Attempt at being an interesting person
(Spoiler: Just do stuff)
Hi to all my new subscribers! I’m so glad you’re here. Please tell me about yourself in the comments—I’d love to hear from you.
I have a friend called Lisa who is probably the most interesting person you could ever meet.
(Hi Lisa, if you’re reading this.)
Lisa and I first met when we joined a band together. She played bass; I provided vocals. The band didn’t last, but our friendship did.
Very quickly after meeting Lisa, I knew she was way cooler than me. She was the sunniest, most charismatic person I’d ever met, able to strike up an engaging conversation with literally any type of human. I was in awe.
But the most impressive thing about Lisa wasn’t her sparkling personality; it was her infectious, indefatigable drive to be creative.
She performed in bands, wrote incredible music, was a talented cartoonist and a skilled photographer.
Seemingly, there was nothing she couldn’t do. And the wonderful thing was, she believed I could do cool stuff, too. In the midst of a gruelling cancer treatment, my self-belief was basement level. But luckily, she had plenty of confidence to share.
“You should make more music!” she’d tell me.
Or, “You should put your writing out there!”
Or, “You should try rock climbing with me!”
Or, “You should come on tour with my band and be our photographer!”
Friends, I did all these things (to varying degrees of success) because Lisa’s excitement was contagious.
I began to call her my ‘idea person’ because she always had wonderful sparks of inspiration. Old me would’ve laughed her off (and I did, at first). But new me? New me began to wonder…
Was creativity—and life—as simple as just giving something a go?
That same thought struck me again the other week as I attended panels at AWP. Enthralled by the discussions, I ravenously scribbled down notes. Every speaker was just so interesting.
They came from all walks of life and published across various genres, but they had one thing in common: they’d let their interests lead them. And in doing so, they’d built interesting lives.
It made me question what it really means to be an interesting person. Is it where we come from? Is it what’s happened to us? Is it the experiences we’ve sought out? Is it all of the above?
For a long time now, I think I’ve believed that surviving breast cancer in my twenties might be the most interesting thing that will ever happen to me. Don’t get me wrong—I don’t think getting sick was a good thing. Cancer is a hideous disease, and I’d rather not have gone through it.
But somehow, I’d twisted it in my mind: I’d begun to believe that being a survivor was the only thing I had to offer the world. And sure, maybe my cancer story is interesting—but maybe it’s all the other things I’ve chosen that are far more compelling…
That I used my experience to support other young breast cancer survivors in LA. That I worked hard to heal from PTSD and survivor’s guilt. That I poured my heart into writing, taking a chance on my dimming creative flame, and even though I was terrified, encouraged it to grow.
It feels like freedom, imagining where my interests might lead me now. Because maybe that’s all it takes to build an interesting life.
You just have to let yourself dream—and follow the little whispers of excitement wherever they fancy taking you next.
I asked my wife this question and this was her response..."it is the fact that you seem to attract people that manage to fall out of their wheelchairs when reaching for top shelf veg off a supermarket shelf". In fairness that pretty much sums me up...
I think what’s most interesting is what we choose to do after something life-upending has happened to us, well at least, that’s what i’m trying to learn and integrate in my life. i got my cancer diagnosis last year on my 19th bday, and during the whole biopsy and surgery thing i was also trying to figure out what uni and degree i was gonna sign up for the next 4 years, and along the way i just gave up on my dreams of studying abroad because of this sickness in my body.
Now a year after I haven’t done anything worthwhile or involved myself with social activities beyond classes and assignments, but you’ve changed my perspective a little. I don’t want cancer to define me and continue to live in fear of the next hospital visit, but as you wrote here I want to build an interesting life and see where my interests lead me. Something as simple as starting to write and post my writing here, or learning how to solve cryptograms and use cyphers, maybe I just have to start small and see where that takes me.
Thank you for writing :)) I am glad I found your account, hope life is also being kind to you