Sunday, January 10, 2010

Finding Strength Themes

After reading a post by the lovely and talented Rednosed Bozoette ( http://bozoette.typepad.com/) several months ago, telling us about her "strengths," I bought the book she mentioned, StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath (http://www.strengthsfinder.com/). Like many other nonfiction, self-help books I buy, it sat unread and unused in a visible spot (hoping I'd notice it) for weeks. A few days ago, I finally opened the secret pouch at the back of the book to get my personal code so I could take their online exam to find my strength themes.

I'll share my results with you. I think they're pretty much on target. Now, what do I do with them?
  • Positivity: People who are especially talented in the Positivity theme have an enthusiasm that is
    contagious. They are upbeat and can get others excited about what they are going to do.
  • Empathy: People who are especially talented in the Empathy theme can sense the feelings of other
    people by imagining themselves in others’ lives or others’ situations.
  • Connectedness: People who are especially talented in the Connectedness theme have faith in the links
    between all things. They believe there are few coincidences and that almost every event has a
    reason.
  • Strategic: People who are especially talented in the Strategic theme create alternative ways to proceed.
    Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues.
  • Input: People who are especially talented in the Input theme have a craving to know more. Often
    they like to collect and archive all kinds of information.
Guess I might have to read the book.

Friday, January 1, 2010

TWENTY TEN? BRING IT ON!

The fireworks are going off in the neighborhood. The clock bonged twelve times, and it is officially 2010 in San Diego. My dog is a bit scared of the loud noises, but she'll be ok as soon as the banging stops...and I'm OK, too! Thanks for asking!

2009 didn't turn out like I expected...but then they never do...the year that was to have been all about me kinda got interrupted by work and my sister and my procrastination.

Nonetheless, the year did see some accomplishments...I had my home office redone (remember that?), and I finalized my directorship/presidency of STC. I took a lovely drive along the California coast and reveled in God's glorious tapestries along the way. My kid and I get closer every year--a gift that mere gratitude can never repay. I managed to slip away to Reno & Tahoe & the silver country for a few days with my BFF Cheryl, and a few wonderful friends made it to San Diego to visit me.

Work had its ups and downs and for the most part, I enjoyed it. It was pretty lousy around mid-year when I had to lay off one of my employees, and then it got rotten again near the end of the year when HP decided that we had to give performance ratings on a curve...I saw the results of that bit of dysfunction from both sides! Luckily, they then let everyone go home for 2 weeks for the Holiday shutdown hoping we'd forget about it. At least we're being paid--IF you have enough vacation days!

I continued therapy...mostly to help me deal with the devolving health (both mental and physical) of my sister. It's a continual no-win situation, and sometimes it hits me pretty hard. I have a good friend who is going through much the same thing with her mom. I guess I was blessed that my mom went quickly and never had to be in a nursing facility. I never saw my mom confused or bewildered by age or drugs or mental instability. Instead, I'm experiencing it through my 49-year old sister. Just doesn't seem right. Most of the time, I understand that the journey is hers, but every once in awhile, I let it get to me, and that's not good for either of us.

So, I'm making no New Year resolutions. I am setting some intentions that I hope will manifest, but I refuse to set myself up for failure. Each day is a new palette. Just think, we lose 364 opportunities if we only begin new things on January first!

My blogs have been few and far between because I've realized that blogging isn't really for me. Blogs have an audience that deserves something worth reading. Sometimes I have tales to tell that I don't want the world to know...so I refrain. I guess I need to do a little more thinking about the purpose of blogs. I think I prefer journaling.

In fact, although my old-fashioned paper journal doesn't fill up as fast as it once did, I do write entries in long hand from time to time...probably always will. Then I can say whatever I need to say and I don't have to worry about what I say or who I say it about or how strange it might be.

So, that's what's on my mind tonight. I have only 3 days until work resumes. I could use a couple of weeks more.

Linda O

Linda O
Glamorous Me