Perceptions

I understand that we all perceive others in a certain way, often to the extent that we can only interact with someone based on that premise.  I do it.  You do it.  It's normal.  It's also frustrating as hell.  I find that most people perceive me in one of three ways:

"The Middle" - the middle-class, middle-aged, middle-of-the-road, white-bread, politically correct, Barry Manilow singing, straight-laced, wall-flower.

"The Control Freak" - an OCD, bossy, know-it-all, by-the-book, perfectionist, over-achiever bent on world organization.

"The Brat" - a self-centered, un-balanced, sheltered, baby-of-the-family with no verbal filters who will never grow up and never change.

Some of these are true, but most are not. 

I'm most definitely not "white-bread", straight-laced, or politically correct.  Ok, so I may have a couple Barry Manilow CD's hidden away, I also have the soundtrack to "Rocky Horror Picture Show" and a DVD collection that requires a lock and key.

While I am OCD enough to be efficient at my job, I'm not the complete control freak others think I am.  I expect perfection from myself, but only desire to help others in any way I can with information, solutions, adaptability, and a lot of hard work.  My house is never clean or organized.  Rules are made to be bent or broken – if the occasion warrants it.

Baby of the family – yes.  Sheltered – no.  Un-balanced – yet to be decided.  I have no intention of ever growing up, but am constantly striving for personal growth.  It has taken me a lifetime to learn to care for myself, which you may see as self-centered, but I see it as the only way I can be there for you.

I refuse to be pigeon-holed, yet it often seems that everyone around me insists on it.  I have a sense of humor, swear like a logger, have a tattoo, and have been known to "inhale" on occasion.  I listen to loud music, love to dance, own not one but six battery operated "toys", and can't cook worth crap most of the time.  I sleep about 5-6 hours every night because there is too much to do to sleep my life away.  I love motorcycles, and think driving a 5-speed over back roads with the music up and the windows down is really hot.  And if I drop my verbal filters, it isn't because I'm not capable of using them, it's because I will not be strangled by them in my personal life.

Consider these things when next you think of someone in a certain way.  Perceptions are simply that – how YOU perceive ME.  And you have my promise that I will consider my own perceptions of you.