“Always be a first rate version of yourself and not a second rate version of someone else.”
― Judy Garland
Write down a list of things about you. If you are 20 – make it 20 things. If you are 30, make it 30 and so on. I do this on my birthday every year. It is wonderful time capsule of how you see yourself.
1. I decided to stop dyeing my roots this year
2. This is the first time I have not held full time employment since my children were in preschool (covid)
3. I am the mother of two 25 year olds
4. I still talk to both of them
5. I am a photographer
6. and a writer and I know I have two books in me
7. I love funky reading glasses and they will be my new thing – to go with the silver hair
8. I drink my coffee black
9. My 2021 calendars sold out this year
10. My mum was diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of covid, less than a year after my dad died
11. I have blue eyes
12. I am waiting my 23andme DNA testing results
13. I am a settler living on unceded S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō), W̱SÁNEĆ, Kwantlen, and Stz’uminus territories
14. I am a good heron spotter
15. I have made a commitment to move my body everyday
16. I believe in solvitur ambulando (it is solved by walking)
17. I am a fair weather walker
18. So I also ride a spin cycle (not a pelaton)
19. I am sober curious
20. I am the eldest of three sisters
21. I am the wife of one
22. I was finally able to finish a book this year
23. I love the netflix series The Crown
24. I enjoy a good winter ale, but they are few and far between these days
25. I miss hockey
26. I miss eating dinner with friends
27. I want to move to the Kootenays, as soon as I can
28. I love my blundstones
29. I wear jeans with dresses, but I have not put on a dress in a long time
30. I wear boots with tights and dresses, but see above
31. I own one pair of fluevogs
32. I have had a nose piercing since I was 45
33. For the last 11 years I have chosen a word of the year, this year was peace
34. I like big, chunky rings but, rarely wear my jewellery these days
35. I have to modulate my sadness
36. I am a Life Coach teaching people to look for the light, to stop and notice things, to live proactively and NOT by default
37. I am going through a bit of a dark night of the soul and I miss my faith
38. I love peanut butter cookies
39. and Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups and frozen York Peppermint Pattys
40. I take a magnesium salt EO bath almost every night
41. I love to write letters
42. I picked up a basketball for the first time in over 25 years this summer and loved it
43. My current favourite sparkling water is blackberry
44. I go to therapy
45. I have discovered compression socks and wear them when I exercise
46. I love memoirs
47. I drive a Jeep and I love it
48. People who drive slowly in the left lane and do not pass drive me bonkers
49. Sadly, I am only fluent in English
50. I no longer enjoy making dinner
51. Wheat products do not agree with me
52. I love a good piece of rye toast, with egg or peanut butter or avocado
53. I have a Happy Light and use it in the dark winter days
54. I am thinking about buying a rose corduroy dress
55. The Paper Mate Flair tip pen is my current favourite pen
56. I am 56 years old today