The WISIWYG Blog

Do I really know myself? I think I do. I mean, I've been in this body for more than 24 years now. I had this mind all the way back when I was born (although I have not always been this crazy). And if experiences make what a person is, then I should know myself that much because I've been part of those experiences.

But thinking deeper (hehe, marunong din ako nun), do I really know who I am? I know myself based on how I see myself. But how about the way other people see me? Won't their opinions of who I am not count as a description of myself? I think they would, and they should.

So, part of knowing who I really am is hearing what others think of me. Last week, I have been very lucky to be part of an office activity that allowed me to simply do that. As part of our monthly all-hands meeting, our development team had a team building activity where each of us has to write something positive and negative about our co-employees. Wonder what I got? Well, here is the list:

POSITIVE

* Tahimik na makulit
* Smiley face
* Helpful
* Magaling humirit
* Technically sound
* OK hirit
* Mabait
* Mahusay makisama at magaling humirit ng jokes
* Mabait
* Mabait
* Joker (galing humirit)
* Comedian
* Lakas humirit

NEGATIVE

* Para lang mahirap maka-close (tingin ko lang yun)
* Maingay
* Tahimik
* Tahimik?! Hindi Ah! hehe. Medio unpredictable minsan
* Tahimik minsan sa work!
* Ayaw pa umamin. hehehe
* Usually tahimik

Now, it's time to merge my opinion about myself and my officemates opinions. The positive may be sumarized into three characteristics: joker, technically sound (kailangan kasama to), and mabait. Being a joker is something that I have to agree with, and being technically sound is something that I have always doubted myself to be. And about being mabait (kind-hearted)... well, it's something that not everybody would agree with.

As to the negative side of things, what caught my attention were the three successive descriptions starting with maingay. It really got me confused　(hehe). But I'll have to agree with the third one... I am, indeed, unpredictable.

Mahirap maka-close? I'll say I'm guilty. Some would even call me snobbish. I'm just not the kind of person who would feel comfortable at once with people that I have just met or people who are not close to me. And that attitude is something that I want changed.

Ayaw pa umamin? A description as such would almost often be a question on one's manhood... on one's masculinity. Well, guess what, I get this comment every now and then, even way back when I was still in highschool. But I've known myself long enough to be confused of my gender. I know my likes and dislikes, and I can say straightly that I'm a man.

Having the positive and negative sides all dealt with, it is time to close this post. Overall, the activity was great. It gave us much input of what others think we really are. Most helpful are the negative comments, because they gave us a glimpse of what others hate about us and what things must change in our lives.

So, after the activity, did I end up knowing myself better? Quite. But I would know myself better if you'll care to add some of your positive and negative comments about me in this post. Would you help me?