FMPWF (curious?)

I'm very happy to report that I got a lovely award today from Deb at Deb Will Be Free.  I could almost quote Deb's response to her own receiving of this award.  She noted that while it's nice to get one that is for being positive, happy or funny, it is great to have someone think my blog has substance, or in Deb's words "never fail to be truer and go deeper".  I really appreciate this, because though I tend to be snarky and cynical at times, I also strive to be thoughtful and share truths from the resources in my life that give me wisdom, guidance, strength and hope. 

Sometimes those resources are other bloggers - oft times, actually.  Other sources include friends, age (being a baby boomer has it's bennies) and life experience. But anyone who has read my blog more than a couple of times knows that my greatest source of spiritual truth, wisdom and hope, besides my "Higher Power" whom I chose to call God (in an entirely non-religious or traditional Judeo-Christian sense) is the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous.  I've been in this blog endeavor over a year now and have had the great fortune and pleasure of reading countless inspiring, mind-blowing, amazing, hilarious, serious and endlessly entertaining blogs in the process.  And in so-doing, I've come to realize that if anything sets mine apart, it's my frequent focus on and quoting of stuff from AA.  I've wondered at times if people get tired of that, but since I'm the boss of my blog and AA informs every single area of my life, behavior, beliefs, and certainty that anyone and everyone can CHANGE if they want to...it would be hard for me to be an honest blogger if I left it out.

A huge principal of AA is the anonymity part.  In the program it's suggested that we don't share our status as recovering alcoholics outside of the program UNLESS IT"S TO HELP ANOTHER.  Another alcoholic, obviously, but everyday I hear people say (and think myself) that it's hard to imagine how people live without the wisdom, truth, acceptance and blueprint for living that can be found in the fellowship.  We actually feel lucky to be alcoholics, so that we had a reason to enter into this organization that offers so much hope, help and guidance for getting and staying sober first and foremost; but also for just about anything life tosses up to us.  It's unlikely I'll meet any of you in person anytime soon, with the exception of Atlanta gals Tammy and Tina, so I've carved myself some wiggle room regarding anonymity in my blog.  I don't think I'm violating AA traditions by sharing some of the great stuff I hear and learn there.  How's that for sound justification?!

Anyway - if my blog truly is one of substance, I attribute it to my inclusion of so much of my experience, strength and hope from the fellowship.  I know that the Steps and basic principles of the program can help with overcoming all manner of addictive tendencies, self delusion, rationalizing, and repeated "failure" or lack of success.  I have not yet found the recovery from food addiction that I've found from booze, but I know I'm on my way, getting better, and will find genuine healing and peace via this life journey.  Food is a different animal than alcohol, but truth is truth.  There are universal glitches regarding using anything outside of spiritual awakening and grounding to fill "the holes in our souls", and so it's my hope that something I say on any given day may help someone else, even if it hasn't yet gotten through to this blogger!

So I love being given an award for having a "Blog of Substance", and am going to be so shameless as to agree!  I have blog self esteem - isn't that great?  I've certainly struggled with self esteem for much of my life, but living into each day, one at a time, has given me a more accurate appraisal of who I am and what I'm about.  Not too shabby an outcome of a life.

The rules of this award are to summarize your blog's philosophy, motivation and experience in 5 words.  I've just done it in a zillion, so let's see if I can distill all this blathering down to cinq mots...
                 Finally Making Peace With Food  (fmpwf)!
Then I'm supposed to give the award to 10 others.  Yikes - probably every great blogger I read has received this, and if I name you and you want to ignore it - no apologies necessary.  But besides gloating over my blog, it's great to acknowledge others I like:
Eat When Hungry
From Fat To Fab
Doing a 180
Jack Sh*t
Escape From Obesity
Gravel and Rust
Waisting Time
Log My Loss
Fat Girl Dives In
I know this only 9, but the others I went and checked have already received it.  All these don't focus solely on weight loss but also on life and some of the difficulties and victories encountered over the long haul. 

Hoping to do about 4 miles via foot this afternoon, and to keep the day clean of unmentionables...like cookies, chips, and other assorted crapola.  Hope the same for all my blog buds!