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31
Dec
What I Want Out of 2007

Also known as "New Year's Resolutions," except that I made one, years ago, never to make another stupid New Year's Resolution I had no intention of keeping. So, in the interest of keeping that one, let's call this "Goals for the New Year" or "Things I Want to Accomplish" or "Hey, Universe, Gimme!"

 

1. I will continue to be a thin (thinner!) non-smoker in 2007. (I will lose another thirty pounds and reach my goal weight by April; I will then maintain that goal weight forever.)

- I will track and log every bite (honesty in every morsel!)
- I will exercise at the gym 2-3 times a week (holidays are over; I am excited to get back into the habit!)
- I will immediately resume the good habits: breakfast, water, lighter/healthier/more natural foods.

2. I will declutter my home, my car, my mind, and my life. (Hey, had my car detailed when I quit smoking – some 22 days ago – and I spent several hours on New Year's Eve decluttering my closet and filling the trunk of my car with over-large clothing to donate to a good cause! I'm already off to a great start on this one. Frankly, my mind's still a mess, but I have 365 days to work on it.)

- I will spend 15-20 minutes a day decluttering the house.
- I will keep a trash bag in the car and use it.
- I will declutter the car at the end of every trip.
- I will really use that shiny new planner, daily! (My memory is great, but I do not rely on memory, alone.)
- I will decline or decommit to projects that are unimportant or uninspiring.
- I will practice self-hypnosis/meditation and deep breathing/relaxation before sleep.

3. I will train myself to get up by 5:30 AM each day, and take that first hour of the day to focus on achieving my goals. (Here's a stretch goal, if ever there was one. But beginning today, I am an early riser. I love the sunrise. I will witness it and enjoy it every day this year.)

- I will pretend that the snooze button was never invented, and like Nike says, "Just do it!"
- I will leap out of bed and take a warm, invigorating shower (I'll try to beat J.J. to it), after which, I will dry off, get dressed, get the paper, and read at least one world, one nation, and one local news article while enjoying that first cup of coffee.

4. I will learn to play guitar. (I start lessons on January 6!) I will be one svelte, sexy, guitar-playing mama. (That's "Mommy" to my kids.)

- I will come to lessons with a beginner's mind, focused and eager to learn something new. (I will not sigh at the thought of learning music theory and how to read music – again – even if I am a middle-aged white woman with no innate sense of rhythm.)
- I will practice diligently and make amazing progress from week to week.

5. I will love my job and find more fulfillment and meaning in my career through new challenges, learning new skills, and interacting with other groups more proactively. (Dear Anonymous, if you're reading this, I still suck, and that snorting sound you're making is most unattractive.)

6. I will…endeavor not to raise the middle-finger salute at every asshole on the road who dearly deserves it, and I will try harder to count to ten before responding to K when she's being a stubborn bit–er, chip off the ol' block. (I thought "be a nicer person" was too much of a stretch for the coming year, but we'll revisit this in 2008, okay?)

7. I will write a thoroughly entertaining novel this year and I will have fun doing it. It will sell like hotcakes and readers will love it.

8. I will focus on the good – the people, the happenings, the random acts of kindness and thoughtfulness - when blogging, at least as much or more than I focus on what's not right with my world.

- I will write in my journal for at least ten minutes each day (longer, if the spirit moves me); I will include at least one thing or one person I am thankful for right now.
- I will try to be a blessing to at least one person each day.

9. I will remind myself, daily, that I matter. I will recognize and reaffirm that with my actions. 

About the Author Holly Jahangiri

Holly Jahangiri has decades of experience in tech writing, freelancing, fiction, poetry, and editing. Writer, wife, and mother, Holly is the creator of Trockle and instigator of the Puppy-Guppy Rebellion.

Category: holly jahangiri  Tags: , , , , , ,  2 Comments
31
Dec
Personal Mission Statement for 2007

Or, man, won't this be fun to pick apart, come December 2007?

 

My mission for 2007 is to live each day with purposeful intent; to be curious about the world around me and to indulge that curiosity with exploration and learning; to gain wisdom through experience, insight, and reflection; to express that learning with imagination and playful, joyful creativity; to be a better listener; to communicate honestly and openly; to focus on the task at hand; to live in the here and now, practicing detachment (that is, contentment in the moment without worry for the future — not apathy); to reflect, daily, on all the ways in which I am blessed and to express my gratitude.

