I am shamelessly borrowing this post idea from Elisabeth.
Tomatoes. Tomatoes are everywhere, in everything. Life would be so much easier if I liked them.
Speaking out loud in groups of more than two people. Most people seem capable of speaking up in groups – whether out at coffee with a few friends or in a meeting or standing in an elevator. NOT ME. My heart pounds and my head swims just at the thought that I might open my mouth. And if I do manage to say something, my words come out all wrong and sometimes I stutter and my face gets all red and I rush through whatever it was I was trying to say, eliminating key context that would help make my point. Oh how I wish I could have even just a LITTLE CHILL when speaking to more than two people!
Dogs. *HEAR ME OUT* I hope you know that I love YOUR dog. I do. I want to see all the photos of your dog, and hear all the anecdotes, and if I visited you I would pet and snuggle your dog. I show my daughter pictures of your dog so often she can now differentiate them: “Is that Rex?” “Oh, is that Hannah?” “Charlie is so cute!” I have a soft spot in my heart for all animals, cockroaches excluded. And maybe snakes. But I don’t love dogs. I can appreciate them, I can admire them, I can enjoy them through their owners’ eyes or the eyes of my dog-crazy child. But I don’t love them. I don’t like licking. I don’t like wet noses. I don’t like drooling. I don’t like the idea of an outside creature bringing the outdoors into my home. I don’t like the idea of picking up poop. I think when you love dogs, these things become part of the package. And I just don’t love them. But oh, how I wish I did. If I loved dogs, we could own a dog and I would be happy about it.
Pedicures. I think pedicures are such a fun, luxurious indulgence. But I find them so uncomfortable! My feet are very sensitive, and pretty much everything except the warm water soak and the warm towel wrap are verging on painful for me. Plus, I find myself worrying all the time about dangerous bacteria and whether I’m going to develop gangrene or pick up a flesh eating bacterium or something equally horrific from inadequately cleansed tools.
Group events. Most people I know love parties and gatherings. But I find even smallish groups to be thoroughly exhausting. I overanalyze everything about them from what I will wear to who I can talk to, to where to park and whether there will be food. And then I spend the whole time feeling like I’m on the fringe of conversation, that no one wants to talk to me, that I have nothing interesting to say, that I look weird and stand awkwardly and can’t move my arms in a human manner. I get overstimulated and overwhelmed and have no idea how to keep up with the pace of conversation. It is awful. And then afterward I feel drained and reeling and want to crawl into a cave for days until everything feels calm and safe again.
Letting other people cook in my kitchen. I am a control enthusiast in the extreme and prefer that things in my kitchen happen MY way. I am insufferable, I know. My kind and generous mother-in-law, for whom “making food” is a love language, will be eternally baffled by this facet of my personality. “Just let her make you dinner!” you may be thinking. But the very thought of it fills me with anxiety.
Sharing food. JOEY DOESN’T SHARE FOOD and neither do I. And people who do share food find this personally offensive. It would just be easier if I didn’t care.
The beach. Sand adheres to me like a persistent infection. Everything is hot. The sand and ocean stink. Too many people. Things lurking unseen in the watery depths. NO THANK YOU times a million. But the beach is such a quintessential summer experience, and it would be nice if I didn’t feel angry and grumbly every time it’s broached.
Bridgerton, Yellowstone, and West Wing. Since this list is rapidly devolving into a catalog of my anxieties, I will switch to TV. These shows are universally beloved, and I just cannot get into any of them. I have total pop culture FOMO, and would love to love these shows.
Do you and I share any wish-I-liked items? What’s one thing that would make your life easier if you liked it?
I am kinda sorta attempting to complete NaBloPoMo, with the full expectation that life will make it impossible any day now. If you want to follow along, or join the fun, check out San’s blog here.
