Living Life To The Fullest
Tell us one thing you hope people say about you.
One thing…..
Hmm…….
I would hope people say that I am luminous in a way.
I choose that word because I do want to be a light for people, especially for the ones I love.
I want them to feel comfortable, safe, loved, seen, heard, believed….every time they are in my presence.
Anytime someone is in my company I would want them to leave feeling hopeful in some type of way.
List your top 5 grocery store items.
lol, the is a silly one. I like it.
Now I’m going to go read yours!!! 🙂
Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech?
Sure, I’ve done stuff like school dance recitals and little plays here and there but what sticks out the most to me is the talks I would get called to do in church.
I was pretty active in religious activities during a few high school years at the Latter Day Saints Church.
Every Sunday, your bishop speaks—shares something spiritual—followed by members of the church (all ages) who get to speak and share something as well.
When you are called to give a “talk” the bishop usually pulls you aside and asks if you can give a talk on forgiveness, grace, gratitude, etc. Whatever really.
And you do have the choice to accept or decline but I always accepted because I guess, it felt right.
I honestly didn’t mind whenever I got an opportunity to talk to the whole church because you were really listened to.
If we want to dig deeper on that, that could be in fact why I did enjoy it. I was being heard, where at home I felt ignored. It wasn’t like my parents didn’t talk to me, it was all just surface level conversations. We never talked about hard stuff. I was always just given books to inform me. The stuff I wanted to discuss in person just didn’t happen.
Anyways after you gave your talk people afterwards would come up and make polite remarks about what you shared. Truthfully, I enjoyed it.
Interesting though where we find strength and comfort in talking to a whole group or audience versus talking in front of a group of peers at school (highschool/college).
That’s another story. Never enjoyed those.
What is something others do that sparks your admiration?
What sparks my admiration in others is their willingness to be vulnerable.
There’s something profoundly beautiful about someone revealing a raw, intimate side of themselves. It takes courage to truly let others see you. I believe some people would rather get physically naked in front of a stranger than emotionally exposed, it’s that terrifying to some.
But when someone allows themselves to be raw, it creates this type of bridge. It’s in those moments of vulnerability that I feel the strongest connections to others. I love hearing their stories, understanding their experiences, and seeing the world through their eyes.
Maybe that’s why I’m so drawn to memoirs, they’re a window into someone’s truth, a reflection of their courage to share the parts of themselves that are often hidden. When people share those things willingly, I can’t help but feel a deep admiration for them. Vulnerability, to me, is one of the most beautiful acts of bravery.
What is one thing you would change about yourself?
If changing something about myself were as simple as adding a pinch of salt, I’d sprinkle in a little more courage.
I wouldn’t mind adjusting that part of me just a bit, because there’s a small part of me that envies those who seem fearless. I love watching skydiving videos, cliff jumpers, and people who travel extensively.
But I don’t enjoy flying, heights make me uneasy, and you won’t catch me on rides that drop or flip. Snorkeling is fine, but scuba diving freaks me out.
And as much as I’d dream of visiting space, I know I probably wouldn’t go, even if I had the chance. But man how I wonder about the overview effect — the feelings of awe when astronauts see earth in space for the first time.
I did try parasailing once—it was terrifying. Oh, and I also don’t really like elevators.
I do wish I had the courage though to skydive, hang glide, or try all those thrilling adventures, but that’s just not who I am. And I’ve come to accept that about myself.
That said, I do understand that the feelings and sensations we chase through these experiences can be discovered in other ways. I’m just trying to figure out what that looks like for me.
What are your feelings about eating meat?
I don’t have much of an opinion whether a person chooses to or chooses not to eat meat.
What I do have an opinion about is how meat is treated.
There are many indigenous communities out there who honor the animal before the animal is then sacrificed. This is worth reading about if you’ve never heard of this before.
I believe I read somewhere that the Buffalo is especially sacred. And every part of the buffalo is used in someway.
