I joined the Dull Women's Club, on Facebook.

When asked what I thought dull meant, I wrote: Simple, plain, normal, sane. Able to appreciate the smaller things in life, if not the better things.

This is what I wrote as my self introduction:

I'm excessively dull. Sometimes the highlight of my day is finding my backscratcher to get rid of an itch on my back. I live in Ontario, the small city of Barrie. At the end of this year I will be 60. I live with my Mother, who is now 80. I collect books, more than I can actually read. I make ASCII art. I have been a writer and editor online for years. I used to crochet and sew. I'm divorced with no children. I drink coffee. I couldn't find a photo of myself though I have easily a thousand photos I've taken of old farm houses around Ontario. I'm a volunteer with Ontario Barn Preservation, writing the newsletter, etc.

A later comment about growing foot size as we get older:

I think everything you don't want to grow, grows as you get older. Things you wish would grow, like getting just a bit taller, don't grow. I started wearing men's shoes because I could get the same size (more or less) by number but they were wider and longer than women's shoes. Once upon a time I was a size 6, now I'm a 10. Not a 10 in the way I'd like to be a 10, just the dull way of having bigger feet.

Sagittarians are notorious in astrology for having the most attractive personalities of all the zodiac signs.

That's nice to read but I'd doubt it.

I skipped one point on the list, about humour and jokes.

1. We're inconsistent.

We know we told you last week we were taking up coding to learn more about computers. This week, we want to learn everything about growing our own succulent garden on the fire escape.

We're more than okay with not being just one thing so if you love a Sagittarius, you're getting a lot of different people wrapped up into one — lucky you!

3. We're very inflexible.

We're so sorry about that, but we don't want to make plans with you at 5:45 pm for a 6 pm dinner when we're about to get off work and all we want to do is go home and watch TV.

We value our alone time and we plan on it like we're in a relationship with ourselves. (Which we are.)

Sagittarians are very independent so don't expect us to adjust our own schedule to fit yours.

And don't mistake this trait for being introverted - we love plans, we just love when you make them 24 hours in advance.

4. We get into the deep philosophical stuff right away.

5. We're a little bit reckless.

6. And if you don’t love us, we move on fast.

We can drop people like a sack of wet, stinky laundry. We don't ever want to feel like we're in a relationship with someone who doesn't want to hear what we have to say or tries to tell us what to think.

Sagittarians have a fiercely strong sense of right and wrong and if you can't agree with us or at the least, empathize with us, we shut down.

7. But, no matter what, we're pretty optimistic.

Source - 7 Brutal Truths About Loving a Sagittarius

The title for this article is "Choosing a Positive Attitude" because I believe it is about choosing rather than 'having' or 'keeping'. It's important to choose a good attitude and then keep it because you know and understand the importance and value of it. How can you keep a positive/ good attitude if you don't value it? The first test that comes along you will tend to fall back into your old patterns or go with whatever comes easily to you.

Even something simple like having someone ask you a question you don't want to deal with at the time. Do you snap at them? Or, do you set your mind to giving them an answer (tell them you don't want to answer) without showing them your first feeling of impatience, anger or frustration. You choose the attitude you show the world and you choose the attitude you feel strongest yourself. You can feel impatience and negative emotions but you don't have to stay there and settle into them.

If you don't choose to have a positive attitude you leave yourself open to being negative and feeling negative. We are what we feel. If you broadcast a positive feeling it comes back to you and then you feel it yourself as well. If you broadcast negative feelings they come back and you live in negativity. Which would you choose? Which would help you cope with the regular frustrations in your day? Not likely the negative attitude and feelings.

My Own Experience with Positive and Negative Attitudes - as a Department Store Cashier

As a department store cashier I experienced attitudes from many people in just one day. People tended to be busier and more easily frustrated during events like Back to School shopping sales. Over Christmas, as busy as the store would be, the customers tended to have a better attitude than I did. I was tired, feeling over burdened, and likely being asked to work a double shift after being told to start early and skip at least one of my breaks. I actually became claustrophobic in the last week of Christmas. (The cashier gets surrounded in her little booth with people leaning on it in other aisles, leaning into her to speak and be heard in the hustle and bustle. I felt trapped and would be feeling kind of desperate by the time the next cashier stepped in to take over for her shift).

So, in my own attitude, I had to choose to keep broadcasting positive feelings. I won't pretend I didn't crash and burn a few times. However, overall I did keep things on the good side. I dealt with people well, I gave smiles, eye contact, and conversation. I also kept my line moving, but when something slowed it down I had patience and... I had patience with people who complained about the slowdowns. Still the busy times were a drain. I would escape out to my car to be out of the building and feel I was able to be truly alone for whatever break time I had.

The interesting thing about being a cashier and seeing so many attitudes from other people was learning about myself and seeing how I approached and dealt with so many different people. One thing that surprised me was that I actually did not mind the angry people as much as I did those who would not look up at me, acknowledging me in some way. Being ignored grated on me far more than anger, ranting and bullying did. Yet, I knew the people who kept their head down were likely not thinking about how I felt. They were feeling their own inner battle with a negative attitude in themselves. Likely they felt inferior or upset in some way. I know this because I have been in that position myself. I am a shy person and I tend to feel negative about myself.

I have made myself choose a positive attitude many times. I know it isn't easy. I know you have to battle yourself at times. I don't always succeed and when I fail I try to let myself be human.

