Pōsōh! Kia Ora! Hello!
How can I summarise myself after six decades on the beautiful planet Earth and keep it brief?!
Here’s an attempt. A short and sharp attempt…
I was born in November, 1964. Sagittarius. First child of Leah and Arnold Barnett, at Columbia Hospital for Women in Washington, DC. I’m a woman of many interwoven threads. My birth certificate lists my mother as Caucasian. But that’s not actually correct. My mother was Menominee Indian, Stockbridge-Munsee Indian (a band of the Mohicans), French and a little bit Irish. My father was half Lithuanian and half Polish and Jewish. But it’s more likely his families were really Russian, and that Lithuania and Poland were gateway countries on their eventual migration to the USA in the 1890’s.
My Menominee blood runs the thickest in my veins, just about 1/3 of my makeup. I didn’t grow up on my reservation (in Wisconsin), and was not brought up in the ways of my culture nor the ancestors. But, blood takes us home. And my journey of freedom certainly involves finding ‘home’.
Since 1993, my home has been Aotearoa (New Zealand). It actually happened on a holiday in 1992, when I fell in love with this country, and transferred from the US to Wellington in 1993 while I working as a management consultant for Ernst & Young. I’ve been based in Auckland since 1995 (30 years!).
I was married, I’m now divorced, and I’m the proud mum of my two grown, gorgeous daughters who are both making their unique and exciting marks on the world. I have many angels in my life and I definitely appreciate the priceless value of family and friendship.
The Only Constant is Change
I’ve reinvented myself and/or my path a few times. I’ve weathered some really tough times (who doesn’t have them?) and some equally liberating transformations. There have been some traumatic bumps in the road, unexpected disruptions and I’ve certainly had a few re-builds (of self and even my home). On the plus side, I’ve stood high on the mountains of triumph, enjoyed wild surprises, exotic adventures and unbridled joy. If you stick with me, I’ll share elements of my continuing and ever-evolving journey.
I dare to keep dreaming. Dreams aren’t necessarily the destination, but they can set the direction. And I’m excited to keep following the crumbs, walking the path that leads me to the next phases of life and find out what’s beyond all the doors of the future. I believe it’s a life beyond my wildest imagination. After all, I’ve already had a life beyond the dreams of my youth. So, what’s next?
Let’s Have a Conversation!
I’ll share stories of my travels to places on the planet and places in my heart. But, I’m also really interested in the dialogue between us as humans. So please share your thoughts, your triumphs, your challenges. Ask me questions and we can walk and talk along this road together. Lead me to places and spaces you’re keen discuss, and as a community, we can help each other keep rising up!
Thanks for visiting. I hope you stay!