Today marks 100 days till my 30th birthday.
100 days left of my 20s.
100 days to finish up a decade and make it feel like I took full advantage of being care-free in my 20s.
My 30 before 30 list has not been attended to very regularly. There are things on there that I won't be able to complete. Things that I don't care about completing anymore. There are things on there that I still hope to experience and complete before the clock strikes 12:45 p.m. on March 10th.
A lot can happen in 100 days. 100 days ago it was August 22nd, a Monday.
I was preparing for a long weekend road trip with Rainman. And finalizing my payment for my trip to Jamaica. And working on my 20th Century English course.
In those 100 days, I have been to the tropical resort where everything is "irie mon," I completed my course with an A-, I have helped Rainman raise almost $500 (we could get there, today is the last day!) with the Movember campaign for men's cancers. I sat on the United Way campaign committee at work, scheduling breakfasts for field crews to increase participation and the success of my role has my work being looked at for the possibility of an award. I have joined another committee at work that helps inspire and empower women through networking and mentor-ships. I have deepened my connection with Rainman and love hearing him call me his girlfriend.
In those 100 days, I have learned more about my industry at work and with that have been able to apply technical skills to new platforms and programs. I have learned more about my city and made new connections through the power of social media. I have put together a group to create, cook and serve meals at Ronald McDonald House. I have added more time to my volunteer bank and have broadened my mind through reading more books.
So much can happen in 100 days and this has me excited for what the last 100 days of my 29th year will bring. There is so much to do and see and love and live for. And with this attitude, starting off a new decade can only mean great things to come. And with a wonderful supportive group of people around me to help celebrate every mile stone and accomplishment.
100 days. 2422 hours. 145370 minutes. And so many things that can happen.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
On 5 Year Plans....
I am a planner. I like to plan my day (and often before I go to sleep the night before). I like to plan my weekend and know where I am supposed to be and when to maximize the small amount of free time I have. I like to plan my meals and my chores and my outfits. I like routine and the sense of stability it offers. I am not one who is readily able to accept change and when it comes I go into flight and fight mode, depending on what the change means.
It's no surprise that when I learned about Stalin's 5 year plans (or was it Lenin....)for the economic state of the Soviet Union in grade 9, I was intrigued. This made sense to me...a 5 year plan. To know where I would be in 5 years if I stuck to a plan. Unfortunately, I wasn't paying enough attention in class to realize that as life happens, plans change and you can't really depend on them.
I am going to be 30 in about 120 days (or so...there's a ticker on the side of my blog). I was thinking this morning about where I thought I would be at 30. When I was 25, I fell for a boy and created a 5 year plan around him. If all had worked out, we would be married with a house and a kid by now (or a kid on its way). I forgot to focus on the boy and instead focused on my 5 year plan, not really caring if he believed in it.And of course, this led to the demise of our relationship (amongst so many other things because I know now that he and I were never meant to work out).
Other 5 year plans I have created have also faltered. To the point that now I feel wise enough to know not to make them. I create goals. And try to make them more short term so that I feel the motivation to complete them. But I don't make plans for where I should be.
5 years ago, I would never imagine I would be where I am today. I would never have imagined the relationship with Rainman that I have now. And this feeling of contentment with whatever happens, is supposed to happen. As a planner, this is the strangest feeling, albeit calming. I still plan for my day (and the weekends with him) as well as all the other little things...but no longer do I plan on the future. Things will happen, when they are supposed to happen, if they are supposed to happen.
I feel like I am declaring this state of independence from the Republic of Routine. Bring on the Perestroika.
It's no surprise that when I learned about Stalin's 5 year plans (or was it Lenin....)for the economic state of the Soviet Union in grade 9, I was intrigued. This made sense to me...a 5 year plan. To know where I would be in 5 years if I stuck to a plan. Unfortunately, I wasn't paying enough attention in class to realize that as life happens, plans change and you can't really depend on them.
I am going to be 30 in about 120 days (or so...there's a ticker on the side of my blog). I was thinking this morning about where I thought I would be at 30. When I was 25, I fell for a boy and created a 5 year plan around him. If all had worked out, we would be married with a house and a kid by now (or a kid on its way). I forgot to focus on the boy and instead focused on my 5 year plan, not really caring if he believed in it.And of course, this led to the demise of our relationship (amongst so many other things because I know now that he and I were never meant to work out).
