A Personality Type

During my Education Assistant course studies regarding working effectively in an education team, I discovered the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). It is a personality test that was developed during World War II and follows Carl Jung's personality theories. Theoretically, we each fit into one or other of four dichotomies, the combination of which provide 16 possible personality types.

Sound interesting?

Being rather curious by nature, I decided to answer the four question "test" and have my own personality type revealed!

Mmmm. My result?

HI = Harmony-seeking Idealist.

Harmony-seeking Idealists are characterised by a complex personality and an abundance of thoughts and feelings.

Ha ha. I think this justifies the title of my Blog!

And ...

They are warm-hearted persons by nature. They are sympathetic and understanding. Harmony-seeking Idealists expect a lot of themselves and of others. They have a strong understanding of human nature and are often very good judges of character. But they are mostly reserved and confide their thoughts and feelings to very few people they trust. They are deeply hurt by rejection or criticism. They find conflict situations unpleasant and prefer harmonious relationships.

Adjectives: introverted, theoretical, emotional, planning, idealistic, harmony-seeking, understanding, peace-loving, sensitive, quiet, sympathetic, conscientious, dogged, complicated, inconspicuous, warm-hearted, complex, imaginative, inspiring, helpful, demanding, communicative, reserved, vulnerable.

My reaction?

How did they know me so well? I mean, it is one of the closest descriptions of my personality I've ever read (and I didn't have to answer 100 questions or submit my date of birth)!

Also to my amazement, job # 1 on the list of Career Suggestions was ...

Can you guess?

Teacher Assistant.

Ha ha. Unbelievable!

For many years I have been searching for answers regarding my personality as one might when feeling different from everyone else in the family. My Mum's theory is that I am too sensitive. My theory, up to now, has been to believe I was more akin to my Father's family ... but my ancestry research (to date) has shed little light on this theory.

Now, perhaps, the search for answers is over.

Perhaps, the answer lies solely with myself.

My personality is simply about me.

I need to acknowledge who I am, love who I am and be the best I can be.

With knowledge comes peace, they say.

Interested in your own personality type?

Go to this website and complete the four question test.

What is your result? Does it describe you?

Please let me know ...

Wordless Wednesday

The BIG 90!

Can you believe it?

My Father, John David Roberts, would have turned 90 today!

Amazing!

I wonder what he would have been like at 90? Would his mind and/or body be failing him or would be lucky enough to still be himself? Would he be living at home with my Mum or would he be living in a nursing home? Would he be content with his life or would he have regrets?

All this pondering also makes me wonder what he was like at 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 years of age? What I have discovered over the last few years is that he was an exciting soccer player in his mid-teens; playing for Liverpool in the Zingari League. But this pursuit was cut short by WWII when he enlisted in the 8th Royal Artillery Regiment of the British Army, Number 901837, as a range finder and went off to fight in North Africa. At 25, he returned to English soil having spent three years in a German concentration camp, Stalag IV-C, POW Number 253575, stationed in Bystřice, (now) the Czech Republic. It seems such a young age to already have endured nearly 6 years of physical hardship and emotional torture. I wonder how this affected the boy he was ... and the man he became?

The year he returned home he discovered his high-school sweetheart, and first wife, had died of lead poisoning. He then married for the second time and was blessed with a son in the following January. Four years later he became a single parent and had the responsibility of juggling fatherhood with work commitments and a social life. I imagine this was another turbulent time in his life. What would have been more difficult for him: the war or the reality of living as a single parent?

Apparently his life turned around when he met my mother in his late 40s ... apparently he was happy and in love. They decided to look for a quieter life and settled on a move to Australia. But it wasn't easy. The house had no phone, no mains water and was a kilometre away from shopping facilities. My Father didn't have a permanent job, so needed to walk into town each morning to find out if he had work that day. I was born a few years later and by this stage he had a job at the local Shire. However, the day before my 1st birthday he died unexpectedly of tuberculosis in hospital. He was 52. My mother was about 5 months pregnant with my sister and did not have a car. She never saw his body. What had happened to their dream? Shattered. Although, this seems an understatement. And picking up the pieces? Now that would have been an almost overwhelming task ...

Yet, here we all are today. My brother, my mother, my sister and myself. Each living our own lives. Each with our own families. Each with our own scars. Each with our own dreams. But are we really taking risks by dreaming about the future? Or are we merely living each day just in the hope that it won't be our last?

In this light, living to the age of 90 seems such an extraordinary feat.

Yet my Dad, Raymond John Bell, is nearly 79 years of age and he makes another 10 years seem entirely plausible. He has lived a full life. And he does so with responsibilities for two families, with regrets, with a never-ending to-do list and with a body that "gives him jip!"

Perhaps one shouldn't hold on to the thought of living a long life, but simply to living a full life: mistakes, dreams and all.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window ...
Is the beautiful night sky, lit with an infinite number of twinkling stars! It is a joy to be in the desert on nights like these :)


I am thinking ...
How glad I am to be home after a week or so of travelling.


I am thankful ...
For holiday experiences.


From the kitchen ...
I successfully produced a cous-cous salad to accompany the salmon for dinner tonight.


I am wearing ...
Cotton tank top and denim shorts to cater for our recent warm Spring weather.


I am creating ...
Words and ideas for ANOTHER book I would like to write. Oh, one of these days!


I am going ...
To enjoy my sleep tonight after a busy day unpacking suitcases, washing piles and piles of clothes, cleaning cupboards and tidying mess.


I am currently reading ...
Nothing.
Four books to choose from: Britain in 1926; Russia in 1910; England 14th Century; Venice 1604.
Spoilt for choice!


I am remembering ...
How to think positive thoughts and be grateful for the small things.


I am hoping ...
To enjoy the remainder of the school holidays with the kids.


I am hearing ...
The conversation between a grown man and his Mother. My Mother-in-law is here for her annual, two week visit.


On my mind ...
Preparations for tomorrow, the week ahead, the girls' 7th birthday party and my overdue assignments.


Noticing that ...
Grass is growing in my new garden due to the warm weather! Grrrrr.


One of my favourite things ...
Flowers.

Pondering these words ...
"Today, let us choose to walk the good path for this is the way of peace." Angel


Around the house ...
My girls are fast asleep, but they still have many hours to catch up on after our travels.
The dog is outside awaiting his night walk.
My husband and mother-in-law are connecting through conversation.

Evidence that we've been away on holiday is mostly gone now ... It is time to settle into reality.


A few plans ...
Mostly to prepare for the girls' birthday party -- party bags, magic tricks, food and drinks, a general clean-up.


From my camera ...

If you would like to start The Simple Woman's Daybook, then please visit Peggy at http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/.