 

Hey, it had to be a challenge – else why bother?

Now, these are not the "resolutions." These are the values and purpose behind the resolutions. Stay tuned – more fodder for the ridicule machine to come…

 

 

About the Author Holly Jahangiri

Holly Jahangiri has decades of experience in tech writing, freelancing, fiction, poetry, and editing. Writer, wife, and mother, Holly is the creator of Trockle and instigator of the Puppy-Guppy Rebellion.

Category: holly jahangiri  Leave a Comment
31
Dec
What Is Self-Confidence?

Self confidence is inner peace. It is a deep-seated belief in yourself; it is contentment with who and what you are. It is not the misguided belief that you are perfect, or somehow better than others. It is not a delusional belief that there is no room for growth or improvement. It is not “attitude.”

Self-confident people are able to take criticism with an open mind and a grain of salt. Years ago, a coworker told me that I would “make more friends on the job” if I turned down a promotion I had already been given. I considered her advice with an open mind. She was correct; several coworkers resented my being promoted so quickly, and I had essentially bumped someone else from the position. He was demoted, and I was asked to do his job. My responsibility was to my employer, and I wasn’t being paid to make friends at the office. So, I did my job. I did end up making some friends there, in the end. Self-confident friends who didn’t feel threatened by or jealous of my success.

I get criticism of my writing daily, and thank God for it! The way I look at it is this: Before I send a book out to be translated into umpteen languages and printed worldwide, I want to know if I’ve missed something that’s going to come back and haunt me. If I disagree with the comments or corrections, I can choose to fix them or not. But if I’d seen them for myself, would I have shown them to others? Would you be kind enough to tell the Emperor he had no clothes–back in his dressing room when he still had time to fix the problem? Or would you cringe and pretend that you didn’t know the Emperor was naked?

Self-confident people don’t have to belittle others to feel better about themselves. I think the appeal of shows like Jerry Springer is that they make us feel so vastly superior to those poor fools on the stage. But underlying that sense of “There but by the Grace of God” is a mean-spirited delight or titillation in the misfortunes and stupidity of others. And I contend that it is more satisfying to watch such spectacles when we are suffering our own little “crises of confidence” than when we are content with ourselves. I had surgery a few years ago, and started watching these shows in the afternoon. I’d been told my recovery could take six weeks, but at the end of the first week I was starting to look forward to my daily dose of stupid people. I rolled my eyes, I sneered, I jeered – I cringed. I begged my doctor to let me go back to work at the end of a week. “My brain is starting to rot,” I said. “You have to let me go.” He did. Self-confidence recovered, sanity restored, my body healed faster.

Self-confident people don’t have to take the offense or the defense. Self-confident people don’t have to be pushy or rude to get their way. Most of the self-confident people I know are not consumed with introspective self-doubt and worry, and are therefore more able to focus on others and make others feel better about themselves. They are often mentors, who are glad when their students outshine them. They are not threatened by this; they take credit where it’s due and are happy to share it freely. Self-confident people don’t get defensive or come out fighting when things don’t go their way, or when someone criticizes or insults them. They know that there are better things to come, and that one rotten apple doesn’t spoil the barrel.

Self-confident people can feel hurt like anyone else, but because they are their own best friends, self-confident people cannot be crushed or have their spirits broken by an unkind word.

Self-confidence is attractive; love is self-confident. Ever notice how people in a steady, dating relationship often have to beat back prospective suitors with a stick? And how people who are anxiously seeking someone with whom to have a meaningful relationship are stuck at home on Friday and Saturday nights, doing their laundry or washing their hair? Neediness and lack of self-confidence scare people away. Correction: Neediness and lack of self-confidence attract some people, but generally not the sort of people you’d want to attract. When you don’t need anyone’s company but your own, yet are open to accepting the company of others, you will have it before long.

