This is the post in which people will no doubt call me crazy, creepy, weird, or damaged. Yippee!
Today I read a post from Rachel. In it she says:
and every time I do it I think it’s just something that younger me would be really, really excited about. (And yes, I think about what younger me would think of me now from time to time.)
I, too, sometimes think about what my young self would be thinking about who I am today.
Occasionally, I refer to this younger self as “Past Heather.” For example, I know that Past Heather would never approve of me being friends with my pal Jason. She would be offended by everything he said and need to “take a stand” against it. But, thankfully, I have grown over the past several years and realize that I can, in fact, be friends with someone who I disagree with 95% of the time. [Also thankfully, I've come to learn how and when to share my opinion and add some perspective to his thoughts.]
I also, occasionally, make mention of a few other heathers from time to time.
“Reasonable Heather” – the part of me who isn’t ridiculous about things that say….
“Rom-Com Character Heather” is. That girl is crazy. She is overly-influenced by society and pop culture and Jane Austen and thinks that X, Y, and Z not only need to happen in her life, but also should happen by the time she is 30. [Oddly, X, Y, and Z have never been “married/home/baby” – I somehow missed out on signing the contract for mandatory baby fever, and “Bride Heather” is out of the question.]
Thankfully, Reasonable Heather is around a lot more often than Rom-Com Character Heather. Enough so, at least, that when the later starts feeling insecure for no reason what-so-ever, she gets whacked in the back of the head by the former.
Added to this year’s list of characters, we bring on “Hippie Heather.” I received a package this week and when Nick asked what it contained I said, “Oh – Hippie Heather ordered some books.” [The truth is, I have realized in the past year that I am much more of a "hippie" than anyone, I included, ever really expected. And I love that I feel at home in this description]
And of course, thanks to How I Met Your Mother, “Past Heather” is met with her partner, “Future Heather.” Sometimes I do things to help her out. Like pack my lunch the night before so Future Heather can hit the snooze button. Or hide $40 in the kitchen for when Future Heather is running low on cash and doesn’t have time to stop by the ATM. [ And no – you may not come over and search my kitchen.]
We also have “Then Heather Said.” I explained it to my friends this summer, during a discussion about the GOMI forums and the fact that I always seem to end my sad/angry/bad posts with a happy note.
Heather Shugarman is indeed the same as Then Heather Said. But Heather Shugarman’s time:experience ratio is completely different than Then Heather Said’s.
Whereas it may take Heather Shugarman 4 weeks to get from point A to point B, it takes Then Heather Said 500 words. [ok – let’s be real. It usually takes Then Heather Said 1200 words.] What I, myself experience, work through, and figure out in a few months’ time, I write about in one post. So it appears “I” go from really angry and hate filled, to a happy ending in several paragraphs because Then Heather Said is completely two-dimensional. In reality, I struggled through the emotions in “real time” personally before I decided to write about it on this here blog.
Why do I choose to do that? Because I personally don’t enjoy reading blogs that are full of whining, complaining, and poor me-ing and therefore don’t want to shower that kind of content on to those of you who do read THS.
Of course, there is also “Runner Heather” who only eats certain foods before long run days and pays money to run races which sometimes end up crushing my liveliness and leaving me feeling miserable. [Reasonable Heather and Hippie Heather often don’t know what the hell Runner Heather is thinking. Then Reasonable Heather remembers “to each their own” and Hippie Heather mentions something about “whatever brings more love and peace into her world” and that’s when we find balance, my friends.]
I embrace each of these Heathers, because each of them is an important part of my life, adding to my story. I embrace the multiple-personalities because it’s much better than being one dimensional. My past and my future, the society I live in, culture I’m surrounded by and beliefs I’ve formed, my hobbies both in blogging and in running – all these form who I am. They impact my decision making, my thought process, my dreaming and my goal making. These things have a say in how I spend my money, where I spend my time, and the people I surround myself with. These “Heathers” each lend a voice that when woven together makes the most sense to me. And quite honestly, I love that voice.
Recently I was thinking about my time in New York. [I'll have been here four years come August!]
My 26th year was a lot about disappointment and picking up the pieces. Changing plans and crawling through the days to survive.
My 27th year was about independence and standing on my own. I proved myself to myself, and learned how to love myself again.
