Personal growth and development is a lifelong process that is a way for people to assess their qualities and set goals in order to realize their maximum potential. Last Sunday, I wrote about this personal growth exercise in which you can “know thyself” in 25 questions. In an effort to reset my thinking in order to grow as a human being and to set some short- and long-term goals, I began this process by answering the first twelve questions. Today I’m answering the remaining questions.
So now, here are my answers to the last half of the questions.
13. What qualities do you admire in others?
I admire loyalty, tenacity, and fearlessness. I also admire people who can truly forgive someone who wronged them and still show them love and kindness. I admire someone who refuses to participate in gossiping about others.
14. What practical skills do you wish you had?
I wish I had better computer skills. I also wish I had paid more attention to my Grandma Howard when she was teaching me how to sew a dress or skirt.
15. Imagine you’re in your 90s. What memories would you like to have? What stories do you want to tell?
My Grandpa and Grandma Howard both had symptoms of Alzheimer’s and/or dementia, so I don’t know what I’ll remember, but I hope it’s the good memories. I would like to remember how my husband serenaded me {which he does often}; how much I loved my dogs and cats; how much joy I felt when I watched my family open Christmas presents; how funny certain movies and TV shows were; and how much love I have for my husband and my family. I would like to tell the story about how my husband asked me out first time and my response; about our first date, which lasted almost 12 hours and how he didn’t kiss me goodnight when he finally dropped me off at my apartment at six in the morning; about how we played pinecone baseball; about how I watched and/or was there for the birth of my three nieces; and about how I watched both my parents graduate from college, and then watched my brother graduate from Texas A&M. I hope there are many more stories to tell when I reach my 90s.
16. What is your favorite book/movie/song? Why?
I’m a child of the 80s so it’s only natural that I love the music from my generation. I have a lot of favorite songs from multiple generations. I could listen to certain songs on repeat and never get tired of hearing them, like Journey’s songs Don’t Stop Believin’ and Open Arms, Georgy Porgy and Hold The Line, both by Toto; Pat Benetar’s Love is a Battlefield; or Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley. Geez, I could go on, but I won’t. As for my favorite book, I don’t know as if I have just one favorite. I was an English major in college, but I was always an avid reader and when I was a kid, I remember spending hours in the public library in Levelland. When I find an author whose style I like, then I devour as much as I can. Same goes for movies. I can’t just name a favorite, but I’ll say that any book that is made into a movie is up there on my list, even if the movie is not as good as the book.
17. If you could make one change in the world, what would it be?
“That would be… harsher punishment for parole violators, Stan. {crowd is silent} And world peace!” But mostly, world peace. {Thank you Gracie Lou Freebush!}
18. What do you love to do for, or give to others (not an objects – something from you personally)?
I love to give my time. Sometimes people just need to know that you’re there for them, literally.
19. What excites you?
Anything really… a good joke, a movie that I’ve been wanting to see, a song, a kiss from my love, my dogs, watching someone I love accomplish something awesome.
20. What do you wish you did more of?
I wish I could travel more.
21. Pretend money is no object. What would you do?
Simple… travel {for me} and build my husband his dream garage complete with everything he needs to work on cars and trucks.
22. What area of your life, right now, makes you feel the best? Which area makes you feel the worst? Why?
I’d like to say that the the best area of my life is my relationship with my husband. We’ve been married for 19 years now, so there’s something to say about the longevity of our marriage. The area that makes me feel the worst is how distant I feel from my three nieces. They are growing up and they have their own lives now. It makes me sad, but at the same time, I’m happy for them.
23. Let’s jump forward a year. What would you like to have achieved in the past year?
I would like to achieve an increase with my blog as a brand. I would like to have my motorcycle license. I would like to check off more things on my “101 things to do in 1001 days” list. I would like to be healthier and slimmer.
24. What piece of advice would you give to five-year-old you? Sixteen-year-old you? Twenty-one-year-old you? Right now?
To my five-year-old self – don’t ever stop learning. To my sixteen-year-old self – experiment with your personal style and don’t give up on your dreams. To my twenty-one-year-old self – don’t fall for that guy just because he has a cute ass, travel more, continue to experiment with fashion and your style, and don’t give up on your dreams. To myself, right now – never feel as old as you actually are, slow down and enjoy the ride, hug more, love more, smile more, and give more.
25. How do you want to be remembered in life?
I want to be remembered as someone who was kind, friendly, selfless, non-judgmental, and loving. I want people to say that they loved being around me, that I encouraged them when they needed it most, and that I was the friend that stuck by them through thick and thin.
Wow, these questions seemed a bit more difficult for me to answer because they really made me think. I’m sure that I will answer some of them differently if I revisit this personal growth exercise next year, which would be a great thing to do to continually challenge myself to grow.
Have you challenged yourself to answer the questions in this personal growth exercise? What one question was the most introspective for you?
Yours Truly,
Vanessa
{Images borrowed from Loa Power and Misty Sansom, via and Pinterest}