When I was first married, I actually told my husband that if he were hit by a car, I’d throw myself in front of a bus to die with him. What pathos! He said he wouldn’t do the same for me; after all, someone would have to make the funeral arrangements. Omigod, I thought. He doesn’t love me at all! I was crushed by his “cavalier” attitude. I’ve since assured him that I’d arrange a lovely funeral for him, too, if he got run over by a bus. I recently asked him, “Why do you love me? Why have you put up with me, stayed married to me, all these years?” His answer was the most romantic, touching, meaningful thing I could imagine. 18 years ago, a less self-confident me would probably have filed for divorce. “It’s not because you’re beautiful, or because you’re sexy, or even because I love you,” though he hastened to assure me that I was, I was, and he did, “It’s because you’re not stupid.”

That kind of love lasts.

Holly Jahangiri is a professional writer who claims, tongue-in-cheek, to channel the spirits of Edgar Allan Poe, Erma Bombeck, and O. Henry. On a bad writing day, she claims to have poured every last ounce of creative ability into childbirth; she has two wonderful children to prove it. On good days or bad, Holly is always grateful for the love and support of her husband, J.J. Holly Jahangiri is an author on Writing.Com ( www.writing.com )

About the Author Holly Jahangiri

Holly Jahangiri has decades of experience in tech writing, freelancing, fiction, poetry, and editing. Writer, wife, and mother, Holly is the creator of Trockle and instigator of the Puppy-Guppy Rebellion.

Category: holly jahangiri  Tags: ,  3 Comments
30
Dec
Naked Thoughts in Public?
Or, First Day: a Response to "Last Day"
 
 
Why not reveal all your naked thoughts in public? Well, I'll tell you why not…
 
You really want your neighbors knowing you're thinking of poisoning their dog? Boffing their teenaged daughter? Ripping the arm off a co-worker and beating him over the head with it? Yeah, there's such a thing as "too much information" (TMI, in the blogosphere), and personally, I think it takes all the fun and suspense out of it.
 
You really want the world to know what a pathetic, boring life you lead? "I know I've been neglecting this blog a lot, lately. I just can't think of anything to write. But since you're still reading, I'm going to ramble on for 10,000 words about having nothing to say." Gee, thanks.
 
You really want your readers to see you as the cynical, jaded bitch goddess or snarky technophile? (Yes!! Yes!! Oooh, baby – er, 'scuse me. I got a little overexcited by the sound of my own fingers on the keyboard.) That's so last year.
 
You really want to come across as a whiny, immature baby who can't spell or string two words (subject, verb) together to make a coherent sentence? (Hell, your friends already know you, so why hide what you are?) Oops – that was a little cynical, jaded, and snarky of me. Sorry.
 
But this is what happens when we don't self-censor. Writing honestly doesn't mean disemboweling ourselves on the page for public entertainment. Does it "breed vanity, self-indulgence, narcissism, self-centredness"? I contend that it only reveals the author's character – if we are vain, self-indulgent, narcissistic, and self-centered, that's likely to come across loud and clear on the page. And if we expose and explore it honestly (so, I'm not Mother Theresa), maybe we'll improve with time. "Big brother eyes"? They're called "readers." And that squirmy feeling you get, knowing they're out there, waiting for their comments? That's called "accountability." Write honestly, and you've nothing to fear – right?
 
If the blog (which still sounds like a gastrointestinal disorder, to me) is just a place to "hang out" or record one’s private, innermost thoughts, maybe it should be a private, pen-and-paper diary. If it's a place to hang out in public, then it’s got a different purpose, or serves more than one. Here are some of mine, circa 2005:

Bullet It keeps me writing regularly, even when I don't have a story or a poem inside me. Sometimes, the act of writing about my day, my thoughts, and my feelings will spark a story idea or inspire a poem. It’s a good way to get unblocked, or prevent a case of writer’s block from becoming crippling. (Update 2006: WTF was I thinking? I don't believe in writer's block. Never did. And "crippling"? Could we get any more melodramatic? Okay, so blogging is a form of discipline. If I don't write anything Pulitzer-worthy, I have to blog about my day and risk public humiliation for admitting that I've done nothing, lately, that inspires a bestselling novel. Thus, blogging becomes a harsh reminder to "GET A LIFE!" Perhaps if we lived as if we were going to blog about it, we'd live more interesting lives.)

