Arte y Pico Awards
Posted by JohnD
Storied Mind has had the special honor of receiving the Arte Y Pico award from both Melinda at Melindaville and Clinically Clueless. It’s wonderful to receive this recognition from such amazing and truly fearless bloggers. As many others have said, the community of mental health bloggers has given me so much more, and more generously, than I could have imagined when I started this project last year. Melinda and Clueless hold nothing back in sharing the often searing experiences that have shaped their lives and that they have bravely faced and overcome. I thank them both from my heart.
The ‘Arte Y Pico Award’ is given to five blogs at a time based on their creativity, design, interest of content, and contribution to the blogging community, regardless of language. To learn more about this award, click here. Part of the honor of receiving it is passing along the award to other blogs that honestly seek out the truth of their authors’ experience.
Like many in this position, I’ve taken a while to look again at the moving and powerful blogs that have meant so much to me. It’s more than hard to pick just five from among so many to recognize with this award.
Here are the remarkable bloggers I have selected – in no special order. Each of them has made an enormous contribution to our understanding.
Beyond Meds Gianna shares her experience with devastating problems caused by medications that only harmed her. She presents the story of her struggle to free herself of medication and find recovery through her own inner strength.
Mental Motes Dano has recorded eloquently the hard stories of experiences that would have crushed many – both on her own blog and in comments on others. She is a brave and compelling artist.
A Never Quiet Mind Zathyn is a natural storyteller as well as a fine novelist. He recounts on his blog the ongoing test of living with multiple disorders and the grief of losing his lover to suicide.
Inside Candy Candy is a South African writer of enormous talent who shares her own poetry and fiction on this blog as well as stories of inner struggles and political injustices of her own and neighboring countries. She writes with unfailing wit and liveliness.
wellbeingandhealth.net Evan has produced a remarkable series of essays on all aspects of well being, including innumerable wise insights on emotional and mental health. Pervading his writing is that sense of peace and balance he hopes to instill in his readers.
Thank you all for helping the rest of us understand your struggles and victories and reflect more deeply on our own experience.
Thanks John. Thanks John,
I’m delighted to be honoured in this way.
I confess I’m a mono-lingual anglo-saxon.
It’ll be hard to think of just five, but I’ll give it a go.
Hi John :) Thank you so much for the mention. I’m really honoured. I also want to thank you for producing such a quality site. I find so much of your content enlightening. Keep pen to paper, spirits high, and heart on sleeve. Xx
John,
Where do I begin? This is the second award that you have blessed me with. I am pleased, proud, flattered and also embarrassed. I find myself in a group that I am ignorant of, not for their lack of talent, but because I have not sought more of my tribe out.
The first thing I will do, is add them to my “Brilliant Blogs” list. Heck, if you’ve included me in their group, they must be! But I love to add blogs that are close to our hearts. If a reader happens on mine and doesn’t find what they are looking for, hopefully they’ll find it in my links.
Some blogs are all about mental health issues. I started mine writing about justice and social issues. As a Manic-Depressive, I find my mind concerned with many issues. I might make better ratings, if I focused on Mental Health. But that is not why I write.
I just want to speak about the things that are important to me. This may lose me readers, but as I’m not in it for money, who cares?
John, you have been so supportive. You have been beyond the pale in terms of your kindness to me. You, I believe, may have an idea of how much this award means to me. I thank you for it and the paths to the other’s sites. May the Divine Light shine on you and yours.
Dear John,
I started my blog in April, knowing only how to e-mail. I have learned a fair amount on the fly, through endless trials and errors. But, I’m the burnt-out bulb on the pre-LED Christmas lights.
I speak French and basic Latin, so I sort of understand the award site. But silly me, I don’t recall how to upload the pretty picture.
I’m sure that you coached me through the first award. I’ll go back and try to find it. If you have time though, please clue me in. I am not firing on all burners right now, but I would love to pass this honour on to others.
Thanks again, Dano
Dearest John~
I came across your comment late last night, having taken my nightly meds. I came here and was so touched, to see that again, you have considered Mental Motes worthy of recognition.
I thought I’d written my thanks last night, but addled as I was, I may not have! As I saw no comments yet, either you’ve been off standing in line at the poll booth, or I never did send my thanks.
So, at the risk of repeating a comment that is waiting for approval, I’ll write my heartfelt thanks. Coming from you, it means so much. Your blog is so inspired, provocative, thoughtful and thought provoking.
I think the best thing about awards, is that one learns of other writers, sometimes for the first time. I am impressed by your selection and feel proud to included. I’ve been to all the sites, which have so much to offer. I feel humbled too, by your kindness and the impressive group that you saw fit to include me in.
I have no idea how to upload the award, so bear with me, as I try!
John,
I thought I’d see if your comments are enabled again. I’ve tried to write my thanks, but get an error code when I submit….
If this goes through, I’ll send another comment through, filled with my thanks!
All – I’m sorry for the delay in posting and responding to your comments. The site is finally unfrozen, and I can get things going again. Thanks for your patience!
Evan -
I know how hard it is to pick just a few out of the multitude of interesting blogs. Good luck with that pleasant task.
Candy -
Thank you for those supportive words! You’ve managed to create a blog that projects your own bright and multi-sided/talented personality – and that’s really impressive. So you keep it up, too!
Dano -
I’m glad I can be supportive in this modest way. The first post of yours I read described what it was like to be under the crushing weight of depression. That was about the most powerful statement on this experience I had ever encountered. In addition to your strong writing, you are so supportive of me and other bloggers through the remarkable comments you leave – that are often inspired posts themselves. Thank you and please keep writing!
thank you John! I, too, am very honored.
Gianna – The honor is all mine in getting to know you through your excellent writing and to learn from so many brave and determined people in this blogging community – who also write well. Just keep on going!