Scarlett O’Hara. That name is likely to elicit one of two emotions:  pure disdain or extreme admiration. I myself fall closer to the latter of those emotions.

Yes, I’m aware that she is a fictional character made famous by Vivien Leigh, but that no less dampens my high regard for this lovable bitch. She is passionate, charming, and sophisticated. She is also spoiled, whiny, and manipulative, but that is completely beside the point… The point is that she knows what she wants, and she will stop at nothing to attain it.

I have lived much of my life in a comfort zone never straying too far from the safety of those imaginary walls. I was always a dreamer but never had the chutzpah to make those dreams come to life. Once I actually did gain the courage to step out, I was left feeling more like “Miss Scarlet in the Library with the Rope” than a strong woman hell-bent on getting out of life what she felt she deserved.

So, maybe it’s past time for me to be a little more like Scarlett – determined, spirited, and ambitious. But perhaps it would serve me well to be a little less devious.

But only slightly.

1. I love classic movies. My all-time favorite is Gone With The Wind. I even named my dog after the movie’s (also book’s) famous heroine, Scarlett O’Hara.
2. Books are a serious passion of mine. I have a special affinity for used and preowned books. Despite my hatred of shopping, I can and will spend hours perusing a used bookstore.
3. I am a coffee addict. Seriously, there is no known cure.
4. I’m scared of the dark. I sleep with a Himalayan salt lamp set to full brightness. I say it’s for health benefits, but, you know…
5. I have a major sweet tooth. I blame it on growing up in the South with so many delectable desserts from which to choose. Pecan pie? Banana pudding? I mean, come on!
6. When I was a child, I wanted to be a veterinarian. That changed as soon as I discovered there was more to the job than playing with and healing animals.
7. I am a songwriter. Therefore, anything you say or do can (and likely will) be used against you…or maybe just provide me with some interesting song inspiration. “May the odds be ever in your favor.”
8. Bubble baths, Ghost Adventures, and coloring books are some of my guilty pleasures.
9. I enjoy doing crossword, Sudoku, and word search puzzles. Yeah, I’m weird (and probably way too easily entertained) like that.
10. Depression and anxiety are very real forces in my life.