Bullet It helps me to feel connected. Reading others’ journals and their responses to mine reminds me that no matter what, I’m not alone. By encouraging others to comment on my journal, I can’t sit here and wallow in private misery when I’m feeling rotten. I can get it out of my system, then get a little understanding, a little empathy, a little insight, and a much-needed kick in the seat of the pants. (Update 2006: Have you ever gotten a cramp in your thigh from kicking yourself in the ass? Ouch. "Helps me to stay connected…" Wow. Given that I'm an only child who craves solitude like most people crave oxygen, and never get enough of it, what was I thinking when I wrote that? Okay, maybe I should have been a bit more honest: "I like knowing that people read what I write. For the love of G-d, leave a comment so I don't gnaw off my fingers.") 

Bullet It saves going out and seeking advice. Readers are very generous with that.

Bullet I love getting emails from people who read what I write. Good, bad, doesn't matter – it's a conversation starter. (Update 2006: Okay, so the one comment that went something like "This is the most boring crap I've ever read, and if I pay you will you please stop right now?" got to me – a little – until Anonymous's check bounced.) 

Bullet It saves having to answer the same questions twenty times. It lets me answer in as much depth as I want to, without monopolizing friends’ time. “How was your day?”

     “Fine, how was yours?”

     “Fine.”

     “That’s good.” You’ll never see that in my journal. It's a little like the Christmas card letter, only it comes out more often and you only have to read it if you want to. (Update 2006: This is Karma in action, folks. We used to make fun of people who sent out Christmas card letters.)

I do think I have an obligation to not bore you to tears, if you’re reading this. I don’t necessarily write it to entertain you, but if it isn’t interesting to you, I hope you won’t feel obligated to keep reading.
 
Bloggers really ought to write with the realization that someone's out there reading. Spelling, grammar, punctuation – those are kind of important. Self-censorship? A little governor on the mental regurgitation might be a wise thing, but there's nothing more boring than a blog that is completely spit-polished and sanitized. I bookmark blogs that communicate honestly and convey a sense of the person wh
o's writing them. Did I feel anything, while reading? Empathy? Amusement? Anything? Did what I read provoke a thought or two, beyond, "Gee, I wonder if the contents of the fridge have changed or rearranged themselves in the last fifteen minutes?"
 
I find, to my delight, that no matter what I write, there's always someone weirder out there.
 
The blog is also a nice little roadmap to life's ups and downs, and can be useful in identifying patterns, if I'm fairly faithful and honest in writing about it. If nothing else, it serves to remind me that even when I'm in the pits of despair, tomorrow's likely to be a better day.

Isn’t Anything Sacred or Private?

My blog is completely honest. By virtue of it being my blog, it is also completely biased. It’s my take on my life. (I never lie in it, though I will admit to committing the sin of omission, when I feel someone else's privacy would be violated in a way that's not compassionate or respectful or deserved. Hah! Yes, let's add "deserved.") In other words, I try to play fair. Some things shouldn't even go in the pen-and-paper diary, in my opinion – they should be written down and ceremoniously burned. (I wouldn't want to go to jail for libel, or ruin someone's life because I was having a really bad day and felt like ripping them to shreds or spilling their secrets. Honesty is not synonymous with pettiness and mean-spiritedness.) I don't blog about the intimate details of my marriage and family life, nor do I share confidences revealed to me by others. I don't generally talk about work. (Did I mention I try not to bore my readers to tears?) But beyond that, I really have few, if any, secrets or taboos when it comes to writing. That's the scary thing about us writers – we will write damned near anything. What's "personal" to some is just fodder for the page, for us.
 
A Semi-Permanent Record of Our Existence
 
The more interested I get in genealogy, the more I wish some of my relatives had left a journal of their daily lives.
 
Hey, it's better than defacing the pyramids with insipid tripe like, "Holly was here!"
 
 

About the Author Holly Jahangiri

Holly Jahangiri has decades of experience in tech writing, freelancing, fiction, poetry, and editing. Writer, wife, and mother, Holly is the creator of Trockle and instigator of the Puppy-Guppy Rebellion.

Category: holly jahangiri  Tags: , , , ,  6 Comments
29
Dec
100 Good Things About Me

It's easy to write "100 Things About Me." But a year or so ago, I was challenged to write "100 GOOD Things About Me." And now, I like to post it in all my online journals/blogs as both introduction and affirmation. (It never hurts to remind myself that I managed to come up with 100 good things, after all.)

