Happy To Be Me

 

Overheard the other day:

Care Bear: I have a type A personality.

Social Butterfly (looking at her BFF)????

Grown-up Girl: What do you think type A means?

Care Bear: Laid back.

Grown-up Girl (pointing at me): She's type A.

Drum Roll please . . .

Care Bear: Oh! So it means uptight.

---------------------------------------------------------

I am an oldest child. I am a type A. I am RESPONSIBLE.

There have been times when I've felt these traits are a bit of a curse. Why can't I be more carefree? Why do I always have a schedule? Why don't I just blow off work and school and go hang out at the beach? Sometimes I want my middle name to be footloose and fancy free. Maybe I shouldn't always know the due date and be the group leader and have a system for everything. But I do.

This is all not to say I'm a huge drag. Well, I am sometimes. But I truly can be quite fun and funny. I'm just a work before play person. Protestant work ethic and all that.

Anyway . . .

Over the last couple of weeks my best friend needed a person like me. A person with the skills of taking charge, organizing, thinking of all the details and getting a whole lot done in a short amount of time. This person needed to have the time to do this job on no notice. I got to be that person. Because I possess those (sometimes annoying) skill sets and because I make it a practice to work as far ahead in my schoolwork as possible (my momma taught me that you never know what will come up), I got to be that person.

I helped make a hard time in someone's life easier. I was a key part of giving a wonderful man the send-off he deserved. I gave his girls something to remember forever, when they've had so much taken away from them. I did a job that could never have been done by Miss Footloose and Fancy Free with no systems in place.

So today I salute myself and all the other Type A, borderline OCD, neurotic, uptight, workhorses of the world. There's more to us than just being fun-suckers; we're useful! And while that may not be fun it certainly is fulfilling.

Comments

[Shelley]

As a fellow first-born, I can say I understand completely. I also wish that sometimes someone else would take charge and get things done, you know? But alas, 'tis I who needs to be the getter of things done. It can be a curse, at times. But at least things get done! :)

[Jennifer H]

How great is it that you could step in when someone needed you so much? I wish I was more like that in some ways.

[Cheri @ Blog This Mom!]

I am a first-born, and as you might have guessed from one of my earlier posts this week, raised to be responsible for everyone else's needs. Now, I've tried to shed the co-dependent, unhealthy part, but what remains is someone who gets the job done, gets it done well, and cares about getting it done well. Sometimes there is a flurry of activity around me rather than a peaceful calmness. But you know what? I get the job done and I've stopped apologizing for it. In fact, that's how I roll and I'm proud of it.

Good for you for saying so. Only took me 47 years to find out that there is an "A" in Type A, and As are good grades.

[Trudie]

I am also the oldest child, Type A, the getter of things done.... Sometimes it's good, other times it creates problems for me, but I'm beginning to accept myself for the person I am. That also means that I don't judge people around me quite as harshly as I used to...

[kcinnova]

As a 3rd born, I am always a bit awestruck of a Type A. You have a gift that I do not have. When I try to juggle so many things, a lot of plates end up broken on the floor--or if not the plates, then *I* end up a mess myself; when you juggle those same things, it becomes something beautiful. So when you see someone like me staring at you, it is a look of awe and wonder in my eyes.

[Hilary]

A well-deserved pat on the back. I can be type A when doing for others (work, volunteering, helping out a friend, etc) but more often than not, when it comes to getting my own stuff done, I'm a type H-A.. half-assed.

[Reluctant Blogger]

Oh yes, I salute you too, Jenn. I did think exactly that when I heard your sad news - that you were exactly the friend that your pal needed.

I think you are lovely - organised yes, but you have a terrific sense of humour and a fantastic attitude to bringing up your children and I love the way you talk about them - just the right balance of being nice about them and pointing out their challenging features.

You rock, Jenn. Honestly, I do mean that. And I"m glad you have seen it for yourself.

[Becky]

YESSSSS!!!

[CircusKelli]

Very good for you!

Cheers, love!

[Suzanne]

You and your type A-self ROCK!
That is much better than being footloose all the time. You are the one people look to in a time of need, that is a GOOD thing.
There is nothing wrong with being uptight.
Signed,
Suzi I Uptight.

[Heidi]

Good job, Jenn! I am sure your friend is forever grateful to you!

I agree, type A people may not always be the life of the party, but without them there wouldn't be a party in the first place. Or at least no snacks. :)

Heidi

[Claudia]

I am type T.
;) For Twisted.

[magpie]

You're a good friend.

[MereCat]

Very well put. I am not particularly type a... or maybe I haven't learned to admit it... but I certainly am a work before fun gal too. And it IS fun to feel fulfilled.

[melissa]

From one Type A to another, I hear ya. We're okay for the most part, but when crisis strikes or something needs doing, we're essential. It takes all kinds;)

[Jozet at Halushki]

I LOVE type A's! Are you kidding me?

They make great co-Leaders for Girl Scouts, for one thing.

For another, they inspire me to declutter my home and life. Some say that they are stress monsters, but I think that being organized and decluttered in self and abode actually leads to less stress.

