“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away. – Pablo Picasso.”
The places I find inspiration and motivation are often unexpected. For example this post was completely different before I had the pleasure of watching Kung Fu Panda 3 with my family last Saturday. I was surprised by how good the movie was, but even better was the underlying message between the black and white fur.
Grab your coffee cup, let’s get some reflections flowing.
If you have’t seen the movie I’ll give you a quick Clif Notes review: it’s about discovering who you are – separate from anyone else, discovering your potential, discovering how to take your talents and turn them into something great.
Basically it was an hour and a half of positive soul vibes about taking your inner chi, also known as inner peace and making it sparkle.
Naturally this had thinking about who I am, who I want to be, and realizing while some of our tendencies or qualities are set in stone, many are fluid. So who am I?
Well, let’s see…
I am…a sister, a daughter, and a mother. A mother to cats, don’t get excited.
I am…a runner, but more specifically an athlete. I fell off the workout wagon this winter and was hit hard by the lazy bug. I got back into a gym routine and signed up for another half marathon to help me get my groove back.
My sisters Nike’s may be cooler than mine….
I am…a student. Finally finishing my degrees through Arizona State University. I’m getting a BS in Human Communication, and it feels right.
I am…an earthy, plant loving, self proclaimed minimalist and I think a simple life is a happy life.
Because every self proclaimed granola needs a pair of Birkenstocks. On the left is my 10 year old pair of troopers, and on the right are my brand new pair of warriors.
I am…shy and outgoing all at the same time.
I am…a sugar addict, but try my damnedest to balance my diet with real food.
I am…a person that likes to help. Give me a task and I’m happy to do it, that includes cleaning the bathroom. Bring it on.
I am…a leader. At work I’m a supervisor, at home I set examples, and in society I don’t follow the crowd. I’m not jumping off the bridge with you so I hope you can swim. OK I did just say I like to help so if I see you struggling I’d put my 3rd grade swim lessons to good use.
That one time I was voted Partner of the Quarter. 🙂
I am…someone that worries about making other people happy. This has plagued me my entire life and I’ve only recently let some of this go. We have to march to the beats of our own drums, because at the end of the day we’re the only ones that live our lives. I just really like when people are happy. 🙂
I am…a foodie. Food is life, and succeeding in making a home cooked meal or baking a cake brings me great joy. #stillasugaraddict
I am…sensitive, and easily hurt, but am learning to accept who I am in each present moment regardless of what other people think or say.
I am…creative. I don’t give myself enough credit, but it’s time. My creativity shines in the kitchen, in my writing, and sometimes even in my crafting. We all have a niche of creativity somewhere.
Creativity – random food bowls.
I am…an explorer. The world is a giant cookie and I want to bite off as much as my sugar loving body can handle. Mountains, and valleys, and rivers, OH MY!
I am…a giver. Why keep everything to yourself, when the world is so much larger than what you see in front of you? “Only by giving are you able to receive more than you already have. – Jim Rahn”
This is a constantly changing subset of a MUCH larger list, but notice how I don’t define who I am based on what I do for work, but rather how I live my life in the bigger picture. We are often many different things, all of which make up the blue prints of who we are, and it’s up to us to create and define a life we want to live.
Upon first meeting someone we often ask, “what do you do?” This typically refers to one specific thing such as a career, but what if we changed this question to, “what do you to to come alive?” This would then open the door for many different answers, to go with the many different tendencies and activities that make up who we are.
My inner chi is built on a foundation of love, adventure, helping others, giving what I have, and leaving a positive footprint everywhere I step. This kind of energy allows me to worry less, accept challenges, and leap with faith knowing that everything will work out the way it’s supposed to.
Take a moment to think about who you are (outside of your career, or in addition to if you LOVE what you do-bonus points for that) and see if you’re truly living a life you’re proud of. You only get one, so make it count.
Q: Who are you? Give me five bullet point ideas.
Blissfulbritt 
97 thoughts on “I Am…”
Musings
“What makes you come alive?” I love that!
I Am:
1. A Historian: I love studying history and truly believe it shapes how we see the world today. I think if more people studied it and it was taught properly in school, a lot of cultural/racial biases would be dismantled.
2. A writer: Whether it’s on my blog, in my journal or for a newspaper, writing is how I best express myself, an avenue for creativity and is often therapeutic.
3. A sister/daughter/ friend: These are roles I take seriously and although I’m not perfect, I’m relentlessly loyal to the people I love.
