This week I have been stuck on Becca’s post about accentuating the positive. She had been watching the wonderful, beautiful, amazing Natalie Portman on youtube, and was starting to feel inferior. but, instead of sitting and wallowing in more Natalie perfection, she decided to go a different route…and she invited us all to take that journey with her. to write 5 things that we are absolutely freaking ridiculously amazing at. So i did. (my god, it was hard!)
here are mine:
1. i’m super super crafty.
2. i can cook. and bake. and i can decorate a cake like no one’s business!
3. i have a really good memory. and i’m a quick,. quick learner.
4. i am an awesome photo researcher. no, seriously, it’s part of my job, and i’m just really good at finding things that no one else can find.
5. i’m really good at making really cute babies 
and now, all these things that i’m great at start to make me think about all the things that i’m not so great at…and i assure you, there are plenty. but instead of wallowing in Ali imperfections, i’m going to make a list. resolutions, of sorts. of things that i’m vowing today (you heard it here, you can hold me to it!) that i will do:
1. i’m going to be pro-active in losing the last few pounds that i want to lose (instead of just sitting on my ass and complaining about them). that means exercise and watching what i eat. this week, so far, i’ve exercised thrice (pilates twice and elliptical once). the goal is 4x a week. and NORMAL portions at dinner. that’s the killer for me. i usually sit down at dinner, starved, and eat like…a man.
2. i’m going to be a better mother, a better wife, a better relative, a better friend. i’m going to try to stop taking my frustrations out on the husband. i’m going to try to be less punchy. i’m a really bad relative (daughter, sister, sister in law, daughter in law…you name it, i suck at it.) i don’t visit enough, call enough. i’m going to call all the out-of-town relatives EVERY SUNDAY. and the friends. i’m so bad at calling my friends. calling them back. getting together. i DO have the best intentions, i am just really bad at the follow through.
3. i’m going to declutter my house. i did it when i was overdue with Isabella, mostly because i was frustrated that i was late. but also because it feels good. organizing feels good. and my house could use some good organization.
4. i’m going to learn to use photoshop. i took a course in school…back in…oh, 2001. and i have it. it’s such an amazing program and i never use it. sure, i played around with a picture to see if i could do the "Dooce effect" and it was awesome. and there are so many other amazing features that i just don’t even know about. someone told me that Barnes and Noble has an online course you can take…anyone know anything about this? i’m going to look into it.
5. i’m going to learn to take a compliment. last night, at the superstore (which i love, but it’s no target..), this man, probably about 65 came up to me and said, in this adorable Eastern European accent, "I have to tell you, you are very pretty." and i have to tell you guys, i BEAMED from ear to ear. usually, when someone pays me a compliment, anyone, i shrug it off. i get very uncomfortable and start to point out all the things that are wrong with me. seriously. "Ali, you are so thin." "Yeah, well, i’m really good at hiding all my fat. want to see me pinch an inch?"
what about you? come on, play along.
5 things you are amazing at and 5 things you want to be better at (yes, yes, i realize that i listed a heck of a lot more than 5 on my list…but, hey, my game, i can take all the liberties i want!)
Public Service Announcements:
song of the day: The Beauty of Gray by Live.
please head on over to Cheaper than Therapy this morning. my commentary on last night’s tv – survivor, grey’s and the office. also…pictures of the Isabella’s giant teeth!!
so…i did it. i joined 365 days. come check out my pictures. come and join!!
Great post Ali !
Ali, I checked out your 365 pics, very nice, you have beautiful eyes!!!
I finally loaded Miss M.’s pic on Flickr, she just looks like such a baby still, even though she is nearly 2.
Ok (taking a deep breath, prepping to be forthcoming and honest and forthright)…
5 Things I Know I AM Good At:
1. Being a Mom – I make a plenty of mistakes but on balance, I am doing the very best I can (always room for improvement though) and my kids are prett great.
2. A Great Friend and Daughter – I am always there for my dad and stepmom and for all my friends. I live so far away from most of them so I make a real concerted effort to stay in touch by phone and e-mail on a regular basis.
