At one point or another we’ve all been the new kid, having to introduce ourselves to people we are getting to know on a personal or professional level. Often times, when this happens to me, I find myself questioning my responses, especially when the ever so overused questions, “What do you do for fun?” or, “Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?” arise. Do you feel that way too? Well, I am here to tell you that you are not alone. It’s normal for us to instantly list off things we enjoy, in an almost dauntingly staged way. Newsflash: it’s human nature. It’s in our social makeup to feel a little unsure about what to share or how to act when we first meet people, but it’s also an essential part in creating any kind of viable relationship. I mean how can you have any kind of relationship with someone if they have no idea who you are or what you believe in, right? When introducing yourself for the first time I think there are three essential things to remember. First, be genuine. Own who you are and be proud of all the little things that make you, you. Secondly, be open. It’s okay to share your passions and personality with people. Third, set your own boundaries. Don’t feel the need to share your entire life story with someone you're just meeting. Share what you’re comfortable with, nothing more, nothing less.
With all that being said, I thought it was vitally important for my tribe to know me at this point in my journey. It’s been a while since I’ve shared myself with people, other than my inner circle, and sometimes it is refreshing and necessary to open up your doors for others to get a glimpse inside of your world.
So... here... goes... nothing…
I am currently living my most gracious, wonderfully present life. Over the last two years, since the tragic passing of my beautiful brother, I’ve learned exactly who I am and who I am not. I’ve let go of relationships that don’t foster my growth or are not created from a place of love…and to be brutally honest with myself, I am still working on shedding some more. I’ve learned to pursue my passions unapologetically and use them as my own personal power. That’s where the creation of Cat Frias Scripted came into play. I’ve always been in love with words and finally had the guts to share my love with others. What may seem as a random, new deal is actually something I’ve been thinking about for years on end. When emotions and actions fail me, words communicate my soul, so please know that what I put into writing is coming from a deep corner of my heart and is something that truly defines who I am.
Aside from finally being open enough to call myself a writer, I am a momma to three precious, wild, carefree and brilliant children. They couldn’t be more different from one another. They teach me things about life that I never took the time to see before. They challenge my character, strength, emotions (and patience… right moms??!) on a daily basis. They fill my schedule and my heart. I find my eyes swelling with tears, in pride, as my nine-year-old makes a textbook tackle on the football field or when my sweet four-year-old tells me she wants to be just like me when she grows up, or when my five-year-old makes me a surprise card at school showing me that she was thinking of me during her busy day. My eyes sometimes swell with tears after I yell at them for not listening after I’ve repeated myself for the fourth time, out of frustration, exhaustion and also guilt. Being a mom is nothing short of amazing, but damn, it’s hard sometimes too! Given the choice, I wouldn't change a thing.
I am a wife to a military man who has shown me, through trial and tribulation, that love endures. I am grateful for his unconditional love and unrelenting nature to be the best man he can be for his family on a daily basis. I am awed over the amount of growth he has pushed himself through over the last seven years, even discovering that God is the root to all of life's treasures. I am confident that with him by my side I can move mountains and be myself in all that life throws at us. He also has a great game plan when it comes to the best scare tactics in the house (yes, we definitely play tricks on one another daily, but my record is probably 2-100).
I am a sister trying to navigate through the loss of my brother. I am still not sure how to put my emotions into words since his passing. Calling it his “death” or saying that he “died” is still stingingly painful to me, so I choose other words when sharing his story. He is a big part of who I am and who I live my dreams out for. Most days I daydream of him knocking on my door and just hugging me. I still can’t wrap my brain around the idea that he is gone forever. I also choose to be grateful for the amount of time I had with him and for the eye-opening he gave me with his ascent. I am beyond blessed to have two other brothers that I love deeply and am working on making a more conscious effort to spend time and make memories with them.
I am giving you a glimpse into parts of who I am, so you understand what makes up my being. There are so many facets to my world tied to so many high and low emotions that ultimately make me, me.
Oh, and to answer the god-awful question, “what do you do for fun?” I can say this… I enjoy a good Patriots win, especially when we beat the Eagles or Ravens. I have a brand-new love of challenging my body physically in the gym. I am aiming to be in the best shape of my life by 32 (hello, biceps!). Within that, I plan to run as many races as possible and have a wall full of medals… a girl can dream, right? I have a nostalgic love of the holiday season. If I could travel the world constantly, you’d find me exploring every corner of any small town and visiting the historic sites (picture an RV traveling down old Route 66 + me with a big grin in the passenger seat). I am a Massachusetts girl at heart who has a swelling pride for her state but would rather live by the beach and avoid the snow forever. I am a recently converted Starbucks lover (bye, Dunkin', it's not you, it's me). I still use "LOL" in text and embrace my millennial badge with honor- the media needs to stop giving us such a bad rep, we are game changers! Most days you can spot me by my unruly curly hair and big, colorful glasses. I have a new found appreciation for a naked face (since I turned 30 my skin doesn't like make-up). Oh, and I have a sickening love for ice cream (yes, even in the winter), relleno de papa (¡Wepa!), and Amazon Prime (hello, instant gratification and one-day delivery). I am skilled at falling asleep anywhere (embracing the idea that Sundays are for Jesus, football and naps), overthinking, enjoying reality tv shows, Pinterest-ing outfits and recipes I may never try and ordering takeout to avoid cooking dinner (hey we all have quirks, right?!). Day in and day out I can be found laughing… a whole lot. Bouncing jokes back and forth with others is one of my favorite things.
Whew! Thanks for wanting to hear about little, old me. I hope I inspired you all the way to the end and added a little sunshine to your day, because let’s be for real, life is not all cool, crisp fall days and perfect sunsets over the ocean, right? Life is raw and real and challenging, but it can also be adventurous and fulfilling if you allow it to be. Mindset and genuine relationships are key! Can you relate? Let's chat and share your story with the world too. I’d love to hear from you!