How has your perspective shifted over the past five months? How have you grown?
Over the past five months, I would have to say that my perspective has shifted from “becoming” to “being.” I don’t need to fix anything, I am what I am and it’s all about embracing what I already am. If I can be conscious about what I do and am surrounded by daily, I can better identify how I feel about it to decide if it’s something I want less or more of in my life going forward. Quality over quantity… even though I still have a laundry list of things I want to accomplish.
What do you wish you’d known before you started your QLC journey?
I wish I had known what I know now. In fact, I wish I knew what I have yet to learn. That would make this easier. But yet, it would make it boring, too.
What are you going to continue to work on after Season 6?
Everything! Actually, I will be continuing to blog on my new personal blog, bigboldbeauty.com geared towards body acceptance, and about my weight loss journey at weightloss.org (Goal is to lose 40 lbs by December, wtf?!). I have realized how much I love to motivate others and, in turn, it motivates me. I have identified my life purpose to be a storyteller and to inspire others as they inspire me. I will continue to discover myself and find my super powers, documenting it. I will also continue to make art, write my heart out, and find my way into my dream job in Animation.
What little things in life right now make your toes curl with happiness? Big things?
Country music from the 90’s. Soundtracks from Brave and How to Train Your Dragon. A drawing of a kitten wrapped in a $100 bill I drew the other day. Long conversations, discussions, and rants with my amazing friends. Castle hunting in Ireland and Scotland.
In the movie of your life, who would you want to play YOU?
Amy Adams, please!
What goodies (books/music/travel/quotes/ideas…) have you found over the past few months that are helping your inspiration and creativity?
The How to Train Your Dragon books are making me itching to go castle hunting but not because there are any actual castles in it. I just really love Celtic and Scottish settings and have always identified most with that of my lineage. Whenever I play the soundtrack from the movie while I work, I am at my most productive- even better, I’m loving it.
If you were able to start over and start blogging for Stratejoy right now, what would your “Goals” post look like? What do you hope to accomplish by the end of 2012? How is it the same/different from your “Goals” post from earlier this year?
My “Goals” would have included a specific marathon to work towards, because that just didn’t happen! A lot of my habits have been changed for better ones- and in the big scheme, it’s great- but having a deadline would have held me more accountable to myself. I would have also made more self-actualization goals rather than a portion of my to-do list.
I hope that by the end of 2012, I have sold a piece of art through Etsy, sold a piece of art at a Gallery, lost 40 lbs, am on the way of finishing my juvenile novel (yeah, it changed from YA!), am a full-time employee (*Update: YES! As of 8/26!), apply to Grad school again, am planning a big Adventure somewhere, keep up with my web comic (Life Scientist and Nerds with Beards), clean up my web presence into a very clear and concise website, edit the scripts for my web series and plan to produce next year, buy a real bed (the floor is starting to get to me), buy a bar and teach little girls how to be a beauty queen. Oh wait, that’s from It’s Always Sunny, it’s on TV right now. I’m pretty sure I’m missing like 20 things but I’ll start with these.
It differs from my earlier “Goals” post a little bit as I have more goals that just center around me and not a creative endeavor, which I am loving! I no longer feel like I’m running out of time- well, not as bad anyway. I definitely don’t want to take my life clock for granted, but I also feel like I can enjoy things, events, and people.
Name 5 things you absolutely positively could not live without.
Iced tea. Paper- sketchbooks and lined paper. My bra(s)- even though they severely need replaced. My computer. Cat photos (since I can’t have cats in my apartment).
Who are your top 3 celebrity crushes of the moment?
Severe girl crushes on Amy Adams and Emma Thompson. Tom Hanks, forever.
If you had to dedicate your life to one cause for your life, what would it be? Why?
Pancreatic cancer… It took my super sweet and wonderful step mother, Michelle.
What is one of your favorite memories?
Finding out my Dad kicked five men’s asses and saved a woman’s life! Love it!
What’s your hidden talent?
I am soooo good at over-thinking everything and method acting to cry!
What was the last book you read that made an impact on you, and what effect did it have?
How to Train Your Dragon… I feel like I’m referencing this a lot! It made me want to have more Adventures and where hunting castles came into my life. I have known I wanted to do it before but never actually said it out loud, labeled it, or really believed that I could ever do it. Now, it’s all I think about. Again, no actual castles in the books but… the lush Viking landscapes remind me of my love of the regions! It’s also a very high driving factor of wanting to write a juvenile novel… I love the adventure, the story, the characters… I would love to write adventure!
What quote best represents you or motivates you in your current place in life?
“She lacks the charm of weakness.” –Oscar Wilde
I have many weaknesses (namely, cat videos) and this quote reminds me how charming they are!
What are three things that you are totally obsessed with right now?
…Castle hunting… Brave… How to Train Your Dragon…
What is one thing you’d like to change about the world?
I would like to see human trafficking stopped. I would also like all the nasty and evil things stop… like killing. I would also like to see people not fight about politics, religion, finances, or anything. More amicable debate and conversational tones. People need to stop online trolling, too! More good news on the TV news.
If there is one gift you could give to a stranger, what would it be?
Thousands of dollars so they could pay off their student loans, because I sincerely wish someone could do that for me. Karma is real.
If super heroes are real (and they are), what super power would you have?
Absorption. I want to read books but I want to read all the books so if I could place my hand on it and absorb it all, that would be great and help me achieve that dream. It would also allow me to read people when I shake their hand so I can get past the small talk and straight to the interesting stuff!
What do you see when you look into your own eyes?
I see a changed and blossoming woman who I want to kiss and take to the movies!
What songs are you loving right now?
The soundtrack for Brave, especially the songs by Sarah Fowlis.
What 3 lessons will you take with you from over the last 5 months?
There is no rush, enjoy the journey. Live in the now embracing your surroundings, relationships, and opportunities. Even though they may not be here tomorrow, they are here right now. And lastly, when I take care of myself first, I have more energy to do what makes me happy- and it then, indeed, makes me happy instead of stressed!
What’s turning you on right now?
Feeling my legs after I shave them and the infinite possibilities that lie ahead in my life!
