I just took home the Activity Day Girls (ages 8-11 from church) from our activity at my house this morning. We usually meet at the other leader's house because she has been doing this longer and has a big house right down the street from a couple of the girls. Anyway, the other leader is out of town for 4 weeks, so I went solo today. I must say, I quite enjoyed it. I taught the girls all about having good phone manners and had them practice taking messages and speaking clearly and with polite words. They loved it.After that we had to paint a poster for an upcoming primary activity. All it had to say was "Salt Lake City" and then they could decorate it however they wanted. I loved watching them as they threw out suggestions, listened to each other, complimented each other, and then as they mixed colors and made designs. They didn't want to leave. Our activity went a half hour over (fortunately I had told their parents I'd drive the girls home), and even then they were saying things like, "I don't want to leave," "can we come here every day," "this is so fun!" That was gratifying.
Watching these girls in action made me think about myself at those ages, and how inhibited I was. A couple of the girls didn't want to practice making phone calls, but enjoyed listening to the others. One girl is really quiet but apparently super creative and totally stepped up when it came to writing the letters on the poster and decorating them creatively. Another girl is completely comfortable with herself (at age 8) and loved everything we did. Another girl (my neighbor) is so self-confident that she ends up coming across as bossy and like a know-it-all. I must admit I was glad she had to leave early and missed the painting part of our activity. That's awful to say, but I know she would have dominated the other girls and squashed some of their fun.
So pretty much I'm curious about personality and how it develops. I feel like I always stand back a bit in a group and take a long time to get comfortable before really speaking up. I'm better about this as an adult, but I still see how often I let others take the lead and then quietly think of other things we could do to make things better. I feel wussy that I never just take the lead and get things done. It's like I have to have everything "just so" and then if I feel safe enough I'll do what needs to be done. It sounds like I'm a coward with passive aggressive tendencies--not pretty.
**What personality traits to do you have?
Have you changed much from childhood?**
Have you changed much from childhood?**
10 comments:
I find it slightly difficult to self analyze. I feel comfortable in large crowds, I can speak to anyone, I don't buy things for myself but enjoy spoiling others, I'm opinionated and a type A personality at work but more laid back at home or with friends. Sometimes I say things out loud that perhaps I should have filtered first, my filter doesn't always work. My face it easy to read, I feel, whether happy, sad, grouchy or annoyed. I have a bad habit of rolling my eyes. I think I am slow to get angry but once I am...watch out, it's the redheaded thing. This all sounds so negative but I truly am not a very negative person, I'm more opptomistic that pessitmistic (I need spell check), my glass is usually rose colored and half full. I think I'm patient and kind and thoughtful, or at least want to be thought of in that light. I do like living in Pamland, where everything is how I think it should be, the military and I wouldn't have gotten along, I don't think.
I don't know that I've changed much from when I was a child, I was not shy that I remember.
From what my family says, I have looked and acted exactly the same my whole entire life. (Every holiday someone is telling me I have "the same little face") I've always been fairly self-assured and independent and artistic, but I also haven't developed any techniques to eat chocolate pudding or chocolate covered strawberries without looking like I have a beard. So, yes, from everyone says, I have been exactly the same since I was 8. Crazy.
You are such a great leader, those girls are lucky to have you! It is interesting for me to watch the young girls in my ward as well. The girl we use as our babysitter is 16 and everytime I take her home I think of myself at that age and wonder what people thought of me. The crazy thing is that I don't really feel any different, yet I know I was just as immature as every other girl. It is interesting to see different personalities take shape and I find myself CONSTANTLY wondering what my girls will be like. There are some traits I hope they get from me, and there are of course a couple I pray they do not inherit!!
Interesting thoughts/interesting question. I am more introverted than extroverted, but it depends on the situation. Large group settings intimidate me but more intimate, familiar settings allow me to assert more of a leadership role. I have always been this way. Shyer though as a kid. I hope that I continue to be more comfortable with who I am and that i develop my abilities to be sensitive, aware of others' needs and someone who helps others in a group who need help being drawn out. I've always been aware of those that are kinda uncomfortable. I'm comfortable reaching out them b/c one-on-one is my strength.
