I am as bad as the worst, but, thank God, I am as good as the best–Walt Whitman
I’ve decided to not take anymore awards. I am so grateful to everyone who has nominated this blog for any award, but I am a bit overwhelmed at the moment. I did, however, want to accept one last award because it has strong ties to Bloggers for Peace. Raimy, the Creative-Guru, created the Vision-in-Action Blogger award.
If you don’t know what The Twilight Club or VIA is, which I didn’t, please visit this link–http://creative-guru.com/2013/02/03/the-twilight-club-origin-of-the-vision-in-action-blogger-award/
I love Walt Whitman, Mark Twain, and Ralph Waldo Emerson, yet I never knew that they formed The Twilight Club “for the purpose of bolstering spiritual and cultural renewal of society in the late 1870s.” I’ve also never heard of the Vision-in-Action Institute, but I am so down with a quotation by one of their founders:
“Opinion and ideology divide; Quest and commitment unite,” – Yasuhiko Kimura
Bloggers for Peace, this blog, and my life are all about unification through “quest and commitment.” Our quest is to commit to posting for peace and see where that takes us. Thank you so much, Raimy, for introducing me to these groups that serve as stepping stones for our humble movement.
The rules for the award are simple, but I’m about to break them. Since this is my last awards acceptance post, I will post some personal information that was inspired by Anyes from Far Away in the Sunshine and Grandmalin from Breathing Space. Click on their names to see their lists. Basically, you just fill in the blanks after the prompts in bold.
I am grateful to have found gratitude.
I know that I don’t know as much as I thought I did.
I want peace in my heart, in my life, and in the world.
I think thinking is over-rated.
I have everything I ever dreamed of in a beautiful wife and two healthy sons.
I dislike when I dislike something.
I miss my Hawaiian grandfather, actually all my grandparent–blood-related and calabash.
I fear outliving my sons that fear will manifest what we fear.
I feel my heart yearn to know compassion.
I hear the peace train coming.
I smell imaginary stale cigarette smoke when I’m not being grateful.
I crave hugs—real and virtual {{{Hugs}}}.
I search for that place in me that will end all searching.
I wonder at the perfection of life.
I regret hurting ones I loved with words as sharp as x-acto blades to the point where they stopped loving me in order to survive.
I love the power of forgiveness.
I care for the condition of the world I will leave my children.
I am always in a rush to slow down.
I worry that worrying will create what we worry about.
I remember running through the woods with my eyes closed when I was young and feeling God caress my face and arms.
I sing the body electric when I am playing with my sons.
I argue with my ego who always wants to argue with others.
I write to get free hugs.
I lose my cool when I feel insecure.
I wish our childhood smiles could stay with us forever.
I listen to my wife who is always right.
I can usually be found looking for myself.
I am scared of centipedes in my bed.
I need to feel the warmth of humanity every day.
I forget how much I have to be grateful for when I get stressed.
I am happy (period)
Thank you for reading, sharing, and/or smiling.
What quest are you committed to? Please share.
Related articles
- The Vision in Action Blogger Award (cplayphotography.wordpress.com)
- Omne trium perfectum–Very Inspiring Blogger Award no. 3 (Fecthis.wordpress.com)
everyday gurus 
Hi Kozo – I’ve just nominated you for…..a big {{{HUG}}}
I absolutely love your list. There are so many I wanted to mention individually, but every time I got to the next one I’d go “oh – I love that one, too!!!’ You are wise and beautiful and I love that I met you in this blogging world. 😀 😀 😀
Best nomination I’ve ever gotten–{{{Hugs}}} from Dianne Gray.
And triple smiley faces to match. Can’t think of a better reward for blogging. Love you, Dianne. {{{Hugs]}} Kozo
huge unconditional {{{HUGS}}} for you Kozo ;o
Thanks, Robert. Give one to yourself while you are at it since you just scooped up a plethora of awards as well. {{{hugs]}} Kozo
Thanks for sharing a bit more about yourself (centipedes in bed? Yikes!)
I am committed to focusing on the positives of whatever happens in my day.
Great commitment, Lena. Thank you for reminding me. I too will focus on positives.
My family is from Hawaii, so I’ve seen a lot of painful bites from BIG bugs that live in the tropics. Centipedes supposedly have a pretty nasty bite. I just think bugs should respect our sleeping space. 🙂
{{{Hugs]}} Kozo
I think the best way to get real free hugs is to keep caring about your kids and listening to your wife! 🙂 And to get the virtual ones, keep writing. xxoo {{{HUGS}}} ooxx
Haha, Grandmalin, I’m going to have to start paying you for marriage counseling soon.