I can appreciate that there is thanks and respect given to the animal before it is consumed.
I wish that practice was implemented vs. the sad truth.
Imagine if we were more open to letting the indigenous teach us their ways. Maybe there wouldn’t be so much controversy when it comes to meat.
What’s the hardest decision you’ve ever had to make? Why?
I don’t know if this was the hardest decision I’ve ever made, but it was definitely a difficult one that I’ll share.
About eight years ago, I was driving home from the mall with my 10-month-old daughter when I got a frantic call from my sister-in-law. She was yelling, “They’re taking her away from me! Can you please come get her?”
I called my husband right after, and he told me, “Just go home. Don’t get involved in this.” For a moment, I hesitated, unsure of what to do. But then I turned the car around and headed toward her.
When I got to the house, the police and child protective services were there. They were, in fact, taking her one-year-old daughter away.
Before I fully understood what was happening, they brought the baby out, handed me a business card, and said, “Follow us.”
I drove to their office, and my husband joined me later. At that point, we had no idea where my sister-in-law’s daughter was or what would happen next.
A social worker sat us down and tried to convince us that we didn’t need to take the baby, saying, “There are plenty of families who can care for her.”
But my husband and I both knew, without needing to say much, that if we decided to take her, she wouldn’t just be a temporary responsibility. She would become ours.
Still, we were overwhelmed. We were brand-new parents with a 10-month-old. Could we handle suddenly raising a one-year-old, too? We asked for a little time to think about it, but deep down, we knew this was a decision we couldn’t put off.
We told them we couldn’t do it. We asked if we could at least say goodbye.
When they brought her in, I looked at her little face and started crying. I turned to my husband and said, “We’re taking her.”
The road ahead was long and hard, but it was absolutely worth it. She’s with family where she belongs, and now she’s eight years old, missing teeth and full of life.
I have a good relationship with my sister-in-law today, and everything feels as it should be.
Looking back, I’m so thankful we chose to take her. In fact, we now have one of her sons with us, too—he’s two years old. This time, having been through it before, the decision wasn’t hard.
It hasn’t been easy, but the right choice rarely is. And yet, it’s always rewarding
Name your top three pet peeves.
3 Pet Peeves of Mine
1. Negativity
I have a very difficult time being around people who are constantly negative or complain a lot. Their energy is draining, and it brings me down to the point where I just can’t be around it. Life has enough challenges, I’d rather focus on solutions and positivity.
2. Lack of Eye Contact When Talking
It really bothers me when I’m sharing a story or expressing something, and the other person isn’t giving me eye contact. When their eyes start wandering around the room, it feels like what I’m saying doesn’t matter. At that point, I usually just stop talking, it’s clear they’re not engaged or interested.
3. Superior Attitudes
I can’t stand when people act superior—whether it’s through gossip, putting others down, or looking down on someone. It’s often in their tone, facial expressions, or comments, and I can just tell. That kind of attitude is a major turn-off for me.
Beach or mountains? Which do you prefer? Why?
The Mountains.
The stars are different in the mountains, especially when you’re surrounded by towering pine trees.
It feels like you’re gazing at the stars through a magnifying glass—brighter, closer, and more alive. They mesmerize you, reminding you of what it feels like to be small in the vastness of it all.
The mystery of life feels more profound in the mountains.
The beach might be a getaway, but the mountains? They’re for growth and personal discovery.
Do you trust your instincts?
Sometimes.
I feel too often I unfortunately second guess myself. And then I learn the hard way or whatever it is just takes longer than what it possibly could have been.
But then again, I trust myself the next time I feel that feeling.
I feel like our instincts are becoming harder to understand and recognize because of all the stimulations and distractions.
It’s becoming more noisy and chaotic—this world we live. We’re loosing touch of these gifts.
Our instincts aren’t quick enough for us.
We begin to rely on other resources, than the actual gift of instincts that each of us humans possess.
The question should be,
How do we strengthen our instincts?
The Wild Gems 