Well now that I'm older and wiser, I understand! It makes sense! Society, as a whole, tends to hate people who are beautiful. We covet them. Especially when you add riches in to the mix. That's why stories of rich, famous people falling from grace are so sought after by tabloids. How often do you see headlines like, "Guess who's got cellulite?" or "Look who needs Botox!" We (society, per se) love it when we see imperfections in others. I know all you lovely Blogaway readers are above this type of pettiness, but sometimes, deep down in your heart, might you possibly get jealous of another because they might be achieving a greater success than you?
This happens a lot in the publishing industry. An author gets an amazing book deal, and there's always backlash from people who would like the same kind of deal. They say things like, "s/he's not even a very good writer. I write better than that." You see it in other professions when someone receives a promotion and others think it was undeserved. Basically, what it boils down to is that people have a hard time being gracious when they are feeling unsuccessful and when someone else achieves that level of success.
Not that I've been on the bad end of this and had to endure snide remarks, it's just something that I've been thinking about. We should all be proud of our own accomplishments and a little less resentful of others. How do we do this? By acknowledging our talents and actually letting our talents shine. Since we were all raised properly and taught to be humble and unassuming, oftentimes when we get compliments, we shrug them off. Yes, that is the polite thing to do. But sometimes, doesn't it feel nice to revel in the sunshine?
Well, here's your chance to do just that. It is time to toot your own horn. What are you good at? What have you achieved recently that you are proud of? What attribute do you have that makes others envious? Go ahead, toot, toot toot!
Oh, do I have to be the first to go? OK, I'm creative. I'm witty. I can type fast. There. Now it's your turn. TOOT!
15 comments:
Oh man... I thought we were going to talk about what makes us jealous... I'm a lot better at that :) You know how you said you think you got in the wrong bus line for the time period you came to earth? Well I am pretty sure I was too busy talking to people/looking at the food we get to eat/flirting with guys and I missed out on the talent line all together!
But... I can think of a few things... I can pretty much always speak my mind. (Maybe not always the best thing but it's pretty helpful too)
I have learned to really enjoy graphic design. I wasn't very good at art in school but it's been pretty fun to see stuff I have designed sell on Etsy.
Toot toot!
I was with Anne- it would be much easier to say talents I wish I had than ones I actually have.
Ok, I am pretty good with technology and computers, I like to think I'm a pretty good cook, I am organized and usually clean (however, I've discovered that it's only if things feel clean after. I was much better at cleaning our apartment than our house but that's because even after I clean the house, it doesn't feel clean). And, I'm getting pretty good at being able to predict where a student's achievement and intelligence level is before I start testing them.
I am super great at wasting time. It may be my strongest point. I'm really good at procrastinating. I've developed unequaled skill at sitting and doing nothing for long periods of time. And I'm very forgetful. Like it's a gift or something. It must be, because I haven't tried to develop that one. And I can have a bad hair day like you can't believe. I'm just glad this blog doesn't have facetime. You'd know what I'm talking about.
Anne: yes, that would be so much easier, but my slogan for the year is "I can do hard things!" Speaking your mind is a good thing--that means you don't let people walk all over you!
Nicole: Can you come clean and organize for me? I'm seriously lacking in that area. And good teachers like you are worth millions!
PaulaShawn: NO, NO, NO! That will not do. You must be nice to yourself. And you must be serious. You know I possess the power to deleted that comment? Don't make me do it! Repost a comment with your real talents or I will do it for you!
Stealer-face! I'm good at calling people names. (This is along the lines of a post I've been working on for you.)
I'm a good listener. I can read upside down as well as I can read right side up. The words upside down, not me, although I'm sure I could do that, too, but not while flying through the air. I'm good at keeping my family in clean clothes. And I'm good at drinking an ice-cold Coke whilst having lunch with a friend (which I'm also pretty good at.)
I can sing. I love to sing. I like my own voice, and I like to show it off to others. That's a good one for me--I like to show off. Maybe a nicer way to say it would be that I like to share my talent with others. Sometimes I have to make a conscious effort though to not show off too much ; ).
I am pretty crafty too. I am not as much of a seamstress as I would like to be (I used to know how to make my own dresses, but have forgotten those skills now), but I can still make cool stuff with paper and fabric and glue.
