In his all-over-the-place best-selling book, The 4-Hour Workweek, Timothy Ferriss references the social phenomoneon that he calls “the cocktail question.”
You know what I’m talking about: the question that’s ALWAYS asked at cocktail parties, happy hours, family reunions/holidays, on first dates, or really anytime we’re in a so-and-so-meet-so-and-so situation.
It’s always the first question.
So. What do you do?
It’s an easy cop-out and icebreaker, and we know it’s coming, so we answer it.
I’m an accountant. I’m in advertising. I’m a teacher. A customer service rep, a cashier, stay-at-home-mom, stay-at-home-dad, a musician, a realtor, a insert-your-job-title-or-industry-here-er.
But I’d bet my britches that what your PROFESSION is, what your JOB is, what you do for 40 (or 50 or 60) hours each week and for x-amount of dollars each payday doesn’t define you, and that it’s only a sliver of what you do.
I’ve been mulling this question over and over lately as I’ve had to answer it a number of different times, having been put in a handful of new-people-situations this year. In one case in particular what this new friend wanted to know about me had only a tiny bit to do with what I get paid to do for 40ish hours each week.
So. What do I do?
The default answer to that cocktail question is that by day, I’m an online media buyer. I work in advertising, an industry that interests and challenges me with colleagues that teach and inspire me.
But it’s no where near all I do. Too often we let our job descriptions be our SELF descriptions and while I hope you hold a job that holds your attention and passions, I want to know what else you actually DO.
So. What DO I do?
Well, I write. For fun, for work, for correspondence, for posterity.
I learn. I have an insatiable curiosity for the things I’m interested in (includes, but is not limited to: maps, wine, your personal story, if I can pull off cowboy boots with skirts, why Taylor Lautner isn’t 10 years older, food photography, and where in Minneapolis (ok fine, THE WORLD) I can find the best cheese plate).
I travel. I read (ok, I try to read, but don’t as much as I’d like to).
I run. Not often enough, and I hate getting started but I do it and then I do some of my most clear thinking. I cook, a lot. However, I do NOT bake. I don’t like following directions (surprise, surprise), and I don’t have the patience for exact measurements, so I don’t bake. Unless it came in a box or a tube and just requires me to add some combination of water, oil, 2 eggs, and milk.
I DO make kickass blueberry waffles (from a box, with the addition of well, blueberries, and BUTTERMILK, oil, 2 eggs, and a few secret ingredients).
I car-dance. I drink coffee in the mornings, tea in the evenings. I drink champagne often just for the sheer hell of it.
I collaborate on some KICKASS side projects in the social media world. I practice yoga and will be all certified to teach it in 8 1/2 weeks. I spend too much money on iTunes. I host fabulous parties on behalf of Nintendo.
I spend time with my parents and sister at least every couple of weeks. Wine is always involved. Kitchen-dancing often is. I speak broken Spanish, but will try anyway. I Irish jig when I’m drunk on St. Patrick’s Day. Or someone plays Flogging Molly. Or someone tells me to.
I tweet, and blog, and subscribe, and follow. I dance. I sing really loudly in the car. I talk to myself. I meet my girlfriends for coffee or brunch or happy hour. I drink wine out of paper cups in hot tubs listening to Radiohead in the dead of Minnesota winters.
I drink beers on my patio with my roommates, walk barefoot through the backyard to take out the garbage just to feel the too-long-because-I-didn’t-mow-it grass between my toes, and sprawl outside on blankets with wine, take-out, and inspiring friends.
I dominate Catch Phrase. I do NOT play Monopoly.
I hand-make cards. I save things with sentimental value, even if only for a little while. I journal.
I put Sriracha sauce in my mac and cheese, eat fried okra like popcorn, and consider a cheese+bread+fruit plate to be a completely adequate dinner.
As of last weekend, I drink Grey Goose martinis, dirty. I furrow my eyebrows and make a scrunchy-nose face when I’m trying to figure something out. I laugh loudly. I change hair colors with the seasons, if not more often. I find sleeve tattoos, Eddie Vedder’s voice, Shannyn Sossamon, and tall men in sweatpants and t-shirts insanely sexy.
I wear leggings. With dresses, not as pants. I play guitar. Ok, so I really just play one Pearl Jam song (Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town), one Matchbox 20 song (Push), the intro to Dueling Banjos, and one riff (line? part? sequence?) of Tripping Billies.
I support the people I love. I rarely play devil’s advocate. I pry, but only because I have to know you better. I value family. I value friends that are like family. I eat my vegetables. I share my secrets quickly. I love deeply. I trust easily. I learn quickly. I kiss deliberately.
And this is just scratching the surface.
So sure. At first glance, I’m a media buyer, social media consultant, sister, daughter, friend.
But it’s not all I do.
What about you?
What do you do? From 9-5, in your waking hours, on your weekends, because you always have, or because you’ve always wanted to.
What do YOU do?
{ 125 comments… read them below or add one }
i write, i sing, i can recite nearly any episode of gilmore girls you'd like if you just give me a starting prompt. i smile, i daydream, i run (sometimes), i ask questions i'd rather hear the answer to than read, i swim when given the chance, i drive and car dance and very rarely bake the cookie dough, i have a soft spot for applebee's perfect margaritas though everything else about that place makes me shudder, i still help spread the word on all of the projects that come out of the record label i used to intern for because i honestly believe in what they're trying to do and the music they're promoting. i take on too many projects i'll never get paid for and therefore live on a very tiny little income and i'm completely okay with that.and i completely love you and love this post.
i write, i sing, i can recite nearly any episode of gilmore girls you'd like if you just give me a starting prompt. i smile, i daydream, i run (sometimes), i ask questions i'd rather hear the answer to than read, i swim when given the chance, i drive and car dance and very rarely bake the cookie dough, i have a soft spot for applebee's perfect margaritas though everything else about that place makes me shudder, i still help spread the word on all of the projects that come out of the record label i used to intern for because i honestly believe in what they're trying to do and the music they're promoting. i take on too many projects i'll never get paid for and therefore live on a very tiny little income and i'm completely okay with that.and i completely love you and love this post.
Ok, I have been singing the praises of Applebee's Perfect Margaritas for aslong as I couild drink. A MARGARITA MARTINI? That never seems to end?! YES PLEASE!It is evident that you follow your passions, and the heart you put into whatyou do is contagious and inspiring. Keep doing!
This makes me really look forward to your blog finally happening.On behalf of Michelle's [extended] family, we're happy to have you. Ibarely remember a time when you weren't family.I also really love this response. Thanks, Chris
This is a GREAT post.
THANK you. Seriously.
This is why you're awesome, Matt.
By day? I write physics-based simulation software for the Army. I can't say much more than that, but it's something that I've known I wanted to do since I was 7. I've wanted to write computer software (we call it “code”) that solves problems or challenges people or, at the very least, does something interesting. I enjoy my job a great deal, but I also recognize that there are unknown and untold opportunities in my field, many of which I may find more interesting or more fulfilling than what I've been building since early 2003.