Because "WHERE ARE MY KEYS?!!" is nothing but ten blood pressure points every morning.

[Denise]

I'm the youngest child - NOT type A. But your right, we need Type A's in our life to help us get things done!!

[Don Mills Diva]

I'm a little type A but I have a lot of fun!

I'm a work hard, play hard type of person. I can be a real hard-ass when something needs to be done but I'm okay with that...

[The Introvert]

Indeed we are. If it weren't for me, bills wouldn't get paid, vacations wouldn't be planned, pantries wouldn't be stocked, toilets wouldn't get cleaned...a nice lesson hubby learned from living on his own the last month :)

[Jamie]

Jenn, you radiate a certain peace to the world upon greeting. From the moment I met you I could *feel* that you're the kind of friend a person could call in *any* situation, and you wouldn't blink. You'd strap on your high-heels, or flip-flops, or snow boots, or wellies, and head out to get the job done. I applaud you and your type A-ness. Sounds like you made your friend's transition a wee bit more manageable in the saddest of times. Bravo.

[Nadine]

That's awesome, you got to help a friend!

I'm a first born too, but also the only born, not a type A :)

[Julie]

HA, I am a type A to some degree, being the oldest I get that too. BUT my mom is also a type A and drives me nuts so I try to be more of the layed back person and that drives her nuts lol.

[Fannie]

I think we type A's get a bad rap. But if you get up, get to work and get things done every day? When the fun stuff comes along you have time to enjoy!

[Heather-AKA Star]

I'm also type A, first born. My brother (3 years younger and 33) still doesn't have a normal job, health insurance or a pot to piss in. He's a genius but would rather travel the world, not have responsibilities and sleep in airports. Talk about polar opposites.

[Janet]

I am an oldest child. I am a type B. I am not very RESPONSIBLE.

How come I'm different from all the rest of you oldest child-types???

Many of my friends are Type As, I seem to attract them, which is good, cause, as you helped your friend, they help me.

[stephanie]

We all have a place, for sure. I'm glad you were able to find peace with your "type." :)

Somehow my Type A self from childhood met the Type WOOOOHOOO self in college and I have been a strange but workable blend ever since.

[mandy g.]

I am a first born and try not to be type A all the time, but definitely have those traits.

If you're interested, I tagged you for a meme. No pressure if you're not!

[phd in yogurtry]

I bet your friend really really appreciates you, Jenn. Its always great to have a friend with your traits, and if you can laugh and have fun, too -- where's the problem?

I guess I get 1/5th of your salute. I am borderline OCD. Of the packrat variety, unfortunately. So not of much help to anyone, unless they are looking for a pair of out of style shoes or a bundle of trash bag ties.

[Billie Wages]

Jenn, 1st born here, too. It was really hard when I became bedridden to allow others to do all the things I had done as a Type A. Then when I could not see to do my digital graphics, that was a real bummer, but right now I've learned to compensate for the double vision, blurred when not double. Everything on my blog has been made by me since the ptosis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptosis_%28eyelid%29. I'm not to where I was before, but I have learned to accept my limitations, a hard thing for a type A to do,at least for me.

Great post Jenn. My Jen is due to give me my 4th great-grandchild on the 20th!

Ragdoll Billie on the Road to Remission
http://andlifegoesononedayonestepatatime.blogspot.com/

[Deb]

As someone who tends to be "Type C-," I certainly appreciate the Type As for the very reasons you say. Thank God my husband is an A. Otherwise, I'd be broke and drunk all the time.

[Deb D]

First-born here too. I understand the responsibility thing.

[Angela]

I got an A too.
Maybe it is called type a because with hard work a person is more likely to get an A in school
hum...

[MamaBird/SurelyYouNest]

I'm so glad you were able to be there for your friend. My father - a mathematician - always commented that being organized liberates you so that you can be creative. Also that there is beauty in symmetry. It's all in how you look at it, eh?

[Sam]

I salute you! Especially since I'm a first-born, and I don't seem to have any of those traits. :) I'm bossy, though. Does that count? ;)

[LaskiGal]

You are an amazing person, an amazing friend. I admire what you did for those you care about--especially when they needed love and guidance the most. (I know this was a tough time for you as well).

From one type A (first born, slightly neurotic, OCD), I salute you . . .

[Jason]

I, too am first born! I have some type A traits but I'm not a classic type A.

I'm betting that if I met you I would think you were a way whole lotta fun.

[JCK]

I have no doubt that you were amazing. And know from reading your blog, that you ARE amazing! You toast yourself! But, we toast you, too!

[CC]

Woo hoo!!!!!!! Go us!!!!!!!!!

[HRH]

I am so married to a YOU.

[Angie]

In the bible, there is the story of the Mary and Martha - you are definitely a Martha - the doer, the take charge and get things done.

KEEP BELIEVING

[Grandma J]

Oldest plus type A too. Why can't the rest of the world get on the same page as us?

[Amy the Mom]

Type A, oldest child here. Who does EVERYONE come to when they need something taken care of? Us, that's who.

[Marie]

AMEN!!! The world would fall apart without us!