4. An explorer: Until I graduate I have to content myself with exploring Buffalo and other cities nearby, but when I have the freedom I’ll go anywhere and everywhere I can.
5. An activist: I’m kind of hard-core about Human rights, and I want to dedicate my life to battling for those without ‘voices’: refugees, prostitutes, and other persecuted/oppressed people groups, both in America and overseas.
I usually define myself as a student and freelance journalist…it was fun to think outside of those things and remember who I am in my core.
Brittany
Wow, what a great comment! I think you’re spot on about history needing to be more important!
Lindsay @ A Runnaroundd Life
Yup yup yup yup. “What do you do to come alive?” My soul. It needed to hear this. ❤ ❤ ❤
Brittany
Say it aloud, then live it proudly!
John Kraft
This is a great exercise for anyone and everyone.
Brittany
Thanks John, it was fun to write. 🙂
Rachael @ Catch Me If You Can
first…i want to go wherever that first pic’s menu is because those carbs look like heaven. i am…a traveler, an athlete, creative, a musician, a motivator…and i LOVE this post. love the idea of defining yourself not by your occupation but by what moves you.
Brittany
Hahaaaaaha Portland waffles are legit. Great list!
danaelizabethx
TOTALLY get what u mean by being shy and outgoing at the same time!
Brittany
Right?! It’s all about my audience.
DoRunnersPooInTheWoods
I loved this. I’ve recently left my job (through choice)and have gone through other life changing situations lately and have found myself struggling with the whole who am I now question.
I loved the breakdown of who you are and may try this myself….. If I’m brave enough
Brittany
Yes! It’s somewhat freeing to know we are more than just a job title!
Isa's Kitchen
Lovely post! I try to think about myself and it’s kind of discovering myself and seeing my own person from a different angle.
I am..
1. …passionate: If I do something I do it with passion and it’s easy to arouse my passion for many different things at the same time.
2. …a dancer: dancing is my life and it’s what I did most of my lifetime. Dancing is the only passion and hobby that stayed with me through all those years, good and bad times.
3. …a sister: my sister ist probably the person I need the most and I try to give the same to her in exchange
4. …a traveler and foodist: traveling is inspiring, challenging and exciting. I try to visit as many places as possible to discover new cultures, nature, people and traditions. It’s just the same with food, which has the power to give so many positive feelings and opens up a huge amount of flavors waiting to be explored
5. …a life planner: I like to plan what’s gonna happen next in my life. I don’t like the feeling of being without a plan and I organize my life guided by my future plans and expectations (that’s not always a good trait, but I guess that’s me)
That was a really therapeutic question you asked and I loved to answer it!
Brittany
Thank you so much for answering, loved learning these about you.
Shawna
love love love this. i reflect and journal on this concept quite often — we’re very similar in our thought patterns and desire to get to the soul of both ourselves and this world we call home! — and the thing that really resonated most with me is the point about asking people what they do. one of my things is that i hate to talk about “work” and ask people “what do you do,” but prefer to talk about passion and ask people “what are you passionate about? what makes you YOU?” ❤
Brittany
Right?! I swear we are twins on opposite ends of the US!
pickyrunner
Love this. Hello from a fellow sugar addict desperately trying to get it under control by balancing it out with real foods. Shy but outgoing–> yep. Sensitive and easily hurt–> yep. Someone that worries about making other people happy –> yep. Reading this felt like you were describing my life.
Brittany
Hahaha this must be why we got along so well.
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
I honestly can’t even remember the last time I asked someone what they do for a living, but I definitely wouldn’t mind asking what makes them come alive. Love this list, lady. And it looks like I’m going to have to watch me some Kung Fu Panda 😉
Brittany
You’ll love it, such a cute movie.
Jill Aldred
Love this!
1. An athlete – up until the past 18 months, this would never have made my list, let alone the first item on it. But I work hard, and I love training, and racing, and I don’t even mind that I’m still, uh, fairly terrible at running and triathlon. It’s so fun!
2. Wife/partner – This is definitely a big part of who I am. It’s just “just” that I’m someone’s wife, it’s that we make a pretty awesome team.
3. Mom/Stepmom/Co-mom – Mom to both, but if we’re being technical, it’s stepmom to one of ’em. Since he was just a baby, so we’ve always been family. And having four parents (two families) raising one kid is kind of amazing, if somewhat time consuming when we all have different points of view.
4. Friend – Hopefully a good one. Trying extra hard this year to focus on the positive and to stop using *quite* so much “gently poke fun at others because snarky humour is my default setting”.
