I ran into a friend at the grocery store the other day.
This is not surprising because a) I have lots of friends who eat and b) I eat lots of groceries. This particular day I was just running into the grocery store while I was on my way home from … the grocery store. A different grocery store.
THAT’S the way I roll. I am a rolling ball of excitement who visits not one, but two and sometimes three grocery stores in a row. A remarkable feat when you consider I grow all of my own vegetables. And make everything else out of kitty litter and water bottle caps.
What is it I’m buying then?
Well, on this particular trip it was a package of hot Italian sausages, buns, tortillas, sour cream and a copy of an organizing magazine.
I ran into a friend who gave me a big hug and kiss. This is not surprising because a) I’m very cute and b) this friend is very kissy.
In fact 3 aisles later some man pointed to my lip marked cheek and jovially asked who’d been kissing me. I slapped him in the face with my sausage and screamed INAPPROPRIATE POINTING, INAPPROPRIATE POINTING. It’s kind of a blur but I think I somehow got hold of a whistle and started blowing it too.
It was probably an overreaction on my part. I’ve been a bit jumpy lately. But it’s amazing what people let you get away with after the tiniest of nervous breakdowns. I’m thinking of robbing a bank.
Anyhow, Kissy-Monster friend and I were talking and she described me as having a “steely resolve”.
Really? I have a steely resolve? I guess I do. That’s fun. I’m not sure I ever would have thought of myself that way, but now that she mentioned it … I think she’s right. If I were to describe myself, “steely resolve” probably wouldn’t be the words I’d use. Which got me to thinking … how would I describe myself if I could only use one word?
Kind? No. Even though I am kind in a lot of cases it’s not what defines me I don’t think.
Smart? You bet. I can spell the word Chihuahua without a dictionary AND I can tell you what temperature it is in Fahrenheit if only given the current temperature in celsius. And a pen and paper. And access to Google.
Funny? Come now.
Then it came to me. I’m determined. It might not be a great word to describe myself to other people but it’s who I really am. Others would probably describe me as energetic. Or wildly engaging with just a touch of mystery.
But to me … I’m determined.
You know what I’m going to ask now don’t you? And I want you to really think about it. It might not be as easy as you think.
If you had to describe yourself in one word, what would it be?
Funny Kind Smart Caring Clever Happy Angry Damaged Mischievous?
Or maybe Steely?
Have a good weekend,
Determinedly,
A special bonus for everyone who scrolled down below my signature ... my organizing is going well, I'm getting rid of a lot of crap, and piling a lot more of it in my dining room while I decide whether to give it away, sell it online or have a garage sale.
So far I've added 3 convenience/organization products to my kitchen that have made an absurdly huge difference in how easy my kitchen is to use. I'll tell you about those in a post later on.
I am mid basement tackle. If you haven't seen the basement storage racks I built years ago take a look at them. I'm thinking about ... removing them. But probably just altering them. I need to make more room for my vegetable racks and grow lights.
That's it, I just wanted to give you a tiny update on the whole January purge.
Jill
Dang, some of y'all need to get your own blog, or learn to follow directions. She asked for one word. My word right now is Cranky. That is subject to change as the weather warms up. Love laughing with you, Karen!
karen but not that karen
I think you and i are the only ones here who A) know how to read and follow directions B) are honest about ourselves….everyone else here seems to be almost a saint…
Karen
I'd like to go on record that I, am exceptionally unsaintly. ~ karen!
Ei Conklin
Resourceful
Deb from Maryland
Cant do just one! Weary, but optimistic.
Wendy
Stoic. I seem to bounce back, good or bad, from everything thrown my way. Many times I would have called myself driven to just get through each day, but now I know each day is a gift. Sometimes that gift of a day is full of all the things that make me happy, my family, pets, gardening, time spent in the forest. Then other times you just wonder what new 💩 I can survive. 🤷♀️
REBECCA
"responsible"...damn it.
Chris W.
Just from reading your blog, I feel as though you are determinedly innovative (do those even go together?) Actually, I'm pretty jealous of all the things you tackle and complete - I'm so not lazy but I don't have what it takes to take on just anything. To describe myself, I would say that I'm happy and kind...pretty much always in a good mood and helping others makes me feel like I'm contributing.
Leilani
You had me at "slapped him in the face with my sausage and yelled INAPPROPRIATE POINTING!" Ha ha! Your blogs always have me laughing!
My word: Intentional
It may not appear that way to others with my scattered looking thoughts and journals and projects but with everything I do it's pretty intentional.
