How would you describe yourself in relationship to your interests?

I would say that I have many interests with fairly high proficiency. But my proficiency fades quickly when I move on to a new set of interests.

Give me a topic and a week and I'll be an "expert"

Lots of intrests but I would love to be proficent, but I think I am proficient then someone comes along and and is proficent and I get discouraged.

Feel like you have to be "the best" at something? I have that problem also. It usually causes me to change my focus to something new.

i used to feel i *"had to"* be *the best* at whatever i did - something which *severely* limited my actions...
;)

now that i'm older (and diagnosed;-), i don't feel that way very often...
i've more or less "accepted" the fact that i'm a "theory person", and not a "practical person", who's *lousy* at sports...

my coordination dysfunction (dyspraxia) doesn't stop me from trying/enjoying sports, though - in fact, i'm a member of a bowling team (my record is 184 points... not very good, i know, but i managed to set that personal record at *exactly* the right time: i was up against this *pro* with sparkly silver-colored bowling shoes (those of you who've seen the movie "king pin" starring "woody harrelson" - 's that his name? something like that, anyway - know the type;-), who was sooo sure he'd beat/*slaughter* me (so was *i*, actually;-)...

i still don't know what happened (words/phrases like "flow" and "in the zone" merely *begin* to describe it;-), but i did *everything* right, and the poor man hasn't dared looking into my eyes since!

:D

I have so many interests, it's bonkers! But I have few I am REALLY good in...and trying to get better in others :D

I have a large number of interests, but I'm only active in one or two at a time. I gain a modicum of proficiency, and then get too bored or frustrated to go to the next level. It's a never ending cycle. I can't seem to focus long enough to become really proficient in anything.

I start a new project (like rebuilding my motorcycle), and do great taking it apart. Then I start looking at the engine and wiring diagrams, and then I decide I can't be bothered to try and learn enough to put the thing back together again. I thought I wanted to learn about economics. I bought about a dozen books, started pouring over them, and did learn some things, but then decided I wasn't interested enough to dig any deeper into the subject. Stamp collecting, learning to play musical instruments, economics, airplane identification, motorcycles, making windchimes, astronomy, learning Spanish, learning Arabic, and back to the beginning again. Others have been kind enough to call me "eclectic" in my interests. If they only knew the truth. My Dr. finally made the ADD diagnosis (I've also got GAD), and put me on dexedrine. It's been working great for focusing at work. It helps me feel better about myself, with less guilt, because I'm getting more work done. Maybe it will be easier to focus on my other interests now.

Due to the hyperfocusing I get into something and everything else falls by the wayside. I'm very eclectic. I love to learn. The most frustrating part is how little I retain. I have to go back and look things up over and over. Theater is the one place where I retain the most info, my kids tied. I'm terrible with names, even if it's an actor/ess I really enjoy. Honestly, it makes me feel stupid. My hubby can spew things out from memory no problem. He'd win big bucks on Jeopardy. I don't even do well following along with the kid tournament. Good grief.:rolleyes:

I have very few interests, but I am highly knowledgeable about my areas of interest. In my day-to-day life, I find that I focus on one interest/activity at a time ...including my job. So, if I'm doing terrific at work, I'm not doing much aside from working. Then I'll get tired of work and focus on volunteering at the animal shelter (dog rescue is my #1 interest) ...during this time, I'll slack off at work.

Hmm, this reminds me ...it's highly likely that'll disappear from the forums in the next month. I'll be starting back to work soon, and I'm usually highly focused on work at the start of the new school year. So don't take offense or worry if I disappear :p...I will re-emerge eventually.

Many interests with high proficiency in many of them...mostly because I have a weird kind of social anxiety/perfectionist tendency where I won't do anything if there's a chance of someone seeing me fail, and I tend to do really, really poorly when put on the ball...so I only get interested in things I can get good at, heh.

I am involved a quit a few different groups such as girl scouts and church youth group. I am unable to show interest in them at the same time. I have to pick one of my many activities and I'll be 100 percent for about a week then I'll change and give 100 percent to another activity. I HATE it and so do my daughters. They are old enough to recognize my problem now.

Learning to recognize it helps. Then just try to not sucker yourself into those kinds of situations & I guess learn enough to manage when you have to.

Many interests with high proficiency in a few of them.