When I'm off the clock? I still write code, sometimes, but I don't write as much as I sometimes would like. I daydream about writing a really fantastic indie app or game, but struggle to find something that is interesting and challenging, but also worthwhile. I've had a few ideas, but nothing that holds enough water once I flesh it out to warrant the investment.
More often, I find hobbies that are far less technical and mentally challenging than my day job. I work with a dozen or so Scouts throughout the year to develop their skills as a leader, patriot, citizen, creative professional, technical problem solver, and whatever else piques their interest.
I shoot photographs. I've gotten pretty decent at it, too, but I know that I have a lot to learn. I know that I should shoot more, but I don't want it to become a chore. I prefer to document relationships and events to portraits and landscapes. I don't find a lot of opportunities to shoot on any given day, so I cherish the days when I really get to exercise my shutter finger.
I play video games. I play more than some, less than others. I have a soft spot for the 8- and 16-bit Nintendo era (NES and SNES). In broad terms, I have a profound appreciation for what I see as “an excellent game”. I shy away from Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto, instead preferring more fantastical and interesting games. I'll play Tetris on any day of the week. I think that Super Mario Bros. 2 is easily one of the most under-rated and under-appreciated games in the long history of Mario-based titles.
At the same time, I feel sort of alienated as a gamer these days. Nintendo seems to have abandoned their traditional consumers (ie. Me) in favor of people who only play casually and are more likely to buy a ton of crapware than a handful of excellent titles in any given year. This is profoundly disappointing, but I recognize that it's the way things go sometimes. I've spent a lot of quality time with my Xbox 360 over the last year, secretly wishing that Nintendo would learn a few things from Microsoft.
I use Apple products every day. I prefer my MacBook Pro, iPhone 3G, and iPod (a 120GB iPod classic) to just about any of their predecessors. The Apple “ecosystem”, for me, is clean and efficient enough to let me do exactly what I want, when I want, without getting in the way of anything. There are limits to the platform, obviously, but I'm willing to accept those so long as the things that I have (or will have) continue to “just work” in ways that I would reasonably expect. When Apple decides to jump the shark, I'll be shopping around for a new, better solution.
Finally, I listen to music. A lot of music. A lot of different music. I can smoothly and effortlessly bounce from hard rock to acoustic ballads to industrial metal to ska to jam bands to classic rock. I sometimes obsess over so-called “super bands”. Currently, I'm nuts over Them Crooked Vultures. Before that, I was telling everyone about A Perfect Circle and passing out bootleg concerts recordings months before their album was released.
I tend to enjoy an entire artists' catalog more than one or two albums from this band, one or two from that band, etc. I have entire catalogs from Pearl Jam, Pink Floyd, Tool, Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle, Lisa Loeb, KMFDM, Beastie Boys, Cake, Candlebox, Primus, Kyuss, Foo Fighters, Gov't Mule, Rage Against the Machine, and several more. I collect music, but only because I love it.
I go to concerts. A lot. I've seen a handful of bands more than half a dozen times each, seen dozens of other bands at least once or twice, and seen some really interesting lineups (hello, Snoop Dogg opening for Tool … or Outkast opening for Moby). I've seen Nine Inch Nails tear the roof off of the Tabernacle with 2,300 of my closest friends. I've also witnessed the unspeakable nature of seeing Pearl Jam with 80,000+ fans at Bonnaroo. I'm going to see Them Crooked Vultures on October 5th in a room that holds less than 1,800 people, then will see U2 and Muse the next night at the Georgia Dome, which holds upward of 90,000.
I moonlight as a fake drummer and fake guitarist in a fake band (think “Rock Band” or “Guitar Hero”). I have some basic skills on a real guitar and on real drums, but never really worked hard enough to develop those skills. I know a handful of songs on each instrument. I hope to return to the guitar soon.
I travel when and where I can. I've been to Europe twice (two weeks each in Greece and Italy), spent a day in Asia (Istanbul, to be specific), and been all over the United States. I've stood in 35 of the 50 states and plan to stand in all 50 at least one more time before I'm done. I'd like to go back to Europe, or to Australia, but I find myself impatient with language barriers. That was easily my biggest frustration both times we were in Europe.
I come from a relatively small family (me, my sister, my uncle, and my grandparents), which owes itself somewhat to my introspective nature. I sometimes wish that I had a larger family, but I also recognize that large families come with their own drama and their own complications. I appreciate what I had, but I also appreciate what I married into a few years ago. My wife's family has been incredibly friendly, patient, supportive, and inclusive. They have been far more than I could have hoped for or imagined. I appreciate them, but I sometimes struggle to adapt to being part of such a large family.
All of this is to answer a single question: “What do you do?”. My answer? I do what I love, but I love doing it. Life is too short to do anything different or differently.
Ok, I have been singing the praises of Applebee's Perfect Margaritas for aslong as I couild drink. A MARGARITA MARTINI? That never seems to end?! YES PLEASE!It is evident that you follow your passions, and the heart you put into whatyou do is contagious and inspiring. Keep doing!
By day: Event Planner. Marketing Manager. Client Relations Specialist. Contract Manager/overseer-er. The one who makes shit happen (I don't mean that in an arrogant way but I really do make shit happen at work). Dabble in website design. Handle partner relations. Answer phones, send faxes, make copies. Check blogs & twitter for a mental break. I'm also the daughter of the boss (both by day and night). Meeting organzier, creative thinker, idea suggester, glue to keep things together. By night: I connect with friends via 20 minute phone calls while I'm sitting in traffic. I make the best of plans to go home and run 3 miles but I often take a nap instead. I can recite almost every line from Pretty Woman, You've got Mail & French Kiss. I read whatever I can get my hands on. I walk my dog Jack several times a night. I go on double-dates, group dates, girls-night only dates. I shop even if I shouldn't. I go a few days with out shaving my legs if I can get away with it. I dream of owning a bookstore. I plan little weekend getaways to meet up with friends I haven't seen in ages or friends I've just met. I get creative with some cards & notes and send them out to real people. I fall asleep to the TV every night, without fail. It must be something funny. I hang out with my family, boyfriend, friends. I challenge myself and go outside my comfort zone. I'm starting the volunteer process at a local animal shelter. I cook. Clean. Bake. Do laundry but never iron for some reason. I organize, sympathize, overemphasize and sometimes overanalyze. I love, a lot. That's what I do!
This makes me really look forward to your blog finally happening.On behalf of Michelle's [extended] family, we're happy to have you. Ibarely remember a time when you weren't family.I also really love this response. Thanks, Chris
I party
I love your writing so much, I seriously hang on every word when I read it. By day; an accounts coordinator at a marketing/pr firm and a full-time journalism and public relations student. What I DO: I write for fun, for work, for school. I run, I train, I read, I watch scandalous TV shows and love every minute of it, I laugh a lot, I buy fresh flowers, I cuddle with my cat and talk to him because he is my only roommate, I nurture a long-distance relationship, I journal, I drink coffee, I spend far too much time on my blackberry, I tweet, and I do SO MUCH MORE!Awesome post, as always!
