December is a great month to write your “My Gutsy Story.” I hope you consider submitting yours. We all need motivation, especially at the start of a New Year. I’ve attached the information at the bottom of this post.
2. Pass the award onto 11 other blogs (while making sure you notify the blogger that they have been nominated!)
3. Write up 11 NEW questions directed towards YOUR nominees.
4. Of course, do not nominate the blog of the one who nominated your blog!
5. Paste the award picture onto your blog. (You can Google the image; there are plenty of them!)
Here goes! 11 random things to know about me:
3. I lived in Nigeria as a child, and my mom spoke Danish to me from birth.
5. I made an impromptu speech in front of my class, at the English School of Paris at age 13. My classmates snickered, and did not vote for me. That traumatic incident impacted me for life, and I decided to overcome my fear of public speaking.
6. I left home at 14 to attend boarding school in the U.K. It was my own decision as I wanted to take subjects in high school that weren’t offered at my school in Paris.
Here are the answers to the questions asked of me by Dody:
1. What is the first book that you can remember reading?
The Noddy series by Enid Blyton.
2. Did you ever have a nickname?
SØS. No not SOS, by my mother.
Snookie by Duke, my husband.
3. What is the most favorite thing that you did when a kid?
Spending the day swimming with Lilian, my best Danish childhood friend. Eating Danish pastries after we swam in the morning.
4. What is your favorite thing to do in the summer?
Travel and swim and snorkel in Caribbean warm waters.
5. Do you have an unusual or interesting habit?
I really like boysenberry jam on sharp cheddar cheese, on a slice of whole grainy brown bread.
6. If you could have a chat with someone you do not know, who would this be?
Jane Goodall. I love “Gutsy” women who are older and wiser. I would like to ask her to be a part of the “My Gutsy Story” event I so want to put together in 2013.
7. Describe your ideal bookcase.
Memoirs and travel stories.
8. What is your favorite spot in which to read?
I can’t read for long periods at a time, so on the bike at the gym, or when I walk my dog.
9. What is the most interesting vacation you’ve ever had?
On a safari in Kenya and Tanzania with my kids aged 6 and 9. The youngest was only 2, and stayed in the U.S.
10. Do you have a bucket list? Share one with us.
- Take a Spanish immersion class and live with a host family in Panama.
- Teach English in a totally foreign country where the locals are friendly and receptive to learning. Where should I go? Any ideas welcome?
- Travel to Australia, and do a house swap or house-sit for 6 months.
- Do 27 months of Peace Corps work.
- Live in Naples, FL, for a while.
- Start a Baby-Boomer movement of “Gutsy people.”
- Always learn from other people.
11. Complete the sentence: “I wish... I knew how to fly a small Cessna. I wish I had nursing skills so I could work and volunteer in any country in the world. I wish I’d become an author and motivational speaker in my 30’s.
***
Because I am a curious person, I wanted to learn more about a few people whose blogs I enjoy: Belinda Nicoll, Miss Footloose, Annabel Candy, Barbara Hammond, Muriel Demarcus, Laura Dennis, Rebecca Hall, Stephanie Dagg, Kelli Norgaard, Lois Joy Hofmann, Jennifer Fink
Here are my questions to you.
1. What is your biggest accomplishment so far in your life?
2. Where did you first meet your spouse (if applicable)?
3. How do you see yourself at 80?
4. What do you hope to accomplish in the next 5 years.
5. What is your biggest fear in life and why?
6. Are you a Gutsy woman? In what way?
7. Where do you see yourself living when you retire?
8. Do you regret any decisions you’ve made in your life?
9. Is there a profession you would pick today if you could start over? Which one and why?
10. What are you looking forward to in 2013?
11. How do you stay motivated?
I do hope that your busy schedules can allow time for your acceptance of this award!
Do you have a “My Gutsy Story” you’d like to share?
DECEMBER will be DIFFERENT.
I shall be leaving for Paris and London, and plan to share stories, photos, and other posts during this month on my blog.
I am collecting new “My Gutsy Story” submissions for 2013. NOW is the time to submit your own “My Gutsy Story” and get published in our Anthology. Please contact sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.
To submit your own, “My Gutsy Story” you can find all the information, and our sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here.
Thanks and don’t forget to VOTE on the sidebar.
Oops, for some reason when I write a post, the comments automatically seem to go to, “Do not allow comments.” I have no reason why. Sorry about that. Does anyone else know the reason? Thanks.
Thanks for so much for choosing me Sonia! The Xmas period is incredibly busy over here, and my husband keeps travelling, which means that I haven’t been very good at keeping in touch.
Thanks for sharing the random facts. It looks like you have been through some pretty traumatic events! Take care, Muriel
MuMuGB recently posted..40 And Fabulous
I understand. You can take your time if you want. Love your fabulous photos.
