As I type up slew of journals I’d written, starting around 1992 when I was a Peace Corps Volunteer and ending roughly around 2011 when I started blogging, I mark the growth that I’ve made as a person, regardless of my inherent flaws, but driven through my passions.
I knew when I was a teenager, that most guys I briefly dated, bored me. I wanted nothing more than to combine the attractiveness I found in a guy with the intellectual creativity that I also craved. After many decades, I’m not ready to conclude that such a guy doesn’t exist, but he’s a unicorn.
Another long-running theme: the utter lack of money no matter what job I have. I learned long ago that “residual income” was the way to go, but that seems as unattainable as world peace and the end of all violence. Speaking of violence, at least I no longer want to slap or cuss out people who dare say in my presence that “money can’t buy happiness.”
I still find that saying to be bullshit, given the fact that, with the correct set of priorities, money is a powerful happiness tool. Case in point: for the past 20 or so birthdays, I’ve either planned an itinerary of birthday events that I’ve invited friends to participate in or, more recently, made a list of things that I’d buy myself.
The COVID shutdown nearly ruined my milestone 50th birthday, except that my sister and I were determined to not let happen. As a matter of fact, by the time September rolled around, one of my nephews had turned 20 and Mom had turned 80. Yes, we’re all 30 years apart. We had a combined Zoom birthday party with mostly extended family and some friends.
For the following birthday, I made my first birthday gift list and bought myself several life-enriching things: a portable standing desk, a vibration plate and two TYR tankinis. (Note: I love that swimwear line because its name is my initials!)
In June of 2021, I’d landed my first bona fide desk job, where I was expected to sit for eight hours a day. That job inspired me to dream up of ways to make my work life far more liveable. Three years later, I STILL use the standing desk and vibration plate, but I’ve recently replaced those two tankinis with two more since I’d worn them out over time with active use.
Plus, I’ve continued to make a combination itinerary/gift list for myself for every subsequent birthday. The thoughtfulness behind my list reflect solutions to challenges to enhance my life.
Another running theme is my creative project juggle. Never have I ever had enough time nor money to fund these projects to the extent I would have love to, but I’ve always done the most with what I have.
I’ve written novels and poetry; produced a long-running monthly theme-inspired spoken word and storytelling show; produced two podcasts; produced/directed/edited short films; edited different written works for hire; painted; illustrated.
The completion of projects are my wealth.