"try to be better than I was the day before" really stuck with me. I lovethat, and I like to believe that I strive to do this as well.Also – I love that you summed this up with " observing everything around meabsorbing every detail, taking a deep breath, and exhale."It seems that in all that we DO, this is the most important. To let it allsink in, to pause, to just be present instead of active.Great response.
You are a BUSY girl! And I also NEVER iron. Not if I can help it. Myversion of ironing is re-washing something and the second time around,remembering to take it out of the dryer while it's still warm.
Great response! I have THREE roommates and I still talk to my cat.
And thanks so much for the compliments, it means so much to me to hear thatpeople enjoy and relate to what I put out there.
By day I am a scientist. I do electrophysiology, molecular biology, cell culture, and primary cell isolation.But I also push the limits, wear borderline inappropriate t-shirts on a daily basis, read, write, love, take pills, have mood swings, play rock band (all the time), play guitar, play piano, go to kung fu class, run, think, cook, think some more, eat oatmeal for lunch every day, try to be better than I was the day before, try to run faster, push harder, smile on only rare occasions when it really means it, laugh at stupid jokes, pretend to be interested, try to be interested, smile and nod, question the authorities, talk to my mom, talk to my dad about business, talk to my brother about something that is usually TMI from his end, email people, check twitter religiously, hate macs, love my pc, enjoy hot-tubbing in the snow while singing "hot tubbing, we're hot tubbing" to the tune of Night Clubbing by Iggy Pop, cycling, walking the dogs – 2 long-coat chihuahuas, and observing everything around me absorbing every detail, taking a deep breath, and exhale.
I am absolutely inspired by this post. I posted something similar on my blog this morning because I liked it so much!
http://www.allsamsidea.com/2009/09/who-i-am.html
It's comments like this (and then reading your subsequent blog post) thatabsolutely give me goosebumps. This is why I write. I can't wait til youmove to Minneapolis! We're so hanging out as soon as you get settled! Thanks for taking the time to leave this comment, you brought a huge smileto my face.
So really, the new cocktail question should be "what do you like to do." It's much more interesting of an answer and really, who cares what you do from 9-5? Or in my case 3-11. From 9-5 is my time. I read, craft all things creative out of whatever materials I can find in my house to cut up, I run, I write, I study, I bake (it's the only place in my life I need the exact measuring), I see friends, the list goes on and on. All of those things, much more interesting than what I do for money. Mostly because after someone tells you what their job is, what do you usually follow up with? "wow. that's really interesting" and then the conversation is dead once again. Or in my case people say "you do what? how can work with burn patients. that must be hard." what am i supposed to say to that? "yes, it really sucks to put them through pain and torture all evening but I have to." So yes, I think the new question should just be "What do you like to do?" If nothing else, you'll catch someone off guard and maybe get a new running buddy right? Thanks for the thought provoking! Now I can jump into my textbooks at full speed!
Awwww, you are so sweet! I would love to hang out!
I'll be there October 12th ready to start enjoying the Twin Cities! I'm excited to have someone to show me around! (And, thanks for the blog comment… I can't wait to try all those things! I'll take any recommendation from a local that I can get!)
We officially have a date in mid or late-October. Travel safe!
Thanks for the comment, Meliss! You DO so many interesting things and Iwish I had a fraction of your creativity in my body! You're amazing, andwe'll discuss all of this and more over coffee this weekend
This is why you're awesome, Matt.
By day? I write physics-based simulation software for the Army. I can't say much more than that, but it's something that I've known I wanted to do since I was 7. I've wanted to write computer software (we call it “code”) that solves problems or challenges people or, at the very least, does something interesting. I enjoy my job a great deal, but I also recognize that there are unknown and untold opportunities in my field, many of which I may find more interesting or more fulfilling than what I've been building since early 2003.
When I'm off the clock? I still write code, sometimes, but I don't write as much as I sometimes would like. I daydream about writing a really fantastic indie app or game, but struggle to find something that is interesting and challenging, but also worthwhile. I've had a few ideas, but nothing that holds enough water once I flesh it out to warrant the investment.
More often, I find hobbies that are far less technical and mentally challenging than my day job. I work with a dozen or so Scouts throughout the year to develop their skills as a leader, patriot, citizen, creative professional, technical problem solver, and whatever else piques their interest.
I shoot photographs. I've gotten pretty decent at it, too, but I know that I have a lot to learn. I know that I should shoot more, but I don't want it to become a chore. I prefer to document relationships and events to portraits and landscapes. I don't find a lot of opportunities to shoot on any given day, so I cherish the days when I really get to exercise my shutter finger.
I play video games. I play more than some, less than others. I have a soft spot for the 8- and 16-bit Nintendo era (NES and SNES). In broad terms, I have a profound appreciation for what I see as “an excellent game”. I shy away from Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto, instead preferring more fantastical and interesting games. I'll play Tetris on any day of the week. I think that Super Mario Bros. 2 is easily one of the most under-rated and under-appreciated games in the long history of Mario-based titles.
At the same time, I feel sort of alienated as a gamer these days. Nintendo seems to have abandoned their traditional consumers (ie. Me) in favor of people who only play casually and are more likely to buy a ton of crapware than a handful of excellent titles in any given year. This is profoundly disappointing, but I recognize that it's the way things go sometimes. I've spent a lot of quality time with my Xbox 360 over the last year, secretly wishing that Nintendo would learn a few things from Microsoft.
I use Apple products every day. I prefer my MacBook Pro, iPhone 3G, and iPod to just about any of their predecessors. The Apple “ecosystem”, for me, is clean and efficient enough to let me do exactly what I want, when I want, without getting in the way of anything. There are limits to the platform, obviously, but I'm willing to accept those so long as the things that I have (or will have) continue to “just work” in ways that I would reasonably expect. When Apple decides to jump the shark, I'll be shopping around for a new, better solution.
Finally, I listen to music. A lot of music. A lot of different music. I can smoothly and effortlessly bounce from hard rock to acoustic ballads to industrial metal to ska to jam bands to classic rock on a whim. I sometimes obsess over so-called “super bands”. Currently, I'm nuts over Them Crooked Vultures. Before that, I was telling everyone about A Perfect Circle and passing out bootleg concerts recordings months before their album was released.
I tend to enjoy an entire artists' catalog more than one or two albums from this band, one or two from that band, etc. I have entire catalogs from Pearl Jam, Pink Floyd, Tool, Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle, Lisa Loeb, KMFDM, Beastie Boys, Cake, Candlebox, Primus, Kyuss, Foo Fighters, Gov't Mule, Rage Against the Machine, and several more. I collect music, but only because I love it.
