This weeks WOW is Debbie!! My sister from another mister. Our brothers were best friends in high school and we found we had more than just our brothers in common. She makes me laugh and is a design wizard! Here is her interview!
1). In the last five years, what new belief, behavior or habit has most improved your life?
Therapy! My husband & I tried for a very long time to have children with no success. In 2015, I had to have a hysterectomy, which ended that chapter in my life rather quickly. My therapist was a blessing, she really helped me deal with depression, and find new avenues of what my future could look like. She also gave me great tools for dealing with overwhelming emotions that would sometimes sneak up on me.
2). What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love?
I make up songs up about my cats & sing them full volume to them. I crack myself up and try to share my cat-song writing prowess with others. My best song, you ask? I had a cat named Thumper, aka Thumps. When Black Eyed Peas came out with “my lovely lady lumps”, the song wrote itself:
‘My Thumps, My Thumps, My lovely kitty Thumps. Whatcha gonna do with all those claws, all those claws up in your paws? I’m gonna scratch, scratch, scratch and tear, scratch and tear your lovely chair.”
3). What is the best purchase that you have made in recent memory?
A super fancy king size bed that doesn’t transfer movement. My husband jiggles & jerks his legs all night long, I didn’t realize how poor my sleep was until we got this bed. He’s also a blanket hog & ‘claims’ that I sleep like a starfish (ok, its true), so now there’s enough real estate and covers for both of us. Huge difference when you get enough sleep. Plus it’s soooo comfy. Hands down the best purchase of the last decade.
4). If you could have a giant billboard anywhere with anything on it, what would it say and why?
Life is short. Break the rules.
Forgive quickly, kiss slowly.
Love truly, laugh uncontrollably
and never regret anything that makes you smile.
~Mark Twain
The USA is scary right now, so divided, so nasty. Just a reminder that life is fleeting, be human.
5). When you feel unsure or overwhelmed what do you do?
At work, I will ask questions, buckle my seatbelt and burn the midnight oil to dig out of the hole.
In life, use skills learned in therapy to cope & act appropriately. Then I’ll work out, then drink a glass of wine. Voila.
6). What is your biggest problem, issue or stumbling block in your daily life?
Losing weight. Hormone therapy, pregnancies, surgeries and depression left me way heavier than I ever thought was possible. I’ve always been very active, my weight wasn’t really an issue, it might go up and down, but I could always reign it in. Wow, it is hard to lose weight when you sit at a desk 40+ hours a week. It is a daily struggle to diet, mostly because I SUPER hate feeling deprived and hungry. If other people are eating cake, I want cake. Luckily, I love working out, it’s the food part that gets me. I’m doing well, I know the right things to do and will get there.
7). How has failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a “favorite failure” of yours?
I was working in LA as the Tech Design Manager for imports. We were bought by VF corporation, who brought in their own Execs. My new boss decided on her first day, without meeting me, that she didn’t need me and that I was to be fired. Luckily, the VP of Production called me into her office and told me this was going down, and asked if I’d like to learn the domestic side of the business. The thing was, I didn’t. I was not interested in learning domestic production at all. But she convinced me to try it, and said “just think of these as new, different tools to put into your ‘career’ toolbox, it never hurts to learn more about another side of the industry.” I accepted. And, she was right. That adage “when one door shuts, another door opens” applied perfectly here. It was very eye opening for me, to take off your blinders and be aware of opportunities that present themselves. It helped me immensely in my career, shout out to Viviana! Woot woot!
8). What is the most memorable thing you have received in recent memory?
My husband recently opened a box from his mom, we’ve had it for 7 years, since she passed away. It was too painful to open it until now. I don’t know if his mom or sister packed it, but inside were some items that were very special to my mother in law, that we had given her as gifts. I was so happy to see these items that made that sassy little lady chuckle! I looked for these items when we helped set up the estate sale & was crushed that I couldn’t find them. An unexpected gift from the past.
9). Who inspires you to be your best self?
My husband. He says he loves my feisty spirit, he says its because I’m passionate. He is my biggest fan and always finds the bright side.
10). What would you tell your 21 year old self?
Venture out & make real friends. Pick friends that actually like you, don’t hang out with the kids you grew up with just because it seems safer. Also, ease up with the partying and go to class!!
11). What would you be doing right now if money wasn’t part of the equation?
Designing workout clothing, that’s where I started in the clothing industry & I’d love to be again. And teaching yoga or zumba, lol. I taught group fitness classes from age 18-34, mostly step aerobics, dance aerobics and kickboxing. I loved helping people achieve their fitness goals & the feeling of community at a local gym.
12). What three things are foremost on your mind right now?
Work, dieting, making new friends, and whether I should move back to LA?
Bonus question:
When does your curiosity create difficulty?
I have lots of curiosity, but I can’t think of when it has caused difficulty. Yawn, what a boring answer.