Showing posts with label questionnaire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label questionnaire. Show all posts

Birthday reflection exercise

Thursday, August 22, 2019

It's nearly my birthday, 36!, and every year I find a way to make it weird on all the people that love me and want to celebrate me (hah, sorry). I just really feel that birthdays, at least for me, are meant to be for internal reflection. The only person who deserves to be celebrated on my birthday is my mumma who did all the work that day 36 years ago - Thank you Mum! Love you more. 

So, every year around my birthday, my husband and family has to endure as I go through a few days that have me all weepy with gratitude and quiet with contemplation while I keep telling them to stop making a big deal out of it. (poor Brandon, I love you for putting up with me, babe).

Mostly for me, my birthday is a yearly reminder to be grateful for this life that I get to live. 

There are days that are so long and challenging that I find myself grateful to sink down into bed at night with relief that it is just over. But most days, I cannot believe I get to live this life filled with so much beauty. 

All the tiny regular moments through the year, 
sips of coffee
catching Brandon's eyes across the dinner table
hots showers
a warm day with a cool breeze
the sound of turning a page in a book 
the weight of my babies in my arms
they all collectively add up to this incredible life that I get to live each day. 

The people who show up for me and the people who need me to show up.
The places that I usually find myself and the places I got to explore. 
The laughing and crying and hurting and rejoicing. 
I feel so undeserving but deeply grateful to get to be the one who walks this single, unique, ordinarily extraordinary life. 

My life isn't perfect, but I remain focused on the ways that it is wonderful and all the ways that I can choose to make it better or be grateful for what I do have. 

It comes down to perspective and how you frame your experiences and memories. 

These are some things that I find myself reflecting on each year around my birthday. We get this one year in this one precious life. I want to make them all count. 



1. What lessons did you learn this year? 
Sometimes you learn the hard way, sometimes you learn to be more efficient - both count. 

2. Are you living your daily life in a way that is reflective of the kind of person you want to be remembered as some day?
I often imagine my children and my future grandchildren remembering me or telling stories about me when I am very old or gone. I want to work towards living a life right now that their stories will be the kind of a person I want to be remembered as. That I made time for them and others. That I laughed and smiled. That I made food that felt like a hug. That I found time to be silly and have fun and snuggle. That I behaved as though mess and the loudness and the chaos didn't matter as much as the togetherness. That I was patient and looked at them and listened to them and read a lot of books.....for these stories to be true - I need to live this way right now. 

3. If you had to describe the You you were this year, what words would you use to describe him/her?
She was one part overwhelmed, distracted, and worried and another part ambitious, determined, and patient. It was a strange year of life last year. A challenging year at school, a scary year for health of a loved one but then that half of the year drove the other half towards being intentional on doing better; being more aware, taken advantage of health and youth and the beautiful expanse of summer free days of possibility. 

4. Who did you admire this year? Who do you want to be more like? Why? How?
Reflect on who you were surprised by or who impressed you this year. Who made you think, I want to be more like that. Maybe it was a small, kind gesture from someone you know personally or maybe it was something big on a large scale that inspired you from someone you simply read about. Think about what it was that inspired admiration; is it something that you already have inside you that just needs to burn a little brighter - or is it something you want to change or add to yourself? 

5. How were people supportive to you this year? How can you be supportive to others in the same way you felt supported this year? 
Think back to the people who were in your corner this year - how did you know they were there for you? Did they show up? Did they reach out? Did they lend a helping hand? Do you show support to people you love in the same ways that gave you support? How can you do better? Who needs you in their corner? 

6. Reflect on the titles you held this year. 
Spouse, parent, child, sibling, aunt/uncle, grandparent, friend, job title, coach, etc. Which of these were easy and fulfilling? Which were challenging? Do you need to re-prioritize this year? Do you need to change any? Do you need to add any? 

7. Reflect on the things you accomplished this year. 
What did you volunteer to do? What were you forced or pressured into doing? How many times did you say Yes? Why? Was it worth it? How many times did you say No? Why? Was it worth it? Where in your life should you try to say No more? Where in your life should you try to say Yes more?

