Thanks Dad - I'm An Over Thinker!

"You're just like your father."  "You sound like your dad - that’d be something he’d say."  "Boy, do you take after your dad."

Some of you may be able to relate to some of these remarks with your own parents. “You're just like your father” or “you remind me of your mother.” 

In my younger years, I MAY have gotten...take that back, I KNOW I got irked by these sort of remarks. 

As a young girl in my teenage years and twenties, the last thing I wanted was to be like my dad. 

He's not a bad guy - I just didn't get the comparison and wanted my own identity. Not one like my dad!  

I think this is pretty typical. 

Now that I'm at the ripe old age of MIDLIFE, I'm getting closer to figuring out (accepting) that identity. And, guess what? I'm very much like my dad.

Except now - I'm pretty proud of that!

So, when did this realization and acceptance sink in? Hell if I know. I just know over the years, after much thought, my dad and I do have similar traits. 

He's a thinker and, at times, maybe even an over thinker. You see, I'm also a thinker and I know for a fact, in certain situations, I can be an over thinker. So, I'm assuming my dad has this tendency too. 

There are strengths to this "over thinking" type of personality. 

• Excellent observation skills
• Excellent at analyzing and strategizing
• Excellent forecasting skills
• Good connection with intuition
• Expert knowledge in one or few areas
• Excellent problem solving skills

 On the flip side, there are challenges.  

• Difficulties getting things done (over analyzing)
• Difficulties moving into action
• Can be controlling or a perfectionist
• Confusion and paralysis as we try to understand from every possible angle
• Difficulties making decisions
• Difficulty going with the flow. 

I can associate with some of these strengths and challenges. Since I'm a lot like my dad, I'm guessing he can too.

I admit I find myself getting hung up on planning, too many details, or information overload, that it actually stops me from just DOING it. 

Example would be landscaping our yard.

I'm not good at this, I don't have a green thumb and, in general, don't have a clue about landscaping. I've researched plants, looked at landscaping pictures, studied landscaping layouts and eyed other people's landscaping, so much so, that I've paralyzed myself from just getting a damn plant, digging a hole and planting it. That would, at least, be a start. I think about it too much!

I recognize this about myself and I'm aware I need to just DO it!  I've discovered this in many situations where I get hung up. 

Therefore, rather than waiting to start my flower garden by pushing up daisies from 6 feet under, I realized I needed to get a move on it.  So, I did!  I dug a hole in the yard....well my teenage son dug a hole in the yard and WE planted some perennials. Yay me! It's a start. 

Another change I've made was to open up my creative mind and do more with it, which is why I started this blog. 

Believe me, I pondered it for a long time, but then just said "what the hell." That's right, I just did it!  

This has forced me to go with the flow and move forward without it being perfect. I've learned a lot about myself through this little blog. 

At some point, don't we have to come to terms and accept our personality traits? Try to cherish the ones that make us awesome and become more aware of the ones we'd like to change. 

There are times I know that I analyze too much and ponder decisions too long.  However, when I do move to the next step, my observation, forecasting and knowledge are often pretty good!

With that being said, thanks Dad!  After many years of thinking about this, I’m pretty cool with being like you. 

In conclusion, after over thinking this story, then writing it, re-writing it and re-writing it again, I finally just DID it - I pushed the publish button!

See, that's progress!

Are you an Over Thinker? If so, then you’ll probably like more information.  Check out these interesting links: Confessions Of An Over Thinker; Thinkers and Doers: Pros and Cons

Put your smile on,
Laurie O