Unshelled
With social networking sites reigning supreme these days, it seems like I’m asked practically daily to write a little blurb about myself, to “sum myself up,” or “describe me in a nutshell.”
But, hey, newsflash! I’m a pile of walking contradictions. I can’t be summed up in five or six tidy sentences. Can anyone?
For instance:
I love “fancy” food like sushi and chicken cordon bleu and creme brulee and calamari, but I also really really love Wendy’s Junior Cheeseburger Deluxe. Also, McDonald’s sundaes.
I loved Anna Karenina, 1984, and Tess of the d’Urbervilles, but I also love fluffy books like those by Sophie Kinsella and Emily Griffin.
I think Abercrombie & Fitch is totally marketing porn, but I also secretly think they have some pretty cute clothes.
I love having worked out, but I do not particularly enjoy doing it during it and I inwardly disbelieve anyone who says they just love to run or lift weights.
I love pretty shoes, but I end up wearing flip-flops at least half of the week because I know I’ll be able to walk all over campus without coming home with blood dripping down my heels.
I love it when I dress up, but I also really enjoy coming home and putting on yoga pants and an Old Navy t-shirt.
I enjoy cooking a lot, but there are also many many days when we have Raman or a big bowl of guacamole for dinner.
I love to go somewhere new, but I am always so glad to come home, back to my normal, boring, lovely life.
I’m not afraid of flying and I even enjoy it, but whenever the turbulence gets particularly bad, I wonder if, just maybe, I’m going to die.
I like to go out on the weekends, but sometimes I just want to stay in and watch movies on the LoveSac.
I love the idea of taking lovely pictures like Ralphie or Angella or Meleah, but the effort of learning how just seems too great. Also, Photoshop seems too expensive.
Am I the only one who is just a mess of conflicting parts?
Nope, I am the same way…don’t worry. My favorite contradiction about me. I hate the heat in the summer and want to move back to Utah but then when the snow comes I want to be back in Texas in the summertime, taking a dip in the pool.
Nope, I’m totally the same way.
I love a night out but I’m perfectly happy staying home on the couch with a book.
I love romantic comedies but some of my all time favorite movies include guns and lots of explosions.
I never really liked kids but being a mother is my most favorite thing ever.
Great post!
Oh no, I’m a stereotypical Gemini over here–all contradictions and conflicting opinions etc. I hate being asked to define myself in a few sentences. It’s just so… artificial.
Your A & F comment makes me cringe, since I despise the company with the greatest of loathing, but it's true they have some nice clothes.
Rage Against the Machine has the best bass lines of any band, and Alice In Chains has the coolest harmonies, but their lyrics taint their music to the point that I don't feel comfortable listening to them anymore. Still, I don't loathe them like I do A&F.
I’m bad that way that sometimes I will say two contradicting things in one sentence. I think I have gotten better though.
Hi! I’m replying to your comment on Pioneer Woman.
I bet she took that gelato pic at Whole Foods. THey have great gelato and lots of flavors.
I’m clueless as to what Italian restaurant they dined.
Enoteca on SoCo?
ella in austin
I think most people are that way. I definitely am.
But, let me tell you, I DO love running (most times), and I HATED Anna Karenina with a capital H. Seriously, I really want to hear what you liked about that book.
I think we’re all full of contradictions. I’ve been thinking a lot about self perception lately. I don’t feel like I’m ever fake, but I change given the circumstances and situation. Am I strong-willed and outspoken and tough or am I reserved and a little insecure and kind? I really wonder how people see me. Also, I know all of the thoughts that pass through my head, while other people only see my actions and hear the words that I let out of my mouth; I think that can cause a big disparity between how I view myself and how others see me.
Good, thought-provoking topic.
You are my kind of girl. And I loved Tess of the Dubervilles. And Shopaholic. (Don’t forget, you are also a “liberal” Mormon.)
There’s a book I read called “The Happiness Hypothesis” that analyzes all of this. He calls the two parts of your personality the Elephant and the Rider on the Elephant. The Rider is the logical part of you that is consciously making logical decisions and hopefully guiding the Elephant. On the other hand, the Elephant is walking along the path, stopping here and there to do things that the rider doesn’t necessarily want to do like eating things, sniffing things, stopping to rest, picking another Elephant to mate with, rolling in the mud to cool off, etc.
The author makes the point that the Elephant is actually the controlling part of the personality even though the Rider thinks he’s in control. He also makes the excellent point that it takes both sides of the personality to be a balanced and normal person. Personalities that are pure Riders don’t have a good and happy life like you’d think.
So, even though Elephant is a poor metaphor for you, I see both sides of your personality coming out in your descriptions of yourself.
Fun post.
Contradictory Moni is what Brad calls me–I am full of opposites. Glad I’m not the only one!
I love staying in, but then I get worked up wondering what I’m missing by going out.
I love having a fully stocked pantry, but hate going to the market.
I think contradictions are what make people interesting – yours included. I like to think of myself as open minded – and I think it’s a FABULOUS trait that you love to eat all kinds of things, and read all kinds of books. Two of my favorite things as well. Food snobs and book snobs drive me crazy.
I, too, have contradicting opinions of things. I think every girl does, and that’s why men have such a hard time understanding us. Although, many men are just as contradicting.
Lin’s Kitchen is me, by the way. I forgot I was still signed in on a different account.
Hmmmm – I guess I don’t see those things as contradictory. I think it is about being well rounded, interesting, being able to cope with life in general, being a reasonbable human being, and being practical. Thank goodness. 🙂
I am SO with you on almost all of these…the working out, the shoe dilemma, abercrombie, cooking food…
we’re kindred spirits, you and i.
I share some of your same contradictions! Here’s to being unpredictable!
I have the same feelings toward a lot of the things you mentioned. It’s so hard to sum oneself up without adding footnotes.
I feel the same way! I love dressing up and fun shoes, but I often love being comfortable more.
I also hate the idea of working out, but feel great when it’s over.
Great post!
This is why I usually end up frustrated with book and movie recommender systems. The latest movie recommender I tried out insists on giving me ONLY “film noir” recommendations. Okay, so I liked The Maltese Falcon and The Thin Man. But I could use some recommendations for movies made post-1949.
It still surprises me how much we have in common…
I am definitely a walking contradiction too. And wait, you have a LoveSac?! So jealous!
just read this quote in a book (attributed to Churchill, but what random quote isn’t attributed to him? or Abe Lincoln)
“consistency is a virtue of small minds”