33 things you don’t know about me
I have been getting some really personal and beautiful emails from many of you sharing your stories, which have inspired me to be a little more personal too!
For many of us our relationship exists in words and blogs and comments, so I thought I would share a little more about me.
As I am nearing 33 – here are…
33 things you (probably) don’t know about me
I have spent a third of my life each in Hong Kong, New Zealand and Australia. I am a citizen of each country.
I giggle a lot. Sometimes in my sleep.
I am strangely flexible and my fingers are double jointed.
I would happily cook big meals 3 times a day and I always have food on my mind. Food is love!
I once spent a year wearing
rollerblades.
I don’t like fake smiling for camera’s. For every half decent photo there is of me – there are 100 with eyes closed, tongue poking out or a silly face. I ruin group photos. The only exception is if I have been drinking : )
I always hated school – in form 5 I skipped a third of the year. I got the class prize in 2 subjects. I skipped the ceremony and they gave me the awards in the hallway the next day. I lost them on the way home.
My oldest sister is 35; my youngest brother is 11 (with many in between).
I usually wear a lot of black.
I get really affected by how things are; financial systems, poverty, environmental issues, how we treat animals, how we treat people etc. The older I get, the more I learn and the more it impacts and motivates me.
I still get asked for ID when buying alcohol.
I wore suits to work every day from age 17-26 – never again.
Earlier this year I got a tattoo, it says “for once you have tasted flight you will forever walk with your eyes turned skywards”.
I love chocolate brownies and savoury snacks.
I married John 16 weeks after we met. It was a whirlwind romance.
One of my favourite experiences was scuba diving in caverns in Mexico. I intend to do as many as possible when I go back later this year.
I used to dabble in DJing and presented a radio show for 3 years.
I make decisions intuitively – I make most decisions immediately, but am more than happy to change if there is a better idea at any point.
I have vivid dreams most nights. I have three kinds of recurring dreams; some about tsunami’s and immense powerful waves, some about having super bouncy legs or flying, others about trying to look after clichéd vulnerable things.
I really really really want to snorkel or dive with whale sharks.
I often wake up early with an exciting idea or solution to a problem.
I love 20 minute power naps!
I am really blind and wear contact lenses but I have the nose of a bloodhound.
I fall in love with people very quickly! But I am not much of a people person – I can be shy and it takes me a while to relax and be myself.
I am a water baby but I like calm seas – big waves make me nervous.
I unconsciously wiggle my big toes when I am thinking.
I like to be prepared. Life is easier if you plan a little.
My drink of choice: single malts or Irish whiskey (on the rocks, with a dash of water or served as a rusty nail).
Lots of things I love give me hay fever; cheese, cats, wine, plants, Melbourne, New Zealand.
I always wanted four kids but I may be getting a little old for a brood that big.
I am extremely awkward when it comes to small talk and pleasantries – I am the self-conscious person standing by the food at networking events.
When I grow up I want to be an aerial acrobat for Cirque du Soleil.
There is never enough time to do all the things I want to do. I get excited by so many things that I have to contain myself.
I would love to see this list from you too!!
Please share some things about you, all those random things that your “internet friends” are unlikely to know.
9:57 am
how lovely you are! i relate to the lack of small talk, the introversion and the falling in love with people quickly bit – you are an inspiration and don’t wait too long to have your brood – they can always travel with you.
on my list i would say –
you don’t know that
i can paint emotional pictures,
i am slowly building up a little posse of friends in my town (after 18 months of loneliness)
i just built a retaining wall with a girlfriend yesterday
my favourite shops are indian ones (tree of life types)
favourite dessert is cheesecake since i was 12 and someone’s mum offered me a slice – my mouth fell in love
at your age (33) i cried at snow white!!!
i love deeply
i act like a child (playfully) a lot
i can run at a wall 10 metres away at full speed with my eyes closed because i trust the workshop leader
you know i’m not a savvy business woman
and lastly
i believe in world peace, the tarot and karma
good on you Serena and thanks for being in my life.
11:48 am
This is great Nancy! And I can’t believe you built a retaining wall. That is hilarious!
I am a cheesecake fan too, but give me a good brownie any day
What was the workshop where you run at a wall? It sounds scary!
4:44 pm
Things that people may not know about me umm
• I can write with my left foot – a very handy skill to have I am sure
• I’m left handed
• I am no good at navigating
• I love walking that line between sand and sea – that’s my church
• I know that world peace starts with a thought – pass it on.
• It took 50 years to find out that I was creative!! So never stop learning.
• I found skipping with a rope pretty hard
• I have been known to dance on table tops
• I love yoga and tai chi and Eastern philosophy
• I love dark chocolate
• I love that moment when the engine stops on a yacht and the wind fills the sails
• I have swam with dolphins – that was pretty cool.
1:13 pm
I love dark chocolate too Jan
mmmm I have not really found any decent dark chocolate in Latin America yet.
How on earth did you figure out your foot?! Haha I once practiced writing every day with my left hand so that I could be ambidextrous but I lost the skill not long after.
8:03 pm
Jan that is amazing… writing with your left foot! I’m so impressed.
5:47 pm
Jus come across this page and I already know most of this stuff so I just wanted to send you my love. Xx
1:14 pm
Aww thanks Skippa!! xx
6:37 pm
the workshop was improvisation and comedy – they’re also great loves of mine, but you probably already knew that about me. highly recommended for introverts like you and me.
7:09 pm
Wow, some hard acts to follow! Ok, here’s my 5 cents worth…
* I’m a Pisces through and through – very sensitive to others energies and very sensitive myself – I cry at the drop of a hat!
* I used to be a Marching Girl – actually I was the Leader – loved it!!
