On Medium there is a publication called, “About Me Stories.” It’s an extremely popular publication and people post their, About Me Stories from all over the world. Through sharing our stories we get to learn about others from other cultures and also get to find connection through commonalities and even differences.

I recently talked to my EJ friend James Ezimoha about life in Nigeria. I, being from the US have no lens for what life is like on any other continent and was intrigued by what I learned, but I will let him share if he is willing to do an “about me story.” (Tag your it.)

I have been writing for Elephant Journal for the last year (my first article was published on 8/31/2020-thank you Covid for lighting a fire under me.)

I love the community here and the caring compassionate writers and readers. I feel like I have found a family through our creative bond and connection through reading others’ words.

I thought it might be fun to do an Elephant Journal version of “About me stories.”

I’ll go first with 10 facts about me:

1. I don’t watch TV. I will watch an occasional episode of something on Hulu with my family or a Disney Plus show with my kid, but we never have the TV on in the house, but maybe for an hour or so every few weeks. We don’t have Netflix and I just don’t care enough about getting sucked into something and having to binge-watch it. My guilty pleasure used to be the Kardashians, but I cut myself off a few years ago. I am super sensitive to violence and don’t watch the news or any other drama. If Oprah was still on I would watch it for sure. I love her.

2. I took a class in college (2012) called Food and Mental health where we watched documentaries likes Forks over Knives, Food Matters, and Fat Sick and Nearly Dead. I stopped eating meat right away. I couldn’t stand to see animals tortured for our daily intake and was intrigued by people getting healthier on a plant-based diet. I gave up dairy, eggs, and fish in 2017 after watching the documentary, What The Health and feel passionate about saving animals and our planet. When I went fully vegan I lost 30 pounds of inflammation and half a shoe size. I had pain in my joints and it hurt my feet to stand up. I feel so much more alive without consuming meat and dairy. My goal is to be completely raw, which I did for a couple of months last summer.

3. I have a motorcycle endorsement. I used to ride on the back of my dad’s Harleys as a teen and love the sound of the motor and the wind on my face. I got my license in 2010, but have never owned my own bike. I had a scooter for a while, but It was too big and with kids, I just feel safer in my 4 wheel vehicle. I do think about riding sometimes, but I will have to wait to find the perfect small bike and feel ready to be out there on my own.

4. I got court-ordered to AA after a DUI in 1998. I was in treatment and had weekly UA’s (urine analysis) and a probation officer. I had to stay clean for two years to avoid jail time, but I got pregnant with 8 months sober which made my sober time much easier. I have a 22-year-old son that has never seen either of his parents drink. We each have 23 years sober thanks to him. I consider my son to be an angel that saved me.

5.  I’ve lost both my parents and have no siblings so I’m kind of like an adult orphan. I didn’t have a typical family unit (alcoholic caretakers, father in prison) so I like to think I am better not having to worry about them, but I still have grief about how things played out.

6. I moved from Seattle to Minnesota in 2017 to be closer to my husband’s family, but had severe culture shock and realized I hate small towns. I lasted a year and then we moved to a suburb closer to the city and I really like it here.

7. I am 49% Extrovert and 51% Introvert. I love socializing with certain people and loathe it with others. I can not small talk at all, but I love learning more about people and will ask all the questions to dive deep. I need time to recharge and my bedroom is my safe place. #ilovebed

8. I have 10/10 ACES or Adverse Childhood Experiences. There is an online quiz you can take here: ACES QUIZ. I am super passionate about childhood trauma and how it affects us as adults. I work with children that have trauma in their lives and feel like it is my purpose to connect with these kids and make a difference in their lives.

9. I love shopping, clothes, fashion, and buying. I’d say my most favorite hobby is shopping, but now I try to buy through Poshmark instead of the big stores. I also sell a lot of our used things on Poshmark. It’s a fun little side gig. I always try to make sure my purchases are purposeful and have become less impulsive over the years. I work toward minimalism and strive to only buy things I love. The biggest compliment I can ever receive is, “I like your outfit.” I think it’s because I grew up poor and didn’t feel like I had the things I needed. I went as far as stealing in junior high to have enough clothes. I have some deep-seated fears about not having enough food, clothes, or even toilet paper. Still working on finding security and faith, knowing my needs will be met.

10. Last but not least; I enjoy working out, yoga, reading my Bible (I started in 2017 and am almost through the whole thing, slowly but surely). I have a prayer journal where I write to God and find connection. I love getting quiet and writing (obviously). I find I am at my best when I have had enough sleep (I seem to need more than the average person) and just breathing and finding connection within. I have been learning to nurture my inner child since I found Adult Children of Alcoholics in 2017 and found so much healing through connecting to the pain I was running from.

Thank you all for engaging and if you feel led writing your own, About Me story! I would love to read them to learn more about my fellow friends and writers. xoxo