Other 5 year plans I have created have also faltered. To the point that now I feel wise enough to know not to make them. I create goals. And try to make them more short term so that I feel the motivation to complete them. But I don't make plans for where I should be.
5 years ago, I would never imagine I would be where I am today. I would never have imagined the relationship with Rainman that I have now. And this feeling of contentment with whatever happens, is supposed to happen. As a planner, this is the strangest feeling, albeit calming. I still plan for my day (and the weekends with him) as well as all the other little things...but no longer do I plan on the future. Things will happen, when they are supposed to happen, if they are supposed to happen.
I feel like I am declaring this state of independence from the Republic of Routine. Bring on the Perestroika.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
ENFJ
Last Thursday, I partook in a session that tested Myers Briggs Type Indicator. Then as a work team, we participated in different activities to showcase how our "types" come out in decision making.
I tested in with slight Extraversion, clear Intuition, and very clear Feeling and Judging. Before you start judging me, know that Judging actually refers to people who enjoy living in a planned, orderly, way. Sticking to a plan and schedule is highly important to me, and I rock at organizing outings and events for my friends.
The course was able to showcase the strengths and weaknesses of people who share all four of my characteristics
Characteristics of ENFJs:
Others see ENFJs:
Weaknesses of ENFJs:
The entire session was incredibly insightful. It not only allowed me to see the best ways to communicate and collaborate with my co-workers, but also ways I could improve my weaknesses and utilize my strengths in my personal relationships. Understanding my weaknesses especially will help me take that moment before reacting and responding, and I can already tell it will help me create an even stronger bond with my Plus 1.
If you ever have the opportunity to get tested for the MBTI, I strongly urge you to jump on it. Especially if you can do this in a situation where you learn how other types make decisions and the rational behind the choice. For example, as a feeler, I learned how thinkers come to conclusions and they learned how I lead with my heart first. And neither way makes us inept.
The best way to become the best you is to learn who exactly you are. Embrace all of it, highlight the great, be cognizant of your weaknesses, turn all of it into opportunities to create a perfectly wonderful you. I am very thankful to have had this chance to learn more about me.
I tested in with slight Extraversion, clear Intuition, and very clear Feeling and Judging. Before you start judging me, know that Judging actually refers to people who enjoy living in a planned, orderly, way. Sticking to a plan and schedule is highly important to me, and I rock at organizing outings and events for my friends.
The course was able to showcase the strengths and weaknesses of people who share all four of my characteristics
Characteristics of ENFJs:
- Look for and find the best in others
- Prize harmony and co-operation
- Warm, compassionate, and supportive
- Loyal and trustworthy
- Imaginative and creative
- Can be very insightful about others
- Stimulated about the possibilities for contributing to the good of humanity
- Like variety and new challenges
- naturally see the potential for growth in others and devote energy to help others achieve it
Others see ENFJs:
- Sociable, personable, congenial, and gracious
- Expressive, responsive, and persuasive
Weaknesses of ENFJs:
- worry, feel guilty, and doubt themselves
- become insistent and controlling in their desire for harmony
- be overly sensitive to criticism, real or imagined
- make decisions based solely on personal values when logic is needed also
- find it difficult to admit to problems or disagreements with people the care about
- overlook details required to realize their ideals
- under great stress, may find themselves suddenly and uncharacteristically critical and fault finding with others, but keep these negative opinions to themselves
The entire session was incredibly insightful. It not only allowed me to see the best ways to communicate and collaborate with my co-workers, but also ways I could improve my weaknesses and utilize my strengths in my personal relationships. Understanding my weaknesses especially will help me take that moment before reacting and responding, and I can already tell it will help me create an even stronger bond with my Plus 1.
If you ever have the opportunity to get tested for the MBTI, I strongly urge you to jump on it. Especially if you can do this in a situation where you learn how other types make decisions and the rational behind the choice. For example, as a feeler, I learned how thinkers come to conclusions and they learned how I lead with my heart first. And neither way makes us inept.
The best way to become the best you is to learn who exactly you are. Embrace all of it, highlight the great, be cognizant of your weaknesses, turn all of it into opportunities to create a perfectly wonderful you. I am very thankful to have had this chance to learn more about me.
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