* I’m a cat lady
* I’m the baby of the family (5 kids) – my nearest sibling is my Sister and she’s 8 years older than me.
* I was an Auntie at age 12 – that was cool
* I’ve done office work F O R E V E R but I’m also a Massage Therapist and Bowen Therapist and I also do Reflexology, Reiki, and Holistic Pulsing
* I helped save a female adult turtle from slaughter in Bali last year
* I used to be a farmers wife
* I LOVE chocolate (anything chocolate) and GOOD coffee
* I have been known to dance on table tops too!
* I hate small talk…if there’s nothing worth saying then I don’t say anything
* Definitely love quickly and deeply – damn it!
* I love scrapbooking and all things creative
* I used to have a business preserving wedding bouquets
* I love to travel – travel lights my fire, gets me out of my comfort zone big time and excites the hell out of me
* I love photography and take a gazillion photos when I’m away anywhere
* I found out at age 47 that you don’t have to have given birth to feel real Motherly love
* I intend to learn tribal drumming before the end of 2012
* Vietnam and the Greek Islands are my favourite places (so far)…
* Doing a fire dance is on my bucket list
1:16 pm
Wow I would love to hear about your turtle story.
Haha the table tops thing makes me laugh – have only done so once, a very messy night that “stays on tour”.
4:58 pm
Re table top – mine was very messy too – my hen’s night!! Next day was not pretty
Here’s the link to my blog page from Bali re the Turtle saving:
http://www.balispirit-paula.blogspot.co.nz/2011_06_01_archive.html
Scroll down to “Saving Lives” Tues 21 June 2011
8:11 pm
I am loving these postings! Here is a little about me…
I’m 52 in Dec, but can pull off 40 on a good day.
I have two cats – Saturn and Venice.
When I was a kid I wanted to be an astronaut.
I used to be a fuller figured model.
I owned an independent theatre company in Perth.
I cry at sad movies at the drop of a hat,
I couldn’t have children – but I’ve collected many along the way
My eldest brother is 20 yrs older than me.
My favourite flower is the orchid (which I have a tattoo of on my right thigh).
And something fun – I love playing Wii
2:01 pm
I have never played Wii CaAtherine, I guess I am missing out! I still want to be an astronaut. Getting to space is something on my bucket list that I forgot to add
12:20 pm
I’m still planning on doing Space Camp
7:22 am
WOW! I’m blown away by all of you above and how powerful it all is to read, and I’m sure to write! Thank you for sharing this, I’m going to do a list too!
1:58 pm
Thanks for stopping by Fiona, looking forward to seeing your list!
Pingback: Breakaway Spirit - 15 Things You May Not Know About Caz! | Breakaway Spirit
1:15 pm
Thanks for sharing Serena, you have certainly packed your life full of rich experiences!
You’ve inspired me to follow suit and I’ve just spent over an hour and a half writing my own 15 things you may not know about me. I can’t believe how hard it was, very therapeutic. It’s on the http://www.breakawayspirit.com website. I tried to copy and paste to here but it was way too long! (Yes I know sometimes I need to be less descriptive!)
Nancy, Paula & Jan, I love that you ladies always share your experiences, I feel like I know you all personally. Thanks for sharing!
Serena, thank you for keeping my dreams alive, you are just the role model we all need.
Sending happiness,
Caz
2:05 pm
Caz, your list is awesome… Thanks for joining in the game! My first job was in a fish and chip shop – ice cream is so much sexier
3:52 pm
Wow this is fun to do! So nice to read all the bits! I’ve done my post – will go live next week. Here are a few of mine:
* I adore peanut butter and bacon on toast for breakfast. My hubby is the only other person I’ve found outside of my family who enjoys this meal.
* I feel very strongly about women finding their own confidence and road. Too often we sacrifice what we want for society pressures, expectations or the false belief that a man/marriage will keep us secure.
* Horses are my soul food. I believe it’s the purest form of a relationship you can have. It’s about non-verbal connection with one another and the honesty in how you respect each other.
* I love musicals and dance movies. I always wind up crying as I’m carried by the emotions.
* Reading is one of my favourite pastimes and I generally read 2-4 books at a time.
* If there was one thing I wish I could change about myself it would be to swear less. However, I find it a great stress release so have yet to do anything about it.
10:05 am
Yumm I love anything with bacon – especially banana and maple syrup. Unfortunately I am a vegetarian now so I simply have to remember how delicious bacon is!
And totally get the swearing thing, I have a potty mouth – but very good at managing it during webinars and business type stuff!
7:51 pm
Hi Serena, I loved this post and everyone’s comments since. You’ve inspired me to write my own blogpost (http://activate28.com/28-things-about-me). Here’s a snapshot:
* I can juggle. I used to be pretty serious. I’ve even juggled fire and swords (separately).
* I’ve lived in 3 earthquake prone countries (Chile, NZ, Tonga). Have experienced a few serious earth tremors but no major quakes.
* I don’t/can’t read fiction.
* I was painfully shy until I appeared in Dolly magazine (no, I wasn’t a model).
* I have trouble remembering faces ‘out of context’ but I’ve got an excellent memory for places.
* I’ve spent 20 days of my life in silence (thanks to two Vipassana retreats)
* I push myself out of my comfort zone a lot. I had a fear of the open ocean and waves, so I spent an entire summer overcoming this fear by swimming laps of the beach. I had a fear of public speaking, so I volunteered to speak in front of a crowd of 500 — in Spanish!
* I strike up conversations easily with strangers. So watch out, Serena, if we’re at a networking event together
10:08 am
I am shocking at remembering peoples faces too – and names! I thought it was because of a mis-spent youth but maybe I have a condition!
Haha if we end up at a networking event I will follow you around like a puppy