Do you have any collections?
When my parents went to France, they brought my daughters each a Limoges piece. It was a tiny porcelain basket, hand painted with three tiny perfume bottles. So when I went to France, I bought myself a box and my collection grew from there. It is not a huge collection, but I like them.
As I have traveled I decided original art work was a worthy souvenir. Souvenir is a French word meaning to remember. I have never regretted buying art.
Share a story about someone who had a positive impact on your life.
As I have said before, I suffered from deep depression post divorce. I tried various counselors but they all put the blame for my depression on me. They said it was the way I thought. They never acknowledged how I had been treated.
Then through a groups counseling program I met Jesse. He was getting his masters in Social worker and needed so many hours of working as a counselor. My budget was very tight because I had been without a job for 3 years. Since he was working under the guidance of a licensed Social Worker, he couldn’t charge me. I could pay him any amount I could afford.
He was the first and only therapist that acknowledged I had been emotional abused. Jess also told me in a very straight forward manor, it wasn’t my fault. I didn’t deserve to be treated that way and I had every right to be angry and sad and depressed.
That is when I started to heal. Being acknowledged, having your feelings acknowledged validated me. He didn’t allow me to wallow in self pity but knowing my hurt and sadness was okay made all the difference.
What is your career plan?
I had a career plan back when I was 20 but my dad told me I couldn’t make a living with that degree and to pick something and graduate. There was no discussion of how we could make my plan work. So I ended up with an elementary school teaching degree and have never taught school.
I spent the majority of my life as a stay at home mom and wife. Divorce and kids growing up changed all of that.
No career plans for me.
What do you do to be involved in the community?
Today I attended my first City Council meeting. I went to see my sweet bonus grandson be honored by the mayor for environmental awareness and learning about ecology for a better world.
We weren’t able to get into the room because so many people had shown up at the meeting. We had to watch on a big screen TV. Were they always this full. I suspect not. Currently our city council has voted to approve a data center, which the entire community was opposed to, so they’re trying to recall the mayor and all the council members.
I realized I think I want to start going to city council meetings. What better way to learn what’s going on in my community and possibly make a difference through speaking for or against a decision.
That is how I want to get involved in my community.
What’s a job you would like to do for just one day?
I would like to be a host on one the national morning shows. I’ve asked myself many times why I didn’t pursue a career that involved research, writing and engagement with people? So I’d like to try it out for a day.
List the people you admire and look to for advice…
I don’t look to one single person for advice. I only know one person in my circle whom I would go to for advice. And I would even hesitate to ask her.
The one person in my family I’d ask for advice is my daughter. (I’ll let them decide which one I’m referring to). she’s level headed and wise beyond her years. I hesitate to ask her for advice because she doesn’t like to give advice.
Of course I turn to Jesus and the Bible. That is most reliable source of advice. I can’t say I am always happy with what it is, but I’m always guaranteed things will eventually work out if I rely on what I read and the Lord I know.
Know the human body, especially your body, and you’ll be way ahead!
The Power of Story
Pieces of the Whole
Writing New Chapters when Life takes a Detour
read what you love
Enriching my life with books
My life on an unexpected path 