Finding Ten Things to Like About Myself

What a challenge! Finding things I like about myself was difficult. It's easier to find things to criticize myself for. I'm cranky, I have mood swings, I get lost (and lose things) easily, I have too many unfinished projects . . . it's easy to keep them coming!

I Can Do Things: I can't fix cars, and I don't like messing with electricity, but I can grow my own food, milk my own goat, process my own quail, run my own water lines (outside or in the house), fix a toilet or a sink, use a T-post driver and a post hole digger, deliver puppies and goat kids, and a whole bunch of other things that are not common skills in this day and age. If The Hunger Games ever became a thing, I could make it in District 12.

I'm "Smart": I've never really been able to capitalize on it, but I was a good student at university. Being smart has helped me be able to Do Things, as above. Being "smart" has helped me learn things that increase my appreciation of the complexities of the world.

I'm Practical: I understand that even "smart" people who can Do Things don't find life a breeze. I drive a 2001 Chevy Suburban with a trailer hitch because it can haul hay, transport goat kids, and fit six dogs and my stuff for a three-day conformation show. Yeah, remember when I wanted that 1972 Corvette Stingray with metallic blue paint? Me too. *Sigh*

I Try Hard/I Give my Best: I'm not always the best at doing things, but when I set out do to something, I don't stop at half measures. In my experience, learning is best accomplished by doing, failing, and trying again. Moving beyond the second step is something that I've learned to do well.

I Stick with Things, Too: Sometimes, sticking with things isn't really in my best interest. Sometimes, I have a hard time letting go of projects, whether people, animals, or things, even when I know that I will never succeed. But I think, most of the time anyway, my sticktoitiveness is a good thing. I'm stubborn like that, but mostly in a good way.

I Have Faith in a Higher Power: I will be the first to admit that I am not a regular churchgoer. I have chronic depression, anxiety, and insomnia, which keep me from doing almost anything on a regular basis. Even so, I know that I'm blessed with many things: good food, good friends, a good place to live. I am intelligent. I'm capable. I know that I worked hard for many of the blessings that I have, but I have seen God work in my life often enough to have faith that is independent of religion or church, even though I still hold with the faith into which I was baptized so many years ago. My faith helps be be a better person.

I Write Well: Writing helps me express myself when racing thoughts and an inability to articulate my words clearly get in the way. I've been told that my nonfiction avoids being didactic, my psychological horror is creepy, and that my humor is actually funny. I hope that's so!

My Animals Love Me: My dogs know when I'm depressed or anxious or when my blood sugar is low. They don't know how to articulate it or how to fix it, but they comfort me. When I come home from being away even for a short time, my dogs are excited to see me. Even my little Leela, who I thought lived solely in her own world, has shown me I play an important part in her life. I know that it's more than just providing them with food, shelter, and water. Dan does that for them too sometimes. They see something in me that makes me loveable. I treasure that.

I've Learned to Never Criticize Another Person's Dog: It's not about dogs. One day, when I first started showing dogs, I commented to my friend that I didn't like the dog in the ring at all. It was altogether a bad example of a Toy Fox Terrier. My friend read me the riot act. Saying that you don't see redeeming qualities in another person's dog is poor sportsmanship and unkind to the owner. Saying a dog has a great temperament and a great head but I'd like to see more reach and drive is kinder and puts the good in front of the bad. I've tried to learn to do that with people, to make "I" statements, not "you" statements, to ask myself if it were me or my dog being criticized. Generosity of spirit has never been my greatest attribute, but I'm getting there.