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Despite having had a successful career as a secondary-school teacher, I was never a good student.
Rather than studious, I was selective.
If I liked the subject, I participated. It didn’t matter if the teacher was inspired or if the resources were effective.
If the subject involved reading, writing, analysing, debating or acting, I was engaged.
Blog School, the fortnightly workshops run by PublicityShip and my home-away-from-home, is ticking all of those boxes.
But when we received our fortnightly Blog School assignment, I felt a moment of panic I haven’t felt since high-school mathematics.
How would I profile my blogging audience?
My sisters and I have made an art-form out of analysing ourselves and others. We categorise, interpret, assess and profile people more effectively than the FBI.
These abilities, often described by my husband as “women’s witchery”, are an essential component of our consultancy and training business.
But as I confronted my latest assignment, inspiration was slow to visit.
Only after much introspective examination (actually swimming and cocktails at a resort in SW Australia) did I decide that the only effective approach was to ask my audience to profile themselves.
Drum roll…
Who are you?
The People on My Block
When I talk about my “friends” in my posts, exposing aspects of their lives to the universe, I tend to give them a fuzzy form.
To preserve their anonymity I blur their pictures at the edges, until sometimes they are not even recognisable to themselves.
But now I have to apply this process in reverse, and “de-fuzz” my readership…
I think of my readers as the People on My Block, who never come empty-handed when they visit. They always have something to say. They bring personality and humour to our conversations.
We know each other by our comments, rather than our bios. They feel familiar, yet there is so much more to learn about each other. They are the ones who I think of when I’m wondering what to write next.
Julia, from a Blinding Heart, recently wrote about “The Muse on the Milk Carton“, wondering where her muse, potentially frightened off when she was hit by lightning, had gone. But the People on my Block, encircling my laptop in all their shadowy forms, are my muse.
My readers are a collective form of inspiration that keeps drawing something from me, even when I think there is nothing there to give.
But now I have to give my muse a shape.
I have to describe this “person” with all the accuracy of a police report… From “fuzzy form” to finely defined.
So I ask you to once again to help me draw an inspired picture.
Drum roll…
Is this you?
Pop Quiz
Below are ten questions I’d like you to consider. Feel free to answer any or all of them in any way you see fit!
- How would you describe yourself in three words to a stranger?
- What do you admire most about yourself?
- What would you change about yourself if you could wake up tomorrow with the job done?
- What would you change about the world if you could wake up tomorrow with the job done?
- What is the most exciting thing about being the age you are now?
- What do you miss most about childhood?
- What is your greatest fear?
- What is your greatest achievement?
- What three activities do you wish you could do every day?
- Who would you like to have move in next door to you and why?
Thanks for giving shape to the fuzzy form.
I look forward to learning more about you – and advancing to the top of the class off your efforts…
Note: Any information you kindly share will be used only for the purpose of getting me an A+ at Blog School!
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1. How would you describe yourself in three words to a stranger?
Shy, over-analyzer, worrier
2. What do you admire most about yourself?
My coping mechanisms…just getting through some days is hard.
3. What would you change about yourself if you could wake up tomorrow with the job done?
Be free from pain, guilt and worry..oh and a bit lighter wouldn’t hurt either LOL.
4. What would you change about the world if you could wake up tomorrow with the job done?
I would like people to become aware that they can make a difference and in fact they should.
5. What is the most exciting thing about being the age you are now?
What I have learned along the way.
6. What do you miss most about childhood?
Freedom…Christmas…Grandparents
7. What is your greatest fear?
To die a long, lingering death.
8. What is your greatest achievement?
My children and my marriage.
9. What three activities do you wish you could do every day?
Sit by an open fire, eat whatever I like without feeling guilty, learn something new.
10. Who would you like to have move in next door to you and why?
My dearly departed Grandmother and Grandfather…I miss them both and have so much I need to tell them :)
When I read your post ‘to share some of myself’ I started to wonder if there was anything about myself worth sharing. I mean…I’m pretty ordinary really. So I decided to choose a couple of your questions and see if my responses made me sound interesting or not.
I’d describe myself in 3 words to a stranger as:
Fun-loving, Light-hearted, perfectionist (who obviously can’t count although 2 words ARE hyphenated!)
The thing I miss most about my childhood…apart from not having a care in the world, would be having my sisters around me all the time. We shared everything and I miss that since we’re all married now, live in different states and have our own families.
My biggest fear is to grow old, gain weight and to become opinionated just like mum (sorry mum…but you ARE opinionated. Bet the other sisters fear it too!)
