Imagine If
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Imagine if our planet and internet were a safer place for the children of our world.
This Imaginif BITSS Meme is concerning recognition to bloggers who support one another and endeavor to keep others safe. It was initiated by Megan Bayliss from Imaginif, who is on a crusade to make the world a safer place for children.
BITSS is an acronym for:
Body Ownership
Intuition
Touch
Say No
Support Network
Taken from Megan’s clarification on her site, the BITSS model uses protective play and teachable moments — activities and games that can be gently woven into everyday life. Research suggests that protective behaviors taught in school once every six months are insufficient to help children remember what to do in potentially dangerous personal situations. Reminders in the home, in the child’s every day life are the best way to keep your children safe.
Ev Nucci from My Life is Murphy’s Law tagged me with this meme, and I couldn’t respond to a better initiative than this when it comes to writing one. To know Ev is to adore her! She’s the liveliest firecracker you could meet, with incredible spunk and tenacity. It’s what makes Ev so special.
You are to select 5 people you would confide in, warn or protect online for this meme. To begin with, I’m going to alter it in the respect that I’d like to also create awareness for the bloggers who are striving to make the globe and internet a better and safer place, thus providing you with a haven to turn to for advice, assistance, or enlightenment. (I think it’s been well established that I often feel the need to throw my own twist into these memes. If you’re actually surprised, you must be new here, haha.) See Ev’s post for the original meme.
Internet Safety – For Our Children’s Sake is blog that’s written by Jacer, an incredibly remarkable woman who has dedicated her entire lifestyle to the safety of children on the internet and from the general public at large.
Jacer is so dedicated that she’s devoted her entire summer vacation to the cause, giving up all forms of self indulgence for ‘play time’ to help others and create awareness.
If you have children, I urge you to visit Jacer at Internet Safety. There you’ll find helpful information on predators, cyber bullying, social network sites, pornography and identity theft, along with useful internet safety links, tips and downloads.
If you feel that you do everything to protect your kids, and think this could never happen to them, think again! Countless incidents and abuse happens to children that remain unreported to their parents.
I had the most amazing award given to me by Jacer last week for Making a Difference. In Jacer’s own terms:
The MAKING A DIFFERENCE, or M.A.D. Badge, will be given to those who truly make a difference; by being extraordinarily helpful, kind, compassionate, or passionate about a particular cause or effort. They truly are making a difference in one person’s life, or many.
This will not be handed out to just anyone…Just to those who Make A Difference, one blog at a time.
I couldn’t be more honored, and I’m still speechless! The badge will have a permanent place on my sidebar just as soon as my webmaster is able to install it.
Bill Wardell’s site Online Security Authority (OSA) has a host of information, tips, links and videos for adults and children alike, for banking, dating, PC, shopping, predators, and ID theft.
A very important tool that I discovered on Bill’s site is the MySpace Guardian Toolbar to help you protect your children from predators online. Here you’ll find Bill’s review for the toolbar, along with link to the install download.
HELP is a voluntary support service established to assist those suffering from stress, isolation, bullying and false allegations. The site was established in 2002 after the site owner worked, trained and studied in the caring profession for more than fifteen years. Issues of stress in your working life have very real implications on your health, happiness and family.
The site was created to endeavor to help those in distress. If they don’t have answers for you, they will work their best to support you to find your own answers and way through difficult times. You will find a plethora of useful information and links, including a link to a workplace bullying chat line.
The impact of stress can be felt in immeasurable levels and within every walk of life. Negative influences of stress are damaging not only to you, your family, loved ones and business or work life, but also to the fabric of society, and will continue to do so until issues are taken more seriously by all who can affect change.
Now I’d like to mention Matt Keegan from The Article Writer who has meant so much to me from the time I began blogging, and before. Matt is a Freelance Writer. Visit his site and you’ll also find a wealth of information and inspiration to assist you in your own writing skills, as well as information to help you improve your blog. You may even make a new friend.
Matt has been my one true guiding light and inspiration for my online experience and my blog. If it hadn’t been for him, I would never have started this site. Matt gave me the courage to carry on with my intentions for this blog after some of those around me planted negative seeds in my mind that instilled great doubt in the blog and my own abilities.
He’s been incredibly kind to me ever since I created it, and has provided me with encouragement and advice to improve my blog. You couldn’t ask for a better friend than Matt! I love you Matt!!! You’re a precious gem! I’m getting all verklempt, now stop it!
And then we have Zubli from the Book Writing Project, who also authors Who Is Zubli Zainordin, and Your Wisdom of Total Happiness.
Zubli is one of the most endearing people I have met since I began blogging. I didn’t find him, he found me. If you’ve already met Zubli, you’ll understand what I’m saying.
