Last week while attending another workshop/inservice/training thingie that I had to go to (‘thingie’ is the proper educational term for it) we had to introduce ourselves to the everyone in the room by stating our names, our job titles, and then complete a sentence.
“You wouldn’t know by just looking at me…”
These things are normally fine for me because I’m verbose and tend to sway on the side where I say something followed immediately by me adding some seasoning to my foot because it needs to go directly in my mouth. Someday, when I’m a big girl and all grown up, there won’t be this tendency to say the first thing that is hanging on the end of my tongue. Because usually… it’s really stupid.
What it did was get me thinking about the the way others view me. It also made me realize ONCE AGAIN that I really should deactivate the impulse to shoot from the lip. It made me wonder how the people I work with have changed their initial views of me, how my presence is regarded, how people jump to conclusions about the person they see before them.
You wouldn’t know by just looking at me…
…that I’m insecure about my looks.
You wouldn’t know by just looking at me…
…that I’m the mother of a child in college.
You wouldn’t know by just looking at me…
…but I struggle with being the mother of two children with ADHD.
You wouldn’t know by just looking at me…
… that neither of my papers that are due this week for class are finished.
You wouldn’t know by just looking at me…
… that right before I have to speak to a crowd of people I rehearse how I’m going to begin and don’t think about anything else after that.
You wouldn’t know by just looking at me…
… that a look from my father can still scare me.
You wouldn’t know by just looking at me…
… that I’m awfully lonely sometimes.
You wouldn’t know by just looking at me…
… how much I actually weigh.
You wouldn’t know by just looking at me…
… how tender I can be.
{ 27 comments }
Love it! Loooooooove it.
Must decide whether to put my own list in a comment here or to turn this into a meme on my own blog. Hmmmmm. I’ll get back to you on that.
Yeah, I feel you on that shooting from the lip thing. I do it all the time and, usually, about a day or two afterwards I’ll cringe about something I’ve said. It’s a kind of delayed reaction guilt. And I’m off two minds about that – on the one hand I kind of think it’s my guilt rather than what I actually say which is the problem and wouldn’t it be nice to get rid of THAT; on the other, the guilt probably keeps me from being a complete ass (so yes, that means I’m only half-assed *rim shot*).
Oh! I want to make a list like this! I do! It’s a real eye opener!
You wouldn’t know by just looking at me, that I care too much about what other think. That would be my first one. Ugh. This is going to be therapeutic.
Oh, I may do this too…
Mary
OK, I did do it. Fun idea.
Mary, mom to about a gazillion kids
You started someting BIG here. I copyed you too. It was tough for me to admit somethings but I feel better already. Thanks!
I want to do this. But I think it’s going to make me cry.
But I will be strong and do it anyway.
Much Love
I’m doing this too…oh the power you wield mocha–do good with it…even though evil is more fun…
I love it.
I would know by reading you that you are smart and funny and an amazing mocha momma. I would also know by reading you that you are a caring and insightful woman. Rock on Mamma.
Your list gives just a bit more insight into the wonderful person you are.
At first, I was going to say that I wanted to copy you. Then I thought better of it because I didn’t want to be the copy-cat of the group. Now that I see others have already lead the way, I’ve decided to do it anyway! Great idea! (Remember, the highest form of flattery is imitation.
)
Thanks for the reminder that we can never really know all the things that are going on with someone else just by looking at them.
You wouldn’t know by just looking at me that my heart is split wide open for example, so if I do slip with my tongue, I hope for some forgiveness. If you can be forgiving with others, I am confident they will do the same for you! I CAN tell by looking at you that you have the face of a faithful friend.
hugs,
i smooch you, mocha.
Thanks for such a great and inspirational post.
As the other comments indicate, I’ll also be doing a copy post in my Livejournal.
I think many of us would have similar items on a list like this. I know I would.
You may not know this about me but…I only have one mirror in my house and that is in the bathroom, because I hate, hate, hate looking at myself in any mirror!
…I don’t know, I think I can tell a lot about a woman who wears leopard print and striped tights, and eats penis cake.
I guess that’s why I read your space so much.
I’m totally stealing this, too.
And I DO know how tender you can be…I’ve had your tongue on my face. *gleam*
I had no idea anyone would want to do this, too, so when I read the comments just now I was completely taken aback and have visited anyone who’s done it already. That was pretty hard, too, because you KNOW I’m not done with my papers yet.
I smooch you all back.
Cool! I will keep this idea on reserve so I can go to bed tonight thinking about it.
The first one? And the one about public speaking? And, and? DITTO.
You wouldn’t know by looking at me…
that I am a blogger at heart and haven’t been very good at it lately… trying to change that…
Nice reading you again…
Russ
Wow, that’s a great list. I can see myself doing that in the near future.
P.S. Loving the shoe pictures!
I loved this, so I did it, too!
Thanks.
Kelly, this was… touching(?) poignant(?) revealing(?)
I can’t believe that I am actually at a LOSS for words after reading this post.
Muuaaahhhh!
steve
OH!
You wouldn’t know it by looking at me but…
I really am in shape…
(round is a shape)
~(:=0)
s.
So what did you say at the training thingie? Did you say “You wouldn’t know by just looking at me, but I write a wildly popular blog, and when I meet my readers in person I lick their faces”? I’m sure that would have gone over well
Oh, Mocha Mamma! You are so beautiful and I’m sure no matter how much you weigh it is just right. Even after all those extra calories in the mornings
You are so real! I’m sure that anyone who gets to know you falls in love with you.
I love this post.
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