Enneagram Obsession

For those who know me more personally, they know that I am a freak about the Enneagram.  A few summers ago, I was part of a magical team at SpringHill camps, and our program director opened my fellow counselors and I up to the Enneagram as a team building exercise, and we have been hooked ever since. I have never really be into astrology or personality tests, they have all seemed pretty random and never seemed to really “get me.”  

Here is how the Ennegram got me:

My program director (trying to figure out my “type”):  ”Do you easily get depressed?”

 Yes.  How did you know that?

Program director: “Do you feel melancholy more than others around you?”  ”Do you see the world in artistic terms?”  ”Do you feel uncomfortable until the area around you aesthetically pleases you?”   “Do you spend a significant amount of time in solo activities like journaling?” 

Yes. Yes. Yes. Uh huh.  How did you know?  

Program director:  ”You are probably a four.”  Actually, three out of the four people on our team that summer were fours (the other was a care giving two).

Now, I know that I am speaking a foreign language, but quite simply, there are nine personality types.  But, the beauty of the enneagram is that your personality is not stationary.  Just like a normal person, your personality can shift to other “types” when you are “healthy” mentally, and when you are “unhealthy” mentally.  

Before I muddle up everything, take a test:

http://www.9types.com/newtest/

or http://www.enneagraminstitute.com/English/dis_sample_36.asp

(I would take both, to see where you fall.  I had to take the test a few times and talk it out with a friend who knew her stuff to figure out that I was indeed a “four.”)

Then, the fun begins!  Explore the types that you scored the highest in to see which one fits with you.  Usually, the type that you actually are will scream out to you: “HOW DID YOU KNOW THIS ABOUT ME!?”  

Then, take a look at these resources and click on your type to explore!

http://www.9types.com/descr/

http://www.enneagraminstitute.com/

Also, if you are interested in how the Enneagram will affect your approach to diet and exercise, I just discovered this little gem:

http://weightlosssuperpowers.com/enneagramtypes/

 

Have fun!  And, I would love some comments telling me which type you think you are!  

Three Things that I Love

It is the twilight of my Spring Break, and I spent it doing three things that I love.

1. Walking. 

2. Spending time with my husband. It is about a three mile walk to and from Family Video, depending on which route you take.  We’ve made the trip several times since the weather has gotten nice!

3. Feeding my love of Downton Abbey.  I have gotten Ben hooked, and we scored disk two of season two from our local Family Video (they only have one copy of each disk, so we snatch it up!)  I’ve been patiently waiting to watch Season three as he catches up!

“

Look at him loving Downton! 

 

26 Years Old: What I Do Well and What I Want to Learn

I’ve been in a funk lately.  I have a feeling that it may have something to do with a quarter-life crisis,  if those are real.  For about a year, my mind has more easily slipped into gloom-and-doom than my usual default optimism.  I’ve found that as I have entered into the quarter-century of life life, I’ve had to work a lot harder to achieve equilibrium.  I’ve never been a worrier, a cynic, or even a realist.  However, I am finding that these things, in moderation, have been a good addition to my personality as long as I keep them in check.  However, one things that always lifts my spirits to the plane of optimism is setting goals for myself.  Over and above this, I want to also make a list of things I have accomplished in the past two and a half decades of my life.  So, here it goes:

Thing I have accomplished:

Bachelors of Education Degree in English, Religion, and Speech- Yes, it took a while, but I have two majors, a minor, many school involvements, and study abroad under my belt because of the time I spent at CMU.

Marriage- and not just marriage, we are cultivating something that we intend to last.

World Travel- France, Spain, Thailand, Cambodia, Uganda, and Rwanda. (Okay, Canada counts, too.)

A Secure Circle of Family and Friends- I am not a person who is easily friends with everyone that I meet, so I am proud to have a close circle of people who really care about me.

A Career- It has been a shaky start, but I am really beginning to find positive identity in my role as a teacher.  Also, I think I am darn good at it!

Things I’ve Done and Want to do Better:

I Can Cook- Case in point, I finally got closer to perfection in my quest to be a better strawberry rhubarb pie maker (it is my husband’s favorite dessert).

I Have Religious Knowledge-  This has always been a fascination for me.  Right now, I am in a HUGE questioning period and my faith-o-meter is reading pretty low.  However, I am happy that I’ve cultivated a questioning and inquisitive heart when it comes to Christianity.  Also, I love studying other religions want want to continue doing so.

I Have a Growing Appreciation for Beer-  Four years ago, I wouldn’t touch the stuff.  Now, through experimentation and the encouragement of my friends and husband, I am in love with craft beers and have even gone to a beer tasting dinner.  I would like to gain more knowledge in this area.

I Can Write-  I have kept a steady stream of journals since I was in elementary school.  I can safely say that I can write decently and use it as a tool for expression. However, there is always room for improvement.