There is a lot more to him than meets the eye. Zubli is an incredibly intelligent person whose professional history will blow your socks off! He continually strives to bring exposure to those he meets without asking for anything in return. Zubli, this is my way of finally being able to publicly say THANK YOU for being YOU and bringing some recognition back to you.
As if it wasn’t already enough to receive Making a Difference Award, I also received the Blog of the Day Award for Life in the Fast Lane
Qualifications for Blog of the Day from the source:
Blog of the Day Awards offers the best selection of weblogs and famous blogs on a variety of topics. Criteria include content, quality, creativity, and the personal opinion of the judges. Judges grant up to four awards each day in recognition of outstanding nominees who are recommended by visitors to the site and by a panel of judges who bestow the honor of a Daily Blog Award upon the recipients.
Being named a Blog of the Day Awards Winner can be the crowning achievement of a lifetime of work or it can be the beginning of a new chapter in the life of a blogger. Presentation of these awards can bring acclaim and notoriety beyond their wildest imaginings. The accolades and praise heaped upon winners of these prestigious awards can be best described as fabulous and the stuff of legends.
And much to my surprise I also received the Rockin’ Girl Blogger Award from Ev Nucci from My Life is Murphy’s Law, all in the same week! How lucky can one girl be???
So I’m killing 5 birds with one stone — 2 memes and 3 awards — with this post, and passing the award on to some of the coolest women I know …
Saboma from Maryannaville who’s one of the coolest cats I know. A lady who tells it like it is — you won’t meet a woman that’s more down to earth and level headed, with the cleverest wit, all built into one bod! Uncanny!
Kim Barker from Laketrees — one of the most talented artists you could ever know. It started off when I wrote a feature post on the talented and award winning artist and her artwork, and blossomed into a great friendship.
Kim created an amazing painting of me and for me, for which I will dedicate a future post to in itself.
Visit Kim at her site — you may very well find a piece of her artwork you’ll want to call your very own.
Kuanyin from Who’s Yo’ Mama? Pay her a visit and discover the Blonde Bomb Shell from Maui whose wit and charisma will make an ample impression on you. You’ll also find your Blondalicious teacher at Blog Blond where she may just be able to teach you a thing or two, as well as charm your socks off.
Sue Blimely from Discovering Blogging is a remarkably intelligent lady with the most entrepreneurial spirit and drive you could imagine. Not only is she one of the nicest women you’ll meet, she’ll also be able to provide you with plenty of tips and tricks for your blog.
Last but not least is the Pearl girl from Interesting Perspectives whose HOT avatar has the internet all abuzz.
Pearl has a very keen sense of observation with a never-ending thirst for learning.
Her perspectives and topics will surely get you thinking, and she also makes for a very sincere and good friend.
Well I’ve been doubly honored to receive the Rockin’ Girl Blogger award for the second time from Dunn at Must Read Files.
I’m bestowing this award right back at her so she will be doubly rocked as well! Dunn is a rockin girl herself and has some very interesting reads, tips, and helpful information for your daily life.
OK, I lied, I’ve been TRIPLE honored for this award by Mark Eff at What’s Wrong With Me??? And I’m sending it right back at him for the … 
Check Mark out at his site where you’ll find a broad spectrum of topics, including computers, internet, parenting, and even some cool music videos.
Only selecting five incredible women made for a very difficult decision. If you weren’t included in this list please don’t take it to heart! I’m tired and I’ve run out of steam 
Can you believe that?! Coming from the one who never sleeps.
Since I’ve started blogging, I’ve developed some incredible relationships with countless men and women alike, far too many to list everyone here. To all I’ve met, thanks for making blogging such a rewarding journey! Now I’m getting all verklempt again, stop it!
Tags:blogs internet memes safety
OMG… I really feel honored Deb for two things, one this is a cause that is very close to my heart and 2) getting tagged by someone whose smile simply brightens up the blogosphere wherever she shows up … Congratulations on getting so many awards, you are every ounce worth for these and more! Some nice links you are providing there, I didn’t know many except Matt Keegan’s site.. so I’ll be visiting..
I definitely will get to this….have to think of a way just like you to tackle more than one issue in one post!
So now I know why you were hovering around my poor little place yesterday
I was just so happy to see your bright and beautiful smiling face on my ‘broken’ page 
Thanks Pearl, you’re too kind
You know Matt? Small world! Great guy … birds of a feather and all that
Hey, don’t knock yourself, you have a great site. Well I was killing 2 birds with 1 stone when I went to see you … catching up on a long overdue visit, as well as getting your links. I was there a couple of times
You are going to have to move house because of all the wonderful and deserving awards you have won Deb. Imaginif if they were trophies needing display! Oh my gosh!
