I am an insomniac. My brain never seems to stop. Thinking and recalling events of the day, week, year, lifetime. I have trouble relaxing. Last night was especially terrible because I have a sinus infection and between not being able to breathe (um, a wee bit necessary) and my natural stress level over each day, I did not sleep well. So I started to ponder something. Danger! Danger! Thinking is bad for our health.
My identity gets lost all too often in my job. I am a workaholic, and I do love my job especially the people I work with – but lately it’s really started to make me realize I am losing myself in my work week and not giving any energy to my non-work life. A top regret of the dying? “wish I didn’t work so much.” I need to work on not having that regret one day. So I started to think about silly things last night and came up with some things about myself that while they seem like answers to a chain email to learn superficial things about your Facebook friends, I think it is important to recall the mundane in an effort to not lose yourself in the responsibilities of one’s livelihood. So…a few fun facts about me.
I love to travel. I love to experience new things. I believe you can experience something new in your own neighborhood – try a new coffee shop, restaurant or simply Google something interesting. People might be surprised to learn my favorite music genres are golden oldies, broadway musicals and old school hip hop. I thrive on diversity. Differences in people fascinate me and I don’t want my circles of friends, family or work life to be cardboard cutouts of myself. How boring. I enjoy reading – everything from Sci-Fi/fantasy to historical fiction, African-American and Chinese-American literature and stories. I am drawn to cultures and time periods opposite of my own. I think I should’ve been a sociologist, anthropologist or a travelologist (oh, does that exist??). Why do they worship in that way? Why those customs or beliefs? Why do they eat that particular way/food? If these walls could talk, what would they say? I love it and it’s what makes humankind so interesting to me. I believe people who are ethnocentric and cannot even try to walk a mile in someone’s else’s shoes are small minded and ignorant. I try not to judge, but yep in this case, totally judging. I am an optimist because I think it’s a depressing waste of time to be a pessimist. Healthy skepticism is good because it helps you not believe everything you read on the internet. I know bad things happen, but why watch the news? It’s a downer and skewed to what they want you to hear, think, feel.
I love fresh seafood, sushi, Dim Sum, Buffalo Wings, Italian, Hawaiian and Mexican food. I’m not afraid to admit I love foie gras. I cannot comprehend why anyone would want to put bacon or ham in vegetables. I like both of them separately. I think meals are social opportunities (which of course has it’s unhealthy downside). I take joy in simple things like a delicious cup of hazelnut coffee or creating iTunes playlists. I love the world of entertainment – theater, movies, music, TV. I could have an entire conversation in movie quotes. I love pop culture. I tend to binge watch on Apple TV and Netflix, which is bad because I do get lost in characters and a show as an escape and get nothing done around the house. I am a fairly early tech adopter but not an “idiot adopter” – my definition of waiting in line for the newest release of something only because of the hype and purchasing something nobody really knows anything about because a marketing professional told them it’s the best thing since the last version. I will be someone who contributes to the downfall of paper books and CDs because I read everything on my iPad and listen to everything on my iPod. Isn’t Barnes and Noble that place where you read magazines, drink coffee, look for new book titles and magazines you may want to subscribe to then download them later electronically? Well I thought it was…
My dream jobs when I was young? “Dress designer” or broadway star (what happened?) for a short time a restauranteur and a teacher. I always loved to talk, talk, talk (ask my teachers) so I earn money now by communicating. I have two degrees and I did really well in grad school but barely read any textbooks. I am good at cramming the night before a test and B.S’ing papers. Sorry professors 🙂 I don’t have a long attention span and if a book doesn’t captivate me quickly, my mind wanders.
Photographs are the only worthy souvenirs of life and I love taking pictures, posting pictures. I love art, but splattered paint on a canvas is a kindergarten hissy fit, not art.
I am as transparent as they come because I honestly do not understand the concept of “this is my work life vs. home life vs. social life” um, I am ONE person who happens to be in multiple circles but I will not change or apologize for being myself or be someone I am not to fit an image or mold. My worlds are integrated not in silos. I think that and being an extrovert is why social media is my cup o’tea and I enjoy posting things for my own amusement and enjoyment and if others happen to like it, gravy. I don’t live to make others happy. I REALLY REALLY can’t stand passive aggressive behavior or conflict avoidance. What on earth is the point? You have a problem? Let’s talk it out. Done. If we were all honest with ourselves, nobody ever really let’s something go. We may for a moment, but it comes back or builds up inside. Then we can move on in authenticity with each other. Very simple. Backstabbing and smack-talking gets you nowhere.
I don’t believe we should have political parties. I think people mindlessly follow platforms, not people and are pollyanna about politicians and pundits (wow, a lot of P words). There is no perfect govt. system because people run all systems and people are inherently flawed. I am a capitalist because I believe anyone regardless of the circumstances you were born into can be ANYTHING and I love a country that is founded on that principle and it’s why our immigrant grandparents and great-grandparents came to America. Rags to riches. If you work hard, you get rewards. No freebies, only freedom baby, yeah! (say it like Austin powers). I do believe in God. Life and the universe are too amazing and inexplicable to not be of intelligence design. I should’ve died at least twice in my life and miraculously did not. I believe in miracles. I do not believe in man-made religion. Just faith. Just because you stand at a pulpit makes you no less of a sinner than me. I respect other’s needs for rites and rituals and their beliefs (unless they’re satanic then you have serious problems) I just don’t need it myself, but I do pray. I love visiting all kinds of worships places when I travel from Buddhist temples to Westminster Abbey. I do not judge, that’s God’s job. I do think things happen for a reason, doors close, windows open and angels exist. I believe people have free will to follow good or evil and it’s a choice.
What goes around always comes around, even if you don’t witness it happen. It will.
Whoa, got a little too serious there for a minute. Very unlike me, I am not a serious person AT ALL. But we all need a little depth, don’t we?
I read the 4-hour work week. I still work way more than that. I want my money back.
If money was no object I would buy a condo on that ship that perpetually sails around the world and wake up in a different port everyday. Happily. I love change but appreciate routine. I want to learn how to play the guitar and be a folksy vocalist who might only be popular online or on the karaoke circuit and I am okay with that because I have ZERO desire to be famous. Rich? SURE why not, famous? Nope. I keep saying I need to write a book about my family. I need to start. I have a draft in my head, just need to start putting pen to paper. Again not to become famous, more like therapy or it might help others to see you can overcome your circumstances. I have little patience for people who make bad life choices and blame it on the fact that they “had a bad childhood.” STOP BLAMING OTHERS. The past can hurt, sure, but you have the power in your hands to heal and move beyond. I will probably say here’s a straw, suck it up, toughen up and don’t let your past define your future. Someone ALWAYS has it worse than you do. Nothing is insurmountable. Nothing. I love stories of people who overcome the odds. Inspiring.
“Don’t be defeatist dear. It’s so middle class.” – Lady Violet, Downtown Abbey
I like antiques in a museum. Not in my house. I define my style as classic contemporary. Chickens are something you eat, not decorate with.
I believe charity should happen in private otherwise it’s not charitable, you’re doing it to show others how charitable you really are. Pay for someone else’s meal, cup of coffee, donate to a cause and don’t tell a soul. That’s real charity.
Humor and coffee are my life sustainers.
There I am!
Karlynn Holbrook 