Thanks for all the replies, really interesting 🙂
It actually started because I was pondering on what level of impact school has on people and how much it contributes to who you are as an adult. Not remotely scientific and also bourne from huge curiosity and general nosiness 😉
For the first question I was after professions – I don’t know whether it was just an indication of the 80s when I grew up, the school or area I lived in, being considered ‘bright’ or just my own upbringing but I don’t remember ever hearing anyone wanting to be a wife and mother. It was all about a career. Actually it took me several years to stop defining myself by my job title so I was clearly very conditioned somewhere along the line.
My own answer – a variety of things. I wanted to be a teacher for a while and then realised I didn’t / don’t actually like children very much. I wanted to write and illustrate childrens’ stories for a long time but was never remotely encouraged so grew to see that as impossible and then I wanted to work in finances somehow – banking, pensions, mortgages or something like that.
What are you most proud of yourself for? I was wondering whether people are most proud of achievements they have strived for or those which come naturally. Whether it is intrinsic or extrinsic rewards that motivate us. Sadly you are all so bloody humble I didn’t get much on that one 😆
What am I proud of myself for? I think I’m just proud of being me really. I could have gone down several roads, I could have crumbled and fallen at various fences and I didn’t. At 32 I still feel I have most of my life well ahead of me. I’m not hugely proud of my marriage as I don’t really feel it takes any work – I’m simply glad we found each other and recognised we were a couple really despite lots of rather good evidence (and people giving their ‘input’) to the contrary. I am hugely proud of my children but if having them has taught me anything it is that you can actually take very little credit for them or their actions and I would never either give them the responsibility of making me proud or disappointed, not pin my hopes on another individual for my happiness or self worth anyway. I tend not to be so proud of the things which I find come easily. I like being praised for things like writing but as it takes very little effort I don’t really feel proud of it as such.
Who do you admire? That was almost entirely curiosity although it was lovely to read that some of you admire relatives – actually I guess I’d be very proud if one of my children at a future point said they admired me!
I admire a variety of people for various reasons. As a capitalist I like the rags to riches, success against the odds stories of people who dreamt big and started small and really, really made it. I admire hard work and I really admire people who follow their own path and stick with their beliefs and confidence in themself. I think the world is a better place for the presence of the likes of Bob Geldof et al. I propably don’t really aspire to be like anyone, but then that wasn’t actully the question – you don’t need to want to be someone to admire their qualities.
I admire my Dad for many things – he’s been through a fair old amount – much of it self -inflicted, which for me is something it is even more admirable to come through the other side of in one piece – you need to deal with the crap and deal with your own feelings towards yourself regarding it. He is definitely someone who’s attitude I have learnt from, the aspects of my own personality which are most like him are the ones I like about myself the most.
I also admire Ady for almost the opposite reasons. He’s endured crap from outside of his own control and emerged butterfly like into one of the most respectful, optimistic and able to see the best in everyone people I know, despite having had plenty of evidence that actually people are crap and very likely to hurt you. I admire him loads for still giving people the chance to potentially hurt him by loving them anyway.
Anyway thanks chaps – I enjoyed reading. 🙂
Oh, I missed that post first time around – it was because you posted a whole lot of blog things right on top of it, I never scrolled down far enough. And me convinced that I follow you slavishly on the internet 😉
Comment by Joyce — 28 May 2006 @ 9:42 am
no reason not to join in now 🙂
are you feeling better today?
Comment by Nic — 28 May 2006 @ 9:45 am
Glad we get your answers. Interesting how similar ours are in some aspects, given that we are so different in (well-documented!) others.
Comment by Ali — 28 May 2006 @ 10:28 am