Vitality Stories Interview #1
Hello, My Name is Teri
This weekend, I made an adult , risky and cringe-worthy, decision. Sometimes my newsletter will cover interviews with Vitality Stories worthy folks. Each guest will answer the same questions, which at times, are very personal. I decided that I shouldn’t expect anyone to answer questions I’m uncomfortable answering myself (even if I do not consider myself ‘Vitality Stories worthy’)– I’m the student, not the teacher! So this weekend I submitted my responses to my lovely subscribers, exclusively. I hope they found the read worth their time. Here is the explanation they received along with my long, nervous, babbling answers. And thanks to feedback from a few subscribers, I’ll share three of their favorites. And I included this image which actually proves one of my responses!
Dear Subscribing Friend,
Whilst meeting people who need help writing their memoirs, I’ve also met several people whose lives I’m very interested in learning more about, but I won’t be helping them write their life stories. I think these are people who have a powerful story, lesson, or just some joy to share with the world. So when there is an opportunity, I will be interviewing people, and asking them staple questions. I’m intrigued how different people will respond to the same question. The interviewee has an option to pass on any questions, no questions asked (excuse the pun).
With this in mind, I think I should have the cojones to be the first to answer my own questions. I hate feeling vulnerable, as if I’m exposing myself to ridicule. HOWEVER, the purpose and intent of the Q&A is quite the opposite—the shared answers are meant to lend perspective, experience, and lessons. Some might resonate. Some won’t. So I need to walk my talk and be the first interviewee. I can’t expect other people to answer my questions if I’m too afraid to answer them myself. AND who better to exclusively share my responses with than my friendly subscribers? I still have much to learn in life, but maybe you’ll like a few of my reflections and experiences. I know I can learn from yours!
Thank you for being a subscriber, supporting me in this new endeavor. My commitment is to answer these questions on an annual basis because if I’m living life fully and learning from my elders, some of these questions will have new answers.
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Q: Do you know what your purpose or passion is in life today? When and did you recognize it?
A: Today, my passion is writing. I say ‘today’ because even though I’ve always enjoyed writing, I haven’t dedicated my time to writing until these past few years. I used to struggle with calling writing my passion because I wasn’t making it a priority and trying on a regular basis. By definition, can something be a passion if I don’t want to do it every chance I have? Too many times I have let responsibilities and distractions take precedence. But, penning novel has always been a dream, if not a passion, before now…From that point on, I started writing fictional stories that often reflected events in my own life. For example, in seventh grade, aka puberty, I mostly wrote about budding romances between a popular boy in school and a shy girl with an alcoholic parent. I would submit my romances to contests with SEVENTEEN Magazine. I’d bound my pages together with a three-hole punch and blue yarn, certain SEVENTEEN would track me down, awed by my talent…
Q: What has been your biggest lesson in life?
A: There is not a single one, but the most prominent, probably an umbrella answer that contributes to all others, is that I always have a personal choice to make, no matter the circumstance. My choice may be an action, or it may be the perspective I adopt…but I always have a choice.
Q: If you could travel back in time and speak to your twenty-year old self, what would you say?
A: I have a laundry list of answers to this question, which is why I want to ask other people this question. I’d tell myself,
- Ask the Dean ‘how’ I could manage D.C., or to do an exchange program.
- Date A LOT and stay out of a relationship.
- Read more literature and less trashy romance novels.
- Don’t get a credit card before you understood how they work, and pay cash for a reliable car.
- Explore the world as much as possible and don’t believe that you need a lot of money, or a month or more to make a trip worthwhile. Whether by foot, car, bus, or plane, go to new places.
- There is more than one true love and you can fall in love and be loved as many times as you are willing.
- You always have a choice.
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