8. In what small moments did you fill most like your true self? 
When you are your true self, who is with you? Are you alone? What were you doing? How can you make more moments for you to be your true self throughout the year, months, weeks, days. Are there daily routines that bring peace of mind that you can continue? Are there moments where a routine or tradition can help bring you peace of mind this year? 

9. You will never be this young again in your life, what can you do this year to take advantage of this youthfulness that you still have? 
What are things your mind, body, and health allow you to do right now that you can't guarantee as you get the privilege of growing older? Will you take better care of your body this year; healthy whole foods? exercise? moisturizer and sunscreen? meditation? get a check up? Will you learn a new skill; knitting? a musical instrument? calligraphy? a recipe from an elderly family member? Will you expand your horizons; travel? learn a new language? take up a hobby? participate in a local sports league? volunteer your time for others? 

10. Plot this year on a big imaginary scale with all other years, where does this one fall? 
Maybe looking back it will be one of your favorite years and you know already you'll look back and think, 'oh to be that age again!" Or maybe it belongs in the worst/scariest/most challenging years category. If it was a hard one, that's okay - sometimes life is like that, but look at you - you persevered and for that you can be grateful; even if just because that year is over.  If it falls in the rating of Meh, how can we make that different next year. You get one year this age and that's it! We should be living in a way that no years turn out to be just 'meh' years! 

73 Questions

Sunday, October 11, 2015

There's something about random questionnaires that always give a sneak peek into a person that you don't normally get to see.  It's a Sunday and I've been blogging for a record (for me!) eleven days, so I gave myself a little reprieve tonight on this beautiful fall day to simply answer some questions.  It was easy to answer, but a lot more fun than I was expecting too.  I'd love if you answered the questions!  

I got this particular questionnaire from Lindsey at a Design So Vast

73 Questions-
1. How long have you been in the area?
I was born here, left for college (4 years), and then lived elsewhere for another six years after that.  Moved back 'home' in 2011 and wouldn't rather be anywhere else!

2. What’s your favorite season in your town?
fall

3. What’s your favorite activity in your town?
Greenhouse park or library storytime

4. Would you ever leave your town?
probably not unless the kids are all grown and gone 

5. What are three words to describe living in your town?
Seasonal, resilient, comforting

6. What’s your favorite movie?
The Princess Bride.  The Goonies is a close second

7. Favorite movie in past five years?
I talk about the Brass Teapot a lot because I think the plot was interesting.  We can watch the Five Year Engagement anytime it's on tv because...hysterical.

8. Favorite Hitchcock film?
Birds...but only because that's the only one I've ever (partially) seen

9. Favorite TV show that’s currently on?
The Walking Dead (season premiere tonight!)

10. What’s a book you plan on reading?
Those that Save Us by Jenna Blum

11. A book you read in school that positively shaped you?
Flowers for Algernon

12. A book you read in school that you never think of?
The Heart of Darkness

13. On a scale of one to ten how excited are you about life right now?
Nine

14. iPhone or Android?
iPhone

15. Twitter or Instagram?
instagram

16. Vine or Snapchat?
Neither, I don't get them

17. Who should EVERYONE be following right now?
On instagram, @childhoodunplugged because the photography is inspiring but also because it's important to remember that everything that is good about life happens while you're unplugged. On facebook @Humans of New York for the photos, the captions, and even the comments from strangers.  it's my daily dose of inspiration

18. What’s the coolest thing in this room?
the people's voices that I can hear from it (my people's)

19. What’s your favorite Hometown restaurant?
we love the Woodside

20. What’s your favorite food?
pizza

21. Least favorite food?
oysters

22. What do you love on your pizza?
ham, pineapple, banana peppers, and onions

23. Favorite drink?
the first sip of coffee in the morning when it's still quiet
otherwise, water

24. Favorite dessert?
chocolate chip walnut cookies

25. Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?
Dark

26. Weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?
bear sausage (Brandon shot it with a bow in Canada) and it was horrible.  I tend to be pretty grossed out by texture, so I steer clear of things that look a certain way

