored to be among her first nominees. Lisa, who writes Fluxing Well, shares ideas about cooking, travel, technology (blogging, Pinterest, and teaching), books, gardening, and frugal living. Because life is constantly in a state of flux…full of challenges and changes…Fluxing Well inspires us to approach life’s situations with flexibility, creativity and a willingness to try something new. Lisa truly encourages her readers.
What is the 2020 Encouraging Blogger Award?
The Encouraging Blogger Award was created to recognize any blogger who encourages others with his or her posts. Bloggers may encourage others to travel, try new things, have a positive mindset, or overcome adversity, for example. An encouraging blog may encourage other bloggers or give business tips. Many blogs are encouraging and we don’t even realize it. Bloggers nominate fellow bloggers for this award, and nominees write a post answering a few questions. After that, the nominee nominates other bloggers.
The 2020 Encouraging Blogger Award Guidelines
- Explain the Encouraging Blogger Award
- Thank the blogger who nominated you and share a little about his or her blog.
- Answer these five questions:
- When and why did you start blogging?
- What is your blog about?
- What is one piece of advice you would give to encourage new bloggers?
- Which is your favorite time-saving blogging tip or scheduling tool?
- What are your future goals for your blog?
- Nominate up to 10 bloggers you think encourage others.
- Direct the nominees to visit this page for instructions and information about the award.
- Once you have shared your Encouraging Blogger Award post, fill out the form on the instruction page to enter the contest.
- Deadline for submissions for consideration in the 2020 contest will be October 31, 2020.
- If you miss the deadline, and still submit an entry form, you will be entered in the 2021 contest.
The Questions
When and why did you start blogging?
I started the forerunner of Cindy Goes Beyond in 2014. At that time the blog, Going Beyond, was a form of accountability. After setting the intention to write daily, I realized after four days that without a purpose, I floundered.
Inspired by Lu Ann Cahn’s book “I Dare Me” and her year long adventure trying something new every day, I set off on my own similar journey. The blog was born as I recorded my daily firsts. For the next five years, I wrote every day. Eventually that blog became Cindy Goes Beyond and in 2016 I added a second blog, Journey With Healthy Me.
What is your blog about?
The blogging journey is so transformative. Each year I am guided by a new word, theme and symbol. Read more about the story behind the blog here.
In its current form, Cindy Goes Beyond encourages readers to “live life beyond the edges of fear, comfort zones and limiting beliefs”. I share about creativity, travel, gardening and life experiences and offer film, book and product reviews.
Journey With Healthy Me chronicles my healing journey while offering health info, tips, recipes and encouragement to be healthy at every age.
What is one piece of advice you would give to encourage new bloggers?
Blogging is an amazing experience that shifts and grows as you do. Find what you are passionate about and then share from your unique perspective. Use your words to offer your gifts to the world. Don’t worry if your blog isn’t perfect. As you learn your blog reflects that knowledge and growth. Desiring perfection will hold you back and limit your joy.
Which is your favorite time-saving blogging tip or scheduling tool?
I just started using this technique last fall, and I love what it has done for my schedule. Using a simple notebook, I plan out my blog posts and social media posts a month in advance. I currently create two posts a week for Beyond and one for Journey. However, I post on social media daily. What a difference it has made to know what I’ll post each day instead of wracking my brain at 4:00 in the afternoon, trying to come up with something.
What are your future goals for your blog?
My big why for blogging is to enjoy the freedom of working from anywhere in the world. Earning income from the blogs helps me accomplish that future goal. I have many plans to continue developing both blogs and I’m excited about the possibilities and opportunities.
My Ten Nominees for the Encouraging Blogger Award
Check out these ten bloggers, who exemplify this award. They offer from their wisdom and their compassionate hearts.
Holly’s Bird Nest
Holly encourages others to live their best life, whether they are raising children, exploring the world or entering into the “golden years”. A life coach and author, Holly offers kindness and wisdom from a wealth of experiences.
Incurable Blessings
Ramae received a multiple myeloma diagnosis in 2018 and used it as a wake up call to start living. Her blog encourages everyone to go inward to discover who they really are and to find the joy in everyday blessings.
All Moms Blog
Um provides a complete resource for all moms, whether she is pregnant with her first child or she desires to simply her life or she is looking for a side hustle to supplement income.
Made You Smile Back
Beth, known as the forever optimist, encourages her readers with positive and uplifting quotes, stories and thought provoking content. She offers valuable resources for those struggling to find happiness and desires to help others “get their smile back”.
TechnoVans
Vanesh not only offers support and advice for technology lovers, he also encourages his readers with interviews, start up stories and blogging tips. I appreciate his desire to help others by shining a bright light on what is possible.
Shellie Lynn
Shellie encourages a healthy, plant based lifestyle and offers from the vast knowledge gained from her own journey of taking back responsibility for her health and well being.
The Hable Way
Lee Anne, her husband Kyle and their boys encourage others to experience family-friendly travel and adventure. They embrace a lifestyle of exploring the great outdoors and share stories intended to inspire others to step out of their comfort zones.
Crazy Fitness Guy
Jimmy encourages others to see health and fitness as a lifestyle, not a trend. He offers from his unique perspective of experiencing life with autism. He believes we all possess different ways of learning, working out, eating in a healthy way and finding motivation.
Four Columns of a Balanced Life
Jerry empowers women to live balanced lives. He shares inspiring stories based on the four columns of food, family, finances and faith.
Teas the Season
Beth knows that much wisdom can be shared over a cup of tea. She encourages others by offering tips, whimsy and recipes for the perfect cup of tea…and a sweet or savory treat to accompany it.
Encouraging One Another
I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know a bit more about me as a blogger. Lisa, thank you again for the honor of nominating me.
And please check out the blogs of my nominees. Receive inspiration and encouragement for your journey.
Nominees, if you so desire, pass on this award to up to ten encouraging bloggers that you appreciate. Check out the instruction page here. I look forward to reading your posts.
“Be an encourager. The world has enough critics already.” Unknown
Cindy Goes Beyond is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This affiliate program provides a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, all at no extra cost to you.