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Peonies are seriously the most proud flowers on the planet. Photographed with Nikon D300, 60mm micro lens.
This was a good week.
Yesterday, after a meeting, I took myself to lunch at my regular haunt, and the woman who worked behind the counter smiled when I walked in.
"Hi!" she said. "How are you today?"
"I'm great," I responded. Then I thought about it. "No, seriously, I'm great. I'm in a really great mood. I should enjoy this for a minute!" She laughed.
The reason that this has been such a good week is because I had the opportunity to interview several really cool people as part of the research for my book. You know how sometimes when you talk to someone, and they're just so fantastic they put you in a great mood for the rest of the day? I've been talking to people like that all week.
Anyway, during most of these conversations, we've all had the opportunity to describe a time when we did something that made us really proud of ourselves. I noticed that there's really no better pick-me-up than when you remember a time when you did something wonderful. You just knocked it out of the park. You did something that made you feel like you were just made of awesome.
So, I thought to end the week, I'd invite you to share something you did at some point in your past that was very, very cool. And this is your time to brag, too, no holds barred (feel free to share anonymously, if you want to say what you did "out loud," but aren't comfortable attaching your name to it). The only rule: it can't be that you met someone wonderful, or that you have a long marriage, or that you're a good parent (although I'm sure you've done and you are all those things). This has to be something that you did uniquely and completely for you, and not (necessarily) for the benefit of another person. It doesn't have to be something wild, like you participated in the Iditarod or walked the Appalachian Trail or climbed K2 (although good on you, if you did!) -- it can be something simple, like you completely sewed your first dress on your own, or you learned how to ride a bike as an adult, or learned a new language. Or you learned how to juggle, even though you're normally a total klutz. Or heck, you finally learned how to poach an egg. Whatever gave you a little pang of pride. Extra points if doing it pushed you out of your comfort zone.
So here's mine: when I was in my early 30's, I took myself on a fabulous vacation to the Cayman Islands -- alone. It was the first and only time I ever went on holiday by myself, and for 5 days, it was just me, my dive gear, and a ton of reading. At night, I took myself to wonderful restaurants, and had great meals by candlelight while I lost myself in wonderful fiction -- some of it great literature, most of it trashy novels. It remains one of the best vacations I've ever had in my life.
Okay, your turn. And to all of you, whether or not you share your feat here, have a great weekend -- and may you take some time, at some point during the next couple of days, to bask in the glow of your awesome.
Song: My way (a mi manera) as performed by Robin Williams (from the Happy Feet soundtrack)
Friday, June 19, 2009 at 12:00AM
Reader Comments (40)
Three or four years ago, I got up on stage and told some grandma stories and did some of her answering machine messages. Changed my life. I'd loved telling my friends these stories for my whole life. Who knew telling and writing my family stories (still collecting as we speak) would be my calling! I thought I had to search for something to write about when really all I had to do was write or tell what I already know and love!
while i'm thinking of my story...i love yours! sounds terrific.
De-lurking to get in on this post: I completely agree that reliving your past successes/achievements can be oh-so-helpful when you are facing the next challenge or new project, and need that reminder of, "Hey, I've done wonderful things before, I can so do this!"
In that vein...last July, I moved to Japan a month after I graduated from college for a job teaching English to junior high kids in a small, off-the-beaten path town on the island of Kyushu. I didn't know a word of Japanese; I didn't major in teaching; I just knew that I didn't want to do what I thought I "should" do: that is, go directly from a bachelor's degree to getting a law degree. I knew I needed the time to process, to find the beauty and clarity that comes with (productive) loneliness. The year has flown by, of course, and I'm leaving Japan in a little less than six weeks to strike out a new adventure. I'm not so sure what that adventure looks like, exactly, but without this year? There would be no way I would be willing to throw it all up to the universe and see what comes of it. I'm so proud of myself for having taken the leap, and being excited to take the leap again.
