Sunday, September 20, 2009

What's Your Personality Pattern?

Chris Roberts wrote on his blog..."Tony Morgan wrote about taking the Personality Pattern test ( http://psychcentral.com/personality-patterns/). I decided to take it as well. Here are my results..."

Well, it looked interesting to me, too. So here are my results. Aside from the fact that I don't care for rap/hip-hop music it's pretty accurate. The 'not compelled to be right all the time'...well, that could go either way.

Scrupulous...You are an honest, fair person. You don't lie or cheat to get ahead. You treat others with respect and hope for the same in return.
You do not feel that you are above the rules that everyone else follows; you are definitely not willing to do whatever it takes to get ahead.

Loose...You feel that a clean, orderly desk is the sign of a person who doesn't have enough to do. Schedules and "to do" lists feel stifling; you thrive on a sense that anything goes, and know that the world won't end if you don't clean up after finishing a job.
You don't need to know that everything is in its place; it is not empowering to you to feel that the world around you is neat and organized. Mowing down every item on your "to do" list, every day, does not bring you joy.

Accessible...You're comfortable expressing yourself in words and actions, with no self-censorship. You believe that if someone doesn't like what they see it's not your problem, but theirs. A high score on the "accessible" trait suggests that you have a lot of friends, socialize often, and enjoy rap/hip-hop music.

You don't see the need to keep your thoughts to yourself, or to have a zone of privacy that encompasses only yourself and a small circle of friends and relatives.

Impulsive... You trust your your instincts. What others may see as rash behavior is, for you, simply going with your gut. Individuals with a high score on the "impulsive" trait tend to try new, sometimes outrageous, things.

You are not timid. For you, spending time microscopically examining the pros and cons of every decision means never getting anything accomplished.

Introspective...You like your own company; you're a very interesting person. Tracking your own mental processes, knowing what you're thinking and why you do what you do, is important to you. Often, what's going on in your mind is more compelling than what's going on outside. For the most part, those with a high score on the "introspective" trait enjoy reading, taking long walks, learning new things, and other solitary activities.
You are not someone who is constantly looking to be among a group of friends; you never feel bored when you are by yourself.

Warm... You have a genuine interest in other people. You're a natural host, and are always thinking about how you can increase the happiness of those around you. When friends have problems or are in trouble, you're usually the first person they turn to for aid and comfort. Scoring high on the "warm" trait suggests that you are among those who enjoy domestic activities — doing things around the house — and are enthusiastic about charitable work, helping others, and making the world a better place.

You don't always say exactly what you're thinking; you don't like the idea of causing anyone pain because of your criticism.

Responsible...You fulfill your obligations and responsibilities, are true to your word, and generally obey the rules. While the majority of those who have a high score on the "responsible" trait enjoy traveling, they are usually very happy to return home — and don’t mind staying put for a while.

You're opposed to making hasty decisions, you don't insist that you're above the rules, nor do you feel compelled to color outside the lines.

Organized... You like to think a task through before you embark on it. If it's the slightest bit complicated, you make a list (even if it's only in your mind) and methodically work your way through it. When you have a goal in mind, you're not satisfied until you reach it.

You are not one of those people who ignore the details, and you don't understand how anyone can get anything accomplished without thoughtful planning ahead of time.

Sympathetic ... You have a knack for knowing what's going on in the hearts and minds of those around you, without their having to tell you explicitly. People tend to turn to you with their problems because they know you care, and that you will likely offer good advice and a helping hand.

You do not feel that people with sad stories are just looking for attention, or have brought their problems upon themselves.

Cooperative... You enjoy teamwork, play well with others, and prefer getting along to winning.

You're not compelled to win every contest nor to be right all the time.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

On the Road, Heading Home


Traveling can be a time of great contemplation and endless metaphors. Throw in some old and beloved songs coming from the radio with the required amount of mood-static and hey, you can be a grand philosopher.

Yes, we're wrapping up a week-long family vacation and on the road heading home. Packing up to head home is different from packing to go on vacation. The excitement and anticipation are replaced by a restful outlook and desire to be home. You know the saying...'there's no place like home.' In our case I'm anxious to see our other kids/grandkids, play with my dog, get back to our schooling, etc. I know climbing in my bed will be comforting, as well.

Our vacation was pretty low-key; just the way I like it. I enjoyed things on vacation that are, frankly, dreaded at home; simple things like going to the grocery store, doing a load or two of laundry (no dirty clothes after vacation, yay!!!!), deciding where to eat, where to shop, go to the pool or ocean, nap or read. I don't remember a cup of hot tea tasting quite as good or being quite as soothing at home.

But...

Lest ye think I am anti-home... I am not. Home. The word itself conjures up so many thoughts, feeings, images. Ideally these will be of the warm and fuzzy type. Home is, after all...home.

So, once we make the transition in our minds from 'time for vacation' to 'time to go home,' then the heart goes on ahead and we just want to be there. Little bits of excitement at regular intervals...seeing a city in your state listed on a mileage sign...crossing into your home state (and obligatory stop at the Welcome Center), seeing your city on the milesage sign, your exit from the highway, etc... Before you know it you're turning into your drive and...ahhh...home at last.

(My post was interrupted by the untimely death of my laptop battery... Fast forward a few hours.)

...ahhh...home at last. That's where I am now. We arrived home a few hours ago and just finished a pizza dinner. Unpacking will have to wait until tomorrow. It's time to relax and enjoy being home. "Here, Trudy-Dog..."

It's good to be home.