Thursday, October 12, 2006

The great I am

I have a great blog percolating on the interesting subject lines for spam e-mail. Thanks to my co-worker Nona for adding to the list. But in the meantime, I have yet another interesting assignment from my communications class.

Last week, our teacher assigned us the task of listening to the inner critic -- that little voice that tells you what a pile of shit you are on a daily basis.

My inner critic is viscious. I'm not good enough (pick the topic, motherhood, writer, massage therapist...) I'm certainly not thin enough and basically I have no business talking. I'm used to my critic, she and I have been arguing for years. But it is disconcerting to sit quiet and actually listen for her vs. hearing her scream over Metallica.

After that excercise, I was instructed to perform an affirming excercise and write "Who I am," "What I do" and "What am I best at."

That's easy. I've done my personal branding statement. I've written my personal 30-second commercial. I have that elevator speech already. I took the class on becoming my own advocate.

So, I am a writer... wait...

I am a ....

I am .... at a loss for words.

I have defined myself by my job for so long, I don't know how else do it. I am a blank slate, I can be whatever. I hope someday to combine the freelance writing career with the therapist gig, but that's a future endeavor. Today, I'm just ... Michele.

Well shit.

3 comments:

Susan Miller said...

Oh the damn labels! I like to try and think that the self criticism is an universal problem, but then I'll be confronted with someone who just seems so damn confident that they radiate it. What the hell? Where did they get that from? The pharmacy? Anyway, like you I think...I'm trying to be okay with just being me and that's the hardes shit I've ever done. So good luck to you and if you come up with any shortcuts please write about them...I'm all for shortcuts!

Anonymous said...

I strive everyday to define myself. I am going to start taking one day at a time instead of trying to define the rest of my life. Today - I am "morning sickness". Tomorrow, I will be "gassy" and I am planning on being "heartburn" on Sunday. All together - I am growing a baby...so that makes me an incubator. Oh Joy!

Anonymous said...

I know how you feel...

I am a mother of 2 beautiful boys...
I am a full-time student...
I am a full-time teacher...
I am a wife...

Shit, you got me going on a roll...

In my opinion, we just need to go out and have a few drinks, just so we can forget who we really are!

But tomorrow, we'll remember who we are again and have a hangover to go along with it...

Let's face it...there's no escape!