Have you heard of the Liebster Award? The word ‘liebster’ means ‘dearest’, ‘sweetest’, ‘kindest’, ‘nicest’, ‘beloved’, ‘lovely’, ‘pleasant’, ‘sweetheart’, ‘endearing’ or ‘valued.’
It’s an award that has been making its rounds in the blogosphere for the purpose of discovering and recognizing new blogs in a “pay it forward” manner.
A couple of weeks ago, Professor and Dean Nancy J. Smyth at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work received the Liebster award for her wonderful blog: Virtual Connections: Exploring Social Work in the Digital Age and How We’re Transformed by the Digital World.
To my surprise and delight, Nancy nominated Social Work Career Development [renamed Social Work Career as of January 2015] for this award! I was most honored by her nomination. Please check out Nancy’s post to see her full list of nominees.
After thanking the Liebster Blog Award presenter [and linking back to this person], the award rules specify that a nominee is to:
- Answer the 10 questions from the nominator
- Nominate 10 blogs and create 10 questions for your nominees
So without further ado, below are my responses [to Nancy’s questions]:
1. What are you hoping to achieve with your blog?
My blog’s overall purpose is to serve as a helpful career resource for social workers and other mental health professionals.
While it began with my personal journey through social work graduate school and field placement, it soon evolved into a site that provided resources and helpful tips, interviews with mental health professionals, book reviews, as well as key learnings from various workshops.
2. Where do you get your ideas for blogging?
There aren’t specific places I get my ideas from; everything can be a source of inspiration.
Examples of things that may inspire posts for me include: conferences, books, encounters with other people, materials that I run across via social media, old posts, responding to a reader’s question, seeing someone doing something interesting/new etc.
3. What’s the hardest part of blogging for you?
The hardest part for me is that I have difficulty in balancing my self-care [sleep] needs vs. the social media needs to support the blog.
4. Which of your blog posts is your favorite, and why?
Parallel Processes, Boundaries & Authenticity is one of my favorite posts because it illustrates how much a social worker may learn going through graduate school and tapping into the vast treasure chest of online resources.
Without social media, I [nor Social Work Career Development’s readers] would not have known or been able to benefit from UBSSW’s or Jonathan Singer’s social work podcasts. Similarly, I would not have met or been provided with invaluable long-distance mentoring by a few experienced [and most kind] mental health professionals [nor would I have made some very close/special friendships].
Using the award terminology, Nancy qualifies on both counts – as both a treasured mentor and dear friend <– a testament to the value of engaging in social media !
The exchanges and interactions I had not only deepened my understanding of some difficult concepts but were encouraging and enabled me to be more patient with myself [my progress]. It is my hope that other therapists-in-training may read and benefit from them as well.
5. What is one thing that you think people would surprised to know about you?
I served two years in the Israeli Air Force [albeit not in a combat position].
6. What are your favorite ways to unwind?
My favorite ways to unwind are meditating [with guided meditation on my ipod], curling up with a good book, talking with a friend, or doing some sort of art project.
7. What are some books you are reading for fun right now?
Right now, I’m in the middle of “The Gifts of Imperfection” by Brene Brown and “Self Compassion” by Kristin Neff among others.
Not long ago, I finished reading “Beginnings, Middles and Ends” by Ogden Rogers, “The Time Keeper” by Mitch Albom, as well as a series that I borrowed from my daughter: “Uglies,” “Pretties,” “Specials” and “Extras” by Scott Westerfield. I also read the “50 Shades of Grey” trilogy by E.L. James.
8. What are some of your favorite quotations?
There are so many wonderful quotes. A few that come to mind are:
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said; people will forget what you did; but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
“The difference between try and triumph is a little umph.” – Author unknown
“That some good can be derived from every event is a better proposition than that everything happens for the best, which it assuredly does not.” – James K. Feibleman
“I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” – Thomas Jefferson
“A ship is safe in harbor, but that is not what ships are for.” – John A. Shedd
9. What was a significant milestone for you in 2013?
I co-authored a journal article that is expected to be published in the Encyclopedia of Social Work in February, 2014.
10. What question do you wish I had asked you…and why?
Nothing comes to mind.
10 Questions for Nominees to Answer:
- What are the best three words that would describe you?
- What do you hope to achieve with your blog?
- Which of your blog posts is your favorite, and why?
- What has writing taught you?
- What advice do you have for pushing through fear?
- What are some of your favorite quotes?
