Why does a dog have a paw?

… to have a place to lay a weary head.

Scoot over Miss Stella. I think there is enough room on that paw for my head too.

 

Just Ramblin’

Genuine Recognition

Do you remember that feeling you got when you found out your teacher or boss was handing out awards and you received one?  Maybe it was a coach or music instructor that honored you with an award for your hard work. It felt good. It felt like you really did something well and you achieved some  level of success. You did well enough and successfully enough to actually be awarded for your efforts.  Lately I have been seeing “awards” circulating around the blogging community. I have received two and I have redistributed them and awarded several of my fellow bloggers with them as well. I have to admit that with the first I was shocked to have gotten the award and I was excited. The second one was pretty much the same reaction…shock and excitement. I am glad my fellow bloggers considered my blog “award worthy.” These awards are cool and usually make the recipient feel good when awarded with one. However, I have noticed that there are usually some “rules” that go along with receiving the award no matter which it may be. After reading several blogs and forums, I have noticed that many feel that these awards tend to lose their value or significance because of the list of requirements.  It is as if the award is no longer truly an award but rather a tool for getting blogs more exposure and hopefully more readers and subscribers. Gaining more readers and subscribers is not a bad thing. It is actually something I think we all strive for. But “working” an award to make these gains may actually cheapen the spirit of the award. I did not look at these awards in such a way until I started doing a little research about what they were, where they came from, and what they mean. I really thought of them as an award. I thought of them as awards for those that I gave it to due to the “requirements.” I did indeed, and still do, believe that their blogs are deserving of an award. I tend to wonder now if maybe the award is not so much an award anymore. With all of this in mind, I have decided to try something a little different. I know that earning an award is very cool. Giving one is often even more so. I thought it would be nice to give an award to some bloggers that had no “rules” or “requirements.” It is just that…an award. An award given in the true “spirit” of giving some recognition for effort. It is not “official” but rather just a “fun” award. It does not require listing facts or awarding it to a certain amount of fellow bloggers. It is for the blog and the blogger.  It will be given to someone for his or her genuineness in blogging. Free and clear.

I have many blogs that I follow, am a subscriber of, and read daily all of which I believe deserve recognition. If I were to give an award to each of them now at the same time, I believe it would devalue the award.  More will most likely be awarded.  Receiving an award is pretty darn cool but giving one is even better.  

Check out these Genuine Bloggers for some interesting, thoughtful, heart filled, and full of life posts:

 Pure Complex  “I Say What I Want..When I Want”

The Simple Life of a Country Man’s Wife  “Just Wife’n it up South Dakota-Style!

ARTISMYSANITY  “My words and my pictures. All I have”

My Brown Newfies  “Life with Sherman and Leroy Two Brown Newfoundlands”

Mi Vida Contigo  A blog about life’s adventures and Kiki the pup

Just Ramblin’