Following a blogging break, I sometimes find it difficult to start up again - to come up with a subject.
A friend of mine (fellow blogger) suggested the following exercise:
“List your 10 best qualities…no matter how big or small, serious or not…as a feel good after Christmas task.”
(There can be a bit of a let-down after the hustle and bustle of Christmas is over…)
Not only did this exercise seem like a rather vain thing to do, it also seemed somewhat daunting. When I noted my reservations I was told, “It’s supposed to be hard for you.”
Okay. A challenge. One with a bonus – there are no rules.
And my friend was right. It was fun to do.
You’ll notice I tweaked the list requirements. Hey, no rules!
Why I Make A Good Friend
1. I’m the kind of person who will tell you if you have food in your teeth or a price tag hanging off your clothes.
2. If you are a really good friend of mine, I’ll go along with just about any hair-brained scheme you come up with. Even risk jail time. That’s what being a GOOD friend is all about.
3. I am capable of telling wonderful, creative white lies which I know from experience are very much appreciated by friend and foe alike.
4. I am generous to a fault. I’ll give you the clothes off my back. The fact that no one wants to wear my clothes does not make this gesture any less meaningful.
(I’m laughing as I write this. I finally understand the expression generous to a "fault.")
5. I have no inhibitions about singing or dancing - alone or in public. I happen to think this is a wonderful gift. It makes me happy. And it makes my friends laugh.
6. I will listen to you. This is a BIGGIE.
7. I am not afraid of the sight of blood. If you are bleeding, I won’t run away. And I carry band-aids in my purse. However, I confess I’m also the kind of person who might find it difficult to stifle a laugh if I see you trip and fall. But I will always make sure you are okay before I let loose with the guffaw.
8. If you want your privacy, I will respect that. But I find this very hard to do if I know you are sad.
9. I can keep secrets.
10. I truly can’t think of anything else so I’m going to throw modesty to the wind and for # 10 (blushingly) use a few of the words my friend suggested to start me on my list. I’m making them all one word. That way it qualifies as “one” item.
kindthoughtfulcreativeunderstatedhumblehonest
(Thanks, friend.)
It’s not often we’re asked to contemplate what’s good about ourselves. This was definitely a “feel good task.” And it made me laugh.
Give it a try. And if you do it, post your answers.
P.S. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. We did. God bless my kids and family. (And Santa.)
19 comments:
I'm so glad to know that you had a good Christmas and I'm sure the boys did as well. All you really need at the holidays is love...and you have that in abundance. Remember..it doesn't come with a price tag attached!!
I love this exercise and I see "you" in each of these points...and I love seeing your sense of humour throughout...a beautiful way to prepare for a new year, a new beginning.
This gives us more of the you-ness. I like posts like these to give more insight to the person you are. What a great pick-me-up.
I'm glad that you had a wonderful Christmas.
"Generous to a fault". LOL. I got that. Totally. :)
Like Sherry said, the most important thing about Christmas is being with family and having love.
Welcome back. (((HUGS)))
:)
Aw.
You sound like a wonderfully fun friend!
Those are some great friend qualities and a good blogging idea. Welcome back to regular blogging!
Lovely post and a great list Beth. Now I am a little concerned about someone who will risk jail time for a friend and has no fear of blood! :)
I promise not to ask you to do a bank job with me.
sherry:
A sense of humour will take you a long, long way...
As for the new year, let's start it off right and get together - soon.
shari:
Thanks for the welcome back!
And I still chuckle about that generous to a "fault" thing - you should see the slobby clothes I'm wearing now!
lainey-paney:
I can definitely be fun - and love to share those crazy lose control laughs with my friends!
psychgrad:
Glad to be back - try the exercise for one of your "feeling good" posts!
gary:
I was thinking along the lines of a minimum security prison (meals served, etc.) - kind of a mini-holiday. As for the blood? I prefer small scrapes and tiny cuts...
You are just the kind of woman I like to hang with. Wish we lived in the same city.
I heard this saying once:
A friend will help you move.
A good friend will help you move a body.
LOL! I love this Beth! Those are all qualities I seriously lkook for in a friend..esp. the jail time part! ;)
and when you and Trish and I get together...we'll all trade clothes and then go dancing!!
Good for you on this post. I love it when giggles and warm fuzzies blend well together.
Glad you had a lovely Christmas :)
Beth,
I am so glad you are back! I missed you. I am glad that you had a nice Christmas with the boys, this includes the one with four legs!
I loved hearing your responses to this exercise. Do you know what was weird? Not one thing you said surprised me, you are exactly the type of person that I picture you to be. Funny what perceptions can be picked up from blogging.
I love starting the new year off on a positive note. I think I may try this myself. Great idea!
XOXO
Getting together to start the new year off is a MUST!!!
I’ll give you the clothes off my back.
Sheesh. How many times I gotta tell you n00bs? Don't make offers like that on teh Internets. No telling what kind of creep will try to get you at least to carry out step 1.
In all seriousness, that list is an interesting exercise. I don't know if I could do it, much less publish it, but it's something worth thinking about.
And I'm happy to hear about someone who's always dancing, singing, and laughing, no matter how much blood has been shed.
Happy New Year, to you and yours.
mrs. g:
I've never moved a body but I have removed evidence (although not of a murder!)
Wish I could "hang" with you, too.
beth:
We're talking Paris Hilton kind of jail time, right? And you might prefer trading clothes with Trish but the dancing part sounds great!
princess pointful:
"Giggles and warm fuzzies" actually describe what makes a great friendship.
Glad your Christmas was a good one, too.
eileen:
Missed you, too. Happy to be back. And why did it not surprise you that no one would want to wear my clothes??
Hope you do try this exercise - it really makes you think.
sherry:
YES, it is a MUST!
brendan:
Not only did I laugh writing this post, I laughed at your comment! So, it was definitely worth doing.
And a Happy New Year to you...
ooops, I meant because your clothes must be so beautiful, people would not want to get a spot on them. And because your so small it would be hard to fit into them. Yeah, that is what I meant (good cover?).
I meant most of the qualities. Very funny Ms. Beth.
XOXOX
You ARE a good friend. Wow! That's quite a list.
Oh I like that you'll support a good friend's hair brained schemes! how fun!
good post today
-rick
eileen:
Excellent cover! (But I see right through it...)
barrie:
Well, I didn't have to list any of my bad qualities (not part of the exercise) so, yeah, this list definitely makes me look like I'd make a great friend...
palm springs savant:
"Fun" is the key word. The hair brained schemes must have an element of fun in order to make the jail time worthwhile...
Welcome back! And go right ahead and brag away! You're worth bragging about! So glad you enjoyed Christmas.
And speaking of 'hair brained schemes'...what's the colour of your hair now? ;)
patricia:
My hair is more colourful than ever - BECAUSE the friggin' roots are starting to show!
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