Yada Yada Yada

25 things about me … blah blah blah

originally written 4 months

before my daughter was born

~

# 1

I was born 2 weeks late

but I was also born early

I was born in the car

on the way to the hospital

~

# 2

when I was around 2 years old

I hugged a puppy to death

~

# 3

I had the best childhood

I was the fifth of seven children

I grew up on a farm

we had tons of cool animals and a big garden

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# 4

I have always tried to treat everyone as family

it seems to work for me

~

# 5

when I was 3

I watched my mom chop off a chicken’s head

I think she was sending me a message …

“Don’t mess with me”

we ate the chicken that week and it tasted awesome !!!

~

# 6

the first time I ate at kentucky fried chicken

I thought something was wrong

I never saw such small pieces of chicken in my life

~

# 7

food is not a big deal to me anymore

I would be okay eating the same thing everyday

this should disturb me — but it doesn’t

~

# 8

I moved away from home

when my little brother was 9

he turns 30 this year

whenever he’s in one of my dreams

he’s still 9

~

# 9

my wife and I have been together 16 years

we watch the movie “amelie” together every valentine’s day

“young frankenstein” every halloween

~

# 10

the mountains are beautiful

but I don’t like driving in them

I prefer driving in the prairies

~

# 11

my wife and I found out about september 11th (2001) a day later

we were on a

week long hiking trip (west coast trail on vancouver island)

~

# 12

I used to be a perfectionist

I have learned that no one has all the answers

I have also learned it is okay

to ask for help when you need it

~

# 13

I want to be more assertive … but in a positive way

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# 14

I refuse to be manipulated or exploited

I refuse to let anyone make me feel guilty

ashamed or embarrassed for anything I don’t deserve

~

# 15

I believe we can learn

something from everyone

but only if we are

O P E N

to listening and learning

~

# 16

if I can’t afford something

I won’t buy it

I learned this the hard way

~

# 17

I have learned that you can’t help someone

unless they want to be helped

~

# 18

“maybe” is a valid answer

I think logic is too limiting

the world is bigger than a “yes” or “no” reply

lots of times there isn’t a “right” or “wrong” answer

big questions almost never have a simple solution

~

# 19

I don’t know if school is for everyone

it might be a myth that we need a formal education

a degree to be successful in life

I know a lot of people who are living proof of this

~

# 20

For the past 38 years

I’ve never owned a cell phone

I can’t hear anyone on them

maybe I should get my hearing checked

~

# 21

For 36 years

I chewed my fingernails

I stopped biting them after my dad died

~

# 22

I feel that every single person is a miracle

all life is precious

and we all have a choice

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# 23

I have faith in people and the future

~

# 24

I want to live life to the fullest

but I am not afraid of death

death is a part of life

I accept that now

~

# 25

everyone looks awesome when they smile

~

my fifth birthday and I am king of the world !!!