I've been thinking a lot about my skill set. I've probably already blogged about this, but a sharp memory is not part of my skill set. Basically there are a tiny handful of things I do well, and a list of about 1,000 things I don't do well, or at all. Huge categories of things I simply suck at.
Fought against that for years, even took a few lessons on things I thought I "should" be good at, or "should" know how to do, at the very least. Didn't take. I suck at all sports. All. Although Kathleen and I will go to our graves swearing we "won" a marathon - first walkers through the finish line, 5:03. Not bad. In fact, now that I mention it, I'm going to put "walking" on the list of things I do well.
My SAT scores, IQ, F in college algebra, total lack of awareness of anything that's happening in the world (if it's not a headline on a magazine in the check out line at the grocery store, I don't know about it), all attest to the fact that I am very very average in many many things, and way below average on quite a number of others.
The gift of having a child with a developmental disability (pervasive, even), is that you see just how wondrous they really are, and with enough practice, you turn that around on yourself and see just how wondrous you are, too.
Had a great conversation with Terry the other day - we were talking about what we do well and what we do not, and we decided no more apologies. When asked to do something that we know we are simply no good at, our answer will be, "No, I'm not a ___________ person." The key is to trust that what we do do well, will be called upon, fulfill us, and in many cases, pay the bills. I believe it will, and belief is part of my skill set.
* Photo from http://blog.marketo.com
3 comments:
Hmmm, I should do this. Might help me focus and clear and make simple. I love that, "I'm not a ___ person."
"Oh sorry! I'm not a get along with nutjobs person."
Can I use it like that? LOL
:)
"No, I'm not a ___________ person."
Love this.
It is a huge relief to be able to accept that you're just not good at something (and no longer willing to try to fit your square self into that round hole). I cannot, absolutely cannot tie balloons. Never could. Have decided to even stop trying. Everyone thinks it is absurd when I say that, but I can't do it.
But I'm damn good at blowing bubbles with my gum :-)
Post a Comment