So, I subscribe to a mailing list that sends out topics for discussion once a week. I love the idea, but the topics are a bit lukewarm most the time. But every once in awhile, there’s a real gem and I think this is one of those!
When you were five, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did it happen?
Well. Whew! I can’t remember what I wanted to be when I was 5. I wasn’t a particularly ambitious child – was trying to not exist at school (heaven forbid I draw attention to myself!), and enjoying life with my 2 year old little brother, my beautiful mother, and my noble father. If anyone ever asked me what I wanted to be, I have no recollection of it.
The earliest thing ‘I wanted to be’ was in Third Grade. I was 9 years old and painfully, PAINFULLY shy. (I later learned this was partially because of my empathic nature) But I wanted to be a hermit living under a willow tree. No one took me seriously, but over the next 5 or 6 years I would concentrate on how to achieve this.
In high school, I was researching wind and solar energy. I learned about septic systems. I learned that if I willed my property to the state of California so it became part of the national park system, I wouldn’t have to pay property taxes. I could live under a willow tree, with a working toilet and use a barter/service system for survival and never even have to use money. And if I grew my own vegetables and meat, I would be even more independent!
Then, later, I wanted to live in a Vardo and travel the country, still using barter/service systems, solar power, satellite internet, and building websites.
I guess I was just REALLY REALLY into freedom and independence.
Neither of those things have happened. YET. But now I have a new dream, which I’ll go into later, but I’m planting the seeds of it RIGHT NOW and it’s so exciting!
What about you? What did you want to be when you were 5? Did it happen?
