Hey SuperForest!!
I’d like to ask you something:
Who are you?
Are you a different version of yourself depending upon who you are with or what you’re doing? I’ve been thinking about the different roles we play in life, and after reading this post this morning from one of our favourite SuperForesters, it really sparked something for me.
SuperForester Jason posited the following thought: “How you do anything is how you do everything.” I don’t disagree with this statement, however I think sometimes we do things within a context of the role we’re playing at that time, in that group, in that time period and location.
For example, a while ago I was watching The Office, and I made a startling realization: I’m Dwight Schrute! Well, not exactly, but in a work setting, sometimes I can be the “yes” woman, the “brown-noser”, the one whose job it is to remind her boss that he/she is always right and has fabulous ideas. For some reason it’s a pattern I’ve fallen into throughout my career. Don’t get me wrong, SuperForesters, I’m not a phony — I just prefer to keep things peaceful at work and not rock the boat. I tend to keep my opinions close and choose my battles wisely. Maybe it’s because I was an extremely rule-abiding, school-loving child, often the one left in charge when the teacher left the room. I’m also often the social committee chair, hence my realization, as in this particular episode, Dwight was also in this role and he telling the other staff members precisely when it would be appropriate to open their Secret Santa gifts, and precisely where to place them under the tree. Keener! Neatnik! Whatever you call it, it’s kinda me at work — I’m definitely more than just a peacekeeping brown-noser, but this is just one example of a pattern I’ve noticed in my past.
Conversely, I know that I am a very different version of myself outside of work, in some respects at least. I’ve had a few situations where I’ve met someone outside of work who only knew me in a work-related context, and they were like, “Wow! You’re so fun and easygoing!” This definitely made me aware of how structured and rule-abiding I was at work, or in any project resembling work. Can you say Type A??
In our families, we can fulfill many roles. Depending on birth order or number (and gender) of siblings, this can take many different forms. I am the youngest child. For years I have fulfilled that role quite predictably, but lately I’ve been noticing a shift in who I am in relation to my family. As families grow and people age, roles can shift and change as well. Maybe you were always the one who tried things last, discovered things last, always wore hand-me-downs and had a band of older, wiser people to protect you and teach you things. I’m learning these days that I just may have something to teach the older members of my family. Perhaps I can offer a different perspective, a new idea that they haven’t thought of, because of the direction their life has taken versus the direction mine has. We all have something to share, after all, regardless of our birth order. I’ve been re-energized through this sharing process because I feel like I can finally give back to my family all of the wisdom, advice and energy they have imparted to me over the years.
What role do you play in social situations? Are you chatty with one friend, quiet with another? Shy with the opposite sex, or is that where you really turn on the charm? I’m not suggesting that we consciously play these roles; I am merely suggesting that we feed off others’ energy and adapt accordingly. At least I do, but perhaps that’s just in my Piscean nature.
So, food for thought on a fabulous Friday, SuperForest: Who are you being?
Yours in transparency,
SuperForester Heather
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