I’m mad about Deborah
“And, more importantly, I genuinely believe and I’ve believed for some time now, that we could be best friends. So what do you think?”
– Honey from the dinner party scene in the movie, Notting Hill
Honey, I hear you and it is exactly how I feel about Deborah.
I have “known” Deborah for years through the social media world and there is something totally endearing about her. I admire her honesty, her boundless energy and her innate sense of style.
Deborah has it in spades.
Deborah Peterson Milne, San Diego, 2016
Sensitive, frustratingly creative, slightly goofy and misunderstood. Tell us about your day-to-day life? Over the last 12 months, my days are physically hard, but rewarding as we work on our current home remodelling project. Any given day involves an electric sander, drill, paint, grouting, or wiring new lighting. Good for releasing frustration, bad if you love manicured nails. Our goal is to get it on the market in the next few weeks. That in conjunction to my first child being married. I have become to realize that I only thrive in chaos. Are you the woman you imagined you would become? No, not in the least. It’s one topic that brings tears to my eyes. I’m proud of who I am, but I’m always a work in progress. What are the valuable life lessons you have all figured out? Find your self-worth. Nurture and grow confidence in yourself. Work on you and work hard. If you have children, do everything in your power to be their biggest champion. Fill them with confidence and encouragement. Tell them to dream big and mean it. YOU are your voice. No ‘one’ person should be responsible for your happiness. Travel as much as possible. It’s more important to own less and experience more. I’d rather have emptier closets that a empty heart. What we need is understanding, compassion, and relatability to the world around us. Chase your dreams. Don’t chase keeping up with people who in the end are never satisfied. Good manners, politeness, etiquette are not dead. Use them, & don’t give up on them. Be cognizant of the people around you. Especially your friends and family. After living in Scotland, I learned much about myself and how people see us as Americans. After returning to the U.S., I’ve realized how life abroad affected me. I’m more interested in genuine people, and less interested in perfection. My life does not have to Instagram perfect. What do you like most about yourself? What do you like the least? That I am hands-on. I’m typically willing to give most anything a try; I don’t like gender-typical roles. I love to laugh and make people laugh. I find it challenging to be happy. I suspect I’m running from the past in many ways. Contentment is invaluable. I am a people pleaser and want to be liked by everyone. It’s just impossible. I’ve always felt like a square peg in a round hole as long as I can remember. What do you like most about getting older? What do you like the least? I like that I’ve found my voice and I have something to say. I appreciate the wisdom that living longer give us and I realize it’s a privilege. I’m a far better conversationalist. As odd as this sounds, stop & think how important communicating (socially and professionally) is? I hate being under-valued & I know this is a topic that strikes a lot of women over 50. As we age, our value should increase just as our experiences do. I find it harder to make life choices. You realize that you are running out of time. You miss too many aspects of the good old days. What’s your favourite way to dress? Do you have a signature style? Give me a black tight-knit turtleneck, black leather trousers, a good gold watch, a splash of leopard & Chelsea boots, and I feel good. I’ve always admired Katharine Hepburn’s style, which make’s sense that I love strong, classic dressing. A woman in a great tailored suit is just as powerful as a man in his. I’m not a fussy girl, but I don’t feel good unless I’ve made an effort. I never leave the house without makeup, period. It’s taken me 50+ years & the experience of living in the UK to find my style. It finally dawned on me that I feel most comfortable with ‘me’ if I’m wearing black. It’s a confidence thing. If you have less than $100.00 to spend on a dress, if it’s in black & fits you correctly, chances are you’ll look like a million. When I’m dressed in black & I have my Bobbi Brown red/orange lipstick on, I feel 6ft tall. Do you have a beauty secret to share? Smile a lot. It lifts the face. That and white teeth. What’s on the bucket list? Owning a garden flat in Edinburgh within walking distance of the Royal Mile. After that’s said and done, to be able to fix and flip properties in the city. The architecture in the old homes lends itself to creating beautiful magic. I know I’d wake up each day ready to work wonders. If you could change one thing in the past, what would you do differently? Believing in myself and becoming the architect that I wanted to be. What age do you feel right now? 40, which is a positive answer. When I turned 40, I turned my life in the right direction. I liked myself for the first time in a long time. Who would play you in a movie? Kristen Bell. It’s the smile and her slightly comical side. Follow Deborah’s adventures on Instagram HERE
images deborah peterson milne