I’m with you on almost all of the above. I don’t mind speaking in groups, but don’t like group events (it that makes sense). I like tomatoes – don’t looove them, but definitely buy and eat tomatoes. I already admitted I don’t love dogs, the beach is NOT my happy place (I get cold and it’s so…sandy). I’ve only had one pedicure and I did like it…
One thing I wish I liked? EARLY MORNINGS! I think my life would be better if I woke up with lots of energy at 4 am and had gotten a whole bunch of awesome things done before my kids woke up. Alas, I am just not a morning person. I’ve tried. It is always an epic failure. Sigh.
May I just say from the bottom of my heart: screw Yellowstone. I can’t get past Costner’s accent or how obvious it is he’s ACTING in every scene
I don’t like TV generally; my husband was watching Yellowstone and the very first scene of the very first episode, a horse got shot. I AM OUT. I can get into a show but it has to be pretty good to hold my attention.
Rex got a shout-out!!!
I’m with you on a bunch of these! I LOVE other people’s dogs (especially the ones you named) but I just don’t want one as a pet. And I do love pets- as you know we have several other types of animals living in our house. But a dog is just SO MUCH WORK and I don’t think I’m up for that.
Group events- very draining. Speaking in front of a group- ditto. I don’t mean standing up at a lectern (ha ha, no that won’t be happening) but even if a group of people are sitting around informally and I decide to say something- my voice suddenly sounds really strange to me and I can’t seem so speak normally. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT?
You can come cook in my kitchen any time, but I don’t like sharing food. I do love the beach but I get what you mean about the sand and the mess. And I don’t like the beach when it’s crowded (but that goes for most things) and going to the beach with a bunch of little kids is basically a nightmare- although I did it all the time when my kids were young. Shudder.
100% agree on Yellowstone. Also I don’t like sharing food, particularly when it comes to Tapas. It’s so chic and trendy! Everyone LOVES going to a tapas place. But not me. I want my own dinner, not one teeny bite of something delicious, and then have to give the rest to everyone else. NO. 😉
You don’t have to love my dog, but just understand that I do love her. LOL. She does not lick or drool, though, so I think you’ve been meeting some unfortunate dogs.
I’m with Nicole. I don’t like TV much. I don’t like movies. I don’t like traveling. I don’t like chocolate ice cream. I don’t like people bringing food into my house or giving me gifts of food. I’m full of unpopular opinions.
I do like the beach, though. The sand is part of the charm, I love the sun beaming down on me and the sound of the waves crashing. I love building sandcastles and how it’s a certain kind of hunger that you get at the beach that can only be sated by hamburgers and ice cream cones.
I’m with you on dogs. I like them from a distance but I do not want to touch them or own one. Love looking at pictures of other people’s dogs.
I don’t like tv much but I try to not say that in public because that makes me sound like one of those “we don’t even OWN a television” people (and you know that we own many enormous televisions) but if my husband weren’t around, I wouldn’t even turn them on.
Also the beach is nothing but work and heat and sand getting into my eyes and mouth and everything I own.
But I can see how other people love all these things. I just do not.
I would borrow this idea, but I’ve already written so many of these things in other posts!
Love dogs–when they are other people’s.
Hate the beach. All of it, all the time.
Hate large gatherings–noisy, disorganized, my husband NEVER KNOWS HOW TO SAY GOODBYE AND JUST LEAVE.
Refuse to watch Yellowstone and any and all Western/cowboy themed things.
Do not feel good about other people futzing about in my kitchen, especially if they are assisting me in making my dish.
Pedicures–Anything to do with feet=gross, including my own.
I do adore tomatoes, though. Fresh garden tomatoes are a miracle. And The West Wing is the best TV show, ever. Sorry. I’m a Politics junkie. And a Rob Lowe enthusiast from waaay back.
