What I Don't Suck At

I read this post last month and thought I needed to make a list of things I don't suck at for myself. "Why?" you ask. You see, on the way to work, during work, and upon leaving work, I regularly find I'm thinking, "Ughhh, I suck! I suck so bad."

It's taken quite a while to get into the proper mindset for making the list. When I'm feeling really positive, a list of things I don't suck at seems silly. Then, when I'm feeling really negative, I can't think of anything that I don't suck at for a list. Like Goldilocks, I've had to wait for the day when I'm not feeling too positive or too negative, but feeling just negative and positive enough.

I want this list to remind me on my least hopeful days what I don't completely suck at.


I don't suck at....

....remembering stuff: details, numbers, names, facts, trivia, etc. (For a librarian, a good memory really comes in handy.)

....using Photoshop. (I'm no expert, but I can do what I need to with it.)

....coordinating/matching colors. (I don't mean clothes but choosing colors that "go" for flyers, posters, and stuff like that.)

....teaching stuff to other people. (If I can do it, I can teach someone else to do it.)

....learning to do new stuff. (Sometimes I feel like I could learn how to do anything that I wanted to do, but realistically, I know I'm a quick study and could learn most things I would need to if I put my mind to it.)

....looking at the big picture.

....paying attention to details.

....troubleshooting--computer or other problems. (I'm much more empirical than I would have ever thought possible several years ago.)

....being entertaining and generally pleasant to be around. (I worry often about coming across as annoying or obnoxious--whatever the hell obnoxious means!--but if I'm honest with myself, I know there's no real evidence to support that fear.)

....being clever, novel, and creative (within my job duties).

....thinking quickly (although I seldom make decisions quickly).

....trying to make newcomers feel welcome and included.

....finding information. (This is really important for librarians.)

....proofreading other people's work, but not my own so much.

....typing. (Man, I love to type.)


Now I feel lame, but if I can ever come up with more items, I'll add them.