Be Happy Anyway

Be Happy Anyway
From Brave Girls Club

Monday, April 6, 2009

It's Okay to Toot...

Your own horn that is. :-)

This morning I gave my students the assignment to journal about the 10 Best Things About themselves. This a hard thing for a 10 year old to do, but equally hard for adults to do who have been told bragging is not nice. However, I did tell my kids that if they did theirs, I would do one about myself, so here goes.

  1. I love to talk. This can be seen in many lights, but for sure I am never lacking in something to keep the conversation going. One time I talked nonstop from my home to El Paso nine hours away. It sure made the time pass quickly.
  2. I am creative. Sometimes this creativity comes in the form of writing, drawing, scrapping, designing, songwriting...The list is endless. That being said, I am continually admiring other people's creativity and desiring what they have instead of what I am capable of doing. I will stop doing that!
  3. I am musical. I sing and play the flute. I want to do more of this, but for now my audience shall have to remain my steering wheel and my students who are regaled with many renditions of tunes I learned in elementary and high school - usually rewritten to fit whatever lesson we are learning at the time. (NOTE: To those all looking for my White Buick LeSabre weaving down the road, I do pull over before whipping out my flute for a little riff of Jethro Tull.)
  4. I can dance. When I was 4, my mother put me in dance class. When I was 5, I was no longer in dance class. Years later I asked her why and she said, "Because you never practiced." My response to her was, "I WAS FOUR!" Since then, I enrolled in an adult dance class that this past weekend earned a Platinum medal. We rocked the house for sure.
  5. I am pretty. At least that is what I hear, but saying it out loud seems wrong somehow.
  6. I am smart. This I won't deny. The only problem with being smart is knowing how to use it for good and not for EVIL. (jk). Academic things come pretty easily for me. I guess that is why school was boring when I was a kid and why I work with kids like myself who need constant stimulation to keep from going out of their gourd.
  7. I am sensitive. This is a double-edged sword. It helps me see how others are feeling, but it keeps me from hiding how I am feeling when being a little more reserved would be a little more socially appropriate. Regardless, I wouldn't change a thing about my level of sensitivity. Even though this sensitivity left me standing in the middle of Macy's at age 3, crying, telling my mother who can't figure what my problem is, "This song is so sad."
  8. I am generous. If I have it and you need it, I probably won't have it long. Even as a kid I was always giving away things I had - I'm sure much to the chagrin of my mother who would graciously replace whatever I gave away. (Really, I learned all about generosity from my parents who were very much the same.)
  9. I am technologically savvy. If there is a way to do something using technology, I will find it and use it. I may not be on the cutting edge as I have a life and cannot live on the computer. Although my husband may beg to differ.
  10. I love meeting new people. Some people collect spoons from around the world. I collect friends. My students and family always ask me how many people do you know? Or In how many countries do you have friends? It becomes a great lesson in geography for my class. These are not necessarily people who will become my bosom buddies, for those the are far and few between, but it is always nice to be able to drop a line to someone in Japan or England and say hi and get a response back.
So my kids each challenged their readers at the end of their list of 10 Bests - What are the 10 best things about you??? They would love to hear a few.

8 comments:

miruspeg said...

Annemarie so pleased you shared these 10 Best Things about yourself.
I agree it is very difficult to write about ourselves in the way you have.
But leading by example (for your students) would have made it alot easier for them to express their wonderful qualities.
I LOVE how BRAVE you are and I LOVED reading about the best things about YOU.
Tonight if I am feeling brave I will share my 10 best things.
Love
Peggy

miruspeg said...

Hello again I have just got out of the shower and while I am feeling brave will share my 10 best qualities. (must have been the warm water washing over me).

1. I am kind.

2. I am loyal.

3. I love children, they teach me so much.

4. I am generous with my time and money.

5. I am a pretty good photographer and will get better as I take at least one photo each day.

6. I am a good listener as I feel that is the only way of learning...and I LOVE learning. Also love listening to music as well, feeds my soul.

7. I am a TERRIBLE singer BUT that doesn't stop me singing in the park with Jospeh, in the car, anywhere. I love how I have NO inhibitions when it comes to singing.

8. I can always see both sides of the discussion/argument.

9. I love how I SEIZE THE DAY.

10. Last by not least, I am wise.

Please say hello to your students from this Aussie girl.

Hugs
Peggy

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh I love your list....but not sure if I can create for me...I have ALWAYS struggled with that.....but I can tell U ten good things about all the peeps in my life!!! LOL! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

Unknown said...

So cool... I am going to think about that and I might blog it tomorrow, than I will updated here. I know I have qualities, but can I describe 10? Hum.... let's see...
Thanks for sharing, and now you know that you have a Brazilian friend...ME!!!!

Roban said...

While not quite ready to toot my own horn, I have to tell you that it was fun reading about you. And congratulations on the Platinum medal -- that's pretty big in the dance world I bet!

I'll think and maybe share my bragging rights later on.

Roban

MJ said...

What a fun list! I'm not sure if I'm brave enough to post my top 10. I'll have to ponder this...

(PS: I claimed I was adopted as my family didn't understand me at all...)

Anonymous said...

hello friend
i'm glad you collect friends...i'm glad i'm one of them.

i love your list.

i may post mine on my blog later today or tomorrow.

loves
Sandra

Anonymous said...

by the way, you're a great writer too. i love to read your blog.
so now you have 11.

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