Answering some big life questions

Two friends and I recently started a new project called The People of Barrie. We’ve spent the past four months asking, what we call “big life” questions, to people who live, work or play in the Greater Barrie Area (GBA). It’s been an absolute joyous project and we’ve met some wonderful people and been amazed by the poignant answers we’ve received from them, in addition to their willingness to share at such an intimate level. 

You can check out our website at www.peopleofbarrie.comwww.peopleofbarrie.com and read a great story about the project here. It is an absolute honour to participate in this project with my partners Kristin Taylor and Scott Cooper. I am totally blessed.

We also have a Facebook page and like to post big questions for everyone to ponder. And while it's easy for us to ask others BIG questions, it’s certainly challenging to answer them when roles are reversed. One of our recent posts asked people to answer 26 ABC questions. In the spirit of fairness, here are my answers.

We would also love to know yours, so feel free to like us on Facebook and give us your answers.

• What Age do you feel inside? I believe our chronological age is just a number. I’m 53 and am always amazed by that number as I feel (and sometimes . . . no, probably always) act at least half that age. I’m forever 25.
• What's your Blind spot? Living in my head.
• What TV Character do you wish was real? Hank Moody.
•  What’s the most Daring thing you’ve ever done? These days I would have to say putting myself out there in the dating world. Scary shit but I’m doing it.
• What’s been the most Extraordinary experience of your life? Being with my father when he passed away. I feel truly blessed to have been able to share that journey with him. 
• What’s the most Fun you’ve ever had? My life is one big epic fun-filled experience. But, if I have to pick one, it’s being in the pit at a Springsteen show, sharing that communal joy in our special church.
• What was your most painful Goodbye? It would have to be losing my parents.
• What Historical event do you wish you’d been alive to witness? Either Woodstock or any Springsteen show during 1978.
• Where do you draw Inspiration from? My amazing friends, music, spiritual and mindfulness gurus, and my sister. 
• What did your first Job teach you? There can be honour in the monotonous.
• Who do you wish you Kissed but didn’t? There are some kisses I’d like to take back but no one I feel I missed out on. I’d just like to say that I’m looking forward to kissing the person to whom I am going to spend the rest of my life.
• What Lyrics sum up your life right now? Lyric: “I can't be right for somebody else
  If I'm not right for me. I gotta be free, I've gotta be free. Daring to try, to do it or die. I've gotta be me” 
• What Memory do you turn to in dark times? Any memory at my cottage on Paugh Lake. It’s my happy place.
• What’s the Nicest thing you’ve ever done for someone? I try to be happy and positive and hug my friends when I can. 
• What lost Opportunity do you wish you could go back and pursue? I believe we all end up where we’re supposed to be . . . maybe we take a squirrelly path to that destination but we end up there eventually. 
• What do you believe your life Purpose is? To create: music, words, joy, conversations.
• What’s a Question you’re always asked? Who’s older: you or your sister?
• What’s the biggest Realization you’ve had over the past year? Being my authentic self 100 percent of the time is the true path to happiness.
• Do you have any Secrets? I’m pretty much an open book … what do you want to know?
• What’s your main Talent? I’ve been told that I’m a rainmaker in that I make things happen. Is that a talent? Who knows! 
• Have you ever felt Unworthy? Probably in my younger years, but who hasn’t experienced moments of not feeling good enough? However, I now know that I am very worthy indeed. 
• What are your core Values? Kindness, authenticity, creativity, gratitude, action and honesty.
• What do you Want right now that you can’t have? Clarity.
• If your brain was X-rayed, what would we find weighing on your mind? How to ensure I spend every day doing what I am passionate about.
• When you were Younger, what did you want to be when you grew up? A writer or a musician. See, squirrelly path but we eventually get there!
• What fills you with Zeal? Love, music, spending time at my cottage, hanging with my friends and like-minded individuals.