Character Strengths

I found this to be interesting. Discover your character strengths in 15 minutes.

I'm not surprised by the first one, in fact when I read the list of character strengths I thought that would come out on top, but the one about wisdom is a surprise. Also 'spirituality/faith/God' stuff came out last.

I often wonder if there is a bit of a gap in my psyche with that stuff. Would I be a better/smarter/stronger/nicer/calmer person if I did something towards spirituality? By that I don't even necessarily mean 'God' as such, but more wonder at the world and our place within it. I guess in a sense I see spirituality to be a humbling experience where we consider the bigger picture, and realise there is more to it all than just ourselves.



Your Top Character Strength

Capacity to love and be loved
You value close relations with others, in particular those in which sharing and caring are reciprocated. The people to whom you feel most close are the same people who feel most close to you.
Your Second Character Strength

Gratitude
You are aware of the good things that happen to you, and you never take them for granted. Your friends and family members know that you are a grateful person because you always take the time to express your thanks.
Your Third Character Strength

Perspective (wisdom)
Although you may not think of yourself as wise, your friends hold this view of you. They value your perspective on matters and turn to you for advice. You have a way of looking at the world that makes sense to others and to yourself.
Your Fourth Character Strength

Hope, optimism, and future-mindedness
You expect the best in the future, and you work to achieve it. You believe that the future is something that you can control.
Your Fifth Character Strength

Humor and playfulness
You like to laugh and tease. Bringing smiles to other people is important to you. You try to see the light side of all situations.

Spray on pants

According to Judah Friedlander and his 'bad art' collection this is the gayest poster ever

A fruitful weekend

Tomatoes, eggplants, zucchinis and home made bread ala Tony Polony!

Reflections

I was thinking today back on the year that was 2008, and to me it felt like the year of struggles.

First was the struggle to pay off debt and to try and get ourselves into a position where we could be candidates for a loan. There was also the struggle to find the house itself, months of trawling through home opens and online real estate sites. Then the struggle to have someone accept our offer to buy (don't even get me started).

Work was a nightmare for me in 2008, I spent the first 3/4 of the year hating my job and being consumed by worry, and feeling like a total freak who doesn't fit in even slightly. My self esteem, previously at an all time high was wittled down to a nub.

I think the saving grace for me in 2008 was my relationship with Tony. Everything about it is just effortless, well maybe not totally (we all have our moments), but it feels like it's all so easy. We just seem to complement each other so well that it's very rarely we have any conflict, and if we do it's so minor it's almost not worth worrying about. I think the fact that we both have easy going personalities helps too. What could become an argument, we both find we just let go, and walk away from.

So onto to 2009.

I guess what got me thinking about this post is today at work I had one of those moments where I stopped and realised that I feel so entirely different about my job. I would even say I love my job (as far as jobs go that is). Sure I still have one person who can make my life hell, but I'm choosing to not let her get the better of me. She can shove it up her ass.

So I'm at a point with work where I know what I'm doing, people look up to me, ask me questions and have some respect for me. I in no way feel like the new girl who knows nothing and everyone thinks is weird anymore. Having another fellow vego on board, and now 4 staff (previously just little old me) who live South of the river, makes me feel like I'm just normal.

I'm blessed with finding that I make friends easily, but recently I feel like my work friendships are getting to a deeper level. I know more about peoples lives, and I'm better known, and therefor understood; which makes a massive difference.

So work struggles over, house struggles seem to be non-existent. We just live, and enjoy; pay our mortgage and go about our day in our cute little nest.

I feel like we did the hard yards in 08 setting the foundations for the future we want, and I would like to think we'll get to enjoy some of our hard work this year.

New babies

I got a Bunnings Voucher for Christmas from my Dad and today I spent it. I now have a dwarf pink lady apple tree, otherwise known as a 'pinkerbelle' (how cute!), and a doughnut peach. Doughnut peaces are kind of flat with a dip in the middle and well look almost like doughnuts.

I've planted both and now look forward to seeing my babies grow, mature and produce fruit.