1960-1978
My first 18 years were different in comparison to many of my friends and the people that I knew and grew up with. I was born in Pennsylvania, USA. I come from a large family of eight children. Big families were common back in those days.
For the most part, I was a happy kid and accepted life along with the cards that I was dealt. Yet, I did have my insecurities because my parents were so much older and more eccentric than the parents of those of my friends.
My father was in his fifty’s when I was born and my mother was 38 years old. My father never worked after I was born due to being hurt on the job and my mother always had many health issues and lived most of her life as a housewife.
We were a poor family; and food and money were scarce, plus we never owned a car. Even though I had seven brothers and sisters, they all married and moved on with their own lives. I lived most of my young life alone with just my parents.
However, when I was eight years old, my brother brought me a puppy. This was my introduction to the world of dogs. We named her “Josephine” and she was one of the best gifts I had ever been given. She added something to our home in a good way and gave me that feeling of having something in common with others. She was 100% mutt and I loved everything about her. She was white and sported a cute black spot on her side. Oh, and she had a beard. Yeah, a beard! Loved it.
My parents both loved her dearly and she was a very spoiled girl. Josephine only lived to be 8 years old after developing Parvo Virus which was new to the canine world back then. I was devastated when Josephine died. She was my first encounter with death and the only thing close to me that I had over lost.
Unlike my siblings, I only attended public schools before graduating in 1978. As a young girl, I was often told that I was wise beyond my years and very mature for my age. I learned early how to do many things that most girls my age weren’t doing. I cleaned, did laundry and grocery shopped all while going to school. I was also responsible for taking the bills to bank.
I worked at baby sitting jobs and fast food restaurants once I reached the age of 16. When I was 16 years old, I also signed up for driving classes through school and my father bought me a used car. This was really a big deal since we never had a car.
When I look back at that time in my life, I realize many things that I didn’t realize at the time. Although my life was eccentric and there were many times that I felt sad and longed for a life like my friends had, I now understand where my inner strength came from. I understand how the first eighteen years shaped the rest of my life and made me who I am today.
I never complained too much about my situation, I just accepted it for the most part. I don’t feel that I ever took advantage of the simple gifts of life such as food and water and perhaps it’s because I already knew what it was like to go to bed hungry. I knew that there were others in the world who had much bigger problems than mine.
The Affect My Parents Had On Me
My father loved books and loved to write and I’m sure that he had a big impact on the fact that I like to write as well. Although I like to read, my father was actually obsessed with books and could never seem to get enough of them.
Initially, he had one spare bedroom that he used as a library and it had book shelves on every wall from the ceiling to the floor, but that grew to several other rooms as well. His obsession grew even stronger as he grew older. He would go to flea markets every week and buy boxes of books. His library was very organized and all of his books were in alphabetical order, by category. My father was a smart man, but never really applied himself outside of his own world of books.
My mom just seemed to get through the day most of the time by watching t.v. and I never seen her read a book, not once. She was a very strong woman. Neither of my parents had friends which was always so strange to me as a young girl. No company ever came to the house other than my siblings or my friends. I always assumed that it was because they were so much older and it was “an age thing”.
My experiences growing up as a young woman are what built the independence that I cherish today. The mindset of an entrepreneur. I took in the strongest qualities that my parents indirectly shared with me and applied them to my hopes and dreams. While I probably didn’t appreciate these qualities at the time, I now understand the impact that they have had on my life as an adult and as a person.
Different isn’t always bad, it’s what you make of it. My parents provided me with inner strength and will power; they provided me with some very essential tools to be “me”. Although growing up we may not of had alot of money or material things, I realize that I was given something far greater; what it takes to be a survivor and overcome obstacles.
I often find myself encouraging others to also realize their gifts as small as they may seem. I appreciate the old fashioned values that I grew up with and routinely incorporate them into my daily life and business ethics as well.
Continue to About Janie Business Journal – Part Two
Continue to About Janie Business Journal – Part Three
Continue to About Janie Business Journal – Part Four
Janie – The Person Behind The Website YourOldDog.Net