We all have our strengths and weaknesses — the quirks, habits, and hang-ups that make us uniquely ourselves. Some of mine are harmless preferences, others are skills I’m still figuring out, and a few are challenges I’d genuinely like to improve. If nothing else, they’ve given me a pretty good sense of self-awareness (and a decent sense of humor about it).
Parking and Driving: I’m actually a very safe and cautious driver. I never go more than five miles over the speed limit and frequently get honked at for not turning on red if I don’t feel comfortable. I’ve never caused an accident or been pulled over for my driving. That said, yes — I’m a good driver, but I do have my fears. I hate driving in the city, on one-way streets, and in parking garages. I avoid street parking, hate backing up, and prefer parking only if I can find a pull-through spot. Honestly, I’d love to have blind spot detection for backing up and changing lanes. All in all, I’m a good driver… just not a confident one.
Cooking: I rarely cook unless it’s in the crockpot or air fryer. When I attempt baking or cooking, I'm not too terrible, I just don't do it often!
Hair and Makeup: I am not a girly girl at all. I wear eyeliner and eyeshadow and chop my hair off once a year. I shower, brush, and dry it every morning — that’s the extent of my hair routine. If it’s particularly hot, I’ll ask my mom to braid it or put it in a half ponytail when I drop the kids off on the way to work. As for makeup, I literally only wear eyeshadow and eyeliner, and that’s it. I get a lot of compliments on my skin, and I firmly believe the reason it looks nice is because I don’t slather a bunch of products on it.
Socializing and Conversating: I am a MAJOR introvert. I’ve gotten better at interacting with people since I started working at 16 — always in customer-facing jobs — but socially, I still struggle. I describe myself as “awkward” in social situations. I say weird things, make odd jokes, and just feel uncomfortable in general. I can express my thoughts clearly in writing, but try to get me to do it verbally and I’ll stumble and fumble over my words. I wish I was better at this because I feel so uncomfortable in most social situations.
Saying No: I tend to be a very passive person and struggle with saying no. I often feel obligated to do things, or at least to offer an explanation when I can’t. Why can’t I just say “no” and leave it at that?
Housework: I love the feel of a clean, organized house, but I struggle with keeping things tidy. A huge part of it is exhaustion — by the time I get home from work and tend to the kids, I’m ready for bed. Some of it is lack of space. I love to collect “things,” but I have no basement or shed for storage. And some of it is probably just lack of skill, to be honest. My mom stayed home with us when we were growing up, and she did most of the housework, so I’m still learning the best ways to clean now that I’m the adult and homeowner. I use a lot of antibacterial wipes to just wipe things down, but I’m sure there are better methods and products out there.
Being Patient: Patience is a virtue, and I don’t have a lot of it these days. I’m impatient when I want something or have a new idea, and I’m impatient with the kids more than I’d like to admit. Some days I just feel fried by all my responsibilities, and I’ll snap at the kids for driving me nuts. I need to work on being patient with them and with myself. Not everything has to be rushed or perfect — and that’s okay.
At the end of the day, I’m a mix of capable, clumsy, and constantly learning. Some of these things might never change — I’ll probably always avoid street parking and default to my air fryer — but others I know I can work on, like patience and saying “no” without guilt. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s progress… and maybe a little grace for the parts of me that are still a work in progress.
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