Podcasts and Vices

The bright, funny Ally Bishop, author/editor extraordinaire and Booktrope family member, interviewed me on her Upgrade Your Story podcast! It was so much fun. And it may be the closest I’ll ever get to that sit down with Oprah I’ve always dreamed of. I hope you’ll listen. I’ve been making my way through all her episodes, learning a great deal from them about writing, editing, publishing, and promoting books.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

If you’re like me and can’t sit still through a podcast, it’s easy to listen in from the Internet on your smart phone while exercising, doing dishes, driving, etc. That’s what I do!

One of the most challenging things about interviews is trying to predict what you’ll be asked and think of interesting answers. I hope I did okay. Ally has a gift for coming up with unique and creative questions, so when she asked me to share my worst vice vice, I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I couldn’t come up with anything to say. I cringe when I think back on the way I stumbled and mumbled through some kind of rambling response about being old and having let go of all my vices. Ugh. How insincere that must seem, I know.

I think what happened is that the word “vice” stirred up some shame and fear of judgment for me, maybe because of my vice-filled younger days.

Here’s how Dictionary.com defines a vice: “an immoral or evil habit or practice.” Yikes.

After reconsidering Ally’s question, I’m willing to admit that on occasion, I still drink a little too much red wine. And because I trust you, I’ll even confess that a couple of times, I’ve spent entire days in a near comatose state absorbing hours of vacuous Kardashian drama. But for the most part, I’ve worked hard to be vice free. I exercise almost every day. I’m a health food nut. I do my best to avoid putting anything toxic into or on my body. I watch very little television. Much of what I read is personal-growth nonfiction. I’m deeply spiritual and am certified in Reiki I and Reiki II. But please don’t think I’m boasting here. In truth, a lot of this is because I used up my allotment of vices early on.

When you hear the word vice, what specific activity first comes to mind? Well, you can pretty much assume I did it, in one form or another, at some point. Except for the stuff that hurts other people. I mostly just hurt myself. But I don’t anymore, thankfully. I’m not sure if this is a better answer, but for some reason, I felt the need to share why the question stumped me.

So here’s to my vices and yours, whatever they are, and whether they are a part of our past, present or future. They make us human. They make us who we are. My greatest belief about vices is that we need to be kind to ourselves and to others regardless of what stage of indulging in or abstaining from our vices we may be in. Because we all have them. As I told Ally, though most of mine may be dormant at the moment, I’m well aware that given the right trigger, one could pop back up anytime.

Thanks for this opportunity for deep reflection, Ally! One simple question can open quite a can of worms, can’t it?

Please listen to the interview and let me know what you think, everyone!

Thank you!