Thursday Thirteen #108 -- All Good

THIRTEEN POSITIVES ABOUT
THE GAL HERSELF

The idea for this post came from Kwizgiver, who listed things she was good at. Since so many of us concentrate on our faults and flaws and weaknesses and peccadilloes, it was a refreshing read. And so I am stealing it. I encourage everyone else to steal it. Looking at yourself objectively and liking what you see is a natural high.

1) I think fast on my feet. I never freeze up. It's funny, but when I'm under pressure I see things with greater clarity and the path is clear. It's a very helpful talent to have, especially in my chosen industry -- advertising, where deadlines and pressure are the norm.

2) I'm a good public speaker. I realize that many people are afraid of making presentations but it simply has never been an issue for me. I'm not perfect -- I have a tendency to speak too quickly. But I know how to put my audience at ease and I'm usually able to see my topic from their point of view, which makes it easy to anticipate and then field questions.

3) I work quickly. I'm a writer by trade, and words come easily to me. There are many, many writers who are more talented than I am, but to be honest, I don't know of many who are both as good and as fast. In an industry where we're often on deadline and billing by the hour, that has made me valuable. (At least until now. Let's hope management here continues to value this so I won't get laid off.)

4) I'm still curious and enthusiastic. There's always something new that grabs my attention and hangs on. Recently it's been First Lady Abigail Adams and blues singer Marcia Ball. Right now it's eating better and working out. I'm glad I'm not closed off to new things.

5) I'm good with kids and critters. I don't believe the actual phrase "Bless the beasts and the children" appears in the Bible, but no matter. The impatience I suffer with adults is absent with kids and critters. Naturally, the attention and affection I lavish on them has been returned to me tenfold.

6) I'm smart. I don't have very much school (didn't even make it to my Associate Degree) but when it comes to subjects I get (mostly politics and marketing), I'm pretty sharp.

7) I'm loyal. I stick. Cub fandom is good training for that.

8) I'm independent. I enjoy my own company and require little hand holding (most of the time).

9) I have a good sense of humor. Finding just about everything funny (or absurd) in one way or another protects me from ever really going under.

10) I believe. As Anne Frank said "Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart." My faith in God and my fellow man, like my sense of humor, stops me from making Stoney End my permanent address.

11) I'm easy to talk to. I don't know why, really. I tend to interrupt a lot and talk over people in conversation. Yet it seems I'm often singled out as the "go to girl" when people are in trouble, personally or professionally.

12) Many things make me happy. Watching my cat Joey power nap. Singing with the oldies in the shower. Settling in for an I Love Lucy marathon. The world is filled with little joys just waiting for me to enjoy them.

13) I give good gift. I am very imaginative when it comes to gifting. When an old friend wanted to know what she and her sister could do to honor their father on the anniversary of his death, I came up with a list of ideas (the first being scathingly brilliant) in less than half an hour.

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