5. Sister/Sister-in-law/Daughter/Daughter-in-law – Lucky enough to have amazing, wonderful parents, and incredibly, generous and loving in-laws. I feel like I won the lottery with my entire family and extended family.
Five is such a short list! And apparently I love to talk about myself, so I could go on and on 😉 Thanks for such a great, thought-provoking post!
Brittany
I love that you have so many!! This list is great.
Amy @ A Desert Girl
Deep stuff, friend. I love that you’re really taking the time to focus on this. I am – a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend. Isn’t it funny how the first things that come to mind are what I am to other people? I think that’s okay, because I sure am happy being all those things. But it is important to not let those relationships comprise an entire identity.
Brittany
In a round about way helping others really IS who we are, life is too lonely to live for ourselves!
kathy at more coffee, less talky
i LOVE this!
a simplistic life is the best. i honestly feel that when you embrace what you have right now instead of always looking for more, you are much MUCH happier with life!
Brittany
Plus all you have is NOW. Right now, this moment, nothing more. So don’t fucking waste it people! You get it. 😘
Luzie @ evozeta
Love how you bring it down to the essentials! Motivates me to go sit in a quiet spot somewhere and do my daily meditation 🙂 Thank you!
Brittany
Oh lovely! I think I’ll follow you. 😄
karla @ finding my fit
this post is sooo good! i am a lot like you–particularly in the people pleasing department. i am notorious for putting others ahead of myself even if it means sacrificng my happiness. lately i got really burned and REALLY hurt doing that and i finally realized that i need to be my priority and do everything i can to make others happy too.
i was excited to see that movie with the mister and his son tonight but now knowing more about it i’m more excited 🙂
Brittany
Oh yay! I hope you enjoy the movie, it’s adorable. Sometimes I think it’s ok to be selfish with our own happiness!
wanderwolf
Wow. You’ve got an awesome inner chi! No wonder I love reading your posts!
Also, that brownie choclate thing… omg does that look good. Sorry, off topic, but you’re the one that included that deliciousness in here!
Brittany
Oh man, it was so amazingly delicious.
Deena
I thoroughly love this post! I think of this often, and try to focus on what makes me, me…. happy me. I’m a mother, daughter, sister, friend. I’m a photographer (my creative, which I also don’t give myself enough credit for), in a more casual sense of the word, definitely non-professional. I’m a giver and a doer. I’m a runner. I’m a traveler.
Brittany
I almost includes photographer in this post too, after all if we take the photos and get joy from it then I say we define ourselves as one!
bvockrodt
Great Post and site.
I’m a Christian first and foremost.
I’m a grandfather, 6 grand kids
father, 2 sons
husband, 43 years
Real estate agent, 5 years in business with my wife
Runner, about 6 years, both knees replaced (not due to running) still running
Scuba diver, need to get re-certified, its been a while.
It was nice to think this thru.
Thanks.
Brent
Brittany
Thanks for the comment Brent! I’m amazed by your dedication to running even with the new knees, back and better than ever!
Debra
Thank you for sharing who you are! A lot to think about. I guess I have never really taken the time to think about who I am….. 🙃😌
Brittany
Noes the time my friend! 😄
fionajarrett
Grrrrreat post. I especially appreciate all of this because for years I’ve gone after my “dream job” which I may have to transition from now so there’s been a lot of confusion going on upstairs about “who I am”. This makes me feel so much better! Thanks Brittany:)
Brittany
I’m so glad it helped! It’s nice to know we’re all in the same boat because we all breathe the same air and in the end it’s about what we did to enjoy life!
fionajarrett
Let there be joy!
fionajarrett
I saw something recently along those lines – it’s not about waiting for the rain to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain!
Brittany
One of my favorite quotes! So wise.
Anthony
As always, I love your posts. Challenging me to define myself…I’ll give you five, but you should know that there are probably 50 I am holding back
1. I am a teacher. I say this, not because it is my job, but because I am tasked with things that others cannot–teaching a left handed person to tie their shoelaces, even though I am right handed and teaching my mother how to use the internet….
2. I am rather sarcastic, and don’t always know how it affects people.
3. I am someone whose Japan experience has left a very indelible mark on my life. Even now I am craving those chocolate covered French fries which are all over the internet.
4. I am confident in my teaching but shy in my real life. If you talk to me, I will talk to you, but often I will want to talk to you but remain silent. That means sometimes I “crush” from afar.
5. I love books and intellectual conversation, but can also laugh at some pretty dome stuff.
Brittany
I love your confidence in 50 things, but you picked a solid 5! I too laugh at both dumb and non dumb things, but what’s dumb to one may be awesome to another!
