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Living
With ‘Type A’ Personality Is Tough
A
few years ago, I went online and Googled in “Type
A personalities,” which I am. Up popped a list
of what traits to expect from a “Type A.” I
wrote down three that fit me to a tee, and I pledged
to work on changing them — or at least curbing
them. I knew it would be a challenge after all these
years, but you’re never too old to learn something
new.
First I took a look at my eating habits. For years I’d grab a bite on the
run, and more often than not my only real meal would be dinner. Now, three meals
a day are a must, no matter how busy the day might be. Already I’m experiencing
more energy. I’ve even gained a few of the pounds I lost leading up to
and during a health setback.
I’m also doing a few low-impact stretching exercises each morning before
starting my day. My body may not show it, but my outlook on the day ahead has
certainly improved.
Next on my list is the habit of doing two things at once. Usually that leads
to disaster, followed by frustration and jangled nerves. An example of this is
one day when friends were coming over for dinner. I had the ingredients for a
special recipe out on the work counter, all except for one spice.
As I reached up into the cupboard with one hand to retrieve it, I was also stretching
across the counter below to pick up a glass bowl with the other hand. The one
spice I needed tumbled out, followed by three other bottles I had accidentally
bumped. One hit the edge of the bowl, and both broke.
After cleaning up the broken glass and mopping up spice from the floor, I had
no desire to make that recipe anymore. I settled on something much easier and
faster. My friends enjoyed it, but I felt terribly disappointed in myself.
The third one on the list is a biggie — impatience! I’m not impatient
with myself, but with others and events that I have absolutely no control over.
For one, I’m punctual, and I expect everyone else to be the same. If someone
didn’t arrive at my door at the exact time they were supposed to, I’d
fret and pace. And I’m sure my blood pressure soared.
I now try to watch TV, read a magazine or just stay busy until they arrive. When
they do, I greet them with a warm welcome, and our visit is far more enjoyable
and relaxed. And so am I.
The fourth one is stoplights! Oh, the headaches I’ve brought on over the
years because red lights at intersections didn’t change as fast as I thought
they should. I’d just sit and glare up at them with hands tightly clinching
the steering wheel.
One day, my daughter was with me when we had to stop at one. Noticing my agitation,
she said, half jokingly, “Mom, why are you in such a hurry to go nowhere?” I
had no answer for that because there was no reason! That one I’m really
working hard on but have yet to conquer. But now I try and remember to smile
at the person in the car next to me.
Now back to today. If you were to meet me today, I’m sure you’d find
a totally different woman than the one several years ago. Well, definitely much
more aware of how she acts or reacts. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
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E-mail
me anytime at: Unicorn2@surewest.net.
Sacramento
resident Joey Franklin, retired from more than three decades
of full-time work in the newspaper business, now writes a monthly
column for Spectrum.
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