One talent I have that I enjoy is my talent for connecting with infants. When I was a little girl and people used to ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would say "a mom". I love babies, and was always seen holding someone's baby. I still love babies, and would have loved to have babies for the rest of my life. Little did I understand when I was younger though that babies turn into kids...
Lastly, according to my really cool and awesome friend Lori, and a couple of other people including my mom, I have a talent for writing. I love the thought of that. I enjoy correcting grammatical errors, and crossing all the t's and dotting all of the i's...speaking of which, there's no way you could have known this, but I inherited the gift of pretty handwriting from my mother. That's a fun one!
Ok, I'm pretty sure it's time for me to stop showing off again. Sometimes when I get going it's hard for me to stop! ; )
Well....I can recognise notes and can only play/sing music pieces I've already heard. (I just performed in Honor Choir. And I'm soprano 1 section leader) I can cook pretty well. (I make a mean lasagna.) I'm a decent writer. (I had 100% in Creative Writing for most of the semester.) I get mostly A's. (I'm 8th in my graduating class) I'm also really good at remember nonsense like the names of every character in a TV series/movie. I also remember movie lines and lyrics REALLY well.(However, I can't seem to hold the Important information like what's on the next thest or who I just met.) I have clear skin (Flawless but whatever) I weigh less than I used to.(Thanks radiation and chemo.>:I) Oh, I survived brain cancer.....Heh, this is like writing a scholarship essay! :)
Paula: Your bad hair day can NOT be worse than mine. :P *smirk*
Alright Devree, you got me! But the hair you wear is VERY cute!!! This reminds me of a girl Shawn knew in high school who had an artificial lower leg. She was in a competitive softball game when she got injured running to base. Her dad went out on the field to assist her and when he asked her what the problem was she replied, "I sprained my ankle." to which he asked, "which one?" "DAD!" was her reply.
I'm afraid of you, Lori, so here goes...
I'm good at planning fun events for my family and loved one, and then fitting in the tedious and obnoxious parts of life in the little gaps of time that are left. I'm good at connecting the dots (see my profile on Mormon.org). But I still feel that I'm really dilly super duper ali-ooper good at the things aforeto mentioned!
I am a good cheerleader. At least thats what I've been told. When people tell me their good news I am reallllyyyy excited for them.
Oh I have the hardest time thinking of things I'm good at, but I'll give it a shot.
I think I am a good listener and I am a pretty good photographer. That is one talent that I would love to develop even more!
O.K. her goes, I'm not used to doing this kind of thing: I smell good, I'm nice, I'm beautiful, I have good teeth, my nails are strong, my hair is long and silky, I always compliment people, I am a great cook/baker, I am a great listener, I have beautiful green eyes, I have a very loud voice and can get peoples attention quickly, I am an excellent conversationalist, I am a wonderful wife, I always have faith, hope and charity,I bring sunshine with me wherever I go, I always abound in good works, I am diligent, I am helpful......
Oh wow, I didn't mean to go on so. (I hope you know I was just being funny, there may be one or two things in there that are true, like the good teeth thing. :)
Sally: I did not steal her face. I just borrowed her hair! I want you to try reading while flying upside down through the air and send me the video!
JazznJenna: I think you must really be the mother of my daughter. She told me her voice sounds like she swallowed a microphone and last time she belted out a song, she said "Wow, I sounded really good!" I might have to send her to your house to further her training.
Devree: I know I'm going to smile every time I see your name in the comment thread. You are an amazing, talented gal! If I was 8th in my graduating class, it would be because there was only 10 in the class! Ha! Kudos to you. You have an incredible life ahead of you.
PaulaShawn: much better. Comment accepted.
LivingstonslifeinMt: What team do you cheer for? How come I've never seen you in uniform??? ;)
Ricky and Emily: Good listening is such a good skill. There's not enough people who listen more than they talk. I love that saying "you have two ears and one mouth ... use them accordingly!"
Team C: ALL of those things are true! Especially the one about you bringing sunshine with you wherever you go! (Hey we could use some sunshine here today. Can you come for a visit?)
Lori, I wasn't commenting on your stealing anyone's face or hair, but on your stealing my idea for a blog post. Saying "stealer-face" sounds less harsh than out-and-out "stealer."
Sally- nuts, I'm so sorry. It was an unintentional theft! As for stealing Kim Kardashian's picture ... intentional!
I'm a good cook and a fast hiker. It's a good thing to or else my significant other might run away.
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