I go to concerts. A lot. I've seen a handful of bands more than half a dozen times each, seen dozens of other bands at least once or twice, and seen some really interesting lineups (hello, Snoop Dogg opening for Tool … or Outkast opening for Moby). I've seen Nine Inch Nails tear the roof off of the Tabernacle with 2,300 of my closest friends. I've also witnessed the unspeakable nature of seeing Pearl Jam with 80,000+ fans at Bonnaroo. I'm going to see Them Crooked Vultures on October 5th in a room that holds less than 1,800 people, then will see U2 and Muse the next night at the Georgia Dome, which holds upward of 90,000.
I come from a relatively small family (me, my sister, my uncle, and my grandparents), which owes itself somewhat to my introspective nature. I sometimes wish that I had a larger family, but I also recognize that large families come with their own drama and their own complications. I appreciate what I had, but I also appreciate what I married into a few years ago. My wife's family has been incredibly friendly, patient, supportive, and inclusive. They have been far more than I could have hoped for or imagined. I appreciate them, but I sometimes struggle to adapt to being part of such a large family.
All of this is to answer a single question: “What do you do?”. My answer? I do what I love, but I love doing it. Life is too short to do anything different or differently.
I love this! I think I have to add "I adore Doniree" to my list of what I do. xoxoGreat question, seriously. You're amazing, sister.
Aww, thank you so much! It's a fun one to ponder, we're so much moreinteresting than our 9-5's
By day: Event Planner. Marketing Manager. Client Relations Specialist. Contract Manager/overseer-er. The one who makes shit happen (I don't mean that in an arrogant way but I really do make shit happen at work). Dabble in website design. Handle partner relations. Answer phones, send faxes, make copies. Check blogs & twitter for a mental break. I'm also the daughter of the boss (both by day and night). Meeting organzier, creative thinker, idea suggester, glue to keep things together. By night: I connect with friends via 20 minute phone calls while I'm sitting in traffic. I make the best of plans to go home and run 3 miles but I often take a nap instead. I can recite almost every line from Pretty Woman, You've got Mail & French Kiss. I read whatever I can get my hands on. I walk my dog Jack several times a night. I go on double-dates, group dates, girls-night only dates. I shop even if I shouldn't. I go a few days with out shaving my legs if I can get away with it. I dream of owning a bookstore. I plan little weekend getaways to meet up with friends I haven't seen in ages or friends I've just met. I get creative with some cards & notes and send them out to real people. I fall asleep to the TV every night, without fail. It must be something funny. I hang out with my family, boyfriend, friends. I challenge myself and go outside my comfort zone. I'm starting the volunteer process at a local animal shelter. I cook. Clean. Bake. Do laundry but never iron for some reason. I organize, sympathize, overemphasize and sometimes overanalyze. I love, a lot. That's what I do!
I party.
This is a GREAT post.
You are a BUSY girl! And I also NEVER iron. Not if I can help it. Myversion of ironing is re-washing something and the second time around,remembering to take it out of the dryer while it's still warm.
THANK you. Seriously.
So really, the new cocktail question should be "what do you like to do." It's much more interesting of an answer and really, who cares what you do from 9-5? Or in my case 3-11. From 9-5 is my time. I read, craft all things creative out of whatever materials I can find in my house to cut up, I run, I write, I study, I bake (it's the only place in my life I need the exact measuring), I see friends, the list goes on and on. All of those things, much more interesting than what I do for money. Mostly because after someone tells you what their job is, what do you usually follow up with? "wow. that's really interesting" and then the conversation is dead once again. Or in my case people say "you do what? how can work with burn patients. that must be hard." what am i supposed to say to that? "yes, it really sucks to put them through pain and torture all evening but I have to." So yes, I think the new question should just be "What do you like to do?" If nothing else, you'll catch someone off guard and maybe get a new running buddy right? Thanks for the thought provoking! Now I can jump into my textbooks at full speed!
Awwww, you are so sweet! I would love to hang out!
I'll be there October 12th ready to start enjoying the Twin Cities! I'm excited to have someone to show me around! (And, thanks for the blog comment… I can't wait to try all those things! I'll take any recommendation from a local that I can get!)
pretty sure this post just made you my hero
PSH, you were my hero ages ago. But thanks, lovely!
Aww, thank you so much! It's a fun one to ponder, we're so much moreinteresting than our 9-5's
I love this idea- my dad has a friend he told me about once who when you ask him how he is, or what he does, he talks about all of his interests FIRST, then work. Ask him how he is, he'll tell you about rock climbing, a new book he's reading, new cooking techniques he's into and everything- and then eventually he'll get around to his job.I love the idea of defining yourself by the things you are passionate abut and absorbed in first, and your position title second. Love.
I'm just going to go ahead and also ask why isn't Taylor 10 years older? DAMN! We should be CatchPhrase teammates. I'm a force to be reckoned with!
I party
Ah… the cocktail question. I believe we just went through that the other weekend.
And I truly hate that question b/c my answer, when it comes to my job, is SO not ME. Yes, I'm in banking, but that makes me sound boring. And I totally don't think I'm boring. I actually went to college and did 2 years in Graphic Design but ended up w/ a degree in Fine Arts. So why am I not doing something in the arts??? Well, b/c to put it simply, it is SO hard to make any money doing "art". Which I think is bogus b/c I think true artists are so talented on amazing levels and many (probably most) will never make the amount of money that they should doing it. So I settled. Yep. I settled for a job I think is so utterly boring but it pays decent. And I dread going in every morning.In my future, I have a job I love. Maybe not even doing something with art, but definitely something w/ creativity and people. I've just got to get the nerve to take that 1st step. I admire you for taking your 1st step towards your yoga goal. Cheers to that my friend! 
xoxo
Ha, well I know what you do for work and I also know that you're SO notboring
I did not, however, know you had an art background, that'sawesome! And I can't wait to see what you do w/ that in the future,creatively, etc…I also propose drinks soon.
Totally agree to the drinks! I'm hit and miss w/ days so pick one and I'll see if it works (that means, I'll do everything in my power to MAKE it work!)
We officially have a date in mid or late-October. Travel safe!
By day I am a scientist. I do electrophysiology, molecular biology, cell culture, and primary cell isolation.
But I also push the limits, wear borderline inappropriate t-shirts on a daily basis, read, write, love, take pills, have mood swings, play rock band (all the time), play guitar, play piano, go to kung fu class, run, think, cook, think some more, eat oatmeal for lunch every day, try to be better than I was the day before, try to run faster, push harder, smile on only rare occasions when it really means it, laugh at stupid jokes, pretend to be interested, try to be interested, smile and nod, question the authorities, talk to my mom, talk to my dad about business, talk to my brother about something that is usually TMI from his end, email people, check twitter religiously, hate macs, love my pc, enjoy hot-tubbing in the snow while singing “hot tubbing, we're hot tubbing” to the tune of Night Clubbing by Iggy Pop, cycling, walking the dogs – 2 long-coat chihuahuas, and observing everything around me absorbing every detail, taking a deep breath, and exhale.
