Missy Hunter
I am more than a familial title, personality trait, job responsibility or hobby. We all are.
Why can’t we define ourselves by the goals we set? I am a future novelist. What about the ideas we have? I believe laughter is the cure for all ills. Haven’t the experiences we’ve had shaped us too? I swam the English Channel and lived to tell about it. I’m kidding, that’s another goal.
Who I am is the result of my past, who I am at this exact moment, and who I’d like to be in the future. As of this writing, the predominate statements I can make:
I am a fighter.
The academic part of school was never my favorite. I was the kid who needed the math tutor and who dreaded the day we did a frog dissection. I loved the liberal arts part of my education but drew strength from participating in sports. I was good at athletics and developed a competitive drive that still exists to this day. As a result of not enjoying or naturally excelling in school, it took a lot of hard work to get where I am today. Ultimately, I learned that if you fight hard enough, you can achieve anything.
I am a working mom.
I’ve focused on my career since graduating from college. Marriage and kids didn’t stop me, but it created curves in an otherwise straight path to retirement in the far, far future. I have come to expect the hairpin turns and look forward to the next bend in the working mom road.
I am the meat in a life stage hoagie.
My husband and I are raising our kids while also navigating the road ahead as each of our parents’ age. It’s exciting, challenging, meaningful and most of all, busy.
Like all parents, my husband and I are operating without a guidebook. We remember how it was to be in middle and high school ourselves. We adjust for, as much as we know of, the current cultural teen climate, and embrace this next adventure as it comes.
Our kids have become more independent as they’ve matured. The pendulum has shifted, and I’ve started to feel the need to spend more one on one time with my parents, who are in their late 70s/early 80s. I am lucky enough to live close to my parents as well as have the time to devote to them. There have been some hurdles my parents have had to clear, and I’ve been able to assist where possible.
I am writing my eulogy and working my way backward.
I turn 50 in 2018. Age has such a negative connotation, but I don’t agree. This birthday permits me to concentrate on filling up the list of life experiences I’d like to have. Rather than a bucket list, this is something I intend to add to every day. I’d like this list to be enormous, and something that no one person could ever complete.
I can’t wait to see who I’ll be tomorrow.
Besides writing this blog, I work as a freelance writer, and a marketing and social media consultant. Check out my business website for sample work and services offered.
Click here to learn more about the story behind Sarcastic Shorty
