I am good at other things.

I am not good at many things. These include, but are not limited to:

Making my bed every day

Folding laundry on the day it's washed

Wearing skinny jeans

Decorating the walls of my home

3-dimensional media--most specifically, cake decorating

Keeping up with all the paper

Keeping the kitchen clean for longer than 30 seconds

Resisting cookies

Making sure the house is clean before I go to bed/leave the house/anytime (except when I know someone is coming over)

Returning library books on time

Parallel parking

Singing soprano

Sewing something without ripping out 42 seams in the process

Teaching a child how to ride a bike (Oh, I'll be terrible when it comes time for someone to drive a car!)

Playing basketball

Food presentation

Flower arranging

Knowing how to coordinate shoes/hose/shorter skirts in wintertime, now that it is no longer 1992, and white hose are a faux pas

Breakdancing

I have been blessed to associate with some remarkable women. Most of them can do everything on this list and more (Connie really can breakdance), and sometimes it is difficult not to compare my weaknesses to their strengths. We women tend to do that, berating and degrading ourselves in the process. I was raised in a very can-do home and religion where self-reliance is hugely important. For a long time, I thought that meant that I had to know how to do everything myself. My friend, Heather, who was the best neighbor in the whole world, taught me something very profound. As I was lamenting the fact that I couldn't do something well, she shrugged her shoulders and said, "I am good at other things." It changed my life. For the first time, I realized that I didn't need to kick myself for all the things that frustrated me. I have permission to not worry about the things I don't do well--especially those which aren't crucial to my life. I am good at other things. My talents and gifts are uniquely mine, and with those gifts, I can influence my little corner of the world for good. When I can't do something well, I can call a friend. I can trust that Raquel can make a loaf of bread that will actually rise. Sherri can help me plan a fun trip (but I'll read the map). Melanie, Brooke, Syndi and Jana can all decorate my house (please?). School and church teachers can reach my children in ways I cannot. There is no need for me to compare. Learn? Yes. Feel inadequate? No. We all need each other.

So call me if you ever need help doing something at which I excel. My friend once told me that I would be his "phone-a-friend" lifeline on "Millionaire". Don't feel badly about yourself because I am a fountain of useless knowledge. You're good at other things, too.