A “Question-able” Gift

A woman with sole

A saucy young woman I know has a knack for asking questions that cause me to    pause and think. The cheeky woman’s name is Amanda.

Amanda was my daughter’s college roommate, and quickly

became a part of our extended family. I will credit/blame her for teaching my daughter how to dance with furniture when there was a rare man-shortage, how to dress seductively, and how to vomit gracefully in the toilet after a night out.   Amanda also taught her how to laugh—a lot—at the little things in life. And, I must add, named a cow after both my daughter and me. Yep, there was a “Gail” the cow on Amanda’s family farm, and I couldn’t have been prouder.

Yesterday was my birthday and Amanda sent me a thoughtful email with the following three questions attached:

1.  What are you proudest of in the last year?
2.  What are you happy to release from the last year?
3.  What you are most looking forward to in the year ahead?

What a great gift! I’m a believer in taking stock of life, and of setting goals. In the giddy joy of a birthday celebration it was rather refreshing to step back and to consider her questions.

So, here are my responses:

1. I am proudest of inhaling a huge gulp of air and then leaping into the unknown world of being self-employed. I know what I want, and I am working towards my goals one small step at a time. It is scary, exciting, bewildering, and freeing all mixed into one fragrant potpourri o’life.

2. I’m happiest to release the fear that my husband would not support my new venture. He’s at my side through the good and bad times, just as he promised he would be. How lucky am I?

3. The quick answer is a lot of things. I’m looking forward to a “bucket list” trip we will be taking soon. I’m also looking forward to, in no particular order:

–Selling my scarves, greeting cards, and photography at art fairs and online.

–Finishing my book on women and midlife creativity, and shopping for a publisher.

–Helping my daughter and son-in-law with projects now that they are living closer to us.

–Continuing this crazy-good romance I have going with my husband.

–Trying new things that cause me to breathe hard and mutter, “More!”

How about you? How would you respond to those three questions? Please share! Thanks, Amanda. It was, as always, a lovely gift from a lovely soul.