Congratulations to you on all your affirmations from a good variety of people.
Thanks for doing a blurb on Imaginif and the BITSS model. I hope that it helps at least one of your readers.
You take care and keep up all your wonderful work.
Megan from Down Under.
You’re such a sweetheart! Yes, you deserve these awards!!! Finding this LONG, conclusive, and well-woven-together post (with your kind words about me) was just too much as I’ve really been questioning the time I spend blogging. A friend passed on several days ago which has me thinking a lot about what I want to do with the rest of my life! So you put a big smile in my heart today with what you wrote about me and my blogs!
It’s also very cool how you tweaked the meme and added your own distinctive twist. What an inspiration you are! I’ll have to give it some thought how I could spin it some more.
Thanks so much Megan! I wish they were actual physical trophies, I could display them with honor and show them off to friends and family, haha.
I’m glad I was tagged with this, as I would never have discovered your site otherwise, and it gives me the opportunity to create some awareness. It’s a wonderful cause that you’re working for, and I’m very pleased to be able to create some exposure for you. Thanks for popping by
Oh Kuanyin, I’m so sorry about your loss. Yes, it’s a natural course after the loss of a loved one to question life (I know all too well). I’m glad I was able to put a smile in your heart when you’re down like this.
You have some great sites, and very worthy reading, I hope you do continue. We just need to gain some exposure for you, and you’ll have them coming back in droves on your own accord =) I think your HOT banner will certainly be working for you as well
Big Congratulations Deborah !!!!!…you will need another blog to display them…thanks for the RB award award….I can put it next to my other RB award…:0
*blush* Why thank you, Deborah. I am glad that I mean so much to you — you have been fun to work with as well, someone who wants to learn and then takes on each lesson with unbridled enthusiasm. Keep up the excellent blogging!
Congratulations on your awards Deborah, you truly deserve them.
Wouldn’t it be nice if our planet and the internet were a safer place for all children? Maybe one day, but in the meantime we all do our best not only to protect our children, but other children too.
Thanks Kim! You’ve been double rocked, hehe. I wanted to at least pay my respects to the women that rock my world
Matt, you’re a great friend, and I do very much appreciate your friendship and all of your guidance
Thanks Colin! That’s the whole point Colin, to work together to try to make things safer for the kids
Hi Deborah,
I quite agree that the whole point is to make things better for kids, and as bloggers we continue to unite and hope to achieve and maintain safety for all kids.
Congratulation Deborah. You deserve it..
Thanks Dunn
Thank you so much for your wonderful words, Deborah. Like Kuanyin I sometimes get disheartened and wonder whether it is worth while spending so much time blogging. This has put me firmly back on track.
I read your message about this yesterday and came to your site thinking you were referring to the mention you made of me in another post. I then got sidetracked, as often happens, and continued to read more of your posts.
My hat off to Megan and Jacer, who are making such an effort to protect our children, this serves to strengthen my opinion on how much the internet can be used for good in this world.
Congratulations on your awards Deborah – most definitely well deserved.
I’m glad it helped to give you some affirmation Sue
I think that we all share the same thoughts, at some point or another. I question myself as well.
And then someone comes along and writes a comment that gives you some sense of validation, giving you the strength to keep on keeping on. We all need positive affirmation now and then
Getting sidetracked … don’ I know what THAT’S about, haha!
I admire Jacer immensely for what she’s doing to help others. I wasn’t aware of Megan’s initiatives until I did this meme, but she’s working hard to make a difference as well.
Thanks Sue, and you deserve the award as well, which is why I passed it on to you
[...] Petersen at the FastFastLane writes: And then we have Zubli from the Book Writing Project, who also authors Who Is Zubli [...]
Only a special individual with a heart so pure can see the specialty in others. Deborah Petersen is the individual, who has been so nice to others and me, and she continuously being nice beyond any expectation and anticipation. Personally I am caught by surprise, as one amongst super bloggers, placed in a posting so colorful here at the blog the FastFastLane. Amongst those exceptional authors who have penned niceness in recorded history, at this moment in our era there is still one who carry the same torch with a flame of fame, and has typed written a piece for individuals who are making history with a difference for future generation. Aren’t we glad the Queen of bloggers has done here so much ever more for bloggers like us, and a humble me. That is why, Deborah Petersen, I placed in her passion a badge: Another Blogger’s Choice Award, an addition to her already deserving acknowledged collections. Deborah Petersen, I salute you!
Aw, Zubli, thank you so much! You’re a gem