Allie Zottola
Love, love, love this! Now I want to see Kung Fu Panda! I think you are so creative–with your writing and crafting and recipe creation. It’s awesome. Okay… 5 things I am: 1. A Christian. 2. Optimistic. 3.Kind. 4. A reader 5. Curious. 🙂
Brittany
Thank you my dear, your comment made me smile.
Ellie
I love how much this post makes me want to have a list of who I am! Let’s see….I am:
1.) A book nerd
2.) Self-reliant
3.) A hard worker
4.)Stubborn
5.) A lover of WHITE chocolate any other candy chips besides dark 😉
Brittany
Self reliant is so great, it took me years to get there and now I can’t imagine being anything else!
Amy
Why do I always feel as if I’m looking (err, reading?) into a mirror when I read your blog posts?? I feel like you described me in almost all of your “I am” statements. (Especially foodie, sugar addict, and someone who worries about making other people happy.) Okay, no wait, who am I kidding… All of those statements! But if I can’t use your list, then here’s my list as of this exact moment.
• Searching… for my true calling in life. I feel like I’ve found a career and life path that’s almost perfect, but still not 100% my soul’s calling.
• Content… with who I am, without needing a significant other to feel complete.
• Growing stronger… emotionally, physically, and mentally.
• A dreamer… I have way too many ideas that I want to chase and not enough time in the day to do that!
• An overachiever… (piggybacking off of that last one) and learning that the best lesson in life is when we realize “good enough” really is good enough. 🙂
Brittany
I love your five, they are so deeply perfect! You are an inspiration in many ways, and I know you’ll get your 100% soon. Just keep your heart open to anything!
Amy
Thank you Brittany! That really means a lot to me, coming from you. It makes me wish more than ever that we lived closer and could spend time together in person!! ❤️
Luv What You Do
What an amazing post! I definitely need a little ‘I am’ searching to start off this year…
Off the top of my head…
I am…
-introspective
-an optimist
-an athlete
-a new wife
-tired (lol!)
Brittany
Love that last one, but get some rest! 😝
P
I really enjoyed reading this post! I totally find myself falling into the “trap” of replying the question of “what do you do?” with the career-related answer…but I think rephrasing that question, like you said, can really liven up conversations and really give people an idea of who you are!
Brittany
We’re so much deeper than one thing. 🙂
Rach @ This Italian Family
Oh friend, what an amazing post! This would be a GREAT “about me” post because it really sums up so much of who you are! I love it!
I have been wanting to see Kung Fu Panda 3 already so reading this post only makes me want to see it more!
I am passionate about my faith, my marriage, my relationships, my photography. I am faithful. I am very empathetic (and with that comes being very sensitive and being easily hurt). I am an optimist. I am a foodie and travel bug. And I am listing too many things here, ha!
Brittany
You’ll love the movie! Your list is great, only makes me want to be your real life friend even more!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
You forgot “I am awesome”. Because, you are 🙂
I think we spend so much time thinking about the things we aren’t, that we miss out on focusing on all the things we are.
Brittany
Daaawww, no no, YOU are awesome! I think you phrased this perfect!!
Josh dV
Curious coincidence (how do you like that alliteration?) I just posted myself about bit about Kung Fu Panda 3 and it’s primary message. So I’ll bite. I am:
* a runner
* a dreamer
* hungry
* in love with my family
* getting better
In truth I could stop with “I am”… I am what I am at any given time. Happy, sad, learning, smelly. Being what I am right now does not tie me to anything in the past or the future.
I used to deny it when someone called me a biker. “No man I just bike to and from work.” But I bike to and from work every day. If I bike then I am a biker. I run therefor I am a runner.
And I’m pretty much always hungry.
Brittany
I promise I haven’t seen your post yet, I wasn’t copying you! 😝 I like your approach to just “I am.” Yup, yup, yup!
Josh dV
I wasn’t being accusatory. I know it was a coincidence. We like some of the same things so we can share some brainspace every now and then.
Brittany
Precisely why we stumble across each other’s spaces so often. Like for like! 👍🏻
BabetaRuns
I am:
* CURIOUS
* NEVER NOT EXPLORING (my mind, the world)
* ALWAYS CHALLENGING (not only myself)
* LOVED and IN LOVE (by/ with friends, family and the world)
* ME
And now I am going to find out where I can find this KungFu Panda and try to get the song out of my head 🙂
Brittany
Love never not exploring!
