Literary Drama

On my first day off, I spent the morning running errands— Trader Joe’s, CVS, Michaels, and Barnes & Noble. I started at the book store, since Matthew and I are looking to move out west by April, we talked about buying a map of the States and marking where we want to go— the book store seemed like a good place to find a map. While there, and since I had no one with me to ask me when we were leaving, I roamed around for awhile. I came across a table of books, all by the same author— Keri Smith. I had heard about her book, Wreck this Journal on YouTube, I looked through the stack of three or four books that were on the table. I ended up buying one, This is Not a Book.

I can best describe This is Not a Book as an adult activity challenge, as it is full of activities and imagination provoking topics. I went through the full book when I got home, and realized that a majority of what is in it needs to be done in public, which mean these activities are going to force me to go out and do my best to complete each “This is not…” task.

One of the “challenges” tells you to draw a “Limited Edition Art Piece”— This is Not a Book provides ten 1” squares to draw your art pieces in, cut out and display in public somewhere and selling them if you want (for free of course). Drawing something is one thing for me, but displaying them is completely out of my comfort zone— hell, I just started really writing about myself for others to anonymously read over the Internet.

I am not one to be active if I don’t have a deadline to hit or other people counting on me, I fall into the uncomfortable category of the people who find laziness so easy but then feel ashamed to feel that way… Perfect example- I had a totally lazy day yesterday, of course I still sent out resumes and looked up information on the three cities Matt and I are thinking about moving to, but I did this all from bed while watching Bleak House on Netflix. When Matt got home from work, I felt so bad for being in the house all day I was a mess. Today begins the first day of my month of change, I will do at least one activity from This is Not a Book everyday. Beginning October 20th, Matt and I signed up for an e-Course taught by our favorite TED-talk social worker Brené Brown all about how to let go of who you are supposed to be, finding who you really and becoming a wholehearted person.

When going through high school, no one ever made me take a personality or aptitude test. I walked into college I kept trying (and changing) what I wanted to do with my life— Stage Management, Journalism, Publishing, and Marketing. As I went through these ideas, I never thought about what fit my personality and personal strengths in the work place. My boyfriend, Matt, went to a career counselor a few weeks ago and one of the first items they had Matt take was a personality test.

The Myers-Briggs Personality Indicator is pretty well known but most the people I know don’t know what if they’re an INTP or an EFGH. I took the test when Matt came home from his counseling appointment and found that I am an ESFJ (Extroverted Sensing Feeling Judging). The last week I’ve spent reading up on what my personality type is and it fits me pretty perfectly.

"People with an ESFJ personality type tend to be outgoing, loyal, organized and tender-hearted." (About)  So, basically, I have a nice personality… but I swear I’m pretty too!

After reading about my type I’ve come to realize a few things: 1. I am looking at the right career path for me, as I want to be in marketing so my personality fits well. 2. Apparently, my boyfriend and I are not compatible with our personality types, but then we could have told you that two years ago when we first met. 3. I worry too much about what other people think, rather than what I think about what I do and think.

What’s my conclusion?  I quit my dull office job, of three and a half years, to “find myself”.  No, that is not what personality tests are supposed to do for you, but when I read through everything I realized how terrible it is to not reach your full potential because you need to find a job when you have a job.  Those ideals are not living like there is no box, that’s living within that tiny cubicle box, that I’ve been stuck in for over the last three years.