I'm a Headless Chicken and I'm Okay With This

How do you handle a crisis?

I handle a crisis in one of two ways. The first, going off the deep end and running around like a chicken with my head cut off. The second, much calmer but still with the slight feeling of running around like a chicken with its head cut off.

No matter what, I'm a chicken without a head. Does that say something about my state of mind that I identify with a headless chicken?

Over the past month or so I have been extremely concerned by my flaws. Now that I've become a supervisor I have to take a lot more responsibility and that can be hard at times. I also have to work on my communication skills. For me, it's easy to come across as bossy or a know-it-all, when really I'm just trying to be productive.

I can easily list a few of my flaws. Here's my Top 5:

1. I'm bossy
2. I'm loud
3. I have a hard time seeing the big picture.
4. I can be distracted easily, sometimes. I try to do multiple things at once.
5. I like to do things my way.

I believe that flaws are only flaws if you don't take the time to cultivate them and turn them into strengths. That's what I've been trying to do for the past month. It's hard to make a flaw into a strength, but it's worth it. So here is my attempt to turn my flaws into strengths.

1. I'm a supervisor of five (soon to be six) girls. All between the ages of 16 and 20. Gotta be a little bossy to make things run smoothly.
2. I used to be a skate guard. When you have to clear the ice of over 50 people (sometimes almost 200), it helps to be able to shout. Plus my lungs are strong from blowing my whistle so much, cause no matter how many times you blow the whistle, yell or wave your arms like an air traffic controller, there are always people who look at you like you should be in the circus.
3. I'm good with details. I focus in on the tiny problems and fix those. My logic is that tiny problems will just stack up until you have this HUGE pile of problems. Plus, I make some pretty awesome signs and sheets. In the past 2 months I've made almost twenty different signs, brochures and sheets for work. Details do matter.
4. I can multi-task, when needed. Try sitting in a box, with four open walls. You have a person on your left with questions about birthdays who is trying to book a party. In front of you there is a line of you with people wanting to pay to skate. Behind you there are coaches and parents wanting keys for locker rooms. To the right of you people want to also know what locker rooms or where the restrooms are.
5. Sometimes, my way is the right way. Just not as often as I would like.

It's all about perspective. What looks like a flaw is just a personality trait, and sometimes your strengths are what bring you down.

I don't always handle situations well at the time (statistically, I'd say 65% of the time I do), but it's all about learning. Some things are avoidable, other things are not. You just have to roll with the punches and realize tomorrow is another day.

Oh My Gosh...I'm almost Twenty!

Less than two weeks until my twentieth birthday! This is both exciting and scary.

I had a low period last weekend when I found out a friend of mine is engaged. That is a total of three friends who are either engaged or married under the age of 21. I'm not in any rush to be married or engaged, but if you had asked me around this same time last year I would've said I expected to be engaged by the time I turned 21. Oh how things change in a year.

Anyways, another reason I felt a bit low was because I'm 20 and I don't feel like I've accomplished much. After I wallowed in sorrow for a bit, I thought long and hard about what I've managed to accomplish in twenty short years. Here is what I came up with.

1. Key note speaker at my high school graduation.
2. I've been a mascot for a hockey game.
3. I'm a manager.
4. I've had the same job for 4 years.
5. I've won medals competing in figure skating.
6. I got a 93 on an algebra test
7. I've written two complete novels.
8. I took dual credit classes in high school
9. I've been in love.
10. I finally got my license!

I figured 10 is a nice whole number. I'm sure if I asked my parents they'd list over a million things that I've done in twenty years, but I feel these are my Top 10 accomplishments for the last twenty years. 

Some of these are unique, such as being a mascot and a key note speaker, others are kinda silly, like getting my license. Still, these are things I've done. 

Countdown to turning Twenty! 

T-minus 12 days and 16 minutes!

Who Am I Going To Be?

I started college this year, and I'm a year early. I'm still doing high school class, so I guess technically I'm not a true college student, but whatever. I get up early, sit through lectures, walk across campus and get lost like everyone else. For a while I've been pondering what I want to do with my life. Such an easy question, right? No. Most definitely not.

For me the problem is my need to be good at many things. I've always thought of myself as a chameleon. I change with my surroundings. Through this ability I've always been able to make friends with pretty much anybody, or at least hold a decent conversation. It's a true gift, but it's also turning out to be a curse. My main loves in life are writing, history, law, and talking. I like to be the boss and be in charge, but I also like to work on my own. I can talk for days and days on things I love, but I also love to write.

I've narrowed my career choices down to these few things(not a small list)

1. Lawyer or Paralegal
2. Writer (Screenwriter, Author, Journalist)
3. Reporter (Television or Print)
4. Producer
5. Teacher (Elementary)
6. Public Relations

All of these focus on writing, law or talking in some way. Yet, I can't decide which one to focus on. I know I would be good at any of these and enjoy them, but I don't know which one is where I fit in the best. That's hindering my figuring out my college major. I don't have to declare a major until June when I graduate high school, but I don't see me being really any closer to a decision in June. I guess I'm waiting for God to put a big sign that says in flashing neon lights "THIS IS YOUR PATH! FOLLOW IT!".

I'm pretty sure God doesn't send out those kind of messages, though if he did life would be so much easier. So for now I'm still trying to decide where I fit in. I really ought to Google my perfect career, it couldn't hurt. Or maybe I'll put out a want ad for my perfect career. It'd look something like this...

Seeking Career

Must have these qualities in some form

1. Socialization on a regular basis.
2. Writing of documents of an important nature
3. Serves a purpose, or changes the community and/or world
4. Leadership roles and team abilities
5. Something to be passionate about
6. Pays well
   
   

It might be awhile before I figure out what my perfect job is, and I might be one of those people who goes through many types of jobs in search for my niche, and I'm okay with that. Hell, I'd be a Writer/Lawyer/Teacher/President of the United States (I will be President. Look for me to be running sometime after 2030).

Well, while I continue to ponder who I am, I hope all of your have either found yourselves or are close.

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt