it's always funny to look inside yourself

Larry's Thoughts:::

Bridge and I recently took a personality exam called the Myers-Briggs and it's always interesting to see how someone can be 'scaled' based upon who you are and how God made you. My theory has always been that God created us sort of like how a someone might make a salad...you know a little spinach for health, some onion for spice, perhaps some croutons for flavor, carrots for crunchtime, and maybe a little dressing to cool you down. No matter what though it's good for you, know what I mean? Myers-Briggs pretty much matches people into one of 16 different categories based upon your personality traits- E vs I (Extrovert vs Introvert), N vs S (Intuition vs Sensory), T vs F (Thinker vs Feeler), and P vs J (Perceiver vs Judger). As you can see already, Bridge is an ESTJ- which means she is an Extroverted Sensor who Thinks and Judges. I personally think this type of person is valuable in the world or salad bowl, if you will, because they tend to bring order to chaos and sort of keep the ship in shape. However when I took the test, I came out to be an INFP- which is an Introvert who uses Intuition and Feelings to Perceive...basically the complete opposite of the ESTJ...lol

According to the Myers-Briggs folks themselves......

INFP-
Idealistic, loyal to their values and to people who are important to them. Want an external life that is congruent with their values. Curious, quick to see possibilities, can be catalysts for implementing ideas. Seek to understand people and to help them fulfill their potential. Adaptable, flexible, and accepting unless a value is threatened.

Haha, yup that sounds like me...

Anyone who knows us knows that Bridge and I are complimentary in nature...from the beverages we drink (water vs tea), temperatures we like (warm vs cool), and even baseball teams we root for (Yankees vs Red Sox...yikes!). I've always been somewhat fascinated with compatability and what types of people are likely to do well in friendships/relationships/etc. I had been under the impression that for successful compatability, one needed to find someone else like them due to commonalities that exist. In mathematics, when you have two like's, they tend to cancel each other out. I think that in real life, that can often happen to people as well. One thing that has been prevalent in my life has been that my eyes are open to view things from another point of view, such as Bridge's. A lot of my worldview has been updated to look at things from a contrasting point of view as opposed to a comparable point of view. I see now that many of our best friends in life or those whom we love dearly are those who represent parts of us that are opposite to ourselves that create the balance in our lives that enrich it. For my own self, what makes this relationship work is that, although our personalities can be vastly different, we have the same core values. Values such as faith, friendship, integrity, diligence, and character are what make many of our friendships/relationships compatible not the personalities. It is similar to taking an alternate road to the same destination. Sometimes the road isn't big enough for two cars so you can a different path to the same place.

So here's to finding the yin to your yang, the Coyote to your Roadrunner, the hip to your hop, or anything else that enriches your life...until next time here's a song that adds a little humor to this...be well everyone!

My Personality

Bridgedette's Thoughts:

I recently took a personality test and here is what I am:
Extraverted Sensing Thinking Judging .


Me, ESTJ? lol. If you know me, this is spot on for my personality! Here is a description:

ESTJs thrive on order and continuity. Being extraverted, their focus involves organization of people, which translates into supervision. While ENTJs enjoy organizing and mobilizing people according to their own theories and tactically based agendas, ESTJs are content to enforce "the rules," often dictated by tradition or handed down from a higher authority.

ESTJs are joiners. They seek out like-minded companions in clubs, civic groups, churches and other service organizations. The need for belonging is woven into the fiber of SJs. The family likewise is a central focus for ESTJs, and attendance at such events as weddings, funerals and family reunions is obligatory.

Tradition is important to the ESTJ. Holidays, birthdays and other annual celebrations are remembered and observed often religiously by this type. The ESTJ is inclined to seek out his roots, to trace the family heritage back to honored ancestors both for a sense of family respectability and for a sense of security and belonging.

Service, the tangible expression of responsibility, is another key focus for ESTJs. They love to provide and to receive good service. The ESTJ merchant who provides dependable service has done much to enhance her self image.

ESTJs have an acute sense for orthodoxy. Much of their evaluation of persons and activities reflects their strong sense of what is "normal" and what isn't. ESTJ humor is frequently centered around something or someone being off center or behaving abnormally.

ESTJs promote the work ethic. Power, position and prestige should be worked for and earned. Laziness is rarely viewed with ambivalence nor benevolence by this type.

The ESTJ is outspoken, a person of principles, which are readily expressed. The ESTJ is not afraid to stand up for what she believes is right even in the face of overwhelming odds. ESTJs are able to make the tough calls.

Occupations attracting ESTJs include teaching, coaching, banking, political office, and management at all levels.

Famous ESTJs:
Simon Peter (Christ's disciple)
John Heywood (c.1497-c.1580, collector of English colloquialisms)
James Monroe
Andrew Jackson
William Henry "Tippecanoe" Harrison
Franklin Pierce
Grover Cleveland
Harry S. Truman
Lyndon B. Johnson
George W. Bush
Carrie Nation
Elliot Ness
John D. Rockefeller
Bette Davis
Robert A. Taft (U.S. senator, son of Pres. Wm. H. Taft)
Sam Walton, owner and founder of WalMart stores
Barbara Stanwyck
Rev. Billy Graham
Dale Bumpers (U.S. Senator, D-Arkansas)
Phil Fulmer, head football coach of the U. Tenn Vols
Pat Head Summit, head basketball coach of the Lady Vols
Bill Frist, M.D. (U.S. Senate Majority Leader)

Fictional:
Lucy (Charles Schultz's Peanuts character)
Mrs. Harbottle (Herriott, All Creatures Great and Small)
Mrs. Rachel Lynde (Anne of Green Gables)
The Mayor (The Music Man)


[Some men can make decisions and some cannot. Some men fret and delay under criticism. I used to have a saying that applies here, and I note that some people have picked it up. --Harry S. Truman, Mr. Citizen "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." ]


****Here is another view****

ESTJ Relationships:
ESTJs are very enthusiastic people who are driven to fulfill their obligations and duties, especially those towards their families. Their priorities generally put God first, family second, and friends third. They put forth a tremendous amount of effort to meet their obligations and duties, according to their priorities. They are dedicated and committed to their relationships, which they consider to be lifelong and unalterable. They like to be in charge, and may be very controlling of their mates and children. They have high esteem for traditions and institutions, and expect that their mates and children will support these as well. They have little patience and need for dealing with people who see things very differently from the ESTJ.

ESTJ Strengths
*Generally enthusiastic, upbeat and friendly
*Stable and dependable, they can be counted on to promote security for their families
*Put forth a lot of effort to fulfill their duties and obligations
*Responsible about taking care of day-to-day practical concerns around the house
*Usually good (albeit conservative) with money
*Not personally threatened by conflict or criticism
*Interested in resolving conflict, rather than ignoring it
*Take their commitments very seriously, and seek lifelong relationships
*Able to move on after a relationship breaks up
*Able to administer discipline when necessary

ESTJ Weakness
*Tendency to believe that they are always right
*Tendency to need to always be in charge
*Impatient with inefficiency and sloppiness
*Not naturally in tune with what others are feeling
*Not naturally good at expressing their feelings and emotions
*May inadvertantly hurt others with insensitive language
*Tendency to be materialistic and status-conscious
*Generally uncomfortable with change, and moving into new territories