Of course I wish that I was proficient in all of my interests!!!!! But I do know that of the things I am interested in, I do have some knowledge. For if I did not, I would not be interested in it.

I'm interested in so many things but I rarely have time to master anything. Though I have a few.

Many interests with high proficiency. :) I still procrastinate though. :(

Through the years (many, many :rolleyes: ) I have had so very many projects and interests. However, I have generally stayed with each for varying periods of time. Some areas proved to be successful. I was able to sustain my energy and attain a certain level of proficiency however, bordom always set in and I would move on to the next project or task.

Currently, I have decided to just sit back (and smell the roses ) I am now reassessing my life, my goals and interests to realistically decide what I want to do now that I am grown up.

In the meantime, while I am in a waiting mode, I am pursuing my interest in Einstein. (Recently, I read an editorial and article about the black hole.) Of course this peaked my interest since I have always been interested in space, time, motion, etc,etc. So I am now reading and researching the subject of physics and philosophy.

Since I barely got through algebra in highschool (who could sit still for this :confused: ) , I did not take physics. So I am making up for lost time. I am determined to finish this book which, yes, happens to be very interesting. When I complete my study and inquiry, I can predict that I will not be proficient in this subject. But satisfied that I reached a goal. My next interest is grammar and punctuation (and spelling- :o )

Ah.....yes! I have come quite far in these last couple of months, now that my study of physics is complete :p and I have mastered all there is vis-a ves grammer and punctuation :rolleyes: I, very honestly, stumbled in that pesky area of spelling, though, so I quickly moved on to creating my own reality.

Now I am taking each day as it comes. No more fighting the tides of time. No No. I am just having fun. Any body remember the song, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun? that's me. and I am very proficient at it and i have no problem sticking with it. :D

Many interests with high proficiency. :) I still procrastinate though. :(
that would be me, too....

In my whole life I have only been good at four things.

1. Writing, and I have the awards and modest publication credits to prove it.

2. Mothering: My daughter is now an adult.

3. Baking bread: I am now low-carbing. There goes the bread. :rolleyes:

4. Training dogs: I finally met my match in my current German Shepherd/Malamute cross. He trained me instead. :D

I am good at whatever I do. But then again I only do what I am good at.

Art in Various medias.

Sports and other active things. (except swimming)

Thinking and writing.

Computer games and stuff.

DB,

Cyndi Lauper. I remember it. But I have yet to reach the point at which you are. I have interests that all but consume me. Mainly, they have to do with the ideology that I believe it's very possible to change the world. I think of people who are oppressed and in pain, impoverished, without shelter. I think of children who do not feel loved. I think of homes within which the sound of laughter and music is never heard. I think of hurt and rejection and confusion. I am humbled when I consider the upbringing I had. I did not appreciate it nearly enough. I look at the world and it tears me up. I write about it.

Am I proficient in my interests? Yes. However, I choose them extremely carefully, or more likely, they choose me. I am a writer. I am a musician. I am a daughter, a sister, a friend. I am an advocate. I am a crusader. Most importantly by far, completely dwarfing the others, I am a mother. The notion of being the person to whom my children look for an example as to how they should live their lives is so astounding to me, so utterly amazing to me, that in my mind there is absolutely no way I can afford to slack off on those other interests because they represent so many of the ideals that I feel are vital to teach them. I want my children to experience the reward that comes with helping others. I want them to understand that whatever challenges they face, in relation to the challenges and hurt of a child who falls asleep each night in a foster home or homeless shelter, they are blessed beyond measure. I want them to appreciate and treasure the existence of each other, as I know without a doubt that having a loyal brother and sister is one of life's greatest blessings. I want them to be able to look at their Mom and say, years down the road, that she committed herself to giving them an incredible childhood, filled with laughter, learning, and love. I want them to feel the joy that comes with music, the ultimate healer of all things, as I do. I want them to see the beauty in the written word, one of the greatest gifts left us by those who came before. I need them to know. Failure is not an option in my mind.

That said, DB, perhaps it's a sign of insight to realize that when it all comes down, if you forget to consciously have fun in life you really are missing one of it's larger points...But don't you think there are SO MANY "larger" points? Am I the only one who feels that each of us is here for a reason and if we fail to capitalize on that, we've done nothing but take up space and wasted time? Does no one else feel that if given the gift of an interest, a mission, a calling... that choosing to do anything other than go for it with every cell of your being is nothing less than hurling the worst of all insults straight in the face of the very reason for which we are here in the first place?

