Getting to Know Shauna Bowling

Over these weeks, I have discovered that Shauna Bowling is a woman after my own heart. She wears her rose - colored glasses 24 / 7 and always reminds me of the power of positive thinking and determination.

Join us as we learn (even more in Part 2) about Shauna and what puts a sparkle in her step:

I love sitting outside. I have a little bistro set on my front porch and a gazebo with an adjacent outside living room I've created on my back porch. My property is abundant with trees. I love to have my morning coffee outside and watch Mother Nature's world wake up. I have hawks, red-headed woodpeckers, owls, hummingbirds, butterflies, squirrels, raccoons, opossums, armadillos, bats.... so much nature at my feet! Evenings are nice too. I love the sound of the night bugs singing in the trees.

The times I feel saddest are...

Other than the death of a loved one or beloved pet, I can honestly say I don't really ever feel sad. I feel "down" from time to time, but that's my psyche's signal for me to take a break and "empty out".

Something I'd like to teach others...

Always be true to yourself. You cannot be there for others, or offer advice and guidance if you are not first true to yourself. You must be honest with yourself and admit when you are wrong or when an unpleasant situation, directly affecting you (or others), occurs and causes strife. You need to take a look. One thing I've learned through life, is to go inside and ask myself, "what is the common factor?" in whatever situation it is that is making me unhappy or causing a down slide or causing it to perpetuate. The answer is ALWAYS, me! Granted, some things happen as a result of circumstances beyond our control, but allowing it to keep you from living life, from moving on and getting back on track is because you allow it to debilitate your momentum and become an excuse for not moving forward.

See it, accept it, pick yourself up by the bootstraps and fix it!

Additionally, I have a self-proclaimed motto by which I live: if it feels good do it, if it doesn't don't and when it stops, quit!

My secret passion ... my dream job....

Oh, this is a no brainer! My passion is writing. My dream is to once again become a full time writer and forgo my 8 - 5 job working for someone else. I have the drive, the equipment, the talent and the desire. I'd better get kickin' 'cuz I'm on the downside of the hill! (you know, over-the-hill!)

Most hated gift I ever gave someone ...

I wouldn't know. If I've ever given something someone hated, they were gracious enough to hide their dismay!

The gift I could have done without ...

Menopause!

If you peeked in my junk drawer, you'd be surprised to find ...

Ummmmm, I'm kind of anal. I don't have a junk drawer! Everything has it's place in my house!

My date from Hades ....

I don't know if I should go there. Let's just say, I feared for my life.

My worst/ or funniest vacation story ....

Growing up, we didn't take family vacations. We traveled to visit family, as my mom is one of ten. There was always someone to catch up with.

As an adult, I've never been in the financial position to take an actual vacation. I take a day here and a day there. I know, dull, huh?

To actually take a vacation!!! Ha ha!

As previously stated, I want to become a full time writer. I have a novel in my head that I'd like to put on paper, then in print and become successful.

I'd also like to jump out of a plane (parachute!! parachute!!), but I don't know if I'd actually have the balls to do so at the nth hour!

What I most look for in a friend...

Understanding, patience, being able to sit quietly together without feeling uncomfortable and not being afraid to let me know when I've pissed them off.

Something I will never part with...

My cats. I chose a husband over my cats once. I ended up firing him. My cats are true. Lesson learned!

I actually have two that come to mind. The first is, cocaine kills. I had a bout with addiction and it killed my sense of responsibility. It killed my drive and credibility. I, fortunately, recognized what I was doing to myself, pulled myself up by the bootstraps and removed myself from temptation. In 1987 I moved to an area where I knew no one because I couldn't "just say no". I live in this area still today and gave birth to my son 20 years ago. He's got a stable life, having lived in the same house since he was two.

I've also had a dear friend die from cocaine overdose. Bad, bad news! Trust me folks, just say no!

The second, is don't go into debt to compensate for a spouse's inability to keep a job and help with finances. I'm still paying for it, which is the hugest (is that a word??) obstacle I have to overcome if I want to achieve my dream of becoming a full time writer. Think ahead. Have a dream on the horizon and don't make choices that make the climb harder! Choose a life partner who's a partner, not a cling - on!

The worst part of getting older...

The body parts don't keep up with the mind! Don't squat down - unless you can spring load yourself up off the floor! I've gotten pretty good at it actually!! :)

A writing lesson I learned the hard way...

Don't send emails telling how you really feel when you have a buzz on! Words can be wise, but they are also deadly weapons! If you have a bitch to bitch, wait a day before you hit the send button!

My favorite movie and why...

Love Story. I've seen the movie 8 times and read the book 11 times when I was in Catholic school. I love movies that make me cry. Crying is cleansing.

Another movie I watch whenever it comes on TV is Forest Gump. It's just an awesome story and takes place in the 60's. Magical times when so much was going on and America wasn't afraid to speak. And the music was awesome! In the 60's, even the music had a voice.

Forest Gump himself, although fictional, is the epitome of overcoming the odds to reach for and grab your dreams! He loved unconditionally and forever, his compassion was unwavering and his disability was enough so he wasn't wary of being himself (unlike we who have been conditioned to reach for dollars, forsaking strengthening our souls). In other words, he had the innocent heart and soul of a child, but the bravery of a lion! He cared and persevered even when he was turned away (Major Dan,Jenny). He beat the odds every single day of his life. Isn't it ironic that his innocence and keeping a promise to his "very best friend" made him a fortune! I think there's a lesson here, don't y'all? Very inspirational, not to mention phenomenal portrayal by all the actors!

What subjects / genres do you enjoy reading/ about ?

I love mysteries, suspense and the paranormal. My favorite authors are Dean Koontz, John Grisham and Iris Johansen. Stephen King, in his early days is a favorite, but once he changed his genre with the Dark Tower series, he lost my interest. I'm not much into the sci - fi genre.

What would be a subject/ genre that you would like to read more/ about...

I'd like to read viable solutions to overcoming/eliminating current debt. With the increase in the cost of living, increased interest rates, increased taxes, being a single parent and having a stagnant paycheck (no raise in over 4 years), I've had to "supplement" my income with credit cards. My current unsecured debt is almost as much as my annual salary. If I could eliminate my debt, I could put the necessary energy into fulfilling my dream of becoming a full time writer.

Billybuc wrote a hub on downsizing, ridding yourself of unnecessary "things", which was inspirational and informative, but doesn't address my current situation. On top of my unsecured debt, I have 13 years left on my mortgage and a car payment. I need real life solutions for those of us who are in real financial trouble!

Can you take us to a favorite piece of writing on HubPages by you that does not get much traffic...

Hmmm. I had to go to "my account" to look that up. I'd have to say, The Wind - Written in 1983

Of all The Supremes songs I know and have learned for this series, "The Happening" most spoke to me of you, Shauna.

Thank you for agreeing to this interview and sharing yourself with us.

© Maria Jordan (revised November, 2014)