My Love for Walking-  I am not sure why I am so in love with walking.  It may be something mystical passed down from my mother’s love of nature.  I have never been “athletic,” but I have always had slow-and-steady endurance, so walking just seems to fit me well. I am so soothed and motivated by long walks, and I seem to encounter the best adventures when I am walking.

I Can Sing and Hold My Own on Stage-  Though I am not very good at reading music, I can sing well and I can easily lend my voice at church or whenever there is a need for it.  Also, I can get up in front of a group of people and be mildly entertaining (improv helped with that, and I do it every day when I teach!)

I Finally have some Video Gaming Skill-  Even though my passion is limited to the Fable series of Xbox games, I can finally say that I am not totally inept at gaming.

I Can Drive-  This is a shout out to myself ten years ago, when 16 year old me could finally drive on her own!

Healthy Eating- I’ve been constantly educating myself since I was a teenager.  However, I’ve let a lot of the good habits I’ve established in the past to lapse as I’ve gotten into my adult life.  My goal is to continue building what I know and continue practicing good choices.

Things I want to be:

I want to be a hiker-  I want to move past simple walks and really get into backpacking.  I was first bitten by the backpacking bug this summer on Isle Royale, and I want to continue building my skills and endurance.

I want to be better at grammar-  Yes, I am an English teacher, and I have struggled with remembering the labels for everything.  I can “DO” grammar very well, but once you start talking about gerunds and participles, my brain glazes over.  I consider grammar the “math” of English, and I am not good at math.  So, my goal is to better my English abilities by re-teaching and retaining grammar rules.

Write a Full-length Story-  A novel?  A chapter book?  Something like that.  I am good at writing non-fiction short stories about my life, because I practice in my journal every day.  I want to expand and write something fiction and longer.

Non-specific craft-  I want to learn how to make something with my hands.  More specifically, I want this to be something that I can make money off of in my spare time.  I will leave this ambiguous for now.  However, two ideas are learning how to sew Renaissance clothing, or learning how to whittle with the woodcarving knives that my grandma left for me (I would love to continue her legacy.)

Well, there you have it!  I hope that I can look back on this post and add more accomplishments to the top and place some tick marks next to the ones “in progress.”  Also, I hope this served as some sort of inspiration to my readers, to not only set goals for yourself, but also remember that there are some goals that you’ve already accomplished that deserve some recognition.  Okay, time to go live day one of my 26th year!  In light of my marriage accomplishment listed above, I will leave you with my favorite wedding photo:

With out powers combined….!

Outonawalk: PLYMOUTH EDITION!

Spring is in the air and I am back on the trails!  Since I last blogged, I have gotten married and have moved to the beautiful area of Plymouth, Michigan.  Along with the move comes a whole new set of places to move my feet!  Specifically, I now live along the I275 bike path, which also connects to Hines Park, a 17 mile stretch low-lying land dotted with parks.

The I275 trail has a nice barrier so the sights and noise of the highway are blocked.

Very near my house is a stretch of Hines Park that runs along Newburgh Lake.  On the island in the left of the picture (well, peninsula,) there was an epic goose battle going down.  Honks and squawks echoed across the lake as traditional-looking white geese with orange bills tried to drive the Canada geese away from their nesting area.  I am sure that the Canada geese politely backed away, eh.  ”Sorry aboot that, orange bills.”

I never actually made it to Hines Park proper, in favor of an earthen path closer to Ann Arbor Trail.  This bigger path as many sub-paths leading to breathtaking lake views (as showcased in a previous picture.)

It was soothing to see wildlife back at their antics.  This crazy little squirrel found a branch nubbin to chew on.  I also saw quite a few robins and cardinals:

See what I did there?  I’ve been watching through “The Tudors” on Netflix, and this joke had to be made.  But in all seriousness, I DID see a lot of cardinals.

So, that was the first of many spring walks I hope to document!  If you’re new to my blog, I capture my walks as a motivation tool, as well as a memory-capture device to show where my adventurous feet have taken me.  Enjoy!

I Haven’t “Walked Out”

Don’t worry, I have not lost this blog.  I click on it sadly from time to time and lament that I really cannot write at the moment, because a lot of it would be rants that could come back and bite me career-wise.

 I’ve noticed that people are still viewing my hypothyroidism story, and I’d like to update that it is still an ongoing battle, and I am awaiting yet another test because I’ve started to feel “off” again.  If you are going through hypo, my best advice is to know your own warning signs, and don’t write them off as “stress.”

Also, I am a happy wife of two months now!  I got married this December, and it is one of the best decisions I have ever made.

This post was merely for the sake of recognition that I still have a blog.  Hopefully, after the school year is over, I may be able to begin blogging again.  Also, my plantar fasciitis is much better, so I may even be able to start blogging my walking adventures once the snow begins to melt!