I think I’d like some gorgeous hunk of a male to move next door. One that likes to do his gardening with out a shirt. One that I could peer out of the window at. One that might need to come over and borrow the wheel barrow. One that would dig and his muscles would bulge. One that…hmmm…seems I’m getting a little carried away with this question.
Now I think maybe I’ve shared too much :)
#1. Developed, feeling, confident
#2. I have a heart of gold, I can forgive and move on
#3. I would be stress free and rejuvenated, and, I would have no more problems with procrastination.
#4. There would be no hatred, adversity, or social snobbery, the world would live as one in peace…
#5. I am all grown up!
#6. Everything, except the wishing I was older.
#7. Having a long, drawn out illness…
#8. Overcoming almost every obstacle ever placed in my path, and, having my daughter, along with many other things, I can place no importance on just one thing, as it is a collective package…
#9. Help someone, play on the beach, watch the sunset and the stars in the sky…
#10. A genius; I am fascinated by their psyches…
MGL, Buffy and Lyn,
Thank you so much for sharing! What wonderful people you are! I am honoured to have you in my sphere :)
S.
PS. That A+ is looking sooooooo good!
1. How would you describe yourself in three words to a stranger?
Happy. Passionate. Productive.
2. What do you admire most about yourself?
My Drive.. Determination.
3. What would you change about yourself if you could wake up tomorrow with the job done?
Not take on so many projects.
4. What would you change about the world if you could wake up tomorrow with the job done?
Tibet is Free from China. And the Tibetan people can live in peace and worship freely.
5. What is the most exciting thing about being the age you are now?
I can do ANYTHING I want. I can try and achieve anything my heart desires. Free to travel anywhere, anytime.
6. What do you miss most about childhood?
Not much.
7. What is your greatest fear?
My greatest fear used to be failure. But not anymore.
8. What is your greatest achievement?
Finding Inner Stillness and Peace. Living a multi-profession life, Stress-free and happy.
9. What three activities do you wish you could do every day?
1. See my boyfriend, Adam.
2. Reading something inspirational for more than 1 hour.
3. Commune with Nature.
10. Who would you like to have move in next door to you and why?
My Parents. I love them. They inspire me.
Thanks for the questions Simone.
Love & Gratitude,
Tina
Think Simple. Be Decisive.
Hi Tina,
You sound like an amazing person to know. Your answers speak of a wonderful life journey.
Thanks for sharing!
S.
1. How would you describe yourself in three words to a stranger?
tenacious, grounded, fun
2. What do you admire most about yourself?
studiousness
3. What would you change about yourself if you could wake up tomorrow with the job done?
I’d be less judgmental of others on first impression
4. What would you change about the world if you could wake up tomorrow with the job done?
I’d eliminate poverty.
5. What is the most exciting thing about being the age you are now?
From what I hear it’s that my bones are still in good enough shape to do all the things I like, surfing, snowboarding etc. But I think it’s really that I have a long time to go yet, and mistakes made by me now will be forgiven.
6. What do you miss most about childhood?
I miss the travel, we traveled endlessly and I loved it.
7. What is your greatest fear?
That I will look back on my life and find I have done nothing significant.
8. What is your greatest achievement?
Never getting sidetracked, by any of a number of vices, in college.
9. What three activities do you wish you could do every day?
Run, Read, Paint or Draw.
10. Who would you like to have move in next door to you and why?
My violin man.
I became best friends with him my first month of college. I wandered into his room while trying to escape by horrible rooming situation, so after hearing a violin playing down the hall I wondered in. He became my best friend – a violin player a film maker and a great friend. I see him often but I miss the frequent chats and jaunts.
Hi Cooper,
Thanks for taking part! You sound like a complex but well-grounded person… I can see a lot of myself in your answers.
Your violin man sounds wonderful. I found a friend in a similar way and she was one of the nicest surprises in my life.
Looking forward to finding out more about you!
S.
Hi Simone,
what a nice post this is! Helping you out, and having to think about my answers at the same time, it’s fun!! Here are my answers, hope they are of any help to you..
How would you describe yourself in three words to a stranger?
Caring, humorous, honest
What do you admire most about yourself?
Also my drive/determination. Which of course, is also a problem..
What would you change about the world if you could wake up tomorrow with the job done?
A more equal distribution of the important things in life: possibilities, food, safety, love and peace..
What is the most exciting thing about being the age you are now?
Having the most wonderful children in the world, and having the peace and awareness to enjoy them.
What do you miss most about childhood?
