A Challenge for Bliss

I love the idea of blogger challenges, which bring likeminded writers together, are directed toward a specific and uplifting goal, and provide some focus for the blog. However, I haven't undertaken them very often, usually because I think I'm too busy.

Now, we know that I'm currently "overextended" and ridiculously busy beyond the usual. It also wouldn't be too much of a secret that my emotional/mental poise has been seriously wonky lately. On the other hand, this challenge only requires one post per week, and I have posted so many times about my desire to have my blogging practice help me become a better person overall.

And so...I'm going to participate in Bliss Connect's "Six Weeks of Bliss" Challenge. I'm late to enter this, but I've given thought and decided that I wouldn't be out of integrity to pursue the theme of bliss even when struggling with mood issues.

This week's Challenge is to talk about why we started blogging, and who inspired (inspires) us the most.

The Why
I was very clear about why I started blogging: it was because I wanted to participate. I wanted to add my voice to wide-ranging discussions about the topics dearest to my heart. Initially, I wrote a lot about health issues, high raw food diet. Then, as now, I also wrote about our lifestyle in a small cabin on the very edge of a bluff in Alaska. The constantly changing and wild scenery is always an inspiration to share, with times of green profusion, and times of ice pans.

I still write about those things. However, in my blog, as in the rest of my life, I struggle to maintain laser -pointed focus on just one issue. Outside of my passion for healthy living, I'm a poet and a writer: these elements of my identity are key. More and more, I'm wanting to talk about exciting literature I've read, poets I've listened to, what happened at my writing group today.

"Ulterior Harmony" refers to a quotation by the Presocratic philosopher Heraclitus. He said that the underlying harmony is more powerful than the obvious one. As my life path continues on its rollercoaster, this search for ulterior harmony underlies all that I do, so long as I remember.

The Who of Inspirations
I've shared several posts dedicated to bloggers that have inspired me. See, for example, this one about the Pure2Raw Twins, this one about Gena, or this one for Lori. The whole month of posts on Self Love in September 2010 were definitely inspired by Tina, who curated the series.

However, there are a few other inspirations who deserve mention. Joanna Steven, with her piercing intelligence, tireless research and deep humaneness, was so generous in her communication with me when I was first thinking of starting a blog, and definitely helped me to decide to go ahead with the project. Amber of Almost Vegan Chef and Barbara of Rawfully Tempting are people whom I've watched blossom on their blogs in a truly inspirational way--rising stars. (And by the way, Barbara's currently hosting a giveaway for Medicine Flower Flavor Extracts, which I've talked about on here before and which I love, and Amber's also hosting a giveaway--actually multiple giveaways this month. Today's is a beautiful eBook).

Unfortunately, she had to discontinue her blog, but "Bitt" of "Bittofraw" was another huge inspiration, for her passion, her culinary wizardry and her frank but brave discussion of health issues.

There are various literary blogs that I read too, but the one that stands out is Being Poetry, the online home of my real-life friend Erin. I'm in awe both of her and of her poetry, and always find something to admire on her blog too.

Well, I'll leave it at that for now, although I know --please share your inspirations with me! And I think it's working: I'm feeling all lovely and grateful now.