My 28th year, my golden year, has been about finding my place in community. Celebrating healthy relationships while eliminating damaging ones.
I’m not yet sure what my 29th year will be bringing me, but I’m willing to bet that Past Heather, Future Heather, Reasonable Heather, Rom-Com Character Heather, Hippie Heather, Then Heather Said and Runner Heather will all have something to say about it. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
This is such a cute/fun way to describe the varying/sometimes conflicting ideas and personalities that I know everyone has in one way or another. Being one dimensional and only having one personality would be totally boring! It sounds like you know yourself really well- such a good thing!
Andrea recently posted..Leftover Pie Dough? Spinach and Asparagus Galette!
you’re so crazy. & weird. but i love it! mostly because i know there are quite a few megans running around over here. ;] xoxo!
Megan, recently posted..five
as well as one tiny “mini-megan” in your belly!
hey! I am new to your blog via courtneys @sweettoothsweetlife!
the 29th heather sounds like she is a rockstar!
Love your blog!
Candice recently posted..Chicken Stir-fry
Thanks, Candice! Glad you found me via Courtney [she is a dear, dear friend!]
And I totally plan to adopt “Rock Star” for my 29th year
thanks!
I love this! I think we all have multiple versions of ourselves & they’re all equally important and wonderful.
your 29th year will undoubtably be phenomenal.
great post!
Alli @ alli learns life recently posted..more random thoughts
1. I love your new header!
2. pardon me while I snort at your being “damaged.” lordy.
3. I love all the heathers.
Alyssa @ Life of bLyss recently posted..Post Surgery Check-In
In the short time that I’ve known you, I feel like I’ve actually seen all of these Heather’s! I think it’s great that you’re aware of and embrace these different states of mind. And I agree, the multiple personalities are so much better than one! Makes like more enjoyable
Liz (Little Bitty Bakes) recently posted..Mini S’mores Whoopie Pies
multiple personalties…I’m only bi-polar
You…multiple personalties…me…only bi-polar…G
What an awesome post. I often talk about the different joys I am… And some I wish would disappear (insecure joy I’m looking at you) and some (omg runner and even moreso woods loving tre hugging hiker joy) my younger self would scoff at but all in all I love that people have parts… That whole the sum is greater than the pieces
Joy recently posted..Friday fill in
I actually love these multiple personalities as a great way for keeping your head on straight – you can examine all your emotions from different perspectives without getting muddled!
Yvann recently posted..Sunday Salon – sniffly
This was awesome. My least favorite laura is bat shit stressed laura (who has been around a lot lately) and my favorite laura is science laura.
Laura recently posted..lazy days
i love you. and all your lauras
Um, I love how you describe all your Heathers and how the Heathers think of each other. You are hilarious and I always feel a breath of fresh air and fun when I read your posts. Happy weekend!
Lauren @ Sassy Molassy recently posted..Modifications on the Mat
haha I just love this post. My sisters always say I have mltiple personalities because I go through so many different phases, each one requiring a different Jenna…but I’m not the only one who does this. I love how all of your Heathers communicate with each other. I take all my past experiences and knowledge from other Jennas to create new and better Jennas. This sounds like a crazy person, but being “normal” is boring, and I need to switch it up in order to grow a person.
Jenna@EveryDayHealthLetter recently posted..Tips For Losing Those Last 10 Pounds
I.friggin.love.this.post. Oh. my god. It’s like someone just turned on the light in my brain! There are so many “Erins” all up in here, it’s crazy. I really want to write a post and figure out who they are now! You are so, so smart
Erin @ Big Girl Feats recently posted..Year of Joy.
[...] One Saturday this past fall, I spent several early morning hours sorting through each and every box, shelf, bag, pile, nook and cranny in the small space. I made new piles, refilled boxes in a more organized manner, and took the time I felt I needed to prepare for some creativity to flow through my life more freely. [says Hippie Heather.] [...]
[...] Multiple Personalities strike again. Past Heather wrote Future Heather a Birthday email. She was pretty darn smart, [...]
[...] on my time in Gettysburg is what inspired my posting about this awesome company, surely. Hippie Heather thinks the tree’s growth over the past eight months is somehow symbolic to her own growth, [...]