Wakening Life

So, as promised, my Sunshine Blogger Award.

It may be a week to the day since I said, “Next week I’ll have my SBA up”, but at least it is the next week nonetheless (well now a week and a day since it is currently 1:05 in the morning). I had actually meant to get this up on the 13th but had a pity party, and got caught up in other responsibilities. So here I am 13(14. . .13.5?) days later.

Thank you so much to Abby, as well as Lauren, and Jordan over at ALJ, for the nomination; their post is a must read!

Without any further ado. . .

Sunshine Blogger Rules

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and link to the original post!
2. Answer the 11 questions they’ve asked you.
3. Nominate 11 other bloggers and ask them 11 questions.
4. HAVE FUN!

 

Why did you get into blogging?

Because I was currently in a manic cycle. Kidding. Kinda. Not really. haha

Last year, in January I was hired for my first freelance gig. It was a dream come true. My dad had just passed and I decided to quit my serving job of two years that was slowly eating my soul. I hopped on Craigslist and found the job offer that would give me the confidence to pursue my writing career without having a relevant degree or any professional experience. I ended up leaving it several months later to help my girlfriend’s brother at his newly purchased Pizza Shack.

I’d been meaning to return to the online writing world for about a year. So, September 19th rolled around and something in me pushed and I finally made a step. But this time I decided to do it on my own terms. Try to awaken life, my own and other’s, by introducing myself to your thoughts and experiences, and by sharing my own.  

What is your favorite color?

Easy, purple. It actually always has been. My mom used to say she “forced” me into liking it since that’s her favorite-she made sure my wardrobe and room was sufficiently colored. Maybe I was a victim of vicarious parenting or maybe I was simply predestined to like purple, who knows?

Kidding. I love the color, somehow it instantly energizes and comforts me. Even amethyst is one of my favorite crystals. I’m also quite fond of aquamarine(both color and stone lol) and teal. (Apparently, I write about colors the same way I would people, “I am so fond of ’em-oh how their presence energizes and comforts me. . .” lmao).

One piece of advice for new bloggers.

Well . . .new blogger to new blogger:

Push yourself. Push yourself outside your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Reach out to people; it is unlikely they will judge you for where you’re at. This community is so welcoming and supportive. . .it is important you are too, genuinely. Kindness is easily given, but it’s a privilege to receive it not a right. And if you’re phony and are only interested in gaining for self-interest-it is easily spotted, and quite frowned upon. Just be a good person.

Oh, and do it for yourself first-have fun.

 

What energizes you/brings you excitement?

Sunshine, moonlight, and all things being outside. When I connect to my surroundings, to this planet, to space all around us. . .I feel so capable of doing anything. Especially in the night when I look out and see all the stars and planets-I’m reminded that I am made of the same molecules and atoms as them. And suddenly my worries and stresses of work, money, goals seem so minute and unimportant.

 

What’s your hidden talent?

Hmmm. . .definitely wiggling my ears. Not really. I mean, I can but I want my hidden talent to be more meaningful.

I’d say my leadership skills, especially since they are my “Spidey Sense”. They only come out when needed, but when they come out they’re fierce. I’m a first day Aries, so Pisces runs through me strongly, but this is one area that there is no denying I can take charge like any other ram.  

 

What is your dream job?

This! Writing. Poetry, prose, novels, articles. . .all of it I love and have been obsessed with since I was old enough to hold a book. To write and make a living, travel a bit-that’s the dream.

 

If you were given $1 million today, what would you do with it?

Probably laugh and walk away from it because I’d never see myself as lucky enough to just be given $1 million.

But I’d probably do the stereotypical things. Renovate mine and my mom’s house, buy her a new car; take the family on vacation(s) (I’d try to travel as much as possible in general); definitely, donate. Aside from that probably try to save as much as possible and invest wisely. Growing up I did not come from money, and now that I earn my own I frugally spend. Though the grocery budget would expand noticeably. And to be completely honest I’d certainly be sure to splurge on books, 420 accessories, and journals and pens.

What is one thing you’ve done that you recommend everyone try at least once?

Work customer service-specifically in a restaurant.  

• You will gain skills that will cross over to other jobs-like communication and problem-solving.                                                                                                                       
• You will be forced to see and clean things you’d never think you’d have to, like two full rolls of toilet paper in the toilet, and cans of food in a stall.                                       
•  Your patience will be tested. You will gain an understanding of humanity you never thought possible.                                                                                                                       
• You will realize there is such a thing as a thing as a stupid question. 

BUT you will also feel so rewarded and satisfied. It’s one of the only situations where it’s easier to focus on the good comments rather than the shitty ones. There is nothing like being slammed an entire shift, losing your head, being stuck in the weeds the whole time, then receiving a compliment or an extra tip from a customer-it makes it all worth it.

 

What is one thing you’d tell your younger self?

There is time to grow up. You will never not be a child. 16, 18, 21, 32, 48, 67. . .at every age you are always so young and have so much more to learn. It is an honor to be exactly where you are. So many never get to experience life like you are right now. There is no need to be in a rush to grow older. There is no need to be in a rush to live differently. You need to know where you are and who are, to get to where you’ll go and who you’ll be.

 

What woman do you most look up to? Why? (Family, coworker, influencer, politician, etc.)

You know, I have been asked this many times. And every time I’ve always said my grandmother (well, except in the 3rd grade when I wrote about Shania Twain being my hero). And while she is my greatest role model to this day, I am going to have to say my mom.

My mom mainly raised me by herself. She was single for 14 years because she was so focused on work,and taking care of me and my grandma. Currently she wakes up at 5 to be at work by 6, some days she works 11 or 12 hours. . .she is the most hard working person I’ve ever met. . .but she also enjoys her life. And she has so much love, not only for others but for herself. I’ve never met anyone more unapologetically them as my mom, and that is saying something since she is quite eccentric.

And because ‘influencer’ is an option, I would like to shout out YouTuber, Jenna Marbles, and poet, Sarah Kay.  

What is one thing you’d like to bring awareness to?

Living life on our own terms.

Living in such a fast paced world I think we all tend to lose sight of who we really are. I know I feel so pressured to be at a certain place in my life and I constantly feel so behind. But I see life as so much more than external stimuli or standards. It’s like that quote/post that goes around on social media, “you weren’t born to just pay bills and die”.  And I feel this. And I want everyone to live the lives they want to, not the lives they think they have to. Obviously, there will always be rules we have to adhere to. . .but what I am beginning to observe is that so much of our lives we spend telling ourselves we cannot do the things we want. . .and honestly, we’re the only one holding us back. It is time for us to stop settling.

New Questions

1.  Have you always wanted to write? If not, how did you start?
2. What has been your greatest life accomplishment?
3. “What would you like to do if money was no object?”
4. Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings? Why?
5. There’s an idea that it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert in any field. What are you (closest to being) an expert in?
6. What is your favorite book?
7. What did you think you going to be as a child? Is that close to what you are doing now?
8. What has been the most useful lesson you’ve learned?
9. If you could time travel, would you rather travel to the future or the past?
10. Would you choose to join a project, such as Mars One, that aimed to colonize another plane?
11. What do you love most about yourself that most people wouldn’t know about? (does this make sense? I guess, what’s something about you, that no one else knows,  that you love?)

 

So it isn’t quite 11 nominations. . .but I choose you:

Alex, Allie, Amanda, Caralyn, Casi, Coral, Deb, Flaura, and Weird&Liberated Blogger

I love all of their blogs and thoughts so much; they’re all worth checking out!

 

Again, a billion thanks to ALJ!

-Angela

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Pokeball Image– Stock Image.

All other images are mine (except SBA image).