There are many characteristics that make all of us unique. Tastes are different for many of us. Personalities and values are also quite unique.

People’s preferences and tastes evolve from their upbringing to their life experiences. Music, movies, food, hobbies, and even people are unique and special to each and every one of us.

Personalities or emotional fingerprints are the most important aspects of our lives. I believe in the existential idea that we all start as a ‘Tabula Rosa’ or clean slate personality wise and they evolve over time. Good events, bad events, and traumas in our lives shape/change our personalities.

Values also stem from our upbringing and are the most difficult to change. Religion, politics, spirituality, are examples of belief systems we have.

Unique values, personalities, and preferences make us all shine in our own way as unique as a snowflake. Commonalities in these aspects are what draw us to our friends/lovers/acquaintances.

-aaa ❤️

I’d love to have a steep hill named after me. I’ve clawed for every inch in this lifetime. Determination has gotten me far as it will you on my hill. 😃

-aaa

The silliness of life. I love irony and always laugh at it. Other people’s laughter is also quite contagious. I also enjoy clever witty remarks and banter.

Lastly non sequiturs always make me laugh very hard and I often use them myself. My favorite example was one Steve Martin who used those a lot in his comedy, published in his book, Born Standing Up, “What does 1+1=?” “Fish” 😂😂🤣🤣🤣

-aaa

Where we all come from. All of us for the better and worse have changed and evolved through our life’s lessons. But many, are quite wrapped up in themselves, they don’t really bother to picture themselves in other people’s shoes. Perspectives need to be taken not account as they’re all different.

I feel like we are living in an age of excessive narcissism and I truly hope our society and world can rise above it and our differences or we are doomed.

We are all humans hence we are all connected I wish everyone could feel that like I do. Hence I digress so that maybe everyone can. ❤️❤️👟👟👟👟

This is an excellent question. There are two answers, one for the me of the past and one for the current rendition of yours truly.

The old me had no boundaries and was a people pleaser. So I pretty much never said “no” to anyone for anything. Therefore, people took major advantage of my generosity and gifts. Many friends, colleagues, and significant others took advantage of this.

My journey and self growth have brought about significant change and improvement in me. I know my value and have firm goals and aspirations in my life that I intend to exceed. I now say “no” to many things. I have healthy boundaries which better protect me from use and abuse.

Any person or thing that doesn’t serve my happiness, wellbeing, and goals I remove from my life. 🔥🔥❤️

-aaa

I love storms. There’s something about a coziness of being inside while the weather rages on.

I lived in Texas for a few years back in 2014 and lived not too far from Dallas. During that brief tenure I saw some of the craziest most intense weather phenomena mostly the epic spring and summer and even winter thunderstorms out there.

Spending over 42 years in California my idea of what a storm was would require a rapid adjustment. As much of the Texas weather can outright kill you.

My best memories of Texas, where during those fierce storms, sitting on the porch at night watching the lightning for hours.

-aaa

Dr. Gullett was my most influential teacher. He was my high school band director and also taught elementary school music as well for a time many years.

My musicianship begs. At age 8, where Dr. Gullett taught me how to read music and play my instrument (snare drum) and really opened up that world to me. He was my high school band director and was tough as nails on me but he brought out my best.

I learned the importance of leadership and leading by example as I ran my section for 3 of my 4 years in school.

It didn’t help that my section was most infuriating to him. My name was yelled more than any other over those years. I worked hard to make our section shine and it took a while but we got there and won some competitions and the respect of our peers. we were even opening ASB assemblies with our cadences.

Being taught to work hard and respect what you do were lessons I learned from him and carried on into my life after band and high school. Also rolling with life and improvising as challenges and changes bring about the unexpected. I have thanked him many times and can never say enough about the influence in my life…

-aaa