Once upon a time, a certain Bigshot Blogger (read Vidya Sury) decided to respond to an article on Oprah’s website: 11 Things Every Woman Should Write Down Before the Year Ends. Then, the smart woman (Vidya, not Oprah!), passed on the tag to a Ms Ever-ready Blogger, Richa Singh, who passed it on to the Super(woman) Blogger, Shilpa Garg, who passed the tag on to Ms Ever-Enthusiastic Blogger, Meena Menon, who passed it on to little old me. So here I am trying hard to live up to their super posts.
1. What Younger You Would Like About Present You
My younger self would jump up and give me a high-five for the fact that I’m finally learning to stand up for myself. No one messes with the present me! “You want to play games, go play them in your own yard.” Yes, I’m getting more comfortable with who I am. So what if I’m a late starter? At least I’m learning to say no and not feel any guilt. For all of this, I must credit my number one cheerleader, Jose!
2. The Watched/Read It List
I hardly watch movies – but thanks to Romedy Now, I’ve watched several in the last few weeks. The one that stands out for me is – Living Out Loud. It reminded me that illness or change of circumstances can make us re-look at life and our priorities. It told me that it’s never too late to do what you’re passionate about.
And books – this has been a year for books. I’ve read about 150 (amended to read: 138) of them this year. The life-changing on is Julia Cameron’s – The Artist’s Way. It has helped me to silence my inner critic!
3. The Mistake You Never Want to Make
If there’s one thing I can’t stand is self-righteous behaviour! So if you ever feel that I’m beginning to sound or act that way, you have my permission to reach out and give me a whack on my head. I’m serious.
4. Your Ideal Outfit
I’m wearing it – jeans with a loose blouse – but it would be nice if both were a smaller size! 😉
5. A Deep, Dark—Shhh—Secret
I bite my nails – the more interesting the book I’m reading, the more I chew my nails! Okay, go on now, analyse that!
6. The Most Unexpected Compliment You Ever Got
This was a shocker from earlier this year – it wasn’t just the person but also what s/he said: ‘You’re the most sensible one in your family.’ Ha….If only my family realized that! But now that it’s the public domain they might take notice – and see how true that is.
7. That One Quote
This is something that has given me loads of strength ever since I was a teenager – it’s a verse from the Bible which comes with a story of its own for me – I’ll be sharing the background soon, but here it is:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Another one that just occurred to me is : Being awesome is the best revenge. Thank you, Karen Salmansohn.
8. The Best Surprise You’ve Ever Had
This was the nicest thing that was sprung on me during my visit to the Philippines. It was a Sunday and it happened to be my birthday. My hosts, a lovely group of young people, took me to Church and after Mass there was a surprise birthday party complete with pizza and singing. Complete strangers came up and wished me. If that wasn’t enough, I was taken out for dinner and suddenly the waiters came in singing with a cake! It was 1994 and this wasn’t something that happened in India then. I was so touched and grateful.
I’m glad that I’ve reconnected with many of these lovely people!
9. Your True Happiness
It’s always the ordinary everyday stuff that makes me happy – Jose, with Pablo thrown in for good measure, sharing the cooking (and the eating), laughter and conversations, working on our computers or reading books in companionable silence. And then it’s the crazy conversations with friends – a little leg-pulling, some banter and lots of encouragement!
10. Your Favorite Failure
This is a difficult one for sure. But I’d say it’s when my business plans didn’t take off like they were meant to – which gave me the freedom to move to Mumbai and on to my present life – and also discover blogging – a whole new world!
11. An Amendment to the Bucket List
I don’t have a bucket list so there isn’t one to amend. But there’s one big decision I made this year – I don’t plan to publish a book any more – via the official route, at least. I realize I don’t have it in me to do what it takes to sell a book. Instead, I’m going to be writing more and working on sharing what I write in other ways.
This wasn’t as easy an exercise as I thought it would be. But I’m glad I undertook it. It helped me clarify a lot of things for myself.
2013 has been very kind to me – as I bid the year goodbye, I do so with gratitude for the love, the friendship (old and new), the good health and all the experiences I’ve had. And I’m grateful to you, my dear readers.
I wish you the very best in 2014! God bless you and your families.
