Five things

During the opening keynote that Catherine Connors so fabulously delivered at BlissDom Canada, she talked about her "five things". It got everyone thinking about what their "five things" were. The one I had most trouble with was "five things people don't know about me", since as a narcissistic blogger I tend to talk about myself—a lot. Not only that, but I've been blogging for almost five years, so it's hard to come up with new things that people do not already know about me. I worry, I love to shop, I multi-task, I love my children, I interned at some fabulous places, and I was almost kidnapped... yeah, yeah, Loukia, tell us something we don't already know!

Well, here you go:

Five things you don't know about me:

1. I have a bad case of FOMO. (Fear Of Missing Out.) I hate saying no because saying no means I'm going to miss out on something. Like when I left BlissDom Canada on Saturday at 6 p.m. only to find out that Jordan Knight was at the costume party? Yeah, I was missing out.

2. I have to wear my socks inside out, because I hate the way the inside of socks feel on my feet. (Like, little athletic socks. Hate them.) I also like to sleep with socks on sometimes.

3. I am a great swimmer and will win almost any race, against anyone, man or woman. Probably not against Michael Phelps, though. I could swim in the ocean (or pool) all day long.

4. I read Wuthering Heights when I was 14 years old because I was in England that summer and I figured there was no better place to read it. I loved it.

5. I spent six weeks watering fake plants when I was a high school co-op student at an interior design firm. One day, my boss told me the plants were not real and I was totally mortified.

Five things I am knowledgeable about:

1. I know how to shop, and I'm fun to shop with. Unless you're on a budget, then perhaps you should stay home. Shopping gives me a high. I love being in department stores like Saks and I often daydream about being locked in one of those stores for the night. I'd try on clothes until security escorted me away. I could also spend countless hours in a book store.

2. I know that Dazed and Confused is one of the best movies ever, and I could recite the entire movie to you, and sing along to the soundtrack, perfectly. (I also know that Dirty Dancing and Scarface should not be remade. I know the new movies will both suck.)

3. Dante's Inferno. I read this book during my first year Engilsh Literature class in university and the circles of hell scared. me. to. death. (Limbo, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Anger, Heresy, Violence, Fraud, Treachery...) I sometimes ask myself "What circle of hell did I enter today?" if I do something wrong. I found Dante's Inferno to be a really interesting topic of discussion when I was in school.

4. I know how to talk my way out of a ticket. "Are you sure it was me speeding?" "I'm late to pick up my kids and I'm freaking out!" "I'm SO sorry... I'll never do it again!' "I wasn't *technically* texting and driving, because it was a red light. Oh... that's a rule too? My bad!" (Yes, I'm Cher from Clueless.)

5. I'm knowledgeable about Greece, and the history of Greece. Being of Greek descent and having spent almost all of my childhood summers in Greece, I know a thing or two about one of the most beautiful countries on earth. And I'm not talking about where the best beaches are, what the hottest night club in Athens is, or where you can find the most delicious souvlaki. Although I know all that, too.

Five things I know nothing about:

1. Fiscal responsibility. I see the 'bills' in the mail, and I leave them for the elves to take care of. Or, you know, my husband. I don't know how to save money for myself, and I don't like to look at price tags. I round down, rather than up. If something is $99, in my head it's like, just a bit over 50 dollars.

2. Related, I know nothing about math and didn't take a class having to do with numbers after grade 10. I barely passed my second year stats course in university, and I only took it because it was required. My nose gets itchy and my eyes start to sting (for real) every time there is math in front of me. I'd rather plug my ears and say "I can't hear you!" rather than have an adult conversation about money, mortage, interest rates, balance, and the importance of saving.

3. I know nothing about what it is like to not worry. I have been a worrier my entire life, and it's only gotten worst since I've become a mother. I often wonder what it feels like to not think 'worst-case' scenario about everything in life. And I'm not really a pessimist; I'm more of a neurotic-devastation-ist.

4. I know nothing about football, except it looks really fun in the movies. I'm Canadian, so that's my excuse. I know a thing or two about hockey and soccer, so there's that.

5. I know nothing about space exploration and how we've managed to put people in space, and have them come back a) alive and b) not completey freaked out that they left Earth's atmosphere. "Oh, look, there's the Earth!" (That's where I'd have a heart attack.) I have also seen "space food" and um, no thank you.

Five things I believe:

1. I believe if you really want something to happen in your life, you can make it happen. I'm a firm believer in never giving up on your dreams, desires, and aspirations. Sure, luck plays a part, but talent and believing in yourself can make amazing things happen. Even if you have to be annoying to get what you want. Every job I've been offered has been a result of me going after it with fierce determination.

2. I believe that living near the ocean is like free therapy. The sound of the waves, and being able to just sit on the beach breathing in the ocean air makes me content and happy. Vacations are very necessary.

3. I believe that no one is meant to live in minus 30 degrees celsius weather. Freezing is an awful feeling. Having to wear layers of clothes and scraping ice off the car every morning for months on end is just wrong. I believe winter is the most unpleasant season.

4. I believe that there is nothing as amazing, incredible, and frightening as being a mother. Every emotion is magnified, times a hundred. There is no love like the love you have for you children, and there is no fear as great as the fear you will forever be prisoner of once you become a mother.

5. I believe the only time I will stop worrying will be when I am dead.

I absolutely loved writing this blog post. It wasn't easy, and it got me thinking, quite a bit. What about you? What don't I know about you? What do you believe? What are you knowledgeabout about? I'd love to hear your thoughts, too!