Last Thursday in a comment at Transforming Stress Dixie said she values wisdom. Some of my top values would be curiosity, creativity and resilience. The above cartoon is my version of one I saw in the New Yorker about 50 years ago, and it still tickles me every time I think of it. It keeps this pessimist cheerful. 😀
What about you? What qualities do you admire most?
Mastery, attentiveness, skill
ability to adjust
warmth of spirit
open mindedness
Intelligence
Those guys hanging, are twins. You must know a computer trick to do mirror image.
I love it!
Evan,
Yay, craftsmen! 🙂
tammy,
I agree with those too. I combine the last two in the term “generosity of spirit”.
bikehikebabe,
It’s easy–just make a copy of the part you want, flip it horizontally and shift it to the new spot.
Kaitlin,
Thanks! 🙂
Evan,
No, I haven’t read the book but thanks to you I’ve read reviews of it. I am definitely a craftsman:
I have that obsessive energy and love working for its own sake, not for the end product or external rewards. I don’t worry if the work is any good or not, I love the process and learning new things. Just last night I heard Willa Cather’s quote, which is related:
Yay, craftsmanship!
Have you read Richard Sennett’s book The Craftsman? He relates it to democracy and much else.
you are the last person i would think of as a pessimist !!!
Sense of humour, humility and gratitude.
qualities come and go, I can’t pinpoint one in particular…every so often (often more than I want) life changes to include all kinds of situations – about 5% would be classed as doing down a steep hill with not much reason to pull back 🙂
tammy,
Yes, I’m a cheerful pessimist. It reminds me not to take things for granted and also to develop courage. I’d much rather be pleasantly surprised (which has happened a lot) than to be disappointed. 🙂
Rummuser,
I agree with those too.
Cathy,
Your comment reminds me of one of my favorites: Over the hill and ready to roll. 😀
Those three would be among my top values too. I guess determination and self-confidence are also pretty essential qualities. Without those, you won’t get very far in life.
Nick,
I agree. We need to have some confidence that our efforts will pay off, and we need to be stubborn enough not to give up when things don’t go smoothly.