40 Things About Me

I’m usually not a let’s celebrate my birthday type of person. This year I am trying to be, and embrace being 40. I don’t feel like I’m 40, and I don’t look like I’m 40. For the weekend of my birthday, I thought I would post 40 things thing about myself.

1. I go by Jessa, but my name is actually Jessica. I will answer to any nickname of Jessica except for Jessie. That one bothers me. Only a few people call me that.
2. Arkansas and Iowa are both considered home for me. I was born in Iowa but grew up in Arkansas. I have spent equal about in each place.
3. I graduated from Iowa State University with my bachelor’s in Marketing and a minor in Journalism and statistics.
4. Before I went to Iowa State, I went to a college in Arkansas for music. I was going to be a music teacher. But it wasn’t for me both the school and the music program. The ONE shining moment was during tryouts for concert band I got 2nd band first chair. I beat out so many other senior clarinet players. They were all so mad after bullying me during marching band.
5. I love music but I HATED marching band. I wish I didn’t have to do it because I just think it’s the worst. I don’t like it or enjoy it. I wish I could have just done concert band.
6. I currently have a full-time job in the medical field. I have had a variety of jobs from moving around. I have learned something at each job that I can take with me in life and work experience.
7. My definition of success was being my own boss and having the freedom to go where and when I wanted. Now my definition is making time for everything I want to do. I love my full-time job, and I am more creative in my writing.
8. I’m currently thinking about going back to school. I would love to stay in something in the medical field but not sure in what capacity.
9. My favorite color is Pink. My second favorite is Blue. I use to love the color blue more than it switched. I don’t even remember when or why but it did.
10. I’m a huge Braves fan. I grew up watching the Braves on TBS. Chipper Jones was my favorite player. I probably shouldn’t say thing about me but I started being a Braves fan to impress a guy I liked in middle school.
11. Growing up I wanted to be a photographer at National Geographic.
12. I usually ALWAYS have a fountain drink with me. I have actually become a drink gremlin because I usually have 2 or 3 always with me.
13. I think this is one of the most interesting things about me. I wanted to live in an RV and travel the US before it was popular.
14. I love to read. I also have at least 3 different books going. It’s down to 2 different type of books now. One is about self-development, and the other is non-fiction. The non-fiction is the one I usually read before bed.
15. My favorite drink is fountain coke from McDonalds, but Casey is a close second.
16. My favorite food would have to be chips and dip of any kind. I like potato chips with AE chip dip. Tortilla and guac are amazing. I’m definitely a sweet and salty flavor type of person.
17. I really like all kinds of music. I will listen to just about anything.
18. My eye color is BLUE. Depending on what I wear the blueness amplifies. Also when I cry the color goes to a sea blue.
19. I am very sensitive. I used to hate that about myself but now I lean into it more. Now I consider myself a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP). I didn’t know that term existed until a friend mentioned it to me and I read about being HSP.
20. I use to be a personal trainer. I recently decided not to renew my certification. I’m focusing on my writing and photography.
21. My favorite thing about traveling and moving so much is I have met some amazing people that I wouldn’t have met otherwise. Also, it has given me perspective.
22. One of my many bucket list trips is to Sedona, Arizona. I would love to make it a whole Southwest US trip.
23. My newest hobby is hiking and camping especially car camping. I’m still high maintenance when I hike and camp, but found a group just like me.
24. I probably have undiagnosed OCD because everything needs to have its place and be organized. Everything needs to be somewhat clean before I can sit down and work. I’m working on leaving things until I get what I want done. It’s not easy, but I am getting better.
25. I am a morning person over an evening person. After 8pm I am useless. I use to teach group fitness late in the evening and my brain just turns off. I say the wrong muscle groups or wrong directions. Everyone knows I’m much better in the morning.
26. My loyalty goes a long way. It honestly takes a LOT for me to write you off, but when I do there is no turning back. After that, you don’t exist to me.
27. I don’t like to cook. It has never interested me, so I don’t do it often. For dinner, if someone isn’t making it for me I will snack or eat pizza rolls.
28. My favorite trip I have taken has been to New Orleans.
29. Bridges and murals are my favorite to photograph.
30. I enjoy watching sports. I am VERY SEC-biased, but I am alright with that. College sports are my first choice followed by MLB. I’m not a huge NBA or NHL fan. I’ll watch if it’s on, but I don’t actively seek it out.
31. My first baseball game was a minor league game – Iowa Cubs. It will ALWAYS be Sec Taylor Stadium. I can’t remember my first MLB game – it was either Turner Field (Atlanta Braves) or Busch Stadium (St Louis Cardinals, but they were playing the Braves)
32. I love to journal. There is NOTHING better than a new notebook and pens. I am slowly becoming more digital. I go back and forth, and can’t commit to fully being pen and paper or electronic. Right now, I use a digital planner with Apple pencil. It works for right now.
33. I’m trying to create and live a more minimalist lifestyle. I’m trying to get rid of things I don’t use on a daily or consistent basis. My end goal is to be able to pack up everything and live in my car or SUV.
34. Summer is my favorite season followed by spring then fall. I hate winter. Mostly because I don’t like being cold. I also currently live in the Midwest so there’s snow and unpredictable weather.
35. My favorite flower is tulips. I think they are so pretty. Living back in the Midwest, I got to go to Tulip Time in Pella, Iowa. I could have stayed there forever. I am definitely planning a trip to go back.
36. I’m not huge into movies. I haven’t seen Star Wars, Star Trek, Harry Potter, or Twilight. I can quote Pitch Perfect and the dance at the end.
37. I like to crochet. I don’t do it enough but it is very relaxing to me. I only make things that involved straight lines.
38. I have an obsession with bags. I have so many, and I don’t use most of them. I should give them away but they all fit into a larger duffel bag so I keep them. You never know when you’ll need a bag. (I know it’s such flawed logic but it’s my logic.)
39. I have to make my bed every day.
40. I am an introvert/extrovert. I like being around people, and time by myself. I try to make everyone feel welcome in a group because I know how it feels not to be welcome or people making you feel like crap. I hate that feeling and don’t want that feeling for anyone else.