Finding my groove
Celebrating my 60th piece of writing on Substack and answering the Proust Questionnaire.
Crank up the stereo, blast out some 80s tunes, and wave your hands in the air in celebration. Bloom and Grow has reached a milestone, today’s post marks my 60th piece of published writing on Substack.
To be completely honest, I can’t quite believe it, I can call myself a self-published writer (still doesn’t seem real) and I feel emotional, grateful and thankful. I have shown up, written and published consistently for over a year. Writing has given me a sense of purpose and belonging, and I feel very happy and proud that I’ve reached this milestone.
In celebration of this, I want to take you back in time, to my 21st birthday. One of the gifts that I received was a year-long subscription to Vanity Fair. I adored that magazine, and getting a year subscription was like winning the lottery for me. I eagerly awaited its arrival every month and poured over the articles and pictures. I always loved the Hollywood Issue and in particular the Proust Questionnaire at the end of the magazine. So, I have decided that I am going to do something I’ve always wanted to do and answer the questionnaire, in the spirit of celebration and to share a bit more about me.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Proust Questionnaire, here is a quick explanation from Vanity Fair:
“The Proust Questionnaire has its origins in a parlour game popularized (though not devised) by Marcel Proust, the French essayist and novelist, who believed that, in answering these questions, an individual reveals his or her true nature.”
So, buckle up for the ride and let’s go!
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Feeling content, walking by the sea and then meeting friends and family for a delicious meal
What is your greatest fear?
Not reaching my potential, whatever that means
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
When my lack of confidence overrides everything else
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Lying and falseness
Which living person do you most admire?
Emma Thompson
What is your greatest extravagance?
Travelling, it fulfils me and makes me feel so alive
What is your current state of mind?
Questioning
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Self -discipline
On what occasion do you lie?
To soften the blow
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
I think dislike is a very strong word, the one thing I would change is how I treated my hands in the past. As I was quite careless when I was at school in food technology, and so I have quite a few burn marks on them.
Which living person do you most despise?
Any dictator
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Openness
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Strength
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
well, if you think about it, so, to be honest
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My family and friends
When and where were you happiest?
When I went to Australia and spent Christmas with my family in the sunshine
Which talent would you most like to have?
To be able to play the piano
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
To speak up when I am feeling afraid
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Leaving a job that no longer fulfilled me, taking a year out to find myself and gaining back my power
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
A bird
Where would you most like to live?
Sydney Harbour
What is your most treasured possession?
A keepsake box full of memories
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Not being able to be creative in anyway
What is your favourite occupation?
Spending time with the kids in my life, learning from them and being amazed by their wisdom
What is your most marked characteristic?
Empathy
What do you most value in your friends?
Kindness and an open heart
Who are your favourite writers?
Jane Austen, Roald Dahl, Eve Babitz, Emma Gannon, Elizabeth Gilbert, Mary Oliver
Who is your hero of fiction?
Elinor Dashwood
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Queen Elizabeth 1st
Who are your heroes in real life?
My parents, people who overcome and rise, Audrey Hepburn, Katharine Hepburn, Beyoncé and Mariska Hargitay
What are your favourite names?
Raife, Rory, Arthur, Emilia and Aylar
What is it that you most dislike?
People who are rude and obnoxious to people who work in the hospitality / service industry
What is your greatest regret?
Paths not taken, but then again if I took them I would be a different person now. And I’m pretty happy where I am now
How would you like to die?
Peacefully
What is your motto?
“The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.” - Audrey Hepburn
Final thoughts
Bloom and Grow came into my life at a time when I was pretty lost, it arrived as a small ball of light, but it quickly blazed into a torch of creativity which showed me the way out of the darkness. It led me to a life of exploration and discovery, to books, poetry, amazing people and thought-provoking pieces of writing.
I can see my growth both as a person and as a writer and sixty pieces on, I feel more confident in my voice and what I create. I can see what works and what doesn’t and edit and review my work with a more seasoned eye, which feels really satisfying. It’s been an amazing learning process and I can’t wait to see what happens next. There are so many more things that I want to write about and ideas I want to explore.
Did any of the Proust questions pique your interest? If so, what would your answer be? Have you had any moments this week that you want to celebrate? I would love to know ☺️