This is all the rage in Facebook, and since I was tagged I couldn’t help doing one. It is a list of 25 random things about me. At first, I had a resistance to it (like automatically hitting the delete button on chain mails), but when I started to do it, it became an incredibly enjoyable experience.

It not only took me back to childhood memories, but it reminded me about who I am, and crystallized a lot of the “why’s” of what I do and my drive for success. Of course this list can be expanded dramatically, but I like the relative and random brevity of this format. So without further ado, here are 25 random things about me:

1) I am the youngest of three girls

2) I was born in Cape Town, South Africa

3) I arrived in New York at the age of 21 with one suitcase, $500 and a dream

4) When we were young, my sisters and I would wash our hair with beer and raw eggs. I still remember that feeling of having a raw egg cracked onto my scalp standing out in the backyard – lol. It is one of the things I attribute to having such good hair today.

5) My friends brother used to call me “The Renaissance Woman” because I excel at anything I want to: from conceiving, brokering and closing big-ticket sales and business deals, to cook to bake to plumbing to build furniture to paint a picture or paint a wall, to dance, etc etc

6) I taught myself to ride a bike at the age of 31, and did a few bike tours after that – one as long as 50 miles!

7) I feel privileged to have the family I do, and love them (and am proud of them) beyond all belief

I own about 200 pairs of shoes (but who’s counting)

9) I have a burning desire to have my own children, and also foster and adopt and positively change the lives of as many children as possible.

10) I have a dream of building a bridge so that children do not have to brave crocodile-infested waters to get to school

11) I have 2 nephews on the Autism spectrum, and want to create a mindset in this world where parents don’t feel the need to live one day longer than their children.

12) I have clear memories from when I was about 18 months old

13) I have difficulty remembering what I did yesterday

14) Animals and children are generally drawn to and love me – it tends to be very mutual

15) I feel compelled to fiercely protect and defend the underdog or those that have no voice

16) I sometimes feel guilty that I am part of this waste-based society, and contribute to the loss of natural animal habitat and extinction of species. (I am a conservationist at heart)

17) I love to salsa / dance more than anything

18) I love to swim/snorkel/boat/do anything with water more than anything (ok, ok 17 & 18 are about equal)

19) I love BBQs and hot summer days

20) I hate shopping, but when I get PMS I crave buying gadgets and expensive electronics (cameras, TVs, phones, ipods, etc)

21) My grandmother & mother were(are) very spiritual, and we were brought up living the principles of affirmations, creating our reality and “the secret” from as early as I can remember.

22) I am an avid reader – the first “real book” I read was my mother’s book-club book – it was called “Queenie” and was 1050 pages. I was 8 years old.

23) I deeply value friendships and true connections – I am still friends with (and feel the same about) people from my early school years.

24) I can’t watch Disney movies (like Bambi & Lion King) because I cry (sob), and remain deeply moved and upset for days/weeks afterward.

25) I am positive and romantic about love and life in general. I believe in people. And happy endings.