Babs
Diligent
Karen Quinton
Sesquepedalian.
Kirsten
VIVACIOUS
Tenacious D
Tenacious!
Ann
Like so many others, I am currently conflicted over how to describe myself with just one word.
I am creatively driven. 2 words but it is probably as good as it gets. I would rather be knitting a sweater, wire weaving a gemstone pendant, sewing a quilt, or anything that will give me an artistic end product that I can wear, look at or give away at my pleasure. I just simply am driven to create something.
I am curious. I am someone who loves modern tech, because I can actually answer questions that come up, no matter where I am. If I am out on a walk, and see a new to me plant, I can ID it. If I want to go somewhere new and want to know what is interesting there, I google it. If a thought jumps in my head and I need to understand, again google....Thing is, I have always questioned everything. Probably not an hour goes by that my mind doesn't have something it is curious about and needs to be able to answer the question
I am empathetic, more than most. Probably too much. I hurt for so many people and as hard as I try I can't help them all. That can be a bit painful at times. I often have to force myself to step away and not try to solve all the world's problems.
I have been told, by others, that I see way too many shades of grey in life. When my dear husband is about as black and white as one can get, I see all the nuances of a situation. So I guess that one word would be broad-minded...
But to pick just one word that "most" describes me, is just impossible. I am not a one dimensional being....
Chris W.
Really, really wonderful answer! Take good care.
🌵Las Vegas Pam🌵
Isn’t it weird how difficult it is to land on a single word to describe someone if it happens to be oneself? I skirted all the negatives that jumped up and waived trying to draw my attention. Then immediately threw out anything that is way too cute or annoyingly adorable like “bubbly”. Mainly due to the simple fact that I’m so far from bubbly that nobody in my life is brave enough to use that word around me unless they’re pouring champagne. I’m a lot of things but patience isn’t one of my virtues and I’m not bubbly.
A lot of curiously strange and unusual events have happened around me and to me. Not all good. Not that I’m just one long list of unfortunate events. Fabulous and surprising things have come my way. Things I’m deeply grateful for. I’m even grateful for some (not all) of the really bad stuff. All of it, put together has made me a capable weirdo but those aren’t the words I’d choose to pin to my lapel at a group therapy get together.
After throwing out my entire vocabulary and being limited to one single word I landed on survivor.
Teri on the West Coast
Hmmm, resourceful, resilient, determined, steadfast…
All good descriptions. One word? Capable.
Chris
Optimistic
Marie
Hopeful.
I could use the words worried, anxious, despairing, sick, discouraged and depressed instead. But even in the midst of my darkest moments over the past 5 years, there has been something deep inside me that keeps hoping tomorrow will somehow be a better day. I may be down, but I'm not out yet.
"Hope is the thing with feathers
that perches in the soul,
and sings the tune without the words,
and never stops at all" - Emily Dickinson
Dave V
Hi Karen,
Love reading your written words,
Ok i ment emails,
Now where was i ?
Yep got it me thinks, a word or in my case a few words that say what type of person i am,
Here we go! i ment me,
At this point your prob giving up the will to live,
By saying does this preson ever get to the point?
Stick with me, its a rollarcoaster ride full of many suprizes,well at this point im getting so ezited to tell you what words discribe me,
I know what your thinking! This persons lost the plot, let alone not being on the same page as he started,
Damm know you know im a he/him, see what done there?
Its that new
Thing you fo when your tryingvto be professional at emails,
Now ive taken this to a higher level,
Before i carry on you thought i was on the wrong page from when i started to write this,
Il let you into a little secret, come on everyone loves to be told a secret, dont they?
I was so hoping you didnt mind me sharing it with you,
Hold your horses young lady havnt told you yet,
Not only am i on a diffrent page at this point im on a completly diff book,
Ta raa,
Your confused now,
Imagine how i feel? Im the one writing this masterpiece,
Now Karen run along and enjoy your weekend,
Love from
Me,Myself and I
Thats what words it use anout me x
Dana
Pessimist (Capricorn ♑️)
Dave
Close Dana,
I have parkisons hence all the spelling mistakes, and tremors dont help in typing
Arthur
Amazing
Randy P
A one word personal description IS hard. I discarded funny, loyal, clever and steadfast and am going to go with - resourceful.
Mike Flegle
Resilient
Karen
Steely resolve = determined, sounds like your friend knows you well.
Optimistic would be my descriptive word, with tired a close second choice.
I always enjoy your posts!