5 Questions With: Simply Deb

Posted October 1, 2008, 11:30 am in News


She loves learning new things, and she shares her stories right here on Growing Bolder. Simply Deb has been a great supporter of our Web site, and so we wanted to know -- what makes her tick?


It turns out, there's so much to learn about Deb, we had to extend our 5 Questions With segment, and offer bonus material! Read on to learn more about how she has found big-time happiness in a small town, and why her family has helped shape her attitude.

Plus, learn more about her leadership in the Red Hat Society, and see why she's not nearly done going after her goals! To read archived articles from our 5 Questions With series, click here.

GB: Deb, we think you are a great example of the idea that you don't have to be famous, or a sports star, or a hall of fame musician to find adventure and FUN in life! We really enjoy reading all of the comments you leave on videos, blogs and more, and we'd love to inspire other Growing Bolder members to be as active as you!

Deb: Probably the reason I can be so active on the Growing Bolder Web site is because I'm fortunate to have a very flexible schedule.  I enjoy learning new things and there is so much on the site that is interesting and captures my attention.  Growing Bolder features so many inspiring stories of amazing and unique individuals.

GB: How did you find out about Growing Bolder?


Deb: I discovered the Growing Bolder community after it was mentioned on the Red Hat Society's Forum.  I'm getting so many great ideas and learning a lot of new things from the GB videos, audios, and articles, as well as from members' contributions.  Growing Bolder has helped revive my energy and enthusiasm for each new day.

I try to take a few minutes to express my thoughts and appreciation when members share part of themselves through their photos and blogs.  Everyone has the opportunity to build new friendships as well as liven up the Growing bolder community simply by participating in a variety of group discussions and posting a few words in response to members' photos and blogs.

GB: Tell us a little more about yourself -- what should Growing Bolder members know?


Deb: My husband and I have lived in Connecticut our entire lives.  We raised our 2 sons in the same town where my husband has live all his life.  We are proud to say that our sons are the 6th generation on my husband's side of the family to live here.

Two years ago, I joined the Learning in Retirement program at a nearby community college.  In addition to taking courses, I have the honor of serving on LiR's Executive Council as well as the Membership & Publicity Committee.  I've met many interesting people through this group.


A year ago, I took over the responsibility of preparing a quarterly newsletter for the senior citizens of my town.  The most recent issue was mailed to 335 senior households.

I'm also currently serving on a nature preserve commission for the town in which I live.  In honor of our country's 200th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, my husband's uncle and aunt donated 25 acres of land to the town for a nature preserve to be used as an official Bicentennial Park in 1976.


In May of 2003, I heard about the Red Hat Society and knew immediately I wanted to join the fun with all those enthusiastic, playful, and young-at-heart women.  When I realized there were no Connecticut chapters close to me, I decided to register my own official chapter.  Through my membership in the Red Hat Society, I've met many friendly and fun-loving women from all across the United States, Canada, and few other countries.

GB: You have such a great attitude, and seem to really enjoy life. What has contributed to your personality? The way you were raised? Life events? Just the way you were born?


Deb: I believe a person's temperament is determined before they are born.  What's curious is how siblings from the same two parents can have such different personalities.  Combine temperament with what one experiences in their childhood and into adulthood.  All those factors contribute to your attitude.  Possessing patience and a sense of humor has helped me through many of life's situations.

The things the were important to me in my teens and 20s have change as I've matured.  Today, I put more value on things of the heart and mind.  When I find myself moaning about aches and pains, I have to remind myself to be thankful for my health and physical abilities.  There are people with severe physical disabilities who'd love to be able to do even the most mundane daily chore.


Being the middle child of 3 has probably contributed in some way to my personality.  My sister is 2 years older than me, and my brother is 2 years younger.

Most of the responsibility of raising and supporting us was on my mother's shoulders.  She did not have a lot of time to dote upon us.  Thus we learned to do things for ourselves at an early age.

GB: Who are your heroes? Celebrities ... family members ... fictional characters ... The field's wide open!

Deb: There's not one specific person I'd call my hero.  To me, a hero doesn't need to be physically strong, fearless, or famous.  A hero is someone who gives and does for others without expecting anything in return.  There have been and continue to be many heroes in the world.  Doctors, teachers, business tycoons, family members, neighbors, janitors, and even strangers can be heroes.

GB: What challenges have you faced in life? How did you overcome them, and what's your advice for people facing the same challenges?

Deb: I think one of the biggest challenges in my life is something many people take for granted--having a devoted and active father in one's life.  My father is still alive, but he has been absent through most of my life.  When I was younger, I used to be very angry about his absence and seeming lack of interest.  I've grown to understand that there are no perfect human beings on this earth.  Today I accept him as he is, and we are in touch a few times a year.  When his time comes, I don't want to live with any guilt of having been hateful toward him.  So I love him in a way that works well for us.

GB: If you had $1M to spend, what would you do with it?

Anyone who has ever had a love affair with an automobile will understand why the very first thing I would buy with my $1M would b a crystal red Cadillac CTS or a sangria red Lincoln MKS.  At times, my family has to juggle one vehicle between 3 drivers.  It can be a major inconvenience and a real pain in the behind, so I'd like to have a car of my own.

The very next thing I'd do is seek the advice of a professional financial adviser to insure the money would grow and continue to be a resource for the rest of my life and beyond.

Beside providing my family with a few worldly things, I would donate money to my town's volunteer fire and ambulance departments.  I'd also want to help people who are in need for various reasons.  It wouldn't matter if these people were local or on the other side of the world.

GB: What are your goals for the next 10 years? The next 20 years?

For my own personal satisfaction, I'd like to complete a training course or a degree in a specific field.  The problem is that I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.  My interests are so varied.  I guess I could be a jill-of-all-trades. I'd also like to travel and see more of the United States and Canada.

Because I truly believe there is freedom in simplicity, I'd like to declutter my life of all the junk and dust collectors my husband and I have accumulated over the decades.

Want to learn more about Simply Deb, or see some more pictures of her family and the Red Hat Society? Click here to view her Growing Bolder profile! And to read archived articles from our 5 Questions With series, click here.


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