27. What’s the hardest part about being a mom?
the worrying

28. What’s your favorite band?
classic: The Rolling Stones (it's a family birthright)
current: Little Big Town

29. Favorite solo artist?
classic:  Otis Redding
current:  Bruno Mars, Eric Church

30. Favorite lyrics?
Joy to the World by Three Dog Night

31. If your life were a song, what would the title be?
Dream big

32. If you could sing a duet with anyone, who would it be?
June Carter Cash

33. If you could master one instrument, what would it be?
bongo drums

34. If you had a tattoo, where would it be?
I do! (four), but I'd like to finish my 3/4 sleeve before I'm forty

35. To be or not to be?
To be

36. What’s Oprah like in person?
Probably fantastic

37. What number of question was this?
thirty-seven, ha

38. Dogs or cats?
Dogs

39. Kittens or puppies?
Puppies

40. Dolphins or koalas?
Dolphins

41. Bird-watching or whale-watching?
whale-watching (never have done it but I long to)

42. What’s your spirit animal?
a spider 
(i blame Charlotte's web!  I never kill them, no matter how big or creepy they are, but always scoop them up and transport them outside.  I admire their webs of beauty and how they all seem like women to me - are we all connected as mothers? yes - and also they eat flies, and I hate flies).

43. Best gift you’ve ever received?
my engagement ring from B

44. Last gift you gave a friend?
I don't 'believe' in gifts for grownups (worst friend ever), so I don't remember.  I do believe in gifts of time and if that's the case:  photographing kids' birthday party moments (the cake, family photos), emailing about family reunion idea suggestions, proofreading, long phone conversations..

45. A person you want to have coffee with?

46. A historical figure you’d love to have coffee with?
Rosa Parks

47. How do you like your coffee?
black

48. Can I play a note on this piano?
please.

49. What’s your favorite curse word?
(does favorite mean most used?) shit

50. What’s your favorite board game?
Scrabble

51. What’s your favorite country to visit?
Thailand

52. What’s the last country you visited?
Dominican Republic

53. What country do you wish to visit?
Cambodia

54. What do you see in this image right here?
I'm interested in reading the comments too please

55. Can you write down your favorite word that starts and ends with the same vowel?
educate

56. What’s your favorite color?
Yellow

57. Least favorite color?
I don't have a least favorite

58. What color dress did you wear to your prom?
I've been to five (!) pink, white, purple, blue, black&white 

59. Diamonds or pearls?
Pearls

60. Cheap shampoo or expensive?
Cheap

61. Blow-dry or air-dry?
air-dry, unless it's night and it's cold, then blow dry.

62. Heels or flats?
flip flops

63. Can you give an impersonation of someone?
I think I'm pretty good

64. Can you do the same impersonation with a British accent?
YES! (my read aloud hidden talent!  hello Peppa Pig!)

65. My friend outside this window would love to ask you a question?
Let's hear it

66. [Holding two different colored dresses] Which should I give my girlfriend?
What's your girlfriend like?

67. Pilates or yoga?
Yoga

68. Jogging or swimming?
Jogging

69. Best way to decompress?
Read in bed

70. If you had one superpower, what would it be?
Teleportation

71. Can you describe an experience you felt most nervous?
Standing at the top of the 'big kid' waterslide as Grey was sitting down to go down it by himself at three years old.  I was literally trying to calculate if he somehow flipped over face down at the top if Brandon would be able to resuscitate him at the bottom.  #mompanic  Totally cool and encouraging on the outside- having a panic attack inside. (spoiler alert: he loved it and rode it three hundred more times after that).  In the more general sense, worrying about the kids.

72. What’s the weirdest word in the English language?
pusillanimous

73. Last question: Is this the strangest interview you’ve ever had?
Not in the least.