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You are here: Home / Uncategorized / Today It’s All About Me

Today It’s All About Me

December 7, 2011 by admin

Wow, thanks, Jodi Aman of Heal Now and Forever, for the blog award! It’s always exciting to be recognized by one’s peers, especially by someone whose work I admire.

Here’s the catch: To receive the award, I need to write seven things about myself. Seven? I can usually come up with one, especially when I’m trying to make a point, but seven feels monumental. I’ll give it my best shot!

  1. My first name is Beth, after a character in Little Women. I have a sister Amy, also named from the book. Of course, I also have other siblings NOT named from the book (John, Valerie, and Bryan), but I can’t explain that. I have Beth’s shyness and Jo’s bluntness, which don’t mesh well together. I stopped going by Beth at age 33 when I decided I felt more like a Nadine…whatever that means.
  2. I spent years on a spiritual quest and ended up converting to Judaism. I am not into the rituals so much, but I love the emphasis on ethics and integrity, and the concept of tikkun olam (repairing the world) is an integral part of my philosophy.
  3. I grew up in a blue-collar household, where I was taught a strong work ethic. This is where I get my populist leanings and start spitting nails when people speak of the working class as “lazy.” I would challenge any of these pompous politicians, especially one who thinks poor children aren’t being taught to work hard, to spend one day in the shoes of these Americans who give so much and receive so little. Oops, I’m getting political again!
  4. Ill health defined much of my childhood, and in my late 30s, I had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for many years. These days I am strong and energetic, and I am grateful, grateful, grateful. This is why I am so into organic, local foods, gardening, yoga, and other forms of stress reduction. Every time I hike a mountain, I remember the years that I couldn’t. I hope I always do.
  5. I graduated from college at age 45. For years I didn’t admit that I wanted to be a writer when I grew up, so I would take classes, trying to come up with something else, ANYTHING else, that I could do. Finally I gave up and admitted that good or bad, I write, and I’m not much good for anything else. Because I was still dealing with the ill health in #4 above, I finished via “distance learning” from Eastern Oregon University in an accredited degree program. Better late than never! It was a proud moment for me.
  6. Julia Cameron is my hero. I found her book, The Artist’s Way, in 1997. I had always wanted to write but didn’t know how to get started. Within three weeks of practicing the principles in her book, I started to write, and I haven’t stopped. Her work, which focuses on unblocking creativity, also led me to start quilting, taking photographs, traveling, and more. I thank her not just for the writing, but for opening my life to adventure.
  7. A former co-worker started calling me Spa Woman because I love massages and facials, hot springs, and all other forms of pampering. I liked the nickname, so I use it online frequently as an alias.

As part of accepting this award, I will pay it forward by recommending other great blogs — stay tuned! I will offer those tomorrow as part of my Thursday Books and Blogs entry. Thanks again, Jodi!

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Heal Now and Forever, Jodi Aman, Julia Cameron, Little Women, The Artist's Way

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richard p hughes
richard p hughes
11 years ago

It’s nice to learn so much about you. Spiritual journey’s are the most difficult. I know.

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admin
Author
admin
11 years ago
Reply to  richard p hughes

Thanks, Richard. It felt a little weird to do all this disclosing without a larger point in mind, so I appreciate your feedback. Thanks, as always, for reading!

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zencherry
zencherry
11 years ago

Jodi is a wise person for giving an award to you. ๐Ÿ˜‰ (Hugs) Congratulations!

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admin
Author
admin
11 years ago
Reply to  zencherry

Jodi is awesome! One of the reasons I love blogging so much is that I get to hang around cool people like you, Jodi, and many more!

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Jodi Aman
Jodi Aman
11 years ago

Thanks zecherry! Nadine deserves it and she did it justice! Always helping and thinking of others, she is!

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admin
Author
admin
11 years ago
Reply to  Jodi Aman

Thanks, Jodi! *blush*

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Marlene Dotterer
Marlene Dotterer
11 years ago

Those are great details! So nice to learn more about you. We have even more in common – I also graduated from college at the ripe age of 45. I figured, “I’m going to be 45 eventually, anyway. I may as well graduate from college at the same time…”

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admin
Author
admin
11 years ago
Reply to  Marlene Dotterer

Interesting, Marlene! I think that I attended college with much more appreciation than when I was younger — it was a great experience. Congrats to you!

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Michael Ann
Michael Ann
11 years ago

Thank you for sharing this with us. It was interesting to learn more about you! I’m glad you are healthy now and living such an active and authentic life!

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Julie Farrar
Julie Farrar
11 years ago

Thanks for sharing, Nadine. I’m another “better late than never” character trying to listen to the call of her destiny. And I’m reading me some Julia Cameron right now myself. Oh, it’s so late. How will I ever get up and do my morning pages tomorrow?

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Bella
Bella
11 years ago

Nadine, the wonderful thing about this type of award is that it allows your readers to learn more about you. So Beth, huh? Somehow I feel Nadine suits you more! I studied Judaism in college and was blown away, especially by their rituals on death and dying. I look forward to your blog recommendations! ๐Ÿ™‚

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