Introducing: A Change in Direction

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for having me here on Steemit, a place where I can be me, and, ergo, a place I should have been for a while now! I’m excited to get to know you all, and to share a little slice of myself, and my musings on such an original platform!

Generally, I’m into words, symbols, sounds and images. The kind that, fundamentally, form meaning. They are the sword to cause a wound, and equally can be a salve to heal and nurture. Meaning and meaning making and transcendental (not transactional!) interaction are really important to me, and communication, and how we communicate as a global society really gets my creative juices flowing!

Just think… there are millions of things communicated to us in a day, through:
• Speech – on the radio, TV, movie screen and in person
• Written word – good old-fashioned newspapers, billboards, magazines, books (fiction, non-fiction, poetry)
• Digital communication – social media content, email, messenger services
• Song – pop, blues, rock, jazz, classical, metal, traditional…
• Image – photo, mixed media, painting…

That’s not even an exhaustive list… there is so much communicative content! It could make your head reel.
So, let’s start small. I was inspired by a newsletter I read about being ‘nice’, and what that communicates about a person. Generally speaking (and correct me if I’m wrong, please!), ‘nice’, as a descriptor is faint praise, and not something you’d like to see on your curriculum vitae/resumé. Here where I live, people are often described as ‘lovely’, but is this a true communication or simply another bland descriptive platitude? Let me start by explaining where ‘lovely’ has gotten me in life.

It's gotten me a professional career in a permanent, pensionable agency. It's gotten me the financial stability to buy a little (miniscule, tiny, postage-stamp-sized) home on a hill, near the city (smiling, and being ‘lovely’ to the bank manager was instrumental during the economic crash in 2011!). It's also gotten me a wonderful boyfriend (Hi wannerbet!), but luckily, he likes me for more than the fact that I'm 'lovely'. In fact, at this point, I imagine it’s the last word he’d use to describe me at times!

'Lovely', as an adjective, is quite a benign word. It means, by definition 'sweet' or 'personable'. But, while being 'lovely' is okay, there are several other adjectives for which I would like to be known.

Loyal, conscientious, intelligent, vital, optimistic, unwavering, diligent... these portray the true essence of a person, and their values. And these words are words I choose to describe myself, and live by! Out of curiosity (another very prominent trait of mine!) leave three adjectives in the comments to describe your true self, and let’s start getting a feel for who we all are!

It may seem like a bold and self-praising move to use these words to describe oneself, but recently, I’ve started on a journey towards a change. I am no longer satisfied with the picket fence lifestyle, with the 9-5, or with the constant, low-level anxiety that goes with working in a permanent pensionable these days. I want to push my intellect, challenge my anxieties (I was never one for change, much, and that, in and of itself, is a problem) and move towards a more original, satisfying lifestyle, that allows me spend more time doing what I enjoy, and less time worrying about doing the things that keep people perceiving me as ‘lovely’. It’s hard work to keep the perception fed at all times!

So, I’m inviting you all to join me on this journey of words, communication, change, lifestyle, bumps, hurdles and triumphs. Feel free to comment, advise and ask questions as I go through this.

I want original, vital and beautiful.
Lovely can go back on the shelf.
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