I love your writing so much, I seriously hang on every word when I read it.
By day; an accounts coordinator at a marketing/pr firm and a full-time journalism and public relations student.
What I DO: I write for fun, for work, for school. I run, I train, I read, I watch scandalous TV shows and love every minute of it, I laugh a lot, I buy fresh flowers, I cuddle with my cat and talk to him because he is my only roommate, I nurture a long-distance relationship, I journal, I drink coffee, I spend far too much time on my blackberry, I tweet, and I do SO MUCH MORE!
Awesome post, as always!
“try to be better than I was the day before” really stuck with me. I love
that, and I like to believe that I strive to do this as well.
Also – I love that you summed this up with ” observing everything around me
absorbing every detail, taking a deep breath, and exhale.”
It seems that in all that we DO, this is the most important. To let it all
sink in, to pause, to just be present instead of active.
Great response.
Great response! I have THREE roommates and I still talk to my cat.
And thanks so much for the compliments, it means so much to me to hear that
people enjoy and relate to what I put out there.
um i love this. so what do i do: i read a lot. i don't remember what free weekends are really like. i kiss my fiance a lot. i blog like i get paid to do it. i sometimes make banana bread and only once have i messed it up. i make everyone laugh when we play apples to apples. i remember more movie/hollywood facts than i do about anything i ever learned in school. i adore my girl friends. i pretend to work out. and i sleep a lot. and that's just the beginning.
Oh come on, Doni, you and I already figured out the most specific and vague way to answer this already!
It's this:"Oh, me? I'm from the internet."Because that line leads to all of the other projects bubbling in our brains. And then the question, "what do you do on the internet?" leads to our blogs which leads to our social media which leads to archives of our creativity and endeavors and dreams and ideas and those all lead back to us. It's the perfect segue to cover lots of ground.Very thought provoking. <3 this post.
I am absolutely inspired by this post. I posted something similar on my blog this morning because I liked it so much!
http://www.allsamsidea.com/2009/09/who-i-am.html
What a cool post.Me? I help. At work I'm paid to do it. Outside of work, I love to be the one friends turn to.I also read and internet (yes, as a verb) and play with the kitten and dance around the apartment.
It's comments like this (and then reading your subsequent blog post) that
absolutely give me goosebumps. This is why I write. I can't wait til you
move to Minneapolis! We're so hanging out as soon as you get settled!
Thanks for taking the time to leave this comment, you brought a huge smile
to my face.
Thanks for the comment, Meliss! You DO so many interesting things and I
wish I had a fraction of your creativity in my body! You're amazing, and
we'll discuss all of this and more over coffee this weekend
pretty sure this post just made you my hero
I love this! I think I have to add “I adore Doniree” to my list of what I do. xoxo
Great question, seriously. You're amazing, sister.
PSH, you were my hero ages ago. But thanks, lovely!
One of the best posts I've read in a while! Seriously – I'm totally mushy and happy and inspired right now. Heehee.I love how you said something about your curiosity with everyone's personal story. I am the exact same way! And that's why I really hate that generic "what do you do" question – it hardly touches the surface of who a person is. I hate that. I'm guilty of asking it, too, when what I really want to ask someone is, "What makes you giddy?"Aaaaand instead of writing the longest comment in all of humanity, I'll be writing a post inspired by this very soon! You are a gem. And I miss you incredibly.
Totally agree to the drinks! I'm hit and miss w/ days so pick one and I'll see if it works (that means, I'll do everything in my power to MAKE it work!)
Oh come on, Doni, you and I already figured out the most specific and vague way to answer this already!
It's this:"Oh, me? I'm from the internet."Because that line leads to all of the other projects bubbling in our brains. And then the question, "what do you do on the internet?" leads to our blogs which leads to our social media which leads to archives of our creativity and endeavors and dreams and ideas and those all lead back to us. It's the perfect segue to cover lots of ground.Very thought provoking. <3 this post.
What a cool post.Me? I help. At work I'm paid to do it. Outside of work, I love to be the one friends turn to.I also read and internet (yes, as a verb) and play with the kitten and dance around the apartment.
Thank you! I hate sleeping in also – 9 is my absolute LATEST cut off, forthe same reason you said – I don't want to waste a minute!
My 40 hr work week, I'm a Sr. Service Desk Specialist, Northwest/Delta Airlines Help Desk, Metrics & Lead. I won't even start w/ the 5000 apps & hardware we support.I also, work p/t at the Cellars Wines & Spirits in Woodbury.I have my Wine Professional Certificate from St. Paul College.Like Doniree I love family & friends, more than anything!I like to (not in any order): bike, walk, listen to music, go to concerts, go to plays, play golf, tennis, bowl, drink wine, good spirits & "good" beer.I love to sit on our deck and just melt into my chair, reading wine or golf related material.I like the humor of M*A*S*H and Frazier and SNL from the 70's.The wife & I try to go to a different baseball park each year. We do make a trip to Meca (Atlanta) each year.I love to read; I just don't do it often enough. But anything by, Vince Flynn, John Sandford, Lee Child, Michael Connelly, Randy Wayne White, will do just fine.I don't write, write, but I do pen romantic prose/ poetry/poems. Most of it is only for certain eyes only!I could go on and on, but the MOST important thing I like, is the author of this blog. She's very special to her mother & I.
I love this idea- my dad has a friend he told me about once who when you ask him how he is, or what he does, he talks about all of his interests FIRST, then work. Ask him how he is, he'll tell you about rock climbing, a new book he's reading, new cooking techniques he's into and everything- and then eventually he'll get around to his job.
I love the idea of defining yourself by the things you are passionate abut and absorbed in first, and your position title second. Love.
I can't stand the "How are you?" question! I feel like it lets people cheat–there is no real interaction, yet you get to feign it. So, what do I do?I love on my dogs. I read, a lot, but quickly ditch books if the writing is sub par. I dream about moving all the time! I travel and scour airline sales. I try hopelessly to maintain the back end of my website. I adore my husband. I crave better connections with friends. I get frustrated when people don't live up to their potential. I take a lot of pictures. I think a baguette and aged cheddar with some olive oil is just about the best meal there is. I am a stickler about using coasters with wet glasses. I love sleeping til 9, but not any later because I don't want to waste life away. I think I could come up with a lot more, but I am stopping here!Great post, Doni!
Ah… the cocktail question. I believe we just went through that the other weekend.
And I truly hate that question b/c my answer, when it comes to my job, is SO not ME. Yes, I'm in banking, but that makes me sound boring. And I totally don't think I'm boring. I actually went to college and did 2 years in Graphic Design but ended up w/ a degree in Fine Arts. So why am I not doing something in the arts??? Well, b/c to put it simply, it is SO hard to make any money doing “art”. Which I think is bogus b/c I think true artists are so talented on amazing levels and many (probably most) will never make the amount of money that they should doing it. So I settled. Yep. I settled for a job I think is so utterly boring but it pays decent. And I dread going in every morning.