PS: Also read posts on this topic by Kajal Kapur, Pratibha Pal and Prudhvi Lata.
Some really nice points there…that made me reflect too. I guess, these kind of exercises are always great to clear one’s thoughts.
Thanks 🙂
Rainbow Hues recently posted..Ringing In The New Year
Thanks, Kajal. I saw that you have done this exercise and included your link as well, although I haven’t read it yet!
Wishing you and your loved ones everything good in 2014.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Sponsored Video: Dreams Of Life
What a fab post, Corinne! Loved the way you reflected on the past and the present. About saying No, I read somewhere that ‘No is a complete sentence and so often we forget that’. When we learn to say No, we say Yes confidently and mean it too! That was a fantastic birthday full of pleasant surprises.. Oh yes, finding happiness in the everyday things is important, for one day we will realize that they were the big things. Wishing you and Jose and Pablo too, the very best in 2014! Cheers ♥
Shilpa Garg recently posted..New Year… New Challenges
Thanks for putting this up! Would write down my list right away! 🙂
Have a great 2014! 😀
So calling me names eh? Glad you didn’t link to me. Nobody will ever know who I am!
HUGGGGS Corinne! What a great job with the questions! By the way, I’ve stopped biting my nails. Oh okay, 7 out of 10 are intact! 😀
Your answers are amazingly realistic and easy, but that’s what I love about you. I am with “you are one of the most sensible people I know”
Love you!
Vidya
Vidya Sury recently posted..Composers for Relief: A Cup Of Peace
Well me and my jeans too would like to be smaller in size too 😀 and Corinne more power to you, I have a feeling you are one of my most sensible person not just in your families but including many families 🙂
All my recent experiences with you has started telling me that you are no longer the miss serious my friend 😀 *tight lipped* and if just in case you take a detour you know I will be one of the first ones to point out 😀
A great round up on the questions 🙂
Richa Singh recently posted..A year round up post!
A wonderful post Corinne. By the way I was wondering whether you have any nails left considering that you read 150 books this year.
Geeta Nair recently posted..Those were the days
Wow..that was neat…150 books???? I wish I could finish 5 books at least 🙁 bad me…
Hey, I have a medicine for nail biting…I am not kidding…do you want it? I got for my daughter and it worked..I send it to a friend to B’ lore recently…:) It is a nail polish that is transparent and it tastes …..HORRIBLE…;)
Happy new year, Corinne!!!
Found In Folsom recently posted..11 Things Every Woman Should Write Down Before the Year Ends!!!!
Love LOVE love this post Corinne!
****“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11***
–this was my sister’s all time fave verse. It is highlighted neon yellow in her bible, which I have.
Happy 2014 !! Xx
My Inner Chick recently posted..21 Things I’ve Learned in 2013 & Other Stuff
Corinne, I just loved this! You have such a wonderful way with words and such a great self-perspective. I’m blessed to have you as a friend!
May your New Year be a joyous one!
Martha Orlando recently posted..Merry Christmas to All!
Inspiring and touching self-perception Corinne! I hope I am also able to stand for myself in my personal life, I am fine when it comes to professional one! Guess I am too emotional in my personal life and everybody takes advantage of that! Anyway here’s wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year 2014. May the year brings with it loads of love, laughter, luck, happiness, peace and harmony! God Bless!
Corrine,
I love these questions! What a great way to start the New Year by looking within.
Happy 2014! Looking forward to reading many more wonderful posts this year!
xoxo
Betsy
Betsy/Zen Mama recently posted..Carpe Annum/Seize The Year! 10 Resolutions for 2014
This was so much fun to read. I felt myself smiling throughout. Standing up for oneself comes with age and it is welcome when it shows up.
Kathy Combs ( recently posted..New Years Resolutions
Loved this post… One should list all the inspiring and motivating things in oneself…to start the year anew.. Happy New Year..
Pratikshya Mishra recently posted..December delights
Nice list.
Having learnt to say No, it’s important to keep preventing oneself from slipping back into the earlier rut.
Happy New Year!
Proactive Indian recently posted..No bribe, no business!
