What I Like About...ME!!!

I was recently sick. Nowhere near as bad as "The Flu That Almost Killed Me" (see blog entry from Sunday 11 November 2007 for detail), but pretty miserable none the less. I had to miss two days of work, which I was extremely upset about because I love my job and I love my boss and NEED to kick some fucking ass at marketing! But I could only get out of bed long enough to make it to the washroom. Although I slept for about 23 hours a day for five straight days (woken up by my mother's incessant phone calls to ensure I was alive. I contemplated not answering, but she told me if I did that she would either call the police to check on me or be on the next flight to Portland, so I left my phone on), when I was awake I had some time to think. I have spent most of my life thinking about what I don't like about myself and all the things I want to change. Now, I am not sure if it because I was delirious with a high fever or all drugged up, but for one of the first times in my life (other than when I was forced to by a therapist, psychiatrist, or some other -ist), I thought about the things I LIKE about myself! And because I went out for a drink after yoga with the one other non-granola girl in Portland I decided it would be a good idea to tell the world what I came up with!

1. I am a nerd!!!
There are not too my 25 year olds who have attended three of the top universities in the world (University of Toronto, Oxford University, and Pepperdine University...more to come!) and have been employed by two of the largest, most recognizable international companies (DaimlerChrylser and Xerox). That says something. I know a lot about a lot of different and weird things- multi-variable calculus, basic C++ and Java programming, international affairs, history, literature, etc. I know what acronyms like UN, NATO, EU, AU, OPEC, ADB, AEC, and G8 (which is my personal fav...don't even get me started!). I have a passion for East African politics, in particular when related to genocide. I can tell you everything about Rwanda. When in university, my fourth year I took all phD classes and for one wrote a dissertation on the American Response to the Genocide in Darfur, and what I thought it should be. I love to read. I have three large bookshelves filled with some of my favorites- Kurt Vonnegut, Philip Roth, Ayn Rand (my personal fav), and all sorts of text books.

2. I loooove cars!
Not too many girls know as much about cars as I do. Actually, not too many boys know as about cars as I do.

3. Style
I have a wicked sense of style (which is essential for any Bond Girl...I want to be a Bond Girl. But not the kind that dies and not a good one. I want to be evil! Mwuhahahaha!) Everyday, I construct my ensembles starting with the most important part- the shoes. I feel that the way a person dresses says so much about him or her. And I only want my clothes to say fabulous things about me!

4. I am close with my family.
Not many people can say this. I moved around a lot when I was growing up, so sometimes family was all you had.

5. I am Open-Minded
I don't judge, so my friends feel they can tell me anything and I will listen. I also feel that I can not say I like or dislike something until I have tried it, so I will try/do anything once. I love the feel of adventure! I also have no problem picking up and moving somewhere I have never been and do not know anyone. I have done this on more than one occasion and everything has worked out fine.

6. I Like Just Being Me
I do not feel like I need a boyfriend, or need to get married and have kids to bring meaning to my life. I like just being me. I can support myself (thanks to the Big Girl Job) and do not need to rely on anyone else for anything! I really love that feeling of strength and independence.

7. I am opinionated
Most people might say this is a bad thing. But I feel like in order to know yourself, you need to know what you like (and what you don't) and where you stand on issues.

8. I am starting to be comfortable with me
There are a lot of things I like and don't like about myself, but I am learning to accept them. I am becoming more and more comfortable with who I am as a person, even if others aren't.

I think that is it for now, kids. A lot of my thoughts were yoga-inspired (I just came from practice, via the bar, and may have been guzzling the yoga kool-aid...or I am drunk), but there they are! I think it is important to reflect on the positive because all too often we focus on the negative...wow, I am cheesy.