 

100. I am confident, but not arrogant.

99. I am attractive, but not conceited.

98. I'm generous, even if I am a selfish only child who never had to share.

97. I'm loyal.

96. I can keep others' secrets, but I have precious few of my own.

95. I'm honest to a fault, but I can tell a "little white lie" when the truth would do nothing but hurt.

94. I'm easy to please.

93. Patience is not one of my virtues, but ask anyone I've taught to do anything, and they'll tell you I'm very patient. I have patience for those who try, sincerely.

92. I'm a good cook, when I bother to be.

91. I'm empathetic. By that, I mean not only can I imagine myself in someone else's place, I can feel it – physically as well as emotionally. I don't shut that off to protect myself, but I have learned to distance myself from the chronically miserable – the folks who enjoy their misery and really don't want anything but someone to share in it.

90. When I love, I love deeply and forever. I'm not obsessive and weird about it, though. I just don't say the word "love" if I don't mean it.

89. I'm a good driver. I hate dealing with heavy traffic and crowds, but I don't trust anyone more than me to drive my kids anywhere.

87. I'm calm in a crisis.

86. I'm a good problem-solver.

85. I don't really have much of a temper, and there are only a few things in life I'd bother holding a grudge over. I get angry; I get over it.

84. I'm a fiercely protective mama tiger. I once killed a wasp with my bare hands, because it had the sheer effrontery to be in my baby's room. I'm terrified of wasps. But in that moment, it could just as well have been a Bengal tiger or a flea – and it had to die.

83. So long as they're not threatening my children's well-being, I love animals. I just wish the possum that now visits me once or twice a week on my back porch hadn't figured that out. I'd like him (or her) to think I'm a mean sonofabitch.

82. I will try any food – once. There are few foods I've tried that I don't like. (Buttermilk, rosewater, doogh, beef liver, fried chicken liver – that pretty much covers it, I think.)
 
Actually, there's a rule in our house: You can't say "Ewwww, yuck, gross!" unless you've actually tasted it. However, you can say, "I'm not quite ready to try that just yet." I'm not sure I see the point of eating something to prove your machismo (of course, I'm a girl – I have no machismo to prove, and that's fine by me). I ought to amend that item, though – I am no longer willing to try certain foods that carry an unacceptable risk of disease (brain matter, eyeballs – CJD) or injury/death (fugu, scorpion stingers) – I mean, when I said "try any food" I really was thinking of things typically regarded by a large number of people AS food (that even included things like sheep's eyeballs, at the time – you know, things like tripe and haggis). Only lately have I heard of things like eating live scorpions, or worse, live monkey's brains. Nooooooo… to me, that's just not "food." That's a sick sort of entertainment, maybe, but not "food."
 
81. I'm pretty adventurous, but not foolhardy. I love to live life to the fullest, and encourage others to try new things.

80. I'm smart, but I have Swiss-cheese holes in my brain that keep me humble about it.

79. I appreciate the talents and abilities of others.

78. I write well. There's always room for improvement (and what fun would there be in it if there weren't?) but I write well enough to clearly express my ideas without frustration, and that gives me pleasure.

77. I've given birth to two gorgeous, intelligent, amazing children. Nothing I could create now would equal or exceed this accomplishment, and I'm okay with that.

76. I do know when to let go, when push comes to shove.

75. I can't magically heal all wounds with a kiss. But I've learned how to apply a bandage, drive to the ER in just under four minutes, and distract a kid from pain and worry with a hug and a kiss and the knowledge that I won't leave their side until they're well.

74. I'm not jealous (not much, anyway) when the kids say Daddy's grilled cheese sandwich is as good as mine. After all, I'm the one who taught them about tact and diplomacy.

73. I'm a material girl, but if the house burned down tomorrow and my family got out safely, I'd be okay.

72. I don't wear make-up except on special occasions. I have healthy skin.

71. I wear sensible shoes that make my feet feel good (all the better to chase my children in!) – not spiked heels that make my calves look sexy.

70. I love my husband. But, best of all, he loves me.

69. I'm a good mother. Not a perfect, Donna-Reed-type mother, but a good one, nonetheless.

68. I love my children unconditionally, even when I wish I loved them less. I love them unconditionally, even when they say "I hate you!"