GiGi Eats Celebrities
You are also…..
My confidant.
My twin.
The only person who TRULY TRULY gets everything about me.
My therapist.
My best friend.
Brittany
Ummm, I just fell in love with you. Swoon. ❤️
GiGi Eats Celebrities
I should tell L that you and I are getting married! 😉
Brittany
That would be for the best…😂
Nicola
Love that such a thoughtful post was inspired by a kids movie.
I am:
A mother
A home/garden maker – our spaces for rest and rejuvenation are so important
Someone who try’s to live simply, economically and sustainably
Present and There for those around me
A big picture dreamer.
Thanks for getting the think tank flowing this fine Thursday morn.
Brittany
Love the think tank flows!
Mellie Dee
I like to make people happy too and when I can’t I feel I’ve failed. I just wrote a post about people pleasing and always giving and ever since then I realized why I did it and how I can do a little less so that I can be a little happier. You are amazing and I like reading your posts because they inspire me always. 🙂
Brittany
You are too kind, your comments always make me smile! Being selfish is just as important as giving, without being happy for ourselves it’s hard to be happy for others!
Mellie Dee
Agreed!! It was a pretty heartbreaking 2015 so I do hope this year is better. 🙂 I know what I need to work on. Sending you love!
Kayse
Ohhhhh this post just makes me want to hug you!! Especially “notice how I don’t define who I am based on what I do for work”, because I’m pretty sure we’ve talked about that before 🙂 It’s so important to know who we are, but not get hung up on who we think we are when things change.
Brittany
Things change SO much! It makes life exciting when we just embrace that.
Angela
You are awesome Brittany! I LOVE this post, I met someone new on Saturday and was asked what I do- after answering with my job, I felt so flat and thought I AM more than that!
Brittany
I used to feel the same way, flat and almost embarrassed that I didn’t have a “big girl job.” Now I embrace where I am because it’s teaching me things for later! Plus, this is just a small piece of me! Embrace your job and your qualities!
Jade
I loved this post. We so often define ourselves by what we do for a living but we are so much more than that. I am a cat mom, a friend, an adventurer, a saver, a human and animal and planet lover
Brittany
LOVE. The way this was spaced on my phone broke the line off after cat so my mind first saw, “I am a cat” I was like hell yeah, get down with your cat self. Haaaha.
Jade
Lol that’s wonderful!
runsonespresso
Wow, I was just writing a few of the I am or I am happiest when in my journal last night. Must be the time for reflection.
Brittany
Perfect timing! 😝
Heather
I love your deep, thoughtful, creative posts! They really do make/help me remember to reflect on life and see the bigger picture 🙂
Brittany
I’m glad you enjoy them! They’re fun to write. 🙂
Heather
You should write a book… just sayin.
darwinontherocks
Oh gosh, it’s time to say goodbye to your old pair of shoes 🙂
Brittany
Nooooo, I cannnnnnn’t! 🙈
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
Only you can write a post as touching as this inspired by Kung Fu Panda. I’m pretty sure this is what makes you a) awesome, b) relatable and c) supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
I can’t wait to write my post now. I checked the Notes section in my phone; it’s from July 28th. Ha! 🙂
Brittany
That was long before I came to visit, you were brewing a draft before my inspiration hit you. Which means you were a,b,and c long before I! I can’t wait to read yours. ❤
Yoga Sophisticate
What an absolutely positively beautiful post.
When Ayn Rand met someone new, she would start the conversation with, “Tell me your premises.”
And, another thing… you are my friend. ❤ xo
Brittany
Oh I love that!
dave379
Love the post and how freely you share and give of your experiences and creativity and self awareness. Great values to guide you too. I never liked the reductionist what do you do for work question either and so try I the other approach too. For myself I will add, for five, I am a brother/uncle/son/friend, creative, a good listener, a giver, and a runner.
Brittany
Thank you Dave, and being a great listener is one that you must hold onto. It’s sometimes rare these days.
Lauren @ ihadabiglunch
This is so beautiful 🙂 I love the quote “anything after ‘I am,’ creates”. I’ve been meaning to write about that actually — way to pique my memory 🙂 every time I read your words I can almost physically FEEL your potential in this world it’s crazy. You are such a special one!
Also is that a donut, a brownie, a cake, or all three in one? YUM.
I am…a foodie, empathetic, anxious, funny, an inquisitive human.
Brittany
Oh my what a brilliantly wonderful comment, you make me swoon. It was CAKKKKEEE and I are the whole thing!