After I finished my last post, I thought it would be a great idea to blog about other "55" lists...
So coming soon ~
55 Reasons to be Grateful
55 Bucket List Items
55 Bible Verses to Meditate/Memorize
55 Goals for the next 12 months
And here's this morning's sunrise ♥
This one is looking east...
When my person, Penny, was turning 55 (I think it was 55), her husband asked her what she wanted for her birthday. She asked me if she could tell him to call me for some suggestions. She told me I was a great (and creative) gift-giver... For what it's worth, she was so fun (and easy!) to find gifts for - I still have things I bought with her in mind, even though she passed away in 2018.
So he called me, and one of the suggestions I gave him was that he write down 55 things he loved about her.
And that's what he did... she said it was the sweetest thing, and even if there were some repeats on the list (lol), she absolutely loved it. I'm sure there were some other gifts involved, but I was always pleased with myself for coming up with such a romantic and fun idea (if I do say so myself, ha ha) and planned to do the same for people in my life.
Today is my 55th birthday, and I don't think anyone is going to be writing a list of 55 things they love about me, so I'm going to do it for myself. Self-Love Baby!! Yeah!
Today marks what I've been calling my "Grand Slam Birthday" aka known as the Denny's Senior Discount Birthday ~ 55 is when the 10% discount kicks in. I had originally planned to have my friends meet me at Denny's for Brunch on my birthday at home - but my Thanksgiving plans were hijacked by the plague, so I ended up coming up to Phoenix-area to spend the day with my mom and step-dad.
It's a good thing, actually (even though I'm still really bummed my original plan was overturned), because it is "Black Friday" after Thanksgiving Day, and I can't say enough about how much I detest going out 'there' when it's even more "people-y" than usual - ugh... and going to brunch at Denny's would have probably been more crowded than usual. So while the actually DAY of celebration isn't happening... I still see a Denny's Brunch to Celebrate Carrie's 55th in the near future.
But I am procrastinating my list...
I love me because...
1. I don't give up easily.
I made my own college graduation announcements (because the money was running out) and I put this Calvin Coolidge quote on the front:
“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts."
I may not be consistent, and I'll 'take a pause' - and maybe sometimes I won't even make an attempt, but when I decide to...
!! How very interesting and self-defeating that as I'm writing this first thing, my head is absolutely sabotaging myself! I'm remembering many times that I quit. !!
* I just added "easily" to that first sentence. It's more honest. When I finally do quit, it's only after a lot of thought, heartache, guilt etc...
2. I am thoughtful of others
3. I organize events and gatherings that bring people together
4. I am creative
5. I am constantly trying to improve myself
6. I have learned that "what other people think of me is none of my business" (80% of the time)
7. I keep trying... this isn't the same as not giving up, is it? Sometimes what I'm trying are altogether different things. Hmmmm... maybe it's the positive way of saying the same thing.
8. I am optimistic, with a bit of realism for balance
9. I keep in touch with my friends.
10. I am efficient as I can possibly be ~ when left up to me
11. I do my best to help others succeed
12. I daydream
13. I don't follow the crowd (fashion, trends, 'must haves' for ______ fill in the blank), I often have to use urban dictionary to understand social media posts (Reddit, mostly, ha ha).
14. I am an independent thinker
15. I don't succumb to peer (societal) pressure, I will walk away (avoid)
16. I am strong
17. I am empathetic
18. I understand most people and situations intuitively without having to be told specifically
19. I am intuitive
20. I trust my gut (intuition)
21. I like a variety of vegetables (lol)
22. I prefer 'casual' over 'uptight' ~ comfort over fashion ~ relaxed over restricted
23. I like to have fun
24. I can be extroverted when necessary
25. I am an "ambivert" - I do need quite a bit of alone time
26. I'm never bored ~ there's always something (educational or entertaining) to do/read/create
27. I love to learn
28. I allow myself grace when I don't accomplish a goal
29. I am a natural teacher
30. I love to teach
31. I love that when I'm teaching, I believe I'm learning more from those whom I am teaching
32. I am generous whenever I can be (time and money)
33. I am deliberate with whom I trust
34. I am a good writer
35. I am a very good singer and musician
36. I (like to believe) I'm open to new ideas ~ but am not sure if this has actually been truly tested
37. I see small details
38. I see the big picture
39. I have faith in Jesus
40. I have good hair (thanks Dad!)
41. I can be sneaky (lol)
42. I do my best
43. I am getting better about doing hard things (this list is a very hard thing!)
44. I am taking steps toward increasing my health and energy by eating Whole Food, Plant-Based, No Oil, No (processed) Sugar & very limited added Salt
45. I do my best to not judge others, especially without knowing their story
46. I have a great sense of humor
47. I dig the "deeper discussions" on the 'whys and wherefores' of why we are who we are, what makes us this way and all that goes with those thoughts and conversations
48. I don't let go (this can be a double-edged good/bad thing... today it's a thing I am choosing to love)
49. I sing in tune (this means that while there may be some 'flat notes' in my singing line, I don't flat the song when singing by myself... as for the group I'm with...? Well, that's not something I'm in control of, generally; but "me, myself and I" do not flat)
50. I am critical (more toward myself than others; but hold others to the same high standard I hold myself. Again, choosing to love myself for this trait that can be a double-edged good/bad thing. See 55 bonus*)
51. I have traveled and seen and lived in other cultures, other ways of living and know I have been enriched and educated, inspired and amused because I can step outside of my culture - which I love and am proud of, don't get me wrong - but because of travel I am a better overall human and world citizen because of this one thing
52. I have stuck with my current career (Real Estate) the longest I've ever done any full-time job.
53. I have increased my income while still continuing to work at a pace I am comfortable with and which gives me time to still pursue my "hobbies"
54. I am sensitive
55. I did this list! (yeah, maybe this is a bit of a cheat, lol, maybe... but I'm still loving myself for thinking of it and then actually DOING it... not just keeping it in a "good ideas" or "someday" folder)
55. bonus* I love than I understand that there is always someone better/worse than me... richer/poorer... smarter/dumber etc... and that I'm learning to see them all as a child of the living God. We are all His children, regardless of how someone lives his/her/their life. Some days this is easier than others, but going back to having faith, I have faith that I am forgiven, and loved just like all the others here.
