Tracy Shave, the powerhouse behind Giggle Together and author of the blog, Traciness – In all it’s glory, recently contacted me on my Facebook page and informed me she had accepted my challenge and created this wonderful badge.
I. LOVE. IT!
I think it is beautiful, cute, and creative. It perfectly embodies the beauty that rises from the ashes of destruction and the strength that comes from moving through painful and challenging things in our lives.
I think it only fitting that Tracy herself be the first recipient of this new badge as a recipient of the Courageous Confessional Blog Award. In her own words:
I am Tracy Shave. “Traciness” is a term that has been used in different organisations as they hand work for me to do. It is a technical term commonly used to express a need for something to be brighter, more creative and “in your face”. It is also the term used when describing my diagnosis. I may have been diagnosed by a doctor with Bi-polar Disorder II and there are indications that I have undiagnosed Adult ADHD but for me they all add up to having “Traciness”. I have a son who has ADHD, AUTISM and Sensory Processing Disorder – or “jamieness” as I like to call it – his name is Jamie. We are, after all, just individuals! This is that world and I’d like to share it with you.
This is a woman who has done what needed to be done to move from the lowest of lows and figure out how to not just survive, but also to use her experiences and realities to thrive and grow Ina me from.
Please visit her blog and meet her for yourself.
Courageous Confessionals 
Reblogged this on Human In Recovery and commented:
Back in July 2012 I was inspired to create the Courageous Confessional Blog Award. I awarded a few blogs with it and had some other blogs get nominated by others. Then I got busy and consumed with the things happening in my life and the site lay overlooked and inactive. I had hoped that recipients would be inspired to pass it along but did not make it a condition of receiving the award, since this is an acknowledgement and expression of gratitude and appreciation for those who take the time and do the difficult task of publicly sharing the most private of details, thought, and experiences in an effort to grow, heal, and recover themselves as well as an effort to increase awareness, understanding, and promote the healing and recovery of others.
Tracy Shave gave me the gift of her artwork in creating a new badge and also exemplifies everything the award represents.
Thank you! Thank you! I’m so glad you love the badge! I was sitting feeling sorry for myself with man flu (yes women get that too – the more masculine of our species) and I saw the blog post asking for a new badge. As usual I thought I’d have a play around. I usually create logos on the computer but I thought this one deserved a bit more love and attention so I went to work with my pencils and pens. I meant each word and each petal because I knew this award would be going to some pretty fine human beings and it deserved the extra personal touch.
To be given the award too! Wow – very pleased! I have been on a journey, like many people it has been over cobbled stones and jagged glass but my feet are now tough, and my spirit is (still a little fragile but I’m working on it) stronger. I want to inspire others to trust that everything is happening for a reason… although sometimes we can’t see why for many years. Thank you!! x
Tracy,
You are quite welcome. I’m not sure what man flu is, but I’m grateful it exists in women to, otherwise we might never have gotten such a beautiful new badge.
Blessings,
Kina
“man flu” is what men get when they become unwell with a cold. They are pathetic, think they are dying, need to be cared for and make a massive deal of being ill. Women usually have to get on with everything even when suffering with a cold. So is a woman is like me and is pathetic when ill we are suffering from the medical term “Man Flu” (it’s all in jest -..lol).
Oh, okay. Now I get it, lol.
Reblogged this on "Traciness" in all its glory..