So who am I, anyway? A question that many of us spend a lifetime trying to figure out . . .
The older I get, the more introspective I have become. On the surface, I love baking and flower gardening, reading, staying fit and being an introvert – hunkering down at home and feeling cozy. As I reflect on these hobbies, I realize I like to create and cultivate pleasing things – be they flowers or desserts – to keep my world in order, under my control, and pleasing to my eye. I spend quite a bit of time reading, often gravitating to the stories where the protagonist overcomes some sort of trauma – clearly a reflection of my childhood. I work hard to stay active and fit, finding a great release in physical activities such as karate and the punching bag. And I love my home of 30+ years, a quiet, comforting environment where I can feel nurtured and safe. A number of deep things going on there, but then, don’t we all have some kind of trauma we struggle to overcome?
I feel both appreciative and accomplished – a nice double whammy. After heading in several different directions, I was ever so fortunate to have built and led a rescue organization for 20+ years that saved 12,000+ cats. Not everyone gets to have a career that they love while working out of their home, and in the process meet not only their soulmate (as in hubby), but to make some amazing lifelong friends.
I have written a book about my experiences (Rescue Meez, very pleased with it); gotten my black belt (just recently, in my 60’s); and am finally in a place where I feel comfortable slowing down enough to appreciate the little things. I am also very proud that despite a family history of alcoholism that stretches miles and miles back through the generations, I have broken with tradition. As much as I bake, this was not necessarily a piece of cake, and has made an enormous difference in my search for happiness.
I look forward to sharing my recent-found love of life through nature, culinary arts, great books and appreciation of the world around us.
