I was reading a blog today where the writer was talking about things she is good at and it got me thinking, is there anything I am good at? I will tell you I am good at one or 2 things but other than that, I had a hard time coming up with anything.  It was then that I realized, the list of what I am NOT good at is easier to write than the list of what I AM good at, why is that?

I don’t mean that I’ve never had confidence in myself — because I have and do. But it’s always been in a specific context, mainly work related and I was good at my job.  Well at least I was, until my MS came along and changed my path. I decided that I would jot down both things I am good at AND things I am not good at.  At any rate, I have it really good, even if I’m not really good at a lot of things! What I’m good at, I’m really good at and what I’m bad at, I’m really bad at.

Here is my list in no particular order (and yes, it does sound like this post is all about me, so I apologize in advance):

Pool – I am really bad at pool. When we went on a family vacation to Australia, my husbands cousins had me believe that if you didn’t sink a ball by the time someone else won, you had to drop your pants and run around the pool table. Well, I lost and I had enough booze in me, to drop my pants and run around the table – in the middle of a bar, in a little town in Australia with lots of people there to witness it.  And I got arrested for it…..which I will tell you about another day.

Foosball – I am really good at foosball and can kick most people’s ass.  I have the Sugar Bowl to thank for that one. Not to mention, the endless hours we played there.  I am happy to say, I can still beat most people, don’t believe me?  Bring it on!

Volleyball – in about my junior year in high school, I developed a decent serve but that was about it.  My height didn’t help my cause at all.

Basketball – I made the varsity team my senior year, not because I was good at basketball but because I was a good motivator -meaning I sucked, but because I worked extra hard in practice, the coach said it was motivating to the other girls and made them work harder, and I bought that??  I’m serious, he actually pulled me aside before the season started and told me that I would likely never see any playing time, but he felt I deserved to be on the team because I was such a good motivator and I worked so hard.  That was a hard pill to swallow for someone as vain and competitive as myself.

Cooking – This is one of my strengths, although it took years and years to get there.  I find it highly therapeutic and people always appreciate tasty food.

Baking – I suck at it. Well, that’s not entirely true. When I bake it tastes good, but looks like a preschooler made it and usually I tell people that my grandchildren baked it (but that is a lie 99% of the time)

Riding and training horses – At least I was good years ago, I was a National champion and proud of it.  In fact, this spring I will be looking at getting back in the saddle to see if its like riding a bike.  They say it is good for people with MS, so I hope to prove them right! Stay tuned.

Organizing – I was good at this for my job, I organized hundreds of activities, supplies, instructors, rooms, etc but now I have a hard time organizing myself to do yard work because of my MS related brain fog.

Overthinking – I am excellent at overthinking things. I overthink everything, every day.  My brain goes over hundreds of scenarios for all problems or activities both real and imagined.

Navigating – I am decent navigating with google maps, but terrible if going by memory.  Maybe it is just because I don’t pay attention or maybe it is because I just have a shi$$y sense of direction. I get lost coming out of a hotel room and trying to get to the elevator, every single time.

Encouraging people – I am an encourager, being a cheerleader helped me with that.  That is why I made the basketball team, only to sit on the bench for every game and encourage the other girls.  That kind of backfired didn’t it?

I am pretty good at staying thankful – I don’t think it came naturally to me, but my disease and family has helped me be more thankful. Whatever the reason is, I’m thankful for it.

Puzzles – I’m good at puzzles (especially on my Ipad), not as good as my 4 year old grand daughter, but still pretty darn good.

I am good at driving a little over the speed limit but not so much that I get a ticket – watch me get a ticket now, that’s karma for you.

I am good at giving my children unsolicited advice – even though I swear I don’t do it.

I’m a really. Good. singer. In the shower. Yes. I said it. I typed it. And damn straight, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Nobody who has heard me will agree, but really, what do they know about singing? I can sing, just give me a microphone (or a hair brush) and turn on Delta Dawn! Sit back and enjoy the show!

I’m good at changing my perspective about negative situations and turning them around into something positive. It is something I work on daily – particularly where my health is concerned. When you feel crappy, it could be easy to fall into a dark space, but I refuse to go there. “When you change the way you look at things the things you look at change.” Quoted by Wayne Dyer and it is life changing, really.

I’m good at being a grandma – those kids are a great gift in my life. I love them and squeeze them whenever I can.  I laugh and try my best every day to be the best person I can so I can be the best I can for them.

I’m early to everything – very rarely am I late. Unless someone else makes me late.

I’m a good swearer, like really good.  In fact, some of my girlfriends from junior high and I have a song made up of strictly swear words…..real bad swear words. And I sing it sometimes…….oops!

I’m really good at getting the laundry into the machine but I’m really bad at folding it (I’m sure I’m not the only one am I?).

I am terrible at being patient – things can’t happen fast enough for me. I am a get ‘er done kinda gal, so when I have to wait for something, it drives me cuckoo. My family knows that if I wanted something done in 10 minutes, I would ask in 10 minutes.  When I ask someone to do something, my expectation is that they will jump to it.  It’s a bad habit, and I’m trying to break it but some habits are easier to break than others!

Nagging – I am too good at nagging and something I am not proud of and I try to stop myself before it happens but even though I am aware of it, I can’t always seem to stop myself. I’m a work in progress.

Because I am a decent cook, I am going to leave you with a wonderful salsa recipe!  I had about 50 tomatoes that needed to be picked because the weather is turning cold, but they hadn’t turned red yet so I decided to try canning some salsa to use them up, this recipe is the happy result of that!

I’m heading off to Mexico next week with some very special ladies (first time I’ve ever done a ladies trip) but will be sure to tell you all about it when I get home!

Care to share what you are good at?

Until Next Time~

Raegan