In my future, I have a job I love. Maybe not even doing something with art, but definitely something w/ creativity and people. I've just got to get the nerve to take that 1st step. I admire you for taking your 1st step towards your yoga goal. Cheers to that my friend!
xoxo
Ha, well I know what you do for work and I also know that you're SO not
I did not, however, know you had an art background, that's
boring
awesome! And I can't wait to see what you do w/ that in the future,
creatively, etc…
I also propose drinks soon.
I've helped maintain a massive Tool fansite (toolshed.down.net) for the last 15 years or so. Every once in a while, especially at a Tool show, someone will recognize me as "that guy from the internet." The first time it happened was in May of 2001 … and it was kind of weird.
Thank you! I hate sleeping in also – 9 is my absolute LATEST cut off, forthe same reason you said – I don't want to waste a minute!
My 40 hr work week, I'm a Sr. Service Desk Specialist, Northwest/Delta Airlines Help Desk, Metrics & Lead. I won't even start w/ the 5000 apps & hardware we support.I also, work p/t at the Cellars Wines & Spirits in Woodbury.I have my Wine Professional Certificate from St. Paul College.Like Doniree I love family & friends, more than anything!I like to (not in any order): bike, walk, listen to music, go to concerts, go to plays, play golf, tennis, bowl, drink wine, good spirits & "good" beer.I love to sit on our deck and just melt into my chair, reading wine or golf related material.I like the humor of M*A*S*H and Frazier and SNL from the 70's.The wife & I try to go to a different baseball park each year. We do make a trip to Meca (Atlanta) each year.I love to read; I just don't do it often enough. But anything by, Vince Flynn, John Sandford, Lee Child, Michael Connelly, Randy Wayne White, will do just fine.I don't write, write, but I do pen romantic prose/ poetry/poems. Most of it is only for certain eyes only!I could go on and on, but the MOST important thing I like, is the author of this blog. She's very special to her mother & I.
um i love this.
so what do i do:
i read a lot. i don't remember what free weekends are really like. i kiss my fiance a lot. i blog like i get paid to do it. i sometimes make banana bread and only once have i messed it up. i make everyone laugh when we play apples to apples. i remember more movie/hollywood facts than i do about anything i ever learned in school. i adore my girl friends. i pretend to work out. and i sleep a lot.
and that's just the beginning.
I can't stand the "How are you?" question! I feel like it lets people cheat–there is no real interaction, yet you get to feign it. So, what do I do?I love on my dogs. I read, a lot, but quickly ditch books if the writing is sub par. I dream about moving all the time! I travel and scour airline sales. I try hopelessly to maintain the back end of my website. I adore my husband. I crave better connections with friends. I get frustrated when people don't live up to their potential. I take a lot of pictures. I think a baguette and aged cheddar with some olive oil is just about the best meal there is. I am a stickler about using coasters with wet glasses. I love sleeping til 9, but not any later because I don't want to waste life away. I think I could come up with a lot more, but I am stopping here!Great post, Doni!
I've helped maintain a massive Tool fansite (toolshed.down.net) for the last 15 years or so. Every once in a while, especially at a Tool show, someone will recognize me as "that guy from the internet." The first time it happened was in May of 2001 … and it was kind of weird.
One of the best posts I've read in a while! Seriously – I'm totally mushy and happy and inspired right now. Heehee.
I love how you said something about your curiosity with everyone's personal story. I am the exact same way! And that's why I really hate that generic “what do you do” question – it hardly touches the surface of who a person is. I hate that. I'm guilty of asking it, too, when what I really want to ask someone is, “What makes you giddy?”
Aaaaand instead of writing the longest comment in all of humanity, I'll be writing a post inspired by this very soon!
You are a gem. And I miss you incredibly.
You do LOTS of cool things. And it's kind of apparent where I get a lot ofmy awesomeness.
"I’m interested in (includes, but is not limited to: maps, …" You have no idea how much that made me laugh. I'm a GIS specialist i.e. I make maps for a living. I also … I like maps. I've kept all the ones I bought while travelling overseas. There's just something about knowing where you're headed.
I have recently fallen in love with maps! I want to wallpaper my place with all kinds of different vintage maps, but I don't think my landlord would appreciate it as much as I would.
A GIS Specialist sounds like an awesome job… do you live in MN by any chance?
And knowing where you COULD be headed… I think that's what's fascinatingto me. And your job sounds awesome!
I'm a business assistant for a furniture manufacturer, by day. I'm a girlfriend, and momma to 2 puppies. I clean the kitchen, read, read, read, and read…BLOGS! I write, I dance, I sing in the car, Car Dancing Is A Must! I watch 'The Biggest Loser' EVERY WEEK! I am a runner, Kings of Leon lover, well a music lover. I'm a sister that does anything and everything for my brothers. I am the friend that can be turned to no matter what the situation, I give an honest opinion. I'm "Curious George" and I think I may end up getting myself killed one day lol. Great blog. Our work does not define us!
Thanks for the comment! We have a lot in common – KOL, car-dancing,insatiable curiosity; I love it!
You do LOTS of cool things. And it's kind of apparent where I get a lot ofmy awesomeness.
"I’m interested in (includes, but is not limited to: maps, …" You have no idea how much that made me laugh. I'm a GIS specialist i.e. I make maps for a living. I also … I like maps. I've kept all the ones I bought while travelling overseas. There's just something about knowing where you're headed.
love, Love, LOve, LOVe, LOVE. I think what's interesting is the underlying point of this blog post (whether purposeful or not), which is not that the problem is people asking the question or how people define you by your chosen career path, but the fact that we're not supposed to take all of these other things into account.I wrote a blog post like this many years back, as a college sophomore. I was surprised at how much buzz it generated. So maybe the problem doesn't lie in the fact that people aren't interested in this information, it's that we don't know how to integrate all smoothly yet.Really fantastic post. Thank you for the share. You made my morning.
Oh how this strikes a chord with me, Doniree. A decade ago, I quit my job because my job was becoming my life. I traveled most of the week. I worked long and late hours. And the people I worked with, all they DID was WORK, too. And yet, I was so very certain that my life was not all about my work. In fact, work was really just a means for me to live life. A very full life. And so, I quit. And was lucky enough to have a few other opportunities roll my way. Today, by day, I still work in the same industry (consulting), but I have a nice back-office job that entails doing research, marketing, writing, creating. I work on client projects, from the office. Or better yet, from home. I can work from home a few days a week, too. Because my bosses are just that cool. And so, I have found that balance between doing something I enjoy that also allows me to enjoy the other things in my life that I do.
Thank you so much for the comment! I think you nailed it with the partwhere you said "we don't know how to integrate" yet, and that's probably alot of it. I'm a media buyer AND a daughter AND an aspiring yogainstructor. They don't have to be mutually exclusive of each other. Greatpoint.