When I was a cashier I would take on the challenge of changing other people's attitudes. Not making it a big deal but more like something that gave me some power when inside I didn't feel I had much power at all. I became good at taking a customer who was grumpy or impatient and changing their attitude. When they left the store they left feeling lighter, with a smile. This was broadcasting a positive attitude. When you give someone a positive attitude they tend to like it, this makes them feel better, you become approachable in that case and they become even more open to your positive attitude. You can see how it works. A smile really can make a difference. It's not just a gimmick.

Focus on the Good

Focus on what is good.

That sounds so simple, but it's not.

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth". You may have heard that old saying, do you know what it means? It's about being given a free horse and then choosing to check the horse's teeth. If you check the horse's teeth you are looking to set a value on the gift, likely you will find something to pick on, something that isn't as great as it could be. Instead, accept the gift. Don't look for negativity and then overlook the positive of being given a gift.

In your life how many times have you chosen a negative attitude when you could have focused on the positive? Focus on what you do have versus what could be better, what isn't going well, etc.

Stuck in a traffic jam, kids fighting in the back seat, ice cream melting in the trunk of the car... but you're in a car, you've got the kids (who will go back to being little darlings when they get home), and you've got ice cream to look forward to.

Feeling ill at work, still another four hours to the end of your shift, you're being asked to work the weekend... but you've finished half your work day, extra hours will give you more money, and you'll be feeling better once you get some lunch and sit down awhile.

You've been looking forward to breakfast out at your favourite diner but they're closed early for the day... but you're out and now you can try a new place for breakfast and see who you meet along the way.

In each case you could choose to focus on what's going wrong. Or you can change it around and see what's going right. Usually the negative things are just in the moment, temporary. Meanwhile the positive things are long term, dependable and often taken for granted or overlooked completely.

A positive attitude requires focus, to find it, and change to bring it about and keep it. However, it won't work at all if you don't make the choice to have a positive attitude in the first place.

I'm quite social when I'm in a group, especially if there is any kind of common ground. But, once I'm on my own again I become a hermit. I always think it is funny that I am INFP on the Myers Briggs personality test. I didn't really see myself as an introvert because I do chat away pretty easily to just about anyone. But, this makes sense. Cause I am quiet too and yet social when there is a reason for it.

10 Myths About Introverts

(Posted by Linsey on Facebook).

Myth #1 – Introverts don’t like to talk. This is not true. Introverts just don’t talk unless they have something to say. They hate small talk. Get an introvert talking about something they are interested in, and they won’t shut up for days.

Myth #2 – Introverts are shy. Shyness has nothing to do with being an Introvert. Introverts are not necessarily afraid of people. What they need is a reason to interact. They don’t interact for the sake of interacting. If you want to talk to an Introvert, just start talking. Don’t worry about being polite.

Myth #3 – Introverts are rude. Introverts often don’t see a reason for beating around the bush with social pleasantries. They want everyone to just be real and honest. Unfortunately, this is not acceptable in most settings, so Introverts can feel a lot of pressure to fit in, which they find exhausting.

Myth #4 – Introverts don’t like people. On the contrary, Introverts intensely value the few friends they have. They can count their close friends on one hand. If you are lucky enough for an introvert to consider you a friend, you probably have a loyal ally for life. Once you have earned their respect as being a person of substance, you’re in.

Myth #5 – Introverts don’t like to go out in public. Nonsense. Introverts just don’t like to go out in public FOR AS LONG. They also like to avoid the complications that are involved in public activities. They take in data and experiences very quickly, and as a result, don’t need to be there for long to “get it.” They’re ready to go home, recharge, and process it all. In fact, recharging is absolutely crucial for Introverts.

Myth #6 – Introverts always want to be alone. Introverts are perfectly comfortable with their own thoughts. They think a lot. They daydream. They like to have problems to work on, puzzles to solve. But they can also get incredibly lonely if they don’t have anyone to share their discoveries with. They crave an authentic and sincere connection with one person at a time.

Myth #7 – Introverts are weird. Introverts are often individualists. They don’t follow the crowd. They’d prefer to be valued for their novel ways of living. They think for themselves and because of that, they often challenge the norm. They don’t make most decisions based on what is popular or trendy.

Myth #8 – Introverts are aloof nerds. Introverts are people who primarily look inward, paying close attention to their thoughts and emotions. It’s not that they are incapable of paying attention to what is going on around them, it’s just that their inner world is much more stimulating and rewarding to them.

Myth #9 – Introverts don’t know how to relax and have fun. Introverts typically relax at home or in nature, not in busy public places. Introverts are not thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies. If there is too much talking and noise going on, they shut down. Their brains are too sensitive to the neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Introverts and Extroverts have different dominant neuro-pathways. Just look it up.

Myth #10 – Introverts can fix themselves and become Extroverts. Introverts cannot “fix themselves” and deserve respect for their natural temperament and contributions to the human race. In fact, one study (Silverman, 1986) showed that the percentage of Introverts increases with IQ.

What Your Birth Date Reveals About You!

Laura this is what your birth date reveals about you!

19 + 12 + 1964 = 1995

1 + 9 + 9 + 5 = 24

2 + 4 = 6

Your Birth Number :6

6’s are idealistic and need to feel useful to be happy. A strong family connection is important to them. Their emotions influence their decisions. They have a strong urge to take care of others and to help. They are very loyal and make great teachers. They like art or music. They make loyal friends who take the friendship seriously. 6’s should learn to differentiate between what they can change and what they cannot.