67. I am a lousy housekeeper, but I've learned there are more important things in life, so I no longer beat myself up over it or post armed guards at the door when the house isn't "presentable." I've discovered that most people I know are a mess, which only means we're now welcome in each others' homes on a moment's notice.

66. I have a good eye for composition, and take interesting photographs. I'm not always as discriminating as I should be when I share them. There probably were not 800 great photos of Istanbul and Paris, but by God, I uploaded them all to Ofoto and sent everyone links, believing they'd enjoy them.

65. Some of my photos are selling as stock photography, right alongside professionals' work. This has made me remember what it's like to be a struggling, amateur writer and get that first acceptance note. It's gratifying, humbling, and quite pleasing.

64. I love to teach and mentor others. I don't mind at all – in fact
, I'm quite pleased – when their skills and successes surpass my own.

63. I can be very intense and driven when a project piques my interest, but aggressively advancing my career is not a project that interests me right now. I manage to keep a fairly healthy balance between work and personal life.

62. When I volunteer to do something, I'm committed to seeing it through.

61. I work best with tight but reasonable deadlines.

60. I generally give people the benefit of the doubt. I'm honest enough to admit to my prejudices, but open-minded enough to put them aside and give everyone a chance.

59. I have never intentionally hurt anyone's feelings.

58. I don't pick at my food and complain the portions are too big. I know how to enjoy a meal when I'm hungry, I know how to stop eating when I'm satisfied, and I'm not embarrassed to ask for a to-go box.

57. I finished reading Anna Karenina. I didn't skip the chapters about Levin. That took discipline! I do read the first couple of pages and the last couple of pages from any book I pick up, then decide if I give a damn how they got from A to Z. If I do, I read the book. Knowing the ending rarely, if ever, spoils the story for me.

56. I am a fast reader, and I inhale books.

55. I'm a good swimmer.

54. I do a beautiful back-dive.

53. I've traveled to many places in the world. I've never really felt like a tourist, even though I was one. I've felt…accepted, almost without exception.

52. I make a great cup of coffee.

51. I make a pretty decent cup of tea, too.

50. I can whistle a tune. I can sometimes whistle "Westminster Cathedral," but not on a hot, dry day.

49. I can blow bubbles with bubblegum.

48. I enjoy a good water-gun-and-hose fight with my son.

47. I have thick hair that's naturally blonde. I'd go naturally gray, but it's more fun to play with color. I don't mind the gray hairs, though; I never pull them out. I'm actually rather proud of them; I earned each and every one.

46. I give great advice. Proving, once again, that it's better to give than to receive.

45. I'm trustworthy.

44. I tend to "see" personalities before I really see people. As a result, appearances don't matter much to me, unless there's something especially off-putting about them.

43. I'm 42. I'm not at all embarrassed to admit my age in public.

42. I see similarities before I see differences. The similarities give us common ground; the differences keep things interesting.

41. I have a good job. Most days, I like it and most days, I do it well.

40. I don't have any real regrets.

39. I will stubbornly stand on a matter of principle.

38. I'm not easily intimidated. I do tend to come across as intimidating, but usually to the wrong people.

37. I can have strong opinions and values without feeling threatened by hearing and considering other points of view. I enjoy a good, intellectual debate, and I'm not afraid to think I might be wrong, or admit it if I realize that I am.

36. I am quick to apologize when I'm wrong.

35. I am strong, but not rigid. Strength, without flexibility, tends to crack or break.

34. I have a sense of humor.

33. I appreciate the talents in others. My grandmother once said "I used to think I had no talent. Then I realized I had the greatest talent of all, the ability to truly appreciate the talents in others." She was a wise woman, and a very talented one.

32. I love to sing, and I have a pretty voice. I just find it horribly embarrassing to sing in front of other people, so only my showerhead and a few random motorists have heard me sing in several decades. Oh, and my kids. One of whom laughs while the other politely covers my mouth with a small hand and asks me to stop.

31. I give good backrubs.

30. I chose my husband wisely and well. I considered my mother's advice: (1) "If our approval or disapproval would sway your decision to marry a man, then he's not the man you need to be spending the rest of your life with; (2) "You don't just marry the man, you marry his family." Yep, I chose well.