Hi Muriel! I almost invited you to jump into this Liebster Award gig but knew that Sonia would want to have that honor! Looking forward to YOUR answers :-}
Doreen Cox recently posted..My Review: LEAVING THE HALL LIGHT ON
Dear oh dear…pressure is on then, I have to pass it on! X
MuMuGB recently posted..To Speak Or Not To Speak
Thanks for including me in this Sonia. I will spend some time with it and let you know when I post.
It was so interesting learning more about you. It seems you were born Gutsy!
xob
Barbara recently posted..Georgia on My Mind /9
I like that Barbara. “Born Gutsy.” Yes, my mohawk turned me into a Gutsy baby. HAHA!
Reading your answers to my questions and those 11 things to know about you was as entertaining and delightful as was FLIP-FLOPS! Walking along beside you through life would offer the most fantastical adventure ever!
I almost sent an invite to Muriel yet somehow intuited that you could have the honor :-}
Doreen Cox recently posted..My Review: LEAVING THE HALL LIGHT ON
Dody,
Thanks for always thinking of me and of others as well. Did you see Mumu’s glamour photos. She could be the next Bond girl. Thanks for inviting me to participate.
Hi Sonia,
Loved learning more about you. Go to Laos to teach English – lovely people and you will enjoy learning Lao too!
Thanks for challenging me to join you. I can’t promise I’ll complete it but adding it to my to do list now 🙂
Annabel Candy, Get In the Hot Spot recently posted..The Terrible Truth About Travel Writing
Annabel,
I thought I wouldn’t have time either, however, some of my friends have said, “We want to know more about you.”
Also, I know you mentioned Laos before, and I’d love to her why you liked it so much. Do you think the people have changed since you were there? I was thinking of taking the TOEFL, or CERTA certificate. Did you take one of these before you taught?
Sonia, my questions to you is what is the biggest ‘crossroads decision’ that you have made and do you wish you had taken a different path? Where do you think that different path would have led you?
Jerry, What a tough question.I have so many crossroads. I could have remained in Paris and married a Frenchman and become a 9-5 working wife. I could have become an international journalist. I wish I had studied journalism, and traveled around the world for my job. I watched 60 minutes last week about a couple who spent 30 years of their married life studying lions and filming them. When I see that, including women like Jane Goodall, I’m envious, as I really would have loved to have become an expert on something in Africa. What about you?
Sonia, I love your adventurous spirit. And I think your desire to be like Jane Goodall, or the lion people is intriguing. Or at the least, doing a Peace Corps stint. My question to you is …with those desires, how do you square that with living in Southern California for so many years …it seems so diametrically opposed.
As I get older, I think I go back to my roots in Africa. Don’t forget, I speak about “taking risks in life” and my memoir is about chucking it all to live a simple life. I have been back for 7 years since Belize, and am ready for another adventure. Travel, even to Europe, energizes me, as I see people with different points of view to life, than where I live in OC. That’s probably why I signed up for “World Domination Summit” in Portland, next June, where I get to meet people from around the world who have done, or are doing, “Gutsy” things.
Sonia, like everybody, I’ve also had numerous crossroads. One of them was an opportunity to Vito the US Air Force Academy to play college hockey. I ended up declining, however, I would have loved to fly jets and go Mach 2+ upside down. One of the funny stories is the USAFA flew me out to tour the Academy ….they threw me in a flight simulator for kicks …I ended up crashing because I forgot to put my wheels down when I came in for a landing. As it turns out, I have subsequently forgotten to put my wheels down quite a few times …..
I always wonder where that path would have led.
Jerry Holl recently posted..Wipeout! But, Eagle Has Landed…..
Did you take flying lessons on your own later on, or was the flight simulation enough for you?
I keep thinking about how it would be nice to have the skill to fly to various remote locations in developing countries. Just the freedom to fly yourself and help people as well as explore.
Sonia, I did not take flying lessons although I would love to fly. As I’ve gotten older, flying a float plane like a bush pilot would be a ball. However that’s one of many things I would want to do.
Jerry Holl recently posted..Wipeout! But, Eagle Has Landed…..
Sonia,
Thanks for the invite, I’m in! I’ll get cracking. I love these “round robins,” it’s a great way for us to get to know one another, and introduce our readers to other writers. Your answers are so interesting, because Flip-Flops is definitely a slice-of-life memoir, and yet (of course) there’s so much more to you!
Laura
Laura Dennis recently posted..Christmastime in Serbia – Cultural and Religious Traditions
Laura,
I am happy you wish to participate as I know your answers will be interesting.
Oh, I loved learning all these great quirky things about you.
Have fun in Paris and London!
ladyfi recently posted..Frosted skies
Thanks LadyFI. I’d love to learn more about you as well.
Sonia
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Sonia,
Had you stayed in Paris, would your life really have been very different? Don’t we essentially remain the same person wherever we are? I would love you to share with us what kind of life you think you could have had in Europe( with your husband and boys, of course!).
Surely it’s not too late to have a passion for Africa, and photography,etc…