What a great post! I feel like the last year has been something that makes me feel great about me! I have found that I'm terrified of change. I hate the stress and anxiety... I hate doing things that I don't know how to do because I'm new at it.... But I haven't let this stop me. Last May, I was living in a small town in Kansas and now, I'm a New Yorker, living a city life that I couldn't even have dreamed of because I could have never quite imagined what it was truly like from my farm as a child! I have pushed myself to meet so many new people and put myself out of my comfort zone as I explore and experience. It's an interesting and wonderful experience, something that has opened me up to so many new things. I feel myself growing daily. And when I see the beauty of my city, I'm overcome with the thoughts of how proud I am that I am living this life, despite how far out of my comfort zone I am.
More on my adventures here: (I've dedicated my blog to it!) http://aliandsethinthecity.blogspot.com/
O, and I love the trip story. I want to go on one all by myself someday...
Fifty two days after I graduated from high school, I moved to Paris, all by myself. I went from my little town (pop. less than 1200) to Paris (pop. HUGE). I was eighteen, and I had taken French from the third grade until I graduated, but although my teacher insisted that I would have no problem speaking French when I got there, imagine my surprise when I found I could hardly understand ANYTHING that was being said to me! By the end of the year I spoke French so well I had Parisians tell me they were surprised to hear I was from Canada, with my accent they just assumed I was Parisian, which is a huge compliment because most people from France do not like to admit anyone else can speak French as well as they can, especially people from Paris.
So there is my story, here I am tooting my own (French) horn. :D Sorry, couldn't resist! Have a great weekend!
OK...this isn't an easy thing to do. I consider myself to be mediocre at best. But a couple of years ago one of the microscopy images I had taken got chosen for the cover of the journal we submitted the paper too. At the time I really down played the whole thing, like it wasn't a big deal. But secretly on the inside, I couldn't help but to see stars. In my line of work, a cover image is a big deal and great resume padding. My boss had the cover framed for me. It's one of my most favored possessions.
Just a few weeks ago at work I got a command from on high to execute a program that I thought would have dire results. Instead of grumbling and doing the program I worked up an alternative idea and presented it to our Chair and Board, along with the results of research I had that lead me to believe the original program would fail. I got a great response, they loved my alternative and I later was pulled aside by our Chairwoman and she told me she was grateful for my tenacity on the project - that most people at my level (low woman on the totem pole, one of the younger ones in the office) would just put their head down and do what they were told. She was impressed that I had the persistence not only do the research and devise a new program, but was also bold enough to call together the head honchos and tell them they were wrong. I was pretty proud for just coming up with the new program and doing a kick-ass presentation but having her praise my efforts was icing on the cake.
I moved to England and took on a one-year master's program, in a school where I knew no one and in a city where I knew half a dozen people. I lived in a completely new area of town, with three girls I'd never met, and during that year I travelled to both Ireland and Austria alone to meet up with friends. It was the best year of my life. And I still can't believe I did it.
This is such a great thread, Karen. And your vacation story inspires me! I've never even gone to a movie by myself!
One of the most thrilling things I've done, and which gave me the greatest sense of accomplishment, was going to law school in NYC, because it represented me conquering several fears all in one giant step. I had been working for 5 years, and never really believed I was smart enough to do go to law school; so taking the plunge, studying for the LSAT and getting in was HUGE. Graduating and passing the bar - HUGE. Also, I had been ensnarled in a horrible relationship for the two years prior, and I left him and the city he was in to go to NYC on my own, penniless but ecstatic. I remember waking up for the first time on my tiny bed in my tiny room in my tiny apartment on 9th Avenue, and wanting to yell 'FREEEEEEEEDOOOOOOOOOOOM' like Mel Gibson in Braveheart!!!
I decided that swimming with dolphins was on my "bucket list." I had an experience of being in a controlled environment with one and actually getting to touch her. She even gave me a ride, pushing me through the water with her forehead on my foot. Then, several years later, I found a trip to Belize where the participants were included in dolphin research. I went. When I think of those gorgeous creatures, my heart swells--especially, remembering them surfing on the waves off the bow as our boat traveled to the island.