I also play host to the Acitivity Days girls and I find similar observations of personality in our girls. This week I had the girls over to my house for a water party while my boys were still in Utah. They loved playing in the water but it was funny to watch how long it took them to get warmed up to things like taking off their shorts that covered their already modest bathing suits and such! They crack me up at this age. We have a mix too and I can always anticipate who the "leader" of the event will be. I feel like I am so transparent but it is sometimes shocking to see how very unpredictable my own children can be.
I feel like I probably have not changed very much since childhood. I'm totally an introvert. My mom said it used to drive her crazy that I would come home from school and just go into my room and start working on homework. She wanted me to come talk about my day. I guess it just didn't occur to me!
There is a story of a time when my grandma had arranged a playdate for me. I guess I was feeling shy, because the other girl came up to me, pointed at my face, and said "Talk!"
I've always been shy, and it earned me the reputation of being a snob. I knew that people thought that of me, and it seemed unfair, but I felt powerless to be any other way.
I'm shy around people I don't know. But when I get to know someone a little bit, the shyness disappears. Then I can be very outgoing. It's weird -- is it always this way with shy people?
Because of my discomfort when I'm with people I don't know, I usually don't have a very good time at parties. I hate making small talk, I have a really hard time putting myself out there, I just feel SO uncomfortable.
Here's the one thing that's really changed since I was a child: I used to be a total worrywart. Classic oldest child syndrome. I would have nightmares about the house burning down and I was responsible for getting everyone out. I couldn't take it when my dad would take us hiking and Jessie and Ryan would be walking along the edge of a precipice. But as I got older, I made a conscious effort to not worry. It just seemed like such a waste of time. What does it accomplish? I have successfully overcome that habit, and now I am pretty laid-back!
Well I am a taurus...and all I ever hear is that I am stubborn (from my parents, husband sometimes). Once I read that people who persevere succeed and sometimes when those stubborn people don't succeed they are that, just stubborn....I tend to think I am optimistic and want to be more. I think of late I have taken a more laid back approach not taking things so harsh on myself. I am always leading or so it seems...I think in my family it is hard because everyone is sooo opinionated and everyone wants to lead and nobody wants to follow...SO that is hard to take sometimes. I think I am shy somewhat...I think I used to be more and like Michelle they would confuse it with being snobish, which sometimes I didn't have a problem that they would think that. I think I am pretty self-confident but sometimes it is a thin line one comment might make you go cry...in junior high they used to call me "the generall" I guess that is because I am a General's Daughter...(although my Dad never liked the military because of people that think that they are superior just because of their rank--he studied there medicine). I can be bossy....except that nobody lets me boss them around...but I do think one trait I have since childhood is persistance.
Funny that I am just like Michelle. I tend to be shy at first (which is often taken as being snobby) but then I open up easily once I am comfortable. I am easily intimidated by other people and always assume that others think all sorts of negative things about me. I don't know why I do this to myself.
I absolutely hate talking in public especially in my calling b/c I have to make little announcements and try to encourage them to VT and I always feel like people are rolling their eyes or silently criticizing me.
I was a horrible child so I really hope that I have changed ALOT! However I am sure that some of those personality traits are still in there, unfortunately. I still hate people telling me what to do. I can be very stubborn when I want to be but it's usually with my husband.
I always had a hard time making decisions and still do. I hate regret. Whether it's choosing a dish on a menu or deciding what to do with a friend, I just want someone to make the decision for me.
As a child I was very outgoing, but as I grew up I became a bit of an introvert. I don't know why. I hate speaking in big groups, especially church. But one-on-one I'm not nearly as shy.
This is a difficult one. I still don't feel like I am comfy with myself and am usually surprised at how people view me. I always hated being called shy because I am not when I like you. But you can't really say, I am not shy you just bug me!
I don't think I have changed much, I would love to get to where I was totally good with who I am.
Post a Comment