Linking up with @MTDLBlog for #ListableLife today - 5 Things I am Proud to Tell you About Me.

I have a confession. This meme had slipped my mind almost completely. It has been a rather wild time in my life. Thankfully a tweet from @NoticetheDirt brought me back and I am delighted to share with you. I hope you will read all the way through - some of this is tough and I don't want anyone to think if you feel different than me I wouldn't find you awesome or I would judge you. Perhaps the #1 Think I might have said I am proud of about me is I am non-judgmental. I believe in people wholeheart and wholesoul. That being said - here are 5 other things I am proud of... please don't mind the odd formatting. Typepad is annoying me today!

5 Things I Am Proud to Tell You About Me:

1. I made sure my brother, John, had a funeral – by committing to organize and facilitate the event. It turned out wonderfully and all four of my surviving siblings and my parents were so grateful I fought for it. My Mom wasn’t planning on it, but I was the only sibling willing to speak on John’s behalf: “We would not be having this conversation if it were any of the rest of us.” John had Down’s Syndrome. He was thirteen months younger than me and we always had a beyond language connection. His celebration of life was more like a reunion in the park where we used to hold family softball games. We stood in a circle, we shared stories, some shed tears and I made sure no one left without touching someone else when the day was over: we stood and held hands. I could say much but most of all, I am proud that I stood as my brother John’s protector until the very end. I am very, very proud of that. 
2. I returned to the stage after a 30+ year hiatus eight years ago. I have since done films, commercials, music videos and I haven’t counted how many plays I have done. I have won a best supporting actor, female award in the local theater community. Most of all, I opted for passion. I am oh, so proud of that!

1. Actually 3: I gave birth to four babies without using pain medication. I am proud of that, even or especially in this day of epidurals and hyper intensive medical intervention.
   NOW! Please know I believe in each woman creating her own experience. For some women, an epidural is the only way they can do it. So – no judgment. I love those birth stories… the most important thing is becoming a Mommy. My first child was stillborn (yes, with no pain medicine) so I understand and welcome necessary interventions. I don’t want anyone to shut down and not read this list! I am proud that I let women know of the many birth options available. Yes, I am proud of that.

1. Actually 4: I am tenacious. Weasel like. I need to remind myself of this when I am in one of my depressive episodes. I have a diagnosis of Severe Depression, but my therapist said about four weeks ago that I was in “complete remission” the thought of which (and the responsibility of which!) made me a bit anxious. Isn’t that ironic? And funny? And I can laugh at it and through my shoulders back and remind myself, “I am tenacious!” (Some people may call it stubborn.) I am proud of being stubborn, tenacious, whatever your word may be.

         5. I am relentlessly optimistic. I might add I am realistically optimistic. MOST of the time. This is one of the reasons many people can’t believe the second half of #4. Ah, it’s their loss. What I have learned over and over again is when people live a deep, contemplative, spiritual life – they also welcome the good, the bad, the ugly, the passionate, the brave… never the uninteresting or dull and “boredom” is not a word in my lexicon. I am proud of that.

 © 2012 by Julie Jordan Scott

Julie Jordan Scott has been a Life & Creativity Coach, Writer, Facilitator and Teleclass Leader since 1999. She is also an award winning Actor, Director, Artist and Mother Extraordinaire. She was twice the StoryTelling Slam champion in Bakersfield. She teaches a teleclass/ecourse "Discover the Power of Writing & Telling Engaging, Enlightening Stories" which begins again April 24, 2012. Find details by clicking this link.

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