I’ll keep writing if you keep {{{Huggin}}}
Love, Kozo
Here’s another emphatic hug {{{HUG}}}!!!!!
I hate centipedes in my bathtub.
At least in the bathtub, they can’t bite you in the sensitive areas. Unless you mean centipedes swimming in the tub while you take a bath, Ruth. Great, no more baths for Kozo. 🙂
Thanks for the hug, Ruth. {{{Hugs}}} back.
{{{Hugs}}}}
You always know what I need, Jackie. {{{Hugs}} back.
Get some rest, my friend. You’ve earned it!
You now as well as I do, Hook, blogging is an addiction that cannot be stopped cold turkey. Thanks for looking out for me, although judging by how you look out for your wife, I’m not sure if I feel much better. haha {{{Hugs}}} Kozo
This was beautiful! Thank you for taking the time to share, it truly is a pleasure to have met you, to get to know you better, to be a part of your a visionary cause.
Thank you, Raimy. I love that you introduced me to somethings I’ve never heard about that are right up my alley. Can’t wait to trade more peace with you. {{{Hugs}}} Kozo
Yes please! I made the first post for peace today, it was about time I honored my commitment to the cause!
http://creative-guru.com/2013/02/10/inner-peace/
Beautiful Kozo, I love how this exercise helps us open up and dig deep within to find the answers. It also reminded me that we are all one and the same when we look closely enough. Your love for your family shows in this beautiful list and I beg the hugs you get are making you smile.
Enjoy your week-end and thank you so much for the shout out 🙂
Thank you, Anyes. That exercise taught me so much about my fears and mistakes. I will continue to re-read this list as the days go by and track my progress. Your visits make me smile. 🙂
Peace Out. Love, Kozo
I am glad you smile when I come…Smiling is good right? 😉
I am sure everyone understands the awards thing, Kozo, and you did such a great job of recognizing them to date in a previous post. They would surely just keep coming at you! 😉 I love your list!! Your insight is awe-inspiring. And, most importantly, {{{Hugs}}}!! 🙂
Thanks, Rufina. If you do a list, I would love to read it. It was a very insightful exercise. Thanks for being a faithful blogging friend. {{Hugs back}}} Kozo
Your wife is always right 🙂
A tough lesson to learn, Kylie, but maybe the most important lesson of my life. Even if she isn’t technically right, she is always right. {{{Hugs}}} Kozo
It is a testament to the success of your blog and the B4Peace movement that you no longer have the time to accept awards, so congratulations!
Take care, keep well, sending you hugs 🙂
Rohan.
That is one of the most thoughtful and kind things anyone has ever said about this blog, Rohan. Thank you so much for your understanding and wisdom. I feel so blessed to have understanding blogging friends like you. {{{hugs]}} Kozo
And the same to you Kozo 🙂 Keep going and keep building the community!
Peace and hugs ^_^
Rohan.
What a wonderful list Kozo 🙂
(((((((hug)))))))
Oh, Annie, I love getting {{{Hugs}}} from down under. Hope you have a weekend full of equanimity. Love, Kozo
Smiles, love and many, many hugs, you can have them all Kozo, I offer them freely across the miles. You’re an inspiration and a visionary, a role model for peace and gratitude. It’s a pleasure to be part of your world 🙂
Funny how we can take each others comments and switch the name and they still apply. Just change “Kozo” with “Tracy” and this is exactly how I feel. Real life synchronicity is so much cooler than The Police album, although “Every Breath You Take” is a great stalker song. 🙂
Love you, Tracy. {{{Hugs}}} Kozo
This is the million’th time (so it feels) I have tried to leave this comment. I’m using an old 1998 mac a friend has let me borrow for the weekend. I’m frustrated trying to read all my friends blogs and reply but, I’m determined to leave this comment for you. This is from last night, “I’m smiling! and my quest to keep my center & if I do slid off balance…to be able to regain my balance with certainty”.
Sounds like you are practicing what you preach, 1G4AW. That old Mac slid you off balance, but you regained balance with certainty and posted a brilliant comment. Thank you for your perseverance. I really appreciate your friendship. {{{Hugs}}} Kozo
Thank you so very very much…I didn’t realize that…I love you guys!!!!! (((Mega Super Hugs)))
I alway appreciate being nominated for blogging awards, but I’m with you, it’s overwhelming sometimes. It takes a long time to formulate a response to every one.
