Things I Wish I'd Realized Earlier:

By Margie Senechal


That I can memorize dates and numbers pretty darn good. I wish I’d realized this is school as it would’ve been very beneficial in History class. I remember birthdays and phone numbers from my childhood even though I don’t use them—I still remember my high school bestie’s phone number and her birthday which is coming up next week, actually and I haven't talked to her in
decades. I make it a point not to used speed dial until I've memorized a number-especially if it's an important family number.

Another thing I wish I’d known earlier—how much people like to talk about themselves. Not to mention, how much I enjoy hearing it. Every new story is filed away in my writer’s brain to perhaps drop in somewhere, some way, some time. 

And while people may give you a startled look when you ask a peculiar question, they’ll answer you. At my brother-in-law’s birthday on New Year’s, I asked his brother-in-law—who happens to be a school teacher working toward principal in one of the local school districts—“If there was a major terrorist bombing at the Portland Airport, would they lock down schools in Vancouver?”

I must admit, he gave me a WTF look before my sister rolled her eyes and said, “It’s probably for research.” Yeah, my sisters are used to my inappropriate mind. And yes, it was for research. But, it was also to engage him in conversation as that was the only thing that came to mind at the time. And I really did want to know.

I met a lady at work one day who does animal rehab for wild animals—raccoons, squirrels, opossums— that are orphaned. I talked to her for about twenty minutes after disappointing her because we were out of puppy pads. But, I was fascinated and wondering about a heroine that rescues animals and maybe she clashes with a new vet in town over this practice. Or maybe she's nursing a pair of opossums back to health and lives next door to a chicken farmer. 

Unfortunately, she didn’t have a card on her so I could follow up. But, the conversation is filed under “Ideas” in my file cabinet of a brain.

Lastly, I wish I would’ve realized earlier how competitive I am and found people to challenge me. Because left to my own devices, I’m inherently lazy. But, if someone says I can’t do something or wants to compete, I’m all in. I’m at my best when I’m trying to prove someone wrong. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, to tell you the truth.

Okay, that’s all I got in this go round. Anything you wish you’d known earlier???



Comments

  1. Oh, man--I wish I'd known earlier how very little other people focus on me and how I look and act. Most people are busy thinking about themselves, not me. I'd have been a much more relaxed kid if someone had told me this when I was about ten. ;-)

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    1. Yes!! Me, too. I went through school so afraid I'd do something to make me look like a fool or worse. I worried so much and that worry definitely held me back.

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  2. I wish I'd known I wanted to be a writer! :-) And, I dare you to finish your novel before I finish mine (gauntlet thrown... let's do this thing!)

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    1. We totally should! Let's get together via email and swap updates. I love this idea!

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  3. so many things! I'll go with how to ask for what I want...

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  4. That thing you said about remembering the dates of childhood friends' birthdays, I'm right there with you. Don't ask me why I can remember that and not things that are happening right now. And I very much agree that I wish I'd known years ago that most people are too busy worrying about how they look to care about you.

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  5. I like Kristi's answer because it's something I still have trouble with. I loved this post!

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