Lovely responses Corinne… esp. loved the verse you shared.. what better start could one ask for the year after reading that 🙂
Seeta recently posted..Connecting The Dots…
Cory, you know finding happiness with J n Pablo…. In little things together …. Thats something I definitely admire in u! Somehow I cant think of a Cory who doesnt stand upfor herself or let other stake take u for a ride…….
Meena Menon recently posted..11 Things Every Woman Should Write Down…..
Wonderful account that reflects your personality…
loved reading this amazing post!
Happy New Year!
Glad to read this post Corinne, perfect way of expressing yourself, and very inspiring too – I want to reflect on the 11 things related to my life and thank you for sharing !
G Angela recently posted..A Special Day in My Life !
Loved this. a sure must read. am sending a link to all my friends.
Pooja Sharma Rao recently posted..Hashtag YOLO : A lesson for 2014 from 2013
That is an amazing list! So nice getting to know you!
Susan Dusterhoft
Today’s Writing Woman
todayswritingwoman.blogspot.com
Susan Dusterhoft recently posted..Happy New Year 2014
These 11 steps are like a guide for next year. A confidence boost and a mirror that is reflecting the real me.
Women are so busy with lives, relationships that they forget their real self… these 11 points once again made me meet me 🙂
Payal Bansal recently posted..10 Babies Born with Rare and Bizarre Defect, Disorder or Disease
I am enjoying reading this post by various bloggers…nice to see everyone’s answers. Loved your post Corinne! Especially how you find true happiness in pretty much the everyday things. Happy New Year! 🙂
Psych Babbler recently posted..2014: A time to look ahead
Corinne I have been waiting for you to write this…A couple of days before I scrolled through the FB page to find your link up and didn’t. and today, when I wasn’t expecting it, it came.
Certainly these are 11 question one must answer. I too don’t have a bucket list but I think I will sit down and create one.
150 books in a year :O Kudos to you 🙂 I wish someday I reach a balance where I know how to read books and blog and still have time for other things. Once you began to say No, I think you will like it quite a bit. It is really important at times.
All in all, I loved reading this post. It is nice to get to know you better. We all go through a low phase in life and I think I am lucky that I have such amazingly inspiring people around me.
sugandha recently posted..Happy New Year – “Resolution Kya Liya?”
I was looking forward to this one… a way to know you a little better.. From the little I know you I feel it is a very honest attempt ..and I loved reading it. Standing up for yourself… this is so important and sometimes little difficult too. I myself many times get trapped in a situation when I do or say things just to avoid confrontations ..but later that pinches so much. So somewhere even i am working on this aspect and hopefully will come out as a winner. I love that verse and so much believe in it..He does have plans for us and he is anyday a better planner..So i delegate and relax..it was lovely reading all the points…
Shiva recently posted..Stroke of Midnight
Loved your list. But the one that stood out for me was the quote from the Bible. Isn’t that just ever so true. I don’t have a bucket list either – I prefer to go with the flow and see what the Universe throws my way. Wish you an awesome 2014.
Suzy recently posted..UBC Day 3 My Younger Self Is Delighted
Corinne, That’s an absolutely beautiful little insight into a Corinne that I didn’t know. Loved that you took on the tag and decided to give it a whirl
Sid recently posted..Kick It
Happy 2014 Corinne! 🙂
Loved your answers ! Esp – ” Being awesome is the best revenge”
Yes! Its true!! 😀 😀
And you are simply awesome! <3
Pixie recently posted..Write Tribe Festival – Music
Wonderful post!
Recently, saw a nice movie “The Terminal” on Romedy Now! 🙂
Tarang Sinha recently posted..Promising Sunrise
While writing this post, I had an amazing clarity of mind. It made me think of so many things I could be grateful for. Whenever I have a low day, I just go back to the post and think about the wonderful things and it makes me happy!
Pratibha recently posted..Healthy Trail Mix Recipe – DIY
A beautiful post Corinne. I really loved all the answers, the style of writing was so positive and clear. I really enjoyed reading it.
This is a glowing and lovely post. Glad to stop by here after long. Hope to do so more regularly in the coming days. Lists as this one give us a sense of direction of what we have done and where we stand. Beautiful thoughts, Corinne. I must do something like this in my journal.
Joy always,
Susan