Re: dogs, think of it this way. On the face of it, i could say I dislike babies. Other people’s? Fine. But my own – why would I want to ruin my body, be forced to wake up at all hours (practically never sleeping again), be thrown up upon and pooped upon repeatedly, etc. Yet I did it twice and am reasonably happy with my choice. Dogs are the same way, but easier. If you have a good dog they are 99% love, rarely sassy, and never talk back. Sometimes muddy. I have had 6 dogs over the past 20 years and not one liked to lick people! Wouldn’t hurt to rethink your position, is what I’m saying. They really are the best company.
I agree with you on dogs, the TV shows, group events and sharing food. I’m much more of a cat lady. I do love tomatoes and pedicures though.
I’m not a dog person either. When North wanted a service dog last year it was a hard no from both Beth and me. (Also we didn’t think they really need one– if we did we might have gotten over it.)
I’m fine with public speaking (not that I ever had occasion any more) but a little nervous with free-form socializing with people I don’t know.
I have not watched any of those shows, so I don’t know if I could get into them or not. I feel like I have enough tv in my life at the moment, so I’m disinclined to start new shows.
You know how I feel about the beach. In fact, there’s usually a countdown in my head about how long I have to wait to go back and right now it’s at 8 days!
I love reading your list! Dogs are on my list too. You forgot to mention the smell LOL. My list would be a lot of pop culture things that aren’t for me (Friends, Big Bang Theory, etc).
I was struck by “people who do share food find this personally offensive”–yes, and why is that? If I find someone else doesn’t like something I like, my reaction is going to be either, “Huh, really? Okay” or “Well, people sure are different, aren’t we, and how boring it would be if we weren’t.” (Perhaps with the unvoiced thought of “Wow, they are missing out, but oh well.”) But some people really take it as an assault on their preferences if you don’t share them.
I’ll have to give this one a think.
Do you not like tomato sauce either? I don’t like raw tomatoes but I like tomato sauce. That would be a tough one to not like.
I loved the West Wing but I haven’t gotten into Yellowstone or Bridgerton. Or Mad Men or Breaking Bad. The TV show thing doesn’t really bother me though.
I totally get the dog thing, even though I love dogs.
I don’t really mind sharing food that much, but this makes me think of this time we went out for my birthday with another couple to a small plates place. We took turns ordering two plates, and everything they ordered was raw or gross and I couldn’t eat it but they still ate half of everything I ordered, and we split the bill equally and I am still bitter lol.
Wow! So fun. Mushrooms…
Let’s do this!
– Team Tomato but I live with two tomato haters so it’s all good.
– Speaking in groups – depends on the group. I’m not good at small talk, so if the rest of the group isn’t good at it either then it’s a lot of nothing to say.
– Dogs. All of your negatives are valid points. Basically it’s like having a kid, but one who will never be able to use the bathroom without you being involved. The offset is that they do everything that you say and are so happy to see you.
– Pedicures – never had one, never want to
– Group events – depends on the group
– Letting other people cook in my kitchen – I don’t know – I’m happy to bring a bunch of people in to cook for me and then I’ll see how I feel;-)
– Sharing food – depends on who with. Family – great. Total stranger – nah.
– Beach – love it!
– TV – 2 out of 3! I did love The West Wing back in the day. Bridgerton and Yellowstone were quick “uh I know everyone else loves ‘em but I’m bored”.
This blog post idea is fun! I might give it a try!
I like the IDEA of going to the beach, but I hate the sensory experience of sand on the floor. I enjoy the sounds and smells of the beach. Specifically, the ocean. I’m not at all a lake girl.
I hate tomatoes as well. I like tomato sauce as long as there are no visible tomatoes, such as chunks of tomato.
I understand the dog thing. 😘
I love pedicures, but I’ve been going to the same place for 25 years because it’s so clean. I would never go to another place, bc bacteria.
I, too, am not a fan of serial television shows. Only documentaries and reality television.
Groups or group activities? Yep. I understand. Particularly as I get older. It’s not always the vibe. It’s a delicate balance.
I, too, do not share food. I am also very particular about whose house I eat.
