Day One: Introduce Yourself

I don't particularly enjoy talking about myself. Not because I'm not interesting or don't have anything to say (trust me, I always have something to say), but because it's difficult. I think the way in which I perceive myself may be different from how others see me; but at the same time I think it's a goal of mine to have others see me in the same way that I see myself. Does that make any sense at all? Hopefully it will.

Here are some things that are definitely solid facts:
I am left-handed (which I have grown to love).
I was born on New Year's Eve, making me a Capricorn, which is amazingly accurate (if you're into astrology).
I am incredibly quirky and sometimes borderline OCD (i.e. all of the kitchen cabinets have to be closed before I go to sleep at night).
My family and close friends (who I consider to be family) mean the world to me.
I am the oldest of three girls and I definitely fit the "big sister" role/description pretty well.
I dislike change of any kind, but I also love to be challenged (which can be quite the conundrum).
I am really good at spelling.
Sometimes I smile at strangers because it's such an unexpected gesture (some people even smile back!).
Field of Dreams is one of my top five favorite movies of all time.
I don't have a favorite color because I could never choose just one.
My biggest vice is twirling my hair. I do it constantly, usually without realizing it.

So those are the very basics. I believe in carrying on and establishing new traditions and secretly hope to fall into that role when my sisters and I have families of our own. I love big family gatherings full of chaos and laughter. I'm caring and kind almost to a fault and sincerely love doing things for other people. It really does make me happy. I love working with kids and I really think this is what I was meant to do with my life. I'm insanely competitive, even over little things like board games. I love recalling childhood memories and completely immersing myself in them. Many of my memories are triggered by music and smell. I can close my eyes and take a deep breath and smell Christmas morning at my Grandma's with the crackling fire and greasy rags frying or a hot, sticky afternoon in Colonial Beach eating crabs on the screened-in porch. Sometimes I wonder if other people do that, too?

I have the tendency to get off-topic and my brain goes a mile a minute. I am as easily distracted as some of the little kids I work with. I can be mid-sentence and then see something out of the corner of my eye that spawns a totally different thought and conversation. I truly try to appreciate the little things in life every day, whether it's enjoying a cup of coffee while doing the crossword or having a favorite song come on the radio. I relish simplicity, but I also appreciate extravagance at times, too. I strive to be a better person and make my family proud every single day. Mostly, I just love to laugh and have fun. Life is too short to hold grudges and be unhappy. Silliness is way better!

This is a lot harder than I thought it would be! I hope I can make it thirty days.