So, view this as my placeholder post.  I am still here.  I am still alive.  I still want to blog.

Bad Day Teaching Haikus

I am attempting to put any strong emotions to writing as of late, so here are some poems that I have written about my lovely day at school.  These are meant to be semi-serious yet tongue-in-cheek.

A mentor told me

To always remember that

I am paid for this

 

Launching paper balls

Don’t lie, I saw you do it

I’m calling your mom

 

Am glad that we are

reading a sad article

Tears are not from that

 

 Some students debate

The theology of Hell

I am there right now

 

At night in my dreams

Loud screams of “MS. MCDONALD!”

Ringing in my head

Airport Reunion

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to share two photos with you.  One is our team before the trip, and the other is us after the trip.  The Robinsons sent us the first picture as we were packing to come home from Rwanda, with a challenge to look at the picture and reflect on how much we have changed.  Attached was this verse:

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2Cor.3:18

Before:

 

And after:

 

We may not look terrible different, but rest assured that this experience was live changing, as well as faith changing.

Just because the trip is over, do not think that all of the posts are done!  Check back for updates on our travels, as well as prayer requests sent from our friends in Africa!

Africa!

Hi blog readers! I have been neglecting this blog in favor of my African adventure blog: mittentoafrica.wordpress.com. Check it out!

Summer Freedom

One question that I’ve heard a lot since becoming a teacher is “What do you DO with all that time in the summer?”  My answer:  I’ve filled it.

I unofficially went into this summer with a goal:  explore.

(Cave-in-the-Woods, Mackinac Island)

So far, I have done just that.  Half way in, I’ve been all over our Mitten: from Grand Rapids, to Mackinaw, to Sault Saint Marie.  This is my second time on Mackinac Island.  I’ve biked (and walked my bike) up too-tall hills.  I’ve swam in Lake Huron, hovering 50ft over mossy stones that you could clearly see all the way down.  I went geocaching for the first time.  I’ve had an airplane fly right over my head.  I’ve hiked to an inland cave.  I’ve sipped coffee, gained some ground reading George R.R. Martian, eaten amazing food, and even had PBR delivered by a random friend whilst watching the sun set with my sister.

And, my summer is not over yet.  I still have Isle Royal to hike, and Africa to visit.

(Crack-in-the-Island, Mackinac Island.  I took my sister to see it after my solo adventure!)

 

It isn’t even half way over, but I think I will remember this summer as the Summer of Freedom.

Early Summer Porches, Hidden Treasures, and Building a Marriage

Lately, I’ve been spending my morning on our back patio.   This time of year, my mom and dad get to work bringing the backyard to life.  There are pots and urns scattered under the pine trees, and the clementis of all shades of purple are bursting into little royal sunshines all over the trellases.  One cool/unusual thing about my backyard are the two little potted lemon trees.  Last year they didn’t give us any fruit, but this year there are three little lemons, green and growing slowly.  I have taken pictures of their progress, and I hope to post them soon once you can see a change between the photos.  I’ve also gotten to get out my journal daily and have cracked open my Bible to revist the book of John, which I studied many years ago on another patio surrounded by nature’s beauty at Springhill (the camp where I worked for 5 years.)

Today is my last day of school.  I work in a district in tumalt, where seniority doesn’t mean you have a job next year, and shoulders are hunched and hard like rocks because of the tension in the air.  That is, until you get us outside of school.  The other day we all went painting at a place called “Painting with a Twist” in downtown Ferndale.  It is beatutiful how a little good food, good alcohol, and good art lowers defenses and gets people laughing and relating.  But there is another cool thing that happened during this visit:

I discovered Ferndale.  Tucked away not 10 minutes from my school is a thriving little boho-ish community where hipsters roam the sidewalks and breweries and local cuisine abound.  I couldn’t believe that this gem was so close to my workplace (which is decidedly surrounded by poverty,)  and I had never seen it before.  That leads me to today’s adventure:  Ben and I are looking for houses in this area.  A depressed economy means low-low-low housing costs, so we are throwing our hat in the ring this afternoon and touring with a realtor.

This is happening after another teacher-get-together event.  I like how my associations with this place that I’ve been smitten with have come after times of community with the crew that mans one of DPS’s floundering ships. 

Engagement has been a beautiful state to live in.  It is a tightly wound ball of fears and stress, but it is coated in a delicious layer of hope and purpose that makes it more-than-palatable.  Building a home with the person that you love is an exciting prospect, and the thrill of the chase is thick in our pursuit of the perfect, cost effective home.  It is true that our generation will not see the same prosperity as our parents, but we were children of the prosperous 90s, so we’ve had it coming.  But, that doesn’t take away the excitement of building a home, throwing the biggest party  of our lives, and carving our path together.

Life is beautiful right now.  Beautiful doesn’t mean easy.  Beauty just is.