I’ll Go First

Many thanks to my sister for this image.

Laura Tremaine, of the podcast 10 Things to Tell You wrote a book a while ago called Share Your Stuff. I’ll Go First. The idea for the book was that she would introduce prompts designed to start conversations: between friends, on social media, on blogs, etc. She responds to each one in the book, and she invites others to do the same in whatever way they want. 

I read the book ages ago, but lately I felt inspired to think through her prompts and see how I might answer the questions. I have no idea if I will share them all, or if this is the only one, but here is my reflection on her first prompt:

Who are you? 

First, you need to know that I am a Christian, wife, mom, sister, daughter, friend. Much of how I define myself is in terms of these relationships. Each of them is central to who I am and shapes my approach to life. I look at the world through the lens of my faith, and I make my decisions based on that faith and on my family and friends. These relationships are my framework for interacting with the world.

I am an avid reader and writer and have been both for my whole life. I love to read contemporary fiction, memoirs and essays, romance, and random nonfiction that overlaps with my interests. I love to read about faith. Not surprisingly, these are the areas where I also like to write. 

I am a snacker and a cook, and snacking while I cook is the sweet spot. I have always liked cooking, and in the last few years I have had so much fun (thank you, Bri McKoy) making more things that are delicious and make sense for my life and the people I’m feeding. I love taking some chances in the kitchen and having some fun being creative there. 

I am deeply curious about a million things, and I love to learn. This may be why I have always been a voracious traveler. I like to go, to see new ways to live, to try new foods there. I have a long list of places I want to go and places I want to revisit, and there are always so many more to add to the list as soon as I have checked off some.

I am also a homebody. I love my house and the feeling of contentment and love that I feel here. My house is not fancy; it has no obvious style; people definitely live here. But this place is a haven, and I cannot wait to come home to it every day. I like to go places, for sure, but I also really like to stay. 

Who we are is constantly morphing and changing. I love being able to see how I have grown and changed. But while I have been reading Shauna Niequist’s book I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet (for the third time; it’s amazing), she talked about how even in the midst of change, there are some touchstones that stay the same, only you experience them in new ways. These things have been my touchstones, changing and growing with me, constant through the turns life takes.