- What do you do for self-care and/or relaxation?
- How did you find your current position?
- What advice do you wish someone had given you before starting your career?
- What are three things on your bucket list?
I hope that all of the nominees are willing to participate and accept their Liebster Awards…
*Please note that one of Liebster’s rules is to restrict the nominations to blogs with less than 3000 email subscribers [or Facebook fans] to allow smaller blogs a chance to grow.
Good morning, Dorlee,
I am simply thrilled to be nominated for the Liebster award, particularly because of the sweet definition of the word! And that it is ‘you’ nominating me.
As well, I thoroughly enjoyed soaking up your responses to Nancy’s questions. Specifically, it was intriguing to learn that you served two years in the Israeli Air Force! As well, your favorite quotes resonated with and inspired me. I am particularly fond of the ‘ships in the harbor’ quote, for obvious reasons. Finally, your milestone is exciting, and I look quite forward to reading your co-authored journal article next month!
The questions you penned for me are great, and I look forward to responding meaningfully as well as nominating 10 blogs!
Warmly,
Jacqui
Jacqui,
I’m so glad that you are accepting the nomination. It’s both flattering and a bit challenging… but it’s also fun!
Thank you – I see that I succeeded in providing a good response to the “surprise me” question 🙂
Looking forward to reading your responses,
Warmly,
Dorlee
Dear Dorlee,
Congratulations on your award and thank you for paying it forward by nominating me.
I feel honored that you included my blog as one of your choices for this award.
Warmly,
Andrea
Thanks so much, Andrea; It is I who I am grateful – You have been one of my kind mentors as well as a good friend.
Warmly,
Dorlee
Thanks so much, Dorlee. I’m honored to be in such good company, and delighted that you are the person nominating me and my new blog. I know that what you do is from the heart.
Oh … and I join Jacqui in finding your service in the Israeli Air Force especially interesting. (An eyebrow went up on that one.) And congratulations on your upcoming journal article. Very cool.
Wishing you all good things now and always!
It was my pleasure, Ronnie Ann
I’m picturing your eyebrow going up 🙂 Thanks so much!
Warmly,
Dorlee
Congratulations – and well deserved. This award is a rather interesting concept.
Thanks so much, Tom.
Yes, I agree – unusual, fun and a way to spread the word about wonderful blogs that others may not be aware of.
Congratulations on receiving this award. I love the pay it forward idea.
Thanks for nominating me. You’ve chosen 3 people I would have chosen. I bet you know who they are! 😉
Thanks, Marianna.
It was my pleasure. You have a wealth of anti-stress methods and tips to share with the world!
Yes, I have an idea…. 🙂
Dorlee, I loved reading your answers to my questions. Like Jacqui, I’m delightfully surprised by learning that you served in the Israeli Air Force. Someday, over a drink, I will want to hear some more about that.
Congrats on the award!! I am looking forward to checking out your nominees.
Nancy,
Thank you. I’m so glad that I succeeded in coming up with a response that surprised you 🙂 It would be my pleasure; I can’t wait till you come back to my area!
Thanks again for your kind nomination. I think you will enjoy visiting my nominees’ blogs; they each offer something very unique in their own respective specialities.
Hello Dorlee,
Very cool that Dean Nancy J. Smyth nominated you for the Liebster award! Congrats!!
I enjoy your blog very much even though social work isn’t my field. I like how you say in answering Question #2: “everything can be a source of inspiration”. Your blog has been that for me and it has not just inspired, but moved me to action. I would not have signed up for the Brene Brown e-course: “Gifts of Imperfection” if it were not for your blog post.
Being selected by you for the Liebster Award, in turn, gives me the inspiration to keep blogging on! (Yes, you are inspiring me again).
And I will keep the positive karma moving forward by selecting nominees for the Liebster Award in a future post of my own.
Thank you for your kindness, Dorlee!
Jackie Yun
Hi Jackie,
Thank you for kind feedback and for sharing the two specific examples of being inspired by my blog [outside of your official realm]. I believe that these show that you like to be exposed to and learn from a variety of different fields.
One of the learnings from many of the readings on innovation and creativity is how critical it is to expand one’s horizon beyond one’s speciality or specific profession. This helps you to get new and creative ideas, see connections that you would not have seen otherwise etc.
I think it is your openness and interest in a variety of areas that plays a role in the wonderful creativity you demonstrate in your leadership/career oriented blog.
Looking forward to your selection of nominees 🙂