3. Having Great Taste – well ok, this is a way to disguise the fact I LOVE shopping ROFL, but seriously, bad taste/fads are NOT my thing so I can keep clothes for a really long time and my kids always look gorgeous (plus oi vey, don’t get me started on my shoe collection, that is one for my own blog…)
4. Cooking and Baking and Entertaining- When I have the time to do it properly, I am the birthday party/christening/Christmas queen and my house is always open to anyone.
5. Good Head for Numbers and Board Games – Well duh, I am an engineer after all but am also unbeaten in my family and friends at Risk and backgammon (good spatila perception and all that).
5 Things which Have to Improve:
1. Doormat-itis – I let everyone and anyone tkae advantage of me – especially my boss. I am too polite and let him get away with treating me like crap. Ditto hubby, sales people. some friends.family. Gotta stand up for myself more.
2. Relationship with Siblings – Not so good there :((( = my sister has 5 kids and is really busy so don’t talk to her much, and well my brother, we are basically estranged. Need to work on this situation desperately.
3. Putting myself first sometimes – I NEVEr do this and it is reflecting in my own (lack of ) satisfaction with my life.
4. Declutter & Organise – ditto to Ali’s comments.
5. Enjoying a better relationship with hubby – no details there, thanks.
Great post! And, yeah, I’ve seen you do that pinch-an-inch thing. You do it even though there’s no inch to pinch!
5 Things I’m Good At:
1) connecting with my daughter.
2) (oy, I’m stuck already…sad….) I have good analytical skills.
3) I’m pretty good with computers — with html and stuff.
4) I make a mean ponytail on the monkey’s head.
5) My hair always looks aiight. I can wash-and-go, take it out of a bun and voila! It always looks presentable.
5 things I could improve at:
1) be a more giving wife
2) be better at answering emails
3) could keep my kitty’s water bowl a little fresher.
4) must do laundry on a more regular basis.
5) declutter….
6) lose the weight…! (had to add that on in!)
5 things cool about me
wicked sense of humour
honest,straight-forward
compassionate
pretty good mum
really great at following through on things
5 not so cool things
judgmental at times
bad tempered
anti-social
need to improve my relationships
honest and straight forward sometimes to a fault
yes you can!!
pretty please?!
I can’t do it. It’s too haaaaard.
great post, you! how sad is it that finding faults is so easy!
5 things i’m good at: 1)teaching; 2)decluttering and reorganizing (some people read on vacation, i reorganize my house); 3)being neat and organized (you should see my planbook! everything is color coordinated); 4) putting things together; and 5) learning (i love having my mind fed!).
5 things to become better at: 1) being a wife, mother, sister, friend, etc.; 2) actually going to the gym; 3) eliminating procrastination from my vocabulary; 4)learning more about making web pages. i’ve learned a bit from an online tutorial and trial an error with microsoft frontpage. my creation – a webpage for my class. still not so sure about all the technical stuff and i’m certain that there is an easier way to make it all work and post it; and 5)learning and reading more, watching tv less.
responding to this post certainly got my mind working this morning. 🙂
5 Things I’m Good At:
1. Sealing the Deal – perseverance(this can sometimes have repercussions that end up on the bad list)
2. Listening – to my kids especially but also to my friends and, hopefully, to urbanmoms.ca members. The site is built on member input.
3. Doing – sound silly? Well, I am a doer. I don’t just talk about it, I implement. No hesitation, no waiting around. D.O.N.E.
4. Being a mother – I wasn’t so sure before I had kids but I think I’m pretty good at it. Most of the credit goes to my mom because having an amazing role model sure helps.
5. Putting myself out there and taking risks – I like sales, I talk to people I don’t know, I take (calculated) risks.
Not So Good – Vow to Change
1. Tolerance – My need to “do” sometimes means I get very frustrated when others can’t.
2. Being a good wife – Ali, I’m right there with you. I am going to stop taking my frustrations out on my husband. I am going to make an effort to be more loving.
3. Control – see the “Good At” list #1 and #3 – I will try and be OK with not always being in control.
4. Living in the Moment – I am getting better at this but really want to make more of an effort to live in today and appreciate everything.
5. Taking a compliment – I’m also with Ali on this one. I never feel deserving. I slough them off and feel suspicious of the complimenters’ intentions. Will try and work on that!
Thanks, Ali. Great post! Not easy. Really makes one think.