Facing oneself can be the most difficult challenge of all and this is exactly what Beth, formerly from Living a Quotable Life and now forging in a new direction with White African Tomboy, has asked of me.
It’s simple. My task is to wade through my blog and identify seven posts that match the characteristics below.
Simple, yet harrowing because I find reading my own writing to be a special form of torture. Ironic for a blogger, n’est ce pas? That’s French for “I’m a self-important snob”.
Make sure you click the first link above to read Beth’s 7 posts where you get to experience some mighty fine writing that runs the emotional gamut.
The rules for the 7 links prompt is found here on Tripbase.
Here are the categories:
- My most beautiful post
- My most popular post
- My most controversial post
- My most helpful post
- My post whose success surprised me
- My post I feel didn’t get the attention it deserved
- My post of which I am most proud
The beautiful
I can find beauty in the most harrowing moments of my life. When I can’t stand to feel whatever I’m feeling for one second more, I take a deep breath, the excruciating moment extends and BAM! I feel or see something beautiful–a shared experience or something in nature that annihilates my ego for a nanosecond, giving me a feeling of relief and a more selfless sense of sadness.
This is what I tried to describe in my post about the death of my husband’s brother – The moment: Death can make you feel alive in very painful ways (Dec. 2, 2010).
Most popular
Like many women at Christmas time, I shower myself with gifts. Among my gifts to me from me was a white sheepskin hat. I wore it proudly to the neighbourhood New Year’s Party where the host told me I looked like a Swedish whore.
I took that observation and ran with it and got the most comments I’ve ever gotten on a single post (22) – My hat boosts productivity and makes me look like a Swedish ho (Jan. 5, 2011)
Controversial
I heard about parents picketing a Florida school because they felt measures put in place to protect a severely allergic child threatened their freedoms. It enraged me. I have a child with a life-threatening peanut allergy. Then I remembered how callous I was when I heard about other poeple’s allergies before it touched my own life.
Here’s where I talk about the transforming affect of dealing with allergies – Food allergies can make you a better person (April 6, 2011)
Helpful
After seeing a flurry of New Year’s resolutions posts that I felt were extreme and in many cases doomed to fail, I published my view on what it takes to get and stay in shape.
I’ve been reasonably fit since I was 14 years old. I’m no marathoner, nor am I a dieter. Here’s my take on getting into shape and staying there the realistic way – Take your cleanse and shove it (Jan. 9, 2011)
Surprising success
You may see a number of reverb10 references among these links and this one is no exception. This post is a result of the challenge to assume another name. I invented a new, badass and very lethal incarnation of myself called Paloma Magdalena Corazón.
I love this woman. You may see more of her in future – You can call me Paloma (Dec. 23, 2011)
Ignored (middle child)
My first foray into using a real camera (Nikon D5000) resulted in some gorgeous pictures of a unique, outdoor hot tub. A friend suggested that I change the title to Children Soup.
I felt a little like the witch from Hansel and Gretel cheffing up la soupe d’enfants and putting together a photo essay about it for Cannibal Magazine. There I go again with the French – Wordless Wednesday: In hot water (June 15, 2010)
Proudest
Here I move from cheffing to chuffing. This post was also among the most popular. It didn’t get as many comments as the Swedish ho hat, but it scored over 120 views after Kristen Wiig retweeted my tweet about seeing the Bridesmaids movie dressed up in our silks and taffeta of yore.
I’m proudest of this one because I was so far out of my comfort zone and I was nervous, but I did it anyway. I love the shiny, fuschia gown even if I could barely breathe in it – Taffeta and laughs: What to wear to the Bridesmaids movie (May 24, 2011)
My nominees
Bob Evans at Artesian? Well…this stuff keeps bubbling up – An inveterate story teller — not to be confused with an invertibrate storyteller–his mix of pathos and hilarity is gripping.
Allison at Bibliomama is a dear friend from high school days who, as I’ve said before, is like June Cleaver, had June a degree in comparative literature and access to better pharmaceuticals.
Ahmed Dirie at ahmeddirie.com is a web wizard, poet, photographer and philanthropist. I can’t wait to see what he chooses to showcase for this challenge.
Stereo over at uncletypewriter is funny, passionate and vitriolic. Her writing will inspire you to: wish you could write as well, buy more shoes and maybe throat-punch someone for shits’n giggles.
Brandeewine at her eponymous site has a heart of gold and the hair colour to match. She’s as supportive of her family and friends as she is committed to writing.
Tags: My 7 Links, retrospective, reverb10
Patti, you are so bravely beautiful and so beautifully brave. And very, very funny.
Love. Love. Love. You did so very well. Now I have the urge to purchase a winter hat. Nobody has told me I look like a Swedish whore recently. This must be remedied.
So Allison is from Sudbury too? Well all be…I love Allison, and I love you, and it is so neat to find out you two are friends…ok, probably not the point of your post. However, I’m happy to report that most of the posts you mentioned, I had already read and enjoyed. And yes, I do have a soft spot for the Swedish ho hat.
Hopefully this is not your Last Post
Love,
Dad