The upstairs neighbor popped her head in today and was telling me a little about her day. She said, “I like to _______________, because I’m a __.”

I don’t like labeling myself. I think other people label me enough, so I feel no need. Plus, I like to keep  my options open. You know what I mean?

I did read something just now, though, that spoke to me.

“_____________s process everything in their surroundings and pay attention to all the sensory details in the environment, not just the people. ____________s will often compare old and new experiences when making a decision, which slows the processing down but leads to carefully thought-out decisions. This means that ___________s have an active dialogue with themselves and usually walk around with many thoughts in their minds.”*

That last sentence was what got me. There is always so much going on in my head. It feels like I’m constantly processing data. Doug is not like this. He often does have a lot on his mind, but I know he isn’t processing data. He isn’t picking up all the stuff people are laying down. We’ll leave a meeting and he’ll have a completely different experience from mine. I wish, sometimes, my experience was like his, but he also benefits from all that I take in, so he often wants me at meetings for that very reason. That’s a nice thing.

Anyway, I’m ultimately Popeye. I am what am, and that’s all that I am. For some people, I’m enough. I call those people kind and generous friends, willing to forgive me for not being more.

❤

*source