I don’t mind the award posts, Jennifer, but I have been a bit overwhelmed by Bloggers for Peace. We have 105 bloggers that I try to keep track of and read. I’m also trying to finish a novel while being a Manny to 2 incredible sons. I even disconnected our cable, but I still can’t find enough hours in the day to write, read, blog, and comment. I guess I should be grateful that I have so many great blogging friends. Thanks for the comment. {{{Hugs}}} Kozo
A list to live by – totally awesome Kozo. Here’s a real tearjerker post about peace U must see to believe!! From Tomas’ transformational blog: http://heartflow2013.wordpress.com/2013/02/07/israel-and-iran-a-love-story-b4peace/
❤ ❤ ❤
I’m about to mirror you on this sentiment soon. Awards are getting to be a bit much for me as well. Sadly, I feel they might take away from the focus of my blog & annoy some of my readers. (I lost a follower recently & that’s a first.)
This is a beautiful list, regardless. 🙂
*hugs*
Haha it seems we’ve been contemplating this decision collectively! :))
I also think to stop doing the awards, but still do )))
Really they are cute and it’s flattering to be receiving them, but the question : Do they annoy the readers?
I’m still trying to find out 🙂
Ugh. I really feel so bad about it. Especially since you & a lot of my core readers have given them to me. However, there’s a small group that seem to steer away from my blog when I put another “Awards Post” 😦 It really is a difficult decision but I feel it’s one I need to deal with soon.
It’s really interesting how we all felt this at the same time! ))
Talk about telepathic connection! 😉
It’s great to receive awards notification, but then I feel I am being stressed a bit remembering that I have to post them and write 100 things about me that I believe no one reads ;p
I first started skipping “Interesting things about me” section, but now also rethinking the whole thing 🙂
I love reading the interesting things about you, Sofia. I want to know more about my soul mates. 🙂
I think of posts in three categories: inspirational posts when I post what I think/believe; business posts when I post responses to awards, B4Peace instructions, Monthly Peace Challenges, etc.: and re-blogs. I’m trying to keep a higher percentage of inspirational posts, but B4Peace has kept me busy with business posts and re-blogs. I need more time and space to post inspirational posts, and I’m definitely not going to stop B4Peace, so the awards will have to go.
On the same note, I’ve stopped doing DP Writing Challenges. I’m not sure if that has diminished my readership, but I feel a responsibility to my BBFs and Bloggers for Peace. Not sure if that makes sense.
Love you guys for discussing this topic with me. {{{Hugs}}} Kozo
I’m totally with you on this decisions, Kozo!
Set the priorities and devote time to writing and working on what inspires you and has a bigger meaning!
Well I don’t think any of us believe in coincidence. 😉
I reworked the rules too, no matter which way you cut it, our readers just find it boring. They come to our blogs for what they’re usually about, when they see us blah-blah-blah’ing about ourselves, I think they get turned away.
P.S. Sorry for yapping away in your comments section, Kozo. Sofia and I are like two old grannies when we meet & could yack on for hours.
Ahahahaha ))) You are adorable! :)))
By the way, Kozo, we love you! Thanks for letting us chitchat on your porch 😉
I love that you guys come to my “porch.” Care for some Chai or Spam Musubi? We should have meetings like this every week on a different BBFs porch. Whose hosting the Breakfast Club next week?
Love you guys, Kozo
Looovely idea! ;))
😀 *peace party*
Oh Snuffleupagus! I also, “…argue with my ego who always wants to argue with others.” Other than that, congratulations on your award! {{{HUGS}}}
I’ve been contemplating the same decision lately.. 🙂
Blogging awards are sweet and sweeter are the people who think of us when distributing them!
But I sometimes cannot create the time to collect all awards in one post and pass the nominations on to all who deserve them, without having left someone out.
Blogging awards are cute, but what adds real value to a blog are not the badges, but the messages readers carry out in their minds on the exit!
I support your decision, Kozo. And here is my last nomination for you: “Most-Huggable-Blogger Award”! :))
Btw awesome list, Kozo, enjoyed it so much 🙂
Thanks, Sunshine. As you know, my sons are my everyday gurus. They teach me so much about love and patience. I could work 60 hours a week and try to leave them enough money to go to college, but I figure a peaceful world will be more useful than money. What is the Native American quotation: “When all the trees have been cut down,
when all the animals have been hunted,
when all the waters are polluted,
when all the air is unsafe to breathe,
only then will you discover you cannot eat money.”
Free {{{Hugs}}} 4ever.
I have to thank you, & your little gurus because without your nudge to start mindful sitting, i probably would have never started. 🙂
.grateful.
…love the quote cuz it’s so true!!!