Mission Monday: self love

No, not that kind.  The other kind.

I have the HARDEST time ever saying nice things about myself.  You all know that - I've spoken about it enough here.  I'm frequently disparaging, unkind, and critical, in ways that I wouldn't tolerate in others. I have a terrible time saying kind things about myself - so I try to make myself do it at least once a day.  I once participated in an activity that blew my socks off.  The group that I was in had each of us tape a piece of paper onto our backs.  We had to mingle and write a nice comment, or a flattering phrase, on the paper of everyone else.  I couldn't believe the things that I read that others thought of me.

I try to do something similar with myself once in a while.  I list things that I'm strong at, things that I like about me.  Then I try to keep the paper somewhere I can see it, but somewhere that the others in my family won't see it and tease me.  Here's today's list:

• I'm a pretty good traveler
• I'm a good cook
• I'm an advocate for my kids - I've had to stand up for two of them recently and while that's hard to do, it was very important for my kids
• I'm a decent writer - did I tell you I was given a freelance opportunity?  Yeah, I thought so
• I'm fun - most of the time - if I'm not tired

Your Mission for the Monday is to list 5-10 things that you really like about yourself.  What have you to say?  Care to share your list with me?

Comments

[Woman with Kids]

That's a hard task... But I like your idea.

1. I have a great sense of humor
2. I am very honest
3. Ummmm.. I have very cute shoes
4. I am ...very good at driving fast
5. I am good at finding filler for lists!

[super des]

I like this idea. However, I have the opposite problem. I'm incredibly vain, so I have no problem thinking of nice things to say about myself. It's saying nice things about "other people" that I need to work on.

;)

[Alley]

I have updated my blog and extended the invitation (I hope that you don't mind).

And I daresay my list is very similar to Woman with Kids :-)

Amy

[Sky]

That's a great idea Carmen, I tend to be self-disparaging too!
1)I am very reliable. You need me, I'm THERE.
2)I'm a great traveler, even with kids, cats, dogs and ferrets in tow!
3)I am a decent house keeper.
4)I'm a good listener.
5)Thanks to my parents (I wonder if they've paid off the orthodontist yet?) I have a nice smile.
6)I am spontaneous.

[Sarah]

This is always a difficult thing to do, so of course I think this is a brilliant idea =) Let's see what I can come up with...

1. I am creative.
2. I am quad-lingual because I am good at learning languages. Even though I started picking up my third language when I was 20, today I speak it fluently; native speakers consistently think I'm native too.
3. I am a pretty good cook.
4. I really care about my family and have maintained some excellent relationships over the years that some people may have lost.
5. I can organize the heck out of anything.

[robinweiss]

I just updated my blog with my list. What's even better is that I had already started a post like this earlier. Go me!

[oneluckydawg]

How about some others about you, Carmen...

* refreshingly honest, but wise enough to know that "feelings matter"

* an INCREDIBLE manager of people, events, and schedules

* strong in your convictions, but willing to listen to other points of view

* always a source of entertainment

I hope your trip was enjoyable!

[kalisah]

5 to 10? That's kind of a lot isn't it?

1. I have great hair.
(Even tho it's a lot of work and I completely abuse it, it's thick & healthy.)

2. I can sing pretty good.
(If they had American Idol for 40-year-olds, I would totally try out.)

3. I'm a strong writer.
(That's what my bosses have always called it: a "strong writer.")

4. I'm a wiz at Xword puzzles.
(I finish the USAToday every day, but I've only ever completely finished a Sunday NYT once.)

5. I have good organizational skills and am therefore a proficient project manager.
(And I make really cool-looking timelines.)

6. I'm an excellent driver.
(Excellent driver. Judge Wopner at four.)

[margalit]

I'm really good with teenagers

I'm a great cook and baker

I am a good gardener

I'm a good driver, especially over long distances.

I'm a great traveler both alone and with others.

I'm a good writer.

[Rachel]

great idea! it was hard. I posted the list on my blog.

I had my kids do it first, just to make it easier for me. ;)

[bella]

I'm a good cook.
I can color my hair so it looks professionally done
I write well
I can follow patterns well -- sewing, knitting, electrical... :)
I have big dreams

Urgh... that's hard! Not sure all those count under the rules, but at least there's something there to start with! :)

(Is it possible to blush online!?)

[Brandy]

Jeez! This isn't easy!
1. I am nice.
2. I am a good house cleaner, tidy-er-upper
3. I am organized.
4. I am a good listener.
5. I am a good baker/cook.

Um, I feel kind of embarassed abot my list.

[Nicole]

1. I have wonderful energy
2. I am a go-getter
3. I always finish what I start
4. I am the best and most devoted young mother, age 19, that I know
5. I am always willing to do anything for my son and husband

[Mary Tsao]

Great idea! Love your list, too. I'm going to do this on my blog and link back to you.

[amy]

I will echo the others - this is hard! I tend to disparage myself a lot..
1. I really like most people and don't tend to put others down.
2. I am a great advocate for my children and my friends and their kids too.
3. I am a good problem solver and love helping people.
4. I do not feel that my kids or my family is the best over others'.
5. I am a good teacher and a hard worker.
6. Whatever I set my mind to do, I usually do extremely well.

[wookie]

This is one of the hardest things I've done in a long, long time.

1) I'm very pragmatic and can almost always (painfully) see both sides to the story.
2) I'm an adequate* cook.
3) I'm a fast and hard worker (as long as I stop procrastinating ;-)
4) I'm very determined (come hell or high water I will accomplish something I believe in)
5) I think very quickly and logically, which makes me a very good problem solver.

[Monica]

1. I make beautiful babies
2. Despite my failings, I'm still a good mother
3. I'm a talented knitter and getting better every day
4. I'm a good friend
5. I'm self sacrificing

[Angela]

1. I am a good listener
2. I am quick to see the good in others
3. I have a hearty laugh and I like to use it
4. When I screw up, I am quick to apologize
5. I bake a mean cookie

[holly]

1.I make awesome babies
2.I am a very devoted friend.
3.I can read emotions of people without fault
4.I eat food really well (snicker!)
5.I am very good at waking up at night. Instantly awake and not grumpy either, unless I am unable to go back to sleep for some reason.
6.I am a whiz at picking the right cases (deal or no deal, you know...I am hardly ever wrong in my choice of stop or go..and I can usually pick the low numbered case)
7.I am a good money manager
8.I can run my husbands business and my own home from home and keep the two seperate.

[FishyGirl]

1. I am a great sleeper.
2. Despite my shortcomings I am a great mom.
3. I write well.
4. I am strong in the face of crisis.
5. I am kind and loving.
6. I provide a good example to my kids of a "real" person.

[Rachel]

I messed up the coding yesterday, but now it's up on my blog - plus what my 3 girls think are 5 good things about themselves. :)

thank you, Carmen - but this one was hard!

[Mrs. Flinger]

Ohhh, this is a great post. It's so hard, why is that? Is it too late to play? I'll have to think about it... probably a lot... :-)