I am rambling, I suppose. Just feeling a bit introspective at the moment. My child brought home a project this afternoon which involved writing 5 original poems, a paper describing the various techniques used in each, and an explanation of what it meant to him. One of the poems he wrote was my Valentine's Day present. It was about how his Mom is the greatest teacher he could ever have. He received an A+. He made me cry. I do not feel that I am successful to the degree that he described. It bothers me. God knows it bothers me...

I can't afford to be anything but proficient in my interests, callings, missions...whatever. There are 4 little people, beyond precious, who are watching too closely.

How I would love to hop on the back of a Harley and take off down to The Outer Banks at times, forgetting the responsibility. But that isn't who I am. And that isn't the interest that, at this point, I give a flying flip about being proficient in. My interests aren't mere hobbies. My interests are definitive of the person I am. I need to ensure that I get it right the first time. As far as I've heard, we don't get any second chances. My children need and deserve the best of me, not the leftovers. But man, it's a difficult job sometimes.....

I have many hobbies and interests. I've posted this in another thread, but I'll repeat again.

Trumpet (5th and 6th grade, quit playing)
Guitar (7th and 8th grade, 28 years old, present)
Classic Cars - 68 Chevelle (10th grade to present)
Woodworking (8th grade and presently building my own telescope)
Snowmobiles (5th and 6th grade)
BMX Bikes (5th - 8th grade)
Mountian Bikes (present)
Photography (7th - 8th grade, present)
Astronomy (2000 to present)
Building Telescope (2003 to present)
Astrophotography (2002 to present)
Art - drawing & painting (all my life)
Dungeons and Dragons (5th and 6th grade, 19 years old)
Football (7th - 9th grade)
Baseball (5th - 8th grade)
Track/Field (7th - 8th grade)
Cooking (all my life)
Landscaping (last year and this spring)
Hunting/Trapping (9th - 12th grade)
Building Personal Computers (20 years old to present)
Computer Networking (21 to present, current occupation)
Model Trains (young child, presently because my 7 year old is hyperfocused now)
Model Rockets (5th - 8th grade, present)
Skiing (19 - 22 years old)

I think one of the most important interests is not making the same mistakes as my father. Both in my personal life, my marriage and my two son's lives. Parents teach us so much. Either what to do or what NOT to do.

Oh yes, I have had the many missions. I am burned out. I am tired and I am resting. I have fought the good fight and experienced many a success but now I am just sitting quietly and learning how to breath. again.

Perhaps, soon I will re-emerge but then again maybe not. First I am pondering where I will emerge. and why,when and how. So in someways I consider part of me dead...the old me. But that is okay.

Before I can save the world I will recreate mine. New lanscape and all. New path into a very diferent territory and into a wonderful horizon. For now I seem to gain continued insight and energy from people like you and you and you. and I smile and laugh and howl and I feel. thank you.

DB,

I feel that my vocabulary is failing me which is unusual, but in your case, the words that always come to mind are the same.....say them with me.....YOU ROCK!!!!!

I think your plan to step back is a brilliant one. I hope like heck that one day I get there too. No time now, so you're stuck with me the way I am, but I love the way you've described the phenomenon to me and consider it entirely worthwhile. I definitely feel like I'm running on fumes sometimes. It will be nice to slow down one day and not feel so overwhelmed with all of the "crusading." I suppose that comes when the children are older and you've already had the opportunity to instill in them the values you so want to. Or maybe it comes with the insight that you truly have done all you can to make a difference in the world, and must stop and refuel, reinvigorate, reconsider.......I don't know.....you're further down the road than I am. But that's a good thing. I have an awesome source from whom to learn.


Enjoy your time off, my friend. I suspect you were more of a crusader before your sabbatical, retirement....whichever....than most people could ever dream of being. Your adult children must look at you with awe. I sure hope mine do the same one day..

I think that the road is just a circle. We are always at varying degrees and places on this circle. Maybe even concentric and we revolve and circle around each other and through each other and with each other. Sometimes we overtake another for a time and other times we meet and rest and learn from each other or we carry the other person for awhile and then once again...off we go on our own little circle path, always and ready and willing to meet again and stop and just pass the time.

How about tea?

Name the spot......:)

after I settle down from my circular thinking plus I am also quite dizzy. :rolleyes: