1 post tagged “self-awareness”

I was born out-of-touch with the norm and have been striving to distance myself from it ever since.

I was the skinny, left-handed kid with glasses who enjoyed reading books and learning anything and everything.  I will never know why I wasn't killed by any one of the many schoolyard bullies I encountered during my youth.  Then again, maybe I do. 

I quickly discovered that those with brawn respected those with brains who were willing to stand their ground.  I have always stood my ground.  If I'd been born a dog, I probably would have been a chihuahua, a little dog that thinks it's a big dog.  Humor and intelligence, coupled with the ability to take a beating and run fast, got me through childhood in one piece.  Those abilities are still useful as an adult.

Tough guys have talents that only help them in situations involving other people.  If you want to bring one of them down to size, involve them in an activity that forces them to deal with a difficult situation with their own talents.  I liked to challenge them to rock climbing.  About half way up a difficult pitch with no protection is usually the place where tough guys discover humility.

Skinny, left-handed kids with glasses know all about humility.  It's balls I had to develop.  I found a whole lot of ways to accomplish that.  By the time I reached adulthood, I had learned to use my geekiness to overcome my awkwardness.  I had learned my strengths and weaknesses.  This is wisdom that benefits anyone.  When I was in the Army, I was assigned to a military intelligence unit attached to the 10th Special Forces.  Geeks with guns.  The most fun I've ever had not under the influence of narcotic substances.

Despite having the brains to know better, my entire adult life has been a quest toward destruction, one baby step at a time.