The List

[serene]

Been making this list for more years than I can count. It often helps my mood.

(Wow. The last time I did The List was more than a year ago, right after an ex-friend (who was a friend at the time, or so I thought), threatened suicide, then turned off her cellphone.)


Five things that are good about me:

1. I genuinely care about the happiness of the people I love.
2. I can almost always cut myself a break when I'm having a crappy day.
3. I am smart.
4. It's fun for me to do nice things for people.
5. I am good at mediating other people's disagreements.

Five things I'm grateful for:

1. The Obama and Biden families
2. My great good fortune in finding a partner I love living with, who tolerates the Teenager Invasion so well. (To be honest, he tolerates it better than I do, but he points out that he also has less at stake.)
3. Strawberry ice cream with fresh blackberries, sugar, and cream on top.
4. Okay, it's soy cream, but still.
5. I have a job I love that's funded through at least the rest of this calendar year.

Five people or animals who love me without reservation:

1. someotherguy
2. stonebender
3. mommaduck
4. Munchkin the Elder
5. My foster sister, Cindy

Five times in recent memory when I was happy/joyful/contented:

1. While lying in bed, watching the inaugural address, with my boyfriend's arms around me
2. When dbubley's surgery was successful
3. Yesterday, when I was washing the dishes. someotherguy asked me what was on my mp3 player that had me bopping away, and I had to answer honestly that I was listening to "Marketplace". :-)
4. When I spent half my daddy money helping a friend help someone in need
5. When my bosses stood around in the corridor telling everyone who passed how great I am

Five things I'm good at:

1. Introspection
2. Making dinner from random ingredients the day before payday
3. Admitting my faults and learning from them
4. Apologizing
5. Taking care of myself

It may not seem that way to some people, but that's the crux of the matter: I'm good at taking care of myself. When people tell me I should make sure to take time for myself, I sound like I'm pooh-poohing them when I say "I will, I will", but I *will*. I get to a certain point, and then I just don't do more. If I have to bail on things, I bail. If I need rest and ice cream, I get some rest and fix myself some ice cream. It's good for me to remind myself of that.

Comments

[pipyn.livejournal.com]

What's great about this list is that I think it's a fair assessment. You know how some people's self-perception makes you go "Huh?" You tend to be right on the money, which I really respect and value.