Things I'm Really Bad At.

i found this journal prompt a few days ago and thought it would make a fun blog post.  it's pretty easy to talk about the things you're good at or know a lot about, but what about things you're really bad at?  i mean, like, comically bad at.

for me, it's drawing.  like, i'm terrible.  when i was student teaching, my supervisor came to observe a math lesson once and gave me the criticism that the roses i drew for my third graders to demonstrate solving a word problem didn't really look like flowers.

and then, i was recently substitute teaching in a preschool classroom and had to draw something for one of my students, and i immediately got nervous.  because you know kids, they don't sugar coat what they think.  and this kid didn't.  when i handed the drawing over and acknowledged it's poor quality, my four-year-old student looked at it, and then up at me and said "yeah, you're not a good draw-er."  i know kid, i know.

fortunately, there are things i'm much better at than drawing.  and if nothing else, i figure my lack of skill in this particular area can lead to some fun stories to tell, however embarrassing.

so what's something that you are really bad at?

"comparison is the thief of joy"

i remember the first time i heard that quote.  

it was sometime during my sophomore year of college.

and i remember thinking that it was a quote to hold onto. 

that quote always seems to find me at just the right time.

right after i've spent 20 minutes perusing facebook and coveted someone else's vacation, or outfit, or life...
instead of enjoying that they've shared their adventures.  

right after i've read a friend's blog and questioned the depth of the relationships in my life, and wished i could write like her...
instead of gleaning wisdom and grace from her post.

right after i've browsed a magazine and found myself wanting to change my body...
instead of celebrating in the changes i have been making.

right after i've scrolled through pinterest and seen 16 different apartments and home decor pins that i want...
instead of being grateful that i have parents who allow me to live with them and save money.

but that's just human nature, isn't it?
to compare ourselves to others.

and it seems that comparison isn't choosy.  

it finds it's way into your life no matter how utterly happy you are.  

and it's sneaky.  sneaky and quite the cunning thief.

but then there's the wisdom of good ole teddy.  who spoke these words a century ago.  i wonder if he knew just how well they would stand the test of time?  

and yet here we are, and those words, those six little words, pop into my head and into my heart just when i need them most.

there's something you need to know about me.

I'm fickle.

Maybe one of the most indecisive people you'll ever know.
I'm never able to choose a restaurant.

I can decide I'm going to buy something, and then, after 5 minutes, it's back on the rack.

I can talk myself in and out of going somewhere or doing something. 

And I can change the layout or header of my blog 4 times in 2 months before I decide I like it.

My apologies for this last one.