Suzanne – you and I are twins on just about all of these. Although, I will eat tomatoes; but they better be VERY GOOD tomatoes. If they are mealy, they will be shoved to the side.
As for dogs – yes for all the same reasons and they make me nervous. I don’t like to be barked at either.
I wish I liked jogging, it seems like such a great way to get endorphines and clear your mind. (My daughter took the computer mouse so now I don’t have the right mouse click spell check feature and there’s a little red line under endorphines, but I cannot imagine how else to spell it. I’m a terrible speller.)
I wish I liked sweet potatoes and mangoes. They both seem pretty healthy.
I love (good) tomatoes and the beach and pedicures and stupid TV shows and really good TV shows and I’m OK talking in small groups of people, but don’t like public speaking.
Oh and clearly I love dogs. I have to say hello to every dog I see, and even better if I can pet them. As Engie said, your points are all valid, and they are a lot of work. But worth every minute of it.
NO WEST WING?! **clutches pearls**
Aww, thanks for including Charlie in your list! (assuming it’s my Charlie, lol!) I totally hear you though on why you don’t want a dog. Now that I have one, those reasons are both amplified, but simultaneously, suddenly all irrelevant, because I love him so much! But it is true- it has rocked my world.
Hmm, for things I wish I loved…. random, but Costco comes to mind. haha. Costco seems to have a cult-like following. We tried it years back and it was just NOT for me. Too big and crowded and I despised the whole bulk thing. I found it so overwhelming to pick up say, a $25 multi-pack container of Kleenex. I just want like, 2 boxes of Kleenex! And I don’t want to drop $25 on Kleenex right now! Yes, I know it’s a “better deal”, but I don’t care! This is too much Kleenex!! hahaha.
I like the beach. I even love the beach. BUT I do notice the older I get, I cannot hang at the beach as long as I once could. I don’t mind talking in groups or speaking in a group, but I have experienced the times when I am not engaged in a conversation with anyone and I have to drift around a party and hope to bump into a small circle of people willing to include me, or take pity on me for looking lost. That part of mingling at a party/group event is awkward and icky. I like dogs too, but I do not wish to live with one. I have a hard enough time cleaning up after the people who live here. Plus, allergies and getting my fav things chewed up does not appeal to me. (looking at you Finn)
When I read the title of this post, I thought to myself, “I bet tomatoes are somewhere in this list.” LOL!
I, too, love other people’s dogs but have no desire to own one. My late husband was a dog person and we did own a sweet pup from 2000 – 2011. But even then I was not super comfortable around my own dog.
I tried to like Yellowstone, but after 3 or 4 episodes I gave up on it. Ah well!
You described the social interactions in large group for introverts so well! NODDING IN AGREEMENT with how hard/weird it is to interact in large groups.
I am with you on all the shows, haven’t watched any of them. I do not make much time for TV at all.
I love tomatoes (sorry), but I am not a fan of speaking in public, and I also like people to stay out of my kitchen 🙂
I’m also not a dog person. I appreciate others dogs, especially pictures. We will never have one! I am not drawn to any of those shows either! Just no interest whatsoever. But there are so many buzzy shows I have never and will never like!
I am so particular about so many things so I feel you. I wish I liked more alcoholic drinks. There are so many fun craft cocktails but I just don’t like most liquors, especially whiskey. Bleh. PASS. So I just stick to my sav blanc!
I need to do this post! I am WITH YOU on speaking in groups and group events. Everything you wrote in those paragraphs spoke deeply to my soul because it’s exactly what I feel. Thanks for helping me feel less alone!
I also do not like tomatoes OR the beach, (which is a problem when I live in a beach community). I did love Bridgerton but I don’t care about Yellowstone.
Joey doesn’t share food made me laugh out loud. It is my husbands favorite saying when i asked if I can have a taste.
I haven’t watched Bridgerton or any of the other ones…
I can not agree on the tomatoes tough. I love them .
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