This is not your typical "About me" post, so read on...
Have you ever been in one of those classes where the instructor is this high-brow boring individual in their late 60's virtuously exclaiming that "one must develop life's goals, values and vision to establish one's moral character AND to know who they are"? Of course you have (or you will eventually). Sitting there in your uncomfortable chair, fidgeting with physical and mental discomfort, you innately understand that you have a choice... you can sit there, blow off what they are saying or you can pay attention and make use of their suggestions with some introspective self-awareness and discovery.
Have you ever been in one of those classes where the instructor is this high-brow boring individual in their late 60's virtuously exclaiming that "one must develop life's goals, values and vision to establish one's moral character AND to know who they are"? Of course you have (or you will eventually). Sitting there in your uncomfortable chair, fidgeting with physical and mental discomfort, you innately understand that you have a choice... you can sit there, blow off what they are saying or you can pay attention and make use of their suggestions with some introspective self-awareness and discovery.
I had that same seemingly miserable experience recently and I chose to sit there. At least at first I did. I contemplated all the reasons I should be elsewhere, doing something more productive, not in that horrible training class with that monotone voiced woman at the front of the room. I was simply irritated seeing her up there. She was so full of herself, attempting to teach me about self-awareness and developing personal goals, values and vision. If anyone knows me, it's me and I don't need to complete those meaningless tasks because I know who I am... without question! Really, who doesn't, right?
Hmm
I knew that it was a requirement of the class to complete these tasks so I set to it with the singular motivation of speed; I just wanted this done so I could move on. At first I was still stewing about the assignment so the words I typed could have been misconstrued as those belonging to my 8 year old. No, actually maybe even she would have done better. Mine were words, that while I was typing sounded true, but as I read them back to myself, I wasn't so sure that they describe me. I know I wrote them, but it didn't sound right. It was kind of like who I imagined myself to be. A sort of mythical human being with brute strength, impassible fortitude for justice and everything right, charming and good looking, an impossibly perfect husband and father, etc, etc, etc.
Although I liked to hear about this mythical me, it wasn't really the truth. I needed to write down not just who you think I am, or who my wife thinks I am, or my children, or my friends or any of my extended family think I am. I needed to write down who I truthfully believed I am. As I finally, and begrudgingly, started to refine my "who am I and what do I believe in statements" I realized that I am starting to comprehend what the instructor had so un-obviously and sagely spoken to us.
Although I liked to hear about this mythical me, it wasn't really the truth. I needed to write down not just who you think I am, or who my wife thinks I am, or my children, or my friends or any of my extended family think I am. I needed to write down who I truthfully believed I am. As I finally, and begrudgingly, started to refine my "who am I and what do I believe in statements" I realized that I am starting to comprehend what the instructor had so un-obviously and sagely spoken to us.
Although I completed the assignment, I still have not yet truly completed this task. Yes, I turned in what I now consider to be my first draft. During the meeting to discuss the content in a one-on-one session, the instructor immediately knew I was on the right path. She read my paper and immediately sensed (actually I believe she KNEW) that I was now going down that road which led to a deeper understanding of ones self. Without any verbal queues from either of us, she laid the paper down and smiled at me. We both understood.
So when I went to write down a post for "About Me", I was initially inspired to write about specifics of what I do, where I live and work, who's in my family; you know the type. That's easy, but to really know about me, you'll have to read this blog. It's more of who I am and what I believe in than any short post or essay would allow the time or space to describe.
So for now, my name is Chris LaPeters and I live in Meridian, ID.