Being carefree, and free of responsibilities
What is your greatest fear?
Something happening to my children
What is your greatest achievement?
Having raised my children (until now) into the happy, considerate, and sweet children they are. Maybe my part in this is low, but still it is the thing I’m most proud of..
What three activities do you wish you could do every day?
Enjoy nature, sports (skating, or hiking) and of course.. having fun with my loved ones
1: Caring, Creative, Confident
2: My capacity for coming up with new ideas
3: My eyesight
4: Fairer wealth distribution
5: As 28, I’m still fairly energetic and idealistic, but I’ve learned a lot of lessons which I won’t have to relearn
6: Time just to play
7: Losing a loved one
8: Completing my undergrad degree, during which I had 3 babies
9: Thrift, Beachcomb, Take Photos
10: This one is a toughy! Someone inspirational, positive, creative, intelligent… I don’t ask for much do I! Really, though, I’d just be happy with anyone who was quiet and respectful of my property :-) Oh, and not too weird!!!
1. How would you describe yourself in three words to a stranger?
Ans: Solution-oriented, Action-inspired, Thinker.
2. What do you admire most about yourself?
Ans: My uncanny knack of being at the right place at the right time, doing the right thing.
3. What would you change about yourself if you could wake up tomorrow with the job done?
Ans: Nothing.
4. What would you change about the world if you could wake up tomorrow with the job done?
Ans: Get rid of the money system altogether and develop another kind of social economic system.
5. What is the most exciting thing about being the age you are now?
Ans: Being more self aware and independent in thought.
6. What do you miss most about childhood?
Ans: Playing outdoors with friends.
7. What is your greatest fear?
Ans: The unknown. It’s probably why I tend to spend hours on end on things analyzing until it makes sense to me.
8. What is your greatest achievement?
Ans: Lasting this long in life.
9. What three activities do you wish you could do every day?
Ans: Play with a model train set, go to the beach, build a simple business.
10. Who would you like to have move in next door to you and why?
Ans: “The Almighty Himself” or “The Big Man Upstairs (as I more commonly refer to). Why? Why not? :)
1. How would you describe yourself in three words to a stranger? reserved, funny, smart
2. What do you admire most about yourself? When I want something bad enough – I go for it.
3. What would you change about yourself if you could wake up tomorrow with the job done? I would like to be the life of the party!
4. What would you change about the world if you could wake up tomorrow with the job done? Wipe out religious differences.
5. What is the most exciting thing about being the age you are now? My freedom and the things I’ve learned.
6. What do you miss most about childhood? Being carefree with no responsibilities.
7. What is your greatest fear? Dying before I am ready… and I may never be ready ;)
8. What is your greatest achievement? Raising a child who is confident, outgoing and determined.
9. What three activities do you wish you could do every day? Connect with my friends through blogging and facebook, sleep late, and eat whatever I like!
10. Who would you like to have move in next door to you and why? No one. I like my privacy :)
Hi Ellen,
Thanks so much for taking part!
You seem to have a very generous and giving soul. It’s wonderful to learn more about you.
S.
Hi Amy,
Great answers! I’m really in tune with a lot of them – particularly the eyesight :)
Thanks for your input – the A+ beckons!
S.
Hi MysterHK,
Thanks so much for taking part. Love your answers, particularly your achievement and your preferred neighbour :)
Hope you keep visiting and sharing your viewpoints with us.
S.
Great answers, Dawn!
I think you are more outgoing than you let on :)
Definitely agree on the three things to do every day!
Thanks for taking part – looking forward to blogging with you long into the future…
S.
1. How would you describe yourself in three words to a stranger? Cautious, Loving, Concerned
2. What do you admire most about yourself? The ability to be resilient in life situations
3. What would you change about yourself if you could wake up tomorrow with the job done? I would go back to school and take classes I have been wanting to take for a long time.
4. What would you change about the world if you could wake up tomorrow with the job done? I would change our environment and make our world pristine again.
5. What is the most exciting thing about being the age you are now? Still feeling like I am 20!!
6. What do you miss most about childhood? The creative play that goes hand and hand with childhood.
7. What is your greatest fear? Illness.
8. What is your greatest achievement? Being a teacher
9. What three activities do you wish you could do every day?
Play Play Play
10. Who would you like to have move in next door to you and why?
That would be Al Gore. So that I could help with the environmental issues that are on his desk.
Hi Deborah,
What a great contribution! I love the three things you wish you could do every day :) I’m with you on that one!
Thanks for sharing,
S.