thirty, flirty, and thriving... -or- the center seat turns one!
This January has brought two momentous occasions... well, they're momentous to me, anyway.
It all started with a conversation in Diamonds Coffee Shoppe in Northeast Minneapolis. Dad (there he is on the left...handsome, huh?) and I were having one of those Meaningful Talks... this one was about where exactly my life was headed. I'd been divorced for about a year, and everyone knows how life-changing a divorce is. But for me, it was more than that: it was self-changing. After I had gone through the anger, and the depression, and the self-pity (believe me, there was plenty of that), I stepped back and looked at myself. I realized I was not the person I wanted to be, and only I had the power to change that. So how exactly does a person go about a full overhaul--a head-to-toe reinvention?
The thing that Dad said to me that was so powerful was that he had become successful when he had found something he was passionate about and then just pursued a career in that field. I honestly had a bit of a Juno moment (remember Mac McGuff? "Heating and cooling.") Dad's passion is life insurance, retirement plans... financial shizz. *Snore* Oh, sorry. And mine--as we all know--is the world of film. I have no idea why I never thought about writing on this subject... but I can say that ever since I started, it's changed my life. I dived headlong into this passion, and guess what? I'm happy! Will this ever lead to a full-blown career? I don't know. But I hope so. I've gone to college for journalism, psychology, special education... none of that has really lit my fire. But for the first time in my life, I have a vocational dream, and I feel like this blog has started me on that path.
Of course there were other things that changed. I had to take a frank look at a lot of things, including politics. (Can y'all believe I used to be a staunch Republican?) There were crises of faith--how can I love my gay friends, advocate for them, and still hold true to what the Bible says?* I grew close to a new group of friends, and moved away from others. And for some reason I decided to get crazy-ass hair (the dreads are totally sick now, by the way... check me out on the right). All these crazy changes have added up to this: if I look at the "me" from twelve months ago, she's barely recognizable. And that's ok. Because I'm So. Freaking. Happy.**
So what's up for 2009? Well...
I'm going to keep it up.
I'm going to stay true to myself.
I'm going to try to blog more frequently.
I'm going to try to do my job (my real job, the one I get paid for) better.
I'm going to be a better person.
And I'm finally going to show you my face.
*The answer is really quite easy. But that's a whole other blog post, on a whole other blog. Buy me a beer sometime, and we'll chat.
**I hear Kevin Kline from French Kiss in my head "When people tell me they are happy, my ass begins to twitch." But I don't care. That's how freaking happy I am. :-D
- On January 4, I turned thirty.
- And today, January 15, this blog o' mine turns one year old.
The thing that Dad said to me that was so powerful was that he had become successful when he had found something he was passionate about and then just pursued a career in that field. I honestly had a bit of a Juno moment (remember Mac McGuff? "Heating and cooling.") Dad's passion is life insurance, retirement plans... financial shizz. *Snore* Oh, sorry. And mine--as we all know--is the world of film. I have no idea why I never thought about writing on this subject... but I can say that ever since I started, it's changed my life. I dived headlong into this passion, and guess what? I'm happy! Will this ever lead to a full-blown career? I don't know. But I hope so. I've gone to college for journalism, psychology, special education... none of that has really lit my fire. But for the first time in my life, I have a vocational dream, and I feel like this blog has started me on that path.
Of course there were other things that changed. I had to take a frank look at a lot of things, including politics. (Can y'all believe I used to be a staunch Republican?) There were crises of faith--how can I love my gay friends, advocate for them, and still hold true to what the Bible says?* I grew close to a new group of friends, and moved away from others. And for some reason I decided to get crazy-ass hair (the dreads are totally sick now, by the way... check me out on the right). All these crazy changes have added up to this: if I look at the "me" from twelve months ago, she's barely recognizable. And that's ok. Because I'm So. Freaking. Happy.**
So what's up for 2009? Well...I'm going to keep it up.
I'm going to stay true to myself.
I'm going to try to blog more frequently.
I'm going to try to do my job (my real job, the one I get paid for) better.
I'm going to be a better person.
And I'm finally going to show you my face.
*The answer is really quite easy. But that's a whole other blog post, on a whole other blog. Buy me a beer sometime, and we'll chat.
**I hear Kevin Kline from French Kiss in my head "When people tell me they are happy, my ass begins to twitch." But I don't care. That's how freaking happy I am. :-D
January 15, 2009 at 8:32 AM
Happy Belated Birthday and Happy Blogaversary!
Here's to more bloggy goodness in '09!!
January 15, 2009 at 10:07 AM
Thanks Hatter, same to you! :-D (the bloggy goodness, I mean)
January 15, 2009 at 11:08 AM
Nayana - Happy belated birthday!
(Coincidentally, mine was January 5 - and I turned a WHOLE LOT OLDER than 30!)
This is a lovely post, and I'm so glad you found your way into the blogosphere this year. I'ts always especially nice to find a fellow, open-minded Christian out here.
Have a wonderful 2009!
January 15, 2009 at 11:28 AM
Awesome post Nayana! Happy Bday and Blogoversary, I'm so glad to hear that the past year has given you so much joy! Let that carry on and florish in 2009.
January 15, 2009 at 2:00 PM
Congrats Nayana! I love the term Blogoversary. I think mine's in April - now I have to go check. Glad you're writing for all of use to enjoy!
January 15, 2009 at 2:01 PM
PS. Love the 13 Going on 30 and French Kiss references.
January 15, 2009 at 10:35 PM
I'm glad to see you've had such an eye opening year. You're certainly one of my favorite internet people.
January 16, 2009 at 3:22 PM
You finally posted your picture! Now the rest of the blogonauts can see those rockin' dreads!
January 16, 2009 at 3:46 PM
Pat, thanks so much. I feel exactly the same way about you!
Shannon, thanks! That's the plan. :-)
Thanks Jess! I love that I can make references like that, and you all get them. :-D
David... likewise. But you knew that.
Pistola... damn straight! One hour to beers, girl.
January 16, 2009 at 10:11 PM
Happy Blogaversary, glad it's been such a good year for you. Hope you write more, I like reading here. Oh, and Happy Birthday!!!
January 21, 2009 at 10:15 AM
This is my favorite post of yours ever. So glad to read it, Nayana. :) Your Dad is wise, and god knows I'm trying to follow that advice, too.
And I'm up for that beer anytime...
January 21, 2009 at 10:35 PM
In Hamlet, Polonius said "this above all, to thine own self be true"....and I think my kid has seized this timeless advice. As Holden Caulfield often observed, she has 'found the handle'. This is about as good as it gets as a parent....to see your kid happy in life, with great friends, unlimited potential, and an amazing gift that she just keeps unwrapping. And...I speak, she listens, even after she's 30...how cool is that!
I love you, Nayana. *Daddy hug and kiss* Keep being awesome.
January 25, 2009 at 6:40 PM
Cheers to the new you in '09, and Happy Very, Very Belated Birthday!