Balance. I think in all of this, that is what I'm striving to find. I'm sohappy for you that you are in a place where you have the kind of flexibilitythat allows you to enjoy your job and excel at it as well as keep yourpersonal interests and pursuits in progress as well!
I'm a business assistant for a furniture manufacturer, by day. I'm a girlfriend, and momma to 2 puppies. I clean the kitchen, read, read, read, and read…BLOGS! I write, I dance, I sing in the car, Car Dancing Is A Must! I watch 'The Biggest Loser' EVERY WEEK! I am a runner, Kings of Leon lover, well a music lover. I'm a sister that does anything and everything for my brothers. I am the friend that can be turned to no matter what the situation, I give an honest opinion. I'm "Curious George" and I think I may end up getting myself killed one day lol. Great blog. Our work does not define us!
Thanks for the comment! We have a lot in common – KOL, car-dancing,insatiable curiosity; I love it!
You know, I just finished Tim's book last week… actually started AND finished it last week… and it reminded me how hard this question has been for me for quite some time. I guess its time I get around to finding an answer for it!There is a newish thread on my blog where I'm working through my bio statement, that explains a lot about me… but its not really a good answer to this question in the context of casual conversation.I read somewhere that you're supposed to answer the "what do you do" question that leaves the asker with an option…"Really? How do you do that?" or "Oh, ok"Thanks for a great post and the good swift kick in the pants I needed to get me back on the road to finding a great answer. I'll let you know what I come up with!@jtrigsby
love, Love, LOve, LOVe, LOVE. I think what's interesting is the underlying point of this blog post (whether purposeful or not), which is not that the problem is people asking the question or how people define you by your chosen career path, but the fact that we're not supposed to take all of these other things into account.I wrote a blog post like this many years back, as a college sophomore. I was surprised at how much buzz it generated. So maybe the problem doesn't lie in the fact that people aren't interested in this information, it's that we don't know how to integrate all smoothly yet.Really fantastic post. Thank you for the share. You made my morning.
First: I love you. I mean, I kinda liked you in *that way* before, but this post put me over the edge. I LOVE YOU. /creepyI sing when no one can hear. I write and write and write some more. I read. Everything. Fiction, self help, Cosmo, the local creative mag, the back of a Cheerios box. I flirt. Shamelessly. I drink vodka in any kind of fruit juice. I dance with my girlfriends. I tweet. I Facebook. I laugh, I cry, I love. I daydream. I feel guilty about not going to the gym. I bypass Twitter memes that I have the PERFECT response to in order to protect the happily un-innocent. I love and feed all critters. I grow stuff, lots of stuff, and some of it I eat. I eat, I cook, I drive fast. I take pictures. I make a fool of myself. I blog, and I love my blogfriends with the heat and light of 1000 suns.
You're welcome! On a similar note, someone commented earlier that a greatfollow-up question/post would be to then answer the question WHY do you dowhat you do.I'm so on it.Thanks for coming by!
Ok, this is my favorite response ever
Really though, I LOVE your answer. You DO a lot! And it seems like theunderlying theme is that you don't want to miss anything, that you'reabsorbing everything. I love it 
And knowing where you COULD be headed… I think that's what's fascinating
to me. And your job sounds awesome!
Oh how this strikes a chord with me, Doniree. A decade ago, I quit my job because my job was becoming my life. I traveled most of the week. I worked long and late hours. And the people I worked with, all they DID was WORK, too. And yet, I was so very certain that my life was not all about my work. In fact, work was really just a means for me to live life. A very full life. And so, I quit. And was lucky enough to have a few other opportunities roll my way. Today, by day, I still work in the same industry (consulting), but I have a nice back-office job that entails doing research, marketing, writing, creating. I work on client projects, from the office. Or better yet, from home. I can work from home a few days a week, too. Because my bosses are just that cool. And so, I have found that balance between doing something I enjoy that also allows me to enjoy the other things in my life that I do.
Thank you so much for the comment! I think you nailed it with the part
where you said “we don't know how to integrate” yet, and that's probably a
lot of it. I'm a media buyer AND a daughter AND an aspiring yoga
instructor. They don't have to be mutually exclusive of each other. Great
point.
Balance. I think in all of this, that is what I'm striving to find. I'm so
happy for you that you are in a place where you have the kind of flexibility
that allows you to enjoy your job and excel at it as well as keep your
personal interests and pursuits in progress as well!
This is one of my favorite posts of all time. THANK YOU.It inspired me… "I, too, write. I write for work (sometimes), but I deal with many pieces of writing for work … which makes it difficult to go home at night and write for fun. But I used to write for fun, and I miss that." http://kacijohanna.wordpress.com/2009/09/16/mor…..And of course I gave you credit for the inspiration!
I just commented! Thanks for the shout-out and I'm so glad you wereinspired
You know, I just finished Tim's book last week… actually started AND finished it last week… and it reminded me how hard this question has been for me for quite some time. I guess its time I get around to finding an answer for it!
There is a newish thread on my blog where I'm working through my bio statement, that explains a lot about me… but its not really a good answer to this question in the context of casual conversation.
I read somewhere that you're supposed to answer the “what do you do” question that leaves the asker with an option…”Really? How do you do that?” or “Oh, ok”
Thanks for a great post and the good swift kick in the pants I needed to get me back on the road to finding a great answer. I'll let you know what I come up with!
@jtrigsby
First: I love you. I mean, I kinda liked you in *that way* before, but this post put me over the edge. I LOVE YOU. /creepy
I sing when no one can hear. I write and write and write some more. I read. Everything. Fiction, self help, Cosmo, the local creative mag, the back of a Cheerios box. I flirt. Shamelessly. I drink vodka in any kind of fruit juice. I dance with my girlfriends. I tweet. I Facebook. I laugh, I cry, I love. I daydream. I feel guilty about not going to the gym. I bypass Twitter memes that I have the PERFECT response to in order to protect the happily un-innocent. I love and feed all critters. I grow stuff, lots of stuff, and some of it I eat. I eat, I cook, I drive fast. I take pictures. I make a fool of myself. I blog, and I love my blogfriends with the heat and light of 1000 suns.
You're welcome! On a similar note, someone commented earlier that a great
follow-up question/post would be to then answer the question WHY do you do
what you do.
I'm so on it.
Thanks for coming by!
Ok, this is my favorite response ever
Really though, I LOVE your answer. You DO a lot! And it seems like the
underlying theme is that you don't want to miss anything, that you're
absorbing everything. I love it
This is one of my favorite posts of all time. THANK YOU.
It inspired me…
“I, too, write. I write for work (sometimes), but I deal with many pieces of writing for work … which makes it difficult to go home at night and write for fun. But I used to write for fun, and I miss that.”
http://kacijohanna.wordpress.com/2009/09/16/mor…
And of course I gave you credit for the inspiration!