29. I don't drink often or to excess. I don't enjoy being drunk, nor does it heighten my creativity.

28. I don't take illegal drugs and have absolutely no interest in ever doing so.

27. I'm not a prude and I'm not without a vice or two – I smoke and I curse. I'm listing this among my "100 Good Things About Me," because it's one of those things that keeps me humble and human and able to be kind to other imperfect human beings.

26. I have faith. It's gleaned from personal intuition and the best of many religious traditions, and it is constantly evolving. It's flexible enough to consider all possibilities within the realm of God, and strong enough to leave me impervious to fanatics and cults.

25. I've never tried to "convert" anyone to my beliefs, because one of my beliefs is that we all come to our own faith in time and through experience – not through being told how we should think and how we should believe, or by being frightened into it by others' visions of eternal damnation.

24. I have a nice butt. (That's actually my husband's contribution, but I have the self-confidence and sense of humor to include it.)

23. I'm not a mean person. (That's his, too.)

22. If I'm having a hard time coming up with 100 good things about me, I'd probably have a harder time coming up with 100 bad things about me. 100 interesting things about me, or 100 slightly-eccentric things about me, or 100 cool and offbeat things I've done – those would be easier.

21. I'm not afraid of the dark.

20. I'm not superstitious.

19. I'm very trusting, until I'm given reasons not to be.

18. I'm an avid reader.

17. I'm a fast reader. The downside to that, combined with #18, is that I spend entirely too much money on books.

16. I hate to shop, and I'm not all caught up on what's "fashionable," "trendy," or "in style." Classic is cla
ssic for a reason. (That said, I do realize I can't elevate jeans to the level of "classic style" just because I'm too lazy to explore the rest of my wardrobe or add to it, some days.)

15. I like to inspire and encourage others.

14. I have become much more punctual over the years. I procrastinate something awful, but I'm almost always on time, and rarely miss a deadline.

13. I have sensitive hearing, and I try to protect it. This is really amazing, considering all the ear infections I had as a kid and young adult. Never had tubes, but had my adenoids out twice.

12. I'm a good listener. I don't always remember what was said, but I'm a good listener.

11. I have a lousy memory and a tendency to repeat myself. This is a good thing only in that I'm aware of it, and never give anyone else a hard time for doing the same. I do sometimes step on the punch line of old jokes, but better that than trying to fake laughter and pretend I never heard the joke. Of course I can't remember half the jokes I've heard until they get to the punch line, so I'm usually willing to listen to the same ones over and over again. 645! (Yeah, I know…some people just can't tell a joke.)

10. I'm computer literate. I once swore I'd have nothing whatsoever to do with computers – they were "borrrrrring." Now I write user's manuals for PCs and software. My third grade teacher, the one who wrote on my report card "antisocial, doesn't pay attention, doesn't follow directions" would no doubt have a cow if she knew what I did for a living.

9. I'm not antisocial. I love solitude. But I like people just fine, if they're nice people.

8. I can always entertain myself.

7. I don't judge people on what kind of car they drive, what kind of house they live in, how much money they make, or how they dress. I don't judge people on how much education they attained, but a natural curiosity, innate intelligence, and a desire to learn more always gains a few points in my estimation.

6. I can BS my way through almost any sort of essay question, but I'm having a damned hard time with the last five items in this list!

5. I have walked over 100 miles for charity in my lifetime.

4. I have donated about 5 gallons of blood, and I'm on the bone marrow registry.

3. I'm not afraid to talk to anyone, regardless of position or rank. (I am afraid to crash a sit-down dinner for celebrities when there's an armed guard at the door, but that's…different.)

2. I have always talked to my children. Not baby-talk, but full sentences with eye contact. This never struck me as unusual or special, but according to the caregivers at my son's first daycare, it's rather exceptional. 

1. I am me. And that is good enough.
 
 
Now, why don't you tell me 100 good things about you? Feel free to post a link to your journal entry here.

About the Author Holly Jahangiri

Holly Jahangiri has decades of experience in tech writing, freelancing, fiction, poetry, and editing. Writer, wife, and mother, Holly is the creator of Trockle and instigator of the Puppy-Guppy Rebellion.

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