I just commented! Thanks for the shout-out and I'm so glad you were
inspired
Great post with good suggestions for answering that question. Although I love what I do, I am more than my day job.I'm a career counselor, so as you can imagine, if I tell people that in social gatherings, the conversation quickly turns to my thoughts on resumes, job search strategies, age discrimination, my opinion of the resecession and on. I'd much rather be hearing about other people's hobbies or passions than having my brain picked about careers and job search while I'm trying to get some downtime.I'd also much rather be talking about the last concert I went to, the lastest band review I'm working on for a music magazine, the next trip I'm planning, or my next foodie adventure. I also love watching footbal and the Pats! Those activities energize me.Thanks for reminding us that we are more than our professions.
Great post with good suggestions for answering that question. Although I love what I do, I am more than my day job.
I'm a career counselor, so as you can imagine, if I tell people that in social gatherings, the conversation quickly turns to my thoughts on resumes, job search strategies, age discrimination, my opinion of the resecession and on.
I'd much rather be hearing about other people's hobbies or passions than having my brain picked about careers and job search while I'm trying to get some downtime.
I'd also much rather be talking about the last concert I went to, the lastest band review I'm working on for a music magazine, the next trip I'm planning, or my next foodie adventure. I also love watching footbal and the Pats! Those activities energize me.
Thanks for reminding us that we are more than our professions.
Hrm, now I want to try Lebanese biscuits. Hit me up when you make thathobby happen!
Here's another one of those 'I wish I had written that' posts. I HATE (no, ABHOR) hearing that question. For two reasons. 1) At 29, I've had so many different jobs it isn't even funny. 2) What I am doing at the moment is never THAT interesting.I typically pick a hobby of mine and talk about that instead (and those change as much as my jobs, really). Right now it's internet marketing, but next week it may be Lebanese biscuit making.
Hrm, now I want to try Lebanese biscuits. Hit me up when you make thathobby happen!
Here's another one of those 'I wish I had written that' posts. I HATE (no, ABHOR) hearing that question. For two reasons. 1) At 29, I've had so many different jobs it isn't even funny. 2) What I am doing at the moment is never THAT interesting.I typically pick a hobby of mine and talk about that instead (and those change as much as my jobs, really). Right now it's internet marketing, but next week it may be Lebanese biscuit making.
This is an amazing post. Me?I smile, I laugh, I cry, I read, I write, I watch TV, I listen to Hanson and feel happy, I drink wine because I know it will make my day better, I eat chocolate cupcakes, I wear pink dresses, I live for the winter, I curl my hair for fun, I try to floss regularly, I drink iced coffee, and I take naps. Plus some other stuff, too.
This is an amazing post. Me?I smile, I laugh, I cry, I read, I write, I watch TV, I listen to Hanson and feel happy, I drink wine because I know it will make my day better, I eat chocolate cupcakes, I wear pink dresses, I live for the winter, I curl my hair for fun, I try to floss regularly, I drink iced coffee, and I take naps. Plus some other stuff, too.
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We're excited to let you know that Doni Walker has invited you to Dropbox!Doni Walker has been using Dropbox to sync and share files online and across computers, and thought you might want it too.Visit http://www.getdropbox.com/link/20.BeQqdeH-ma/Nj….. to get started.- The Dropbox Team____________________________________________________ To stop receiving invites from Dropbox, please go to http://www.getdropbox.com/bl/3e22544ceb7a/notif…..
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We're excited to let you know that Doni Walker has invited you to Dropbox!Doni Walker has been using Dropbox to sync and share files online and across computers, and thought you might want it too.Visit http://www.getdropbox.com/link/20.3-6vUw4WIb/Nj….. to get started.- The Dropbox Team____________________________________________________ To stop receiving invites from Dropbox, please go to http://www.getdropbox.com/bl/20d9aa9b38ed/notif…..
We're excited to let you know that Doni Walker has invited you to Dropbox!Doni Walker has been using Dropbox to sync and share files online and across computers, and thought you might want it too.Visit http://www.getdropbox.com/link/20.jYJm1sTRlA/Nj….. to get started.- The Dropbox Team____________________________________________________ To stop receiving invites from Dropbox, please go to http://www.getdropbox.com/bl/82eeb5454ef9/notif…..
We're excited to let you know that Doni Walker has invited you to Dropbox!Doni Walker has been using Dropbox to sync and share files online and across computers, and thought you might want it too.Visit http://www.getdropbox.com/link/20.g3B_VFFmgI/Nj….. to get started.- The Dropbox Team____________________________________________________ To stop receiving invites from Dropbox, please go to http://www.getdropbox.com/bl/26d7689b753a/notif…..
I know I'm really, really, really late on this post, but I love it so much.At first glance, I'm a PJ. I love to cook. I make badass oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, but only break them out for special occasions. I make a mean baked steak, too. And can improvise with most things in the kitchen if I don't have the money to run to the grocery store.I walk/run with my puppy whenever I get the opportunity. I talk to her like she's a person. I talk about her like she's a person. My fiance (!!!!) does, too. And I miss her whenever I go out of town.I'm a dreamer. I come up with random photography projects I want to create ALL THE TIME. I plan on pursuing these projects sometime soon. (As in, when I get to Nashville. For good!)And so, so much more. What a fantastic question!
" can improvise with most things in the kitchen if I don't have the money torun to the grocery store."You and I should really cook together sometime – I LOVE doing this and Ithink I'm pretty good!Also? Fiance?! !!! I LOVE THAT!
I know I'm really, really, really late on this post, but I love it so much.
At first glance, I'm a PJ. I love to cook. I make badass oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, but only break them out for special occasions. I make a mean baked steak, too. And can improvise with most things in the kitchen if I don't have the money to run to the grocery store.
I walk/run with my puppy whenever I get the opportunity. I talk to her like she's a person. I talk about her like she's a person. My fiance (!!!!) does, too. And I miss her whenever I go out of town.
I'm a dreamer. I come up with random photography projects I want to create ALL THE TIME. I plan on pursuing these projects sometime soon. (As in, when I get to Nashville. For good!)
And so, so much more. What a fantastic question!
For work right now: http://www.LoveYourWorkLife.com. A loving work in progress.
What else do I do? Well, I USED to do A LOT. I did a ton of social outdoor activities like road cycling, crossfit, and running. I am also a Rotarian and was doing a ton of projects, starting events, and doing all the philanthropy I could handle. I used to go to all sort of events to meet new people, entrepreneurs, cyclists, and everyone I could. But then, when I started the biz, I started letting is all slide. And actually, I was doing research for an article I'm writing today and that is how I found this article and, well, you! I love this article. I also love how the world gives us exactly what we need when we need it. We just need the eyes to see it.
So, I'm seeing it. My life isn't just about my business, even though I love it. I need to get back to all those other things I love. All the people